Amid sweeping lockdowns, why Singapore’s food supply can endure: Chan Chun Sing

“Some of the vegetables might be in a bit later. Some of the eggs might come in a bit later,” he told the programme Talking Point for an episode that airs tonight on Channel 5.“We’ve been able to have other sources ... make up for what’s been disrupted on the Malaysian side. So, by and large, I think the impact on the local markets hasn’t been significant.”

There is no need for panic buying, he added as he also spoke publicly for the first time about the audio leak of his comments on some shoppers’ reaction to Singapore raising its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition from yellow to orange previously.While this is not the first time Mr Chan and other ministers have pointed to Singapore’s national stockpile and diversified supply chains, the tightening border restrictions around the globe are posing a “daily challenge”, he acknowledged.

“Every item across the entire table of essentials” is being looked at, and that goes beyond food. Among the things kept in stock are medicines and personal protective equipment. On a question of food subsidies, he replied: “It isn’t a sustainable way to do such things, because the subsidies would be creamed off by the foreign suppliers.Helping the Republic’s food importers to diversify their supplies “is perhaps even more important than just subsidising food from a single source, which we can always be held ransom to”, he added.

Mr Chan also identified one other thing the country must do for as long as the pandemic lasts, and that is to “share”. He had given vent to his feelings on this during a closed-door meeting with members of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His comments were then leaked in an audio clip that went viral.

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