Advertisements for dubious massage services claiming to accept government vouchers meant to defray living costs have sprouted up online this month, TODAY has found. Screengrabs of Facebook posts advertising massage services claiming to accept CDC vouchers as payment.
These ads β which usually include suggestive photographs of female masseuses β have popped up on Facebook pages and groups, and public group chats on Telegram that promote massage services in Singapore. A massage service known as "juagen", which involves the use of acupressure and other techniques to stimulate specific points on male genitalia, is also sometimes advertised.
CDC vouchers were first introduced in June by Deputy Prime Minister and then-Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, aimed at helping Singaporean lower-income households defray costs of living and supporting hawkers and heartland merchants affected by the Covid pandemic. Midway through the massages at both establishments, the masseuse attending to the reporter offered "special services" of a sexual nature, which the reporter declined. After paying for the massages in cash, the reporter filed two police reports and notified the CDC that same day.
At present, the terms and conditions for the vouchers listed on the CDC website state that they are "not valid for purchase of lottery products, petrol, diesel, alcohol or cigarettes". The CDCs did not respond to queries on how the decision was made on what goods and services were deemed acceptable for purchase using its vouchers, and whether checks are conducted on every business before they are approved as a participating merchant.
They noted, however, that "the majority of heartland merchants in trades involving daily necessities and services and hawkers would generally be eligible". Mr Christopher Gee, who heads the governance and economy department at the Institute of Policy Studies IPS , said that the inappropriate use of CDC vouchers can hurt Singaporeans' "sense of fairness" β especially as the scheme is funded with taxpayers' money.
