February 10, 03:00 AM 
514 Chai Chee Lane 03-16, Singapore 469029 Sound Smarter in Sixty Seconds (SSISS) is a new column by Mothership where we brief you on the important headlines of the day. We will also contribute our views on the issues at hand.
Pioneer Generation Package to provide healthcare goodies
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced preliminary details of this package at an Istana event on Sunday 9 February to honour the generation of early Singaporeans who stuck it out with Singapore in its infancy. The package includes making it easier for the pioneer generation to enjoy MediShield and MediShield Life, subsidies for hospital and outpatient bills, and annual top-ups to Medisave.
A clever move to channel some of Singapore's financial success into providing for the elderly, scoring some political brownie points, while not promising that future generations of Singaporeans will receive the same benefits. Many quarters in Europe are currently facing mounting financial obligations used to service pensions due to its post-WWII welfare systems and faces political inertia in taking away welfare benefits. Singapore will not go down this road.
Indonesian military personnel's invite to the Singapore Airshow cancelled
The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy and his delegation of around 100 junior officers had their invitation cancelled. A meeting scheduled for 11 February between Singapore's Second Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing and Indonesia's Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant-General (Ret) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin was also rescheduled. This comes on the back of Indonesia wanting to name two frigates after marines responsible for the 1965 bombing of MacDonald House in Singapore.
An earlier editorial by Jakarta Post titled "Can we be more sensitive?" points out that "nationalist sentiment is reaching fever pitch in Indonesia in this election year" in Indonesia this year. Could the naming of ships be a political play to pander to the electorate? Are our politicians' responses to this incident gaining any traction among Singaporeans? It is unlikely as as explained in this commentary on Singaporeans' lack of appreciation for history.
Top photo from PM Lee's Facebook.
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