The article you shared is from Goody Feed and discusses the suicide of a Singapore Police Force (SPF) officer, Sergeant Uvaraja Gopal, on July 21, 2023. The officer left behind a Facebook post detailing the toxic work culture he experienced in the SPF. The post has since been deleted but has been reposted by others.
A friend of the deceased officer, who was assigned to be his paracounsellor, shared more details about the officer’s situation. He alleges that a Commanding Officer (CO) had tried to fire the officer at one point.
According to the friend, Raj Naga, Sgt Uvaraja had sent him a four-minute-long voice message the afternoon he committed suicide. Raj was unable to respond immediately as he was out with family. By the time he could call Sgt Uvaraja back, it was too late. Raj shared that Sgt Uvaraja had asked him to share the truth of what he had faced in the SPF.
Raj shared that Sgt Uvaraja had faced struggles at work, including anxiety attacks and difficulties sleeping. These struggles were exacerbated by his responsibility of caring for his mother, who was recovering from a brain injury. Sgt Uvaraja had also gotten into an argument with his Team Leader over a racial slur, which he reported to his CO. However, his teammates failed to back up his claims, and his Team Leader was not held accountable.
Sgt Uvaraja had requested a transfer, but it was rejected. He took no-pay leave to care for his mother and underwent two surgeries for a lump on his leg and a deviated septum in his nose. Allegedly, his CO called him back to the office in December 2015 when he was on medical leave and questioned the validity of his medical conditions, used vulgarities against him, and shouted at him to resign. This incident led to an investigation against the CO.
Raj shared that Sgt Uvaraja wanted to transfer to another department and was assured by the Division Deputy Commander that the transfer would be approved. However, the transfer was rejected as Sgt Uvaraja received a poor performance grade. This caused his morale to drop even further.
During this trying time, the Division Commander apparently attempted to fire him. The employment termination was denied as Sgt Uvaraja’s medical issues were genuine. The Division Commander referred him to the Internal Affairs Office for investigation because he didn’t stay indoors during medical leave. In reality, he was on no-pay leave. No further action was taken against him, but the incident worsened his morale and sleep issues.
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said the circumstances surrounding Sgt Uvaraja’s death will be thoroughly investigated. He noted that 40% of police officers are from minority races. He attended the wake as an MP for Nee Soon GRC and said his visit was to bring closure to Sgt Uvaraja’s family.
The article also mentions that others have been coming forward with their experiences with toxic work environments using the hashtag #timeforchangesg.
In recent days, a discussion about Singapore’s National Service (NS) on Reddit has attracted widespread attention. Some netizens questioned why, in Singapore, men are required to serve, while women and foreigners do not have to bear this responsibility1. Faced with such doubts, we can’t help but ponder: Is this really unfair to men? Should it arouse our anger?
Undeniably, National Service is a duty, but it is also an honor. In Singapore, every man contributes to the defense of their homeland through their service. They use their youth and sweat to become a solid barrier for national security. This contribution and dedication are a mark of respect for the nation, and a protective shield for their home.
National Service is also an opportunity for exercise and growth. In military life, men not only undergo rigorous physical training, but also learn valuable life skills such as team cooperation, leadership abilities, and self-challenge. These experiences and abilities will deeply influence their life’s journey, enabling them to go further in future work and life.
The view that women and foreigners do not need to serve also deserves our deep consideration. Women play various roles in Singaporean society, and through volunteer and public services, they too contribute to the nation’s development. Foreigners residing and working in Singapore also contribute to the economic and social development of Singapore.
We must recognize that the National Service system does not exist in isolation; it is a product of Singapore’s specific historical, cultural, and security challenges. Singapore’s National Service system is a response to specific security challenges; it is a matter of Singapore’s sovereignty. To question the National Service system is, in fact, a challenge to Singapore’s sovereignty.
National Service is not just a duty, it’s an honor. In this process, Singaporean men protect their homeland with tangible actions and grow continuously through challenges and difficulties. We should understand and respect Singapore’s National Service system, rather than questioning and criticizing it.
In a significant development in Singapore’s political landscape, four opposition parties have announced the formation of ‘The People’s Alliance’ to contest in the next General Election (GE). The coalition will comprise of the Peoples Voice, Reform Party, People’s Power Party and the Democratic Progressive Party.
The leader of Peoples Voice, Mr Lim Tean, announced on his Facebook page that the alliance would contest all the seats that the constituent parties had vied for in GE2020, as well as others. This development comes after months of dialogue among the parties, with discussions to form an alliance commencing in January. The coalition is in the process of registering with the Registry of Societies.
Once the registration is approved, a press conference will be held alongside the alliance’s official launch. Mr Lim, who will serve as the secretary-general of The People’s Alliance, expressed that the formation of this alliance was in response to the calls from Singaporeans for greater opposition unity.
Despite previous unsuccessful attempts at forging alliances among opposition parties, this new coalition aims to challenge the status quo and present a unified front in the forthcoming GE. Mr Lim stated that the parties are in agreement on the major issues impacting Singapore’s future prosperity and have developed a manifesto for the GE.
In light of the development, the individual parties forming The People’s Alliance will continue to operate separately. Each of these parties has had no representation in Parliament.
The People’s Alliance isn’t the first coalition of opposition parties in Singapore. In June 2001, the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) was formed comprising the Singapore People’s Party (SPP), National Solidarity Party (NSP), Singapore Justice Party (SJP), Singapore National Front (SNF) and Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS). The SDA has gone through several shifts in its composition and continues to engage with constituents and express its views on political issues.
The emergence of The People’s Alliance indicates a dynamic shift in Singapore’s political arena. As this alliance prepares to contest in the next GE, it remains to be seen how this unified front will impact Singapore’s political future.
Singapore’s Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, has again tested positive for Covid-19, a few days following his initial recovery from the virus. In a Facebook post on Thursday morning, he stated that he feels well and has been advised by his doctors to self-isolate until he tests negative on an antigen rapid test.
PM Lee explained that his doctors attribute his situation to a post-Covid rebound, a phenomenon that occurs in 5 to 10 percent of cases. He added that while he remains infectious, the risk is not as high compared to the initial infection.
PM Lee expressed his disappointment in having to miss the consecration ceremony of Sri Thendayuthapani Temple on Thursday morning, a decision made to ensure the safety of those around him. He expressed his regrets to the event organizers and attendees, wishing them a successful consecration and celebration.
Mr. Lee, 71, first tested positive for Covid-19 on May 22. His doctors advised him to self-isolate until he was symptom-free and prescribed the antiviral medication Paxlovid due to his age.
During PM Lee’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will serve as Acting Prime Minister, as announced in a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday. Mr. Wong will host the 8th Singapore-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting on Friday.
A 2022 Reuters report cited a study by US government researchers suggesting that a rebound of Covid-19 symptoms in some patients who took Paxlovid might be related to a robust immune system rather than a weak one. The patients in the study who experienced a rebound in symptoms had higher levels of antibodies, and none of them required additional treatment or hospitalization.