Medal Controversy: COVID-19 Resilience Awards Find Their Way to Online Marketplaces
Carousell is an online marketplace that knows no bounds, offering a diverse array of items for sale, spanning from BTO toilet bowls (seriously) to medals. It’s quite a stark difference, I know.
Recently, several individuals have chosen to list their COVID-19 Resilience Medals on Carousell, with prices ranging from S$380 to a staggering S$1,500.
The COVID-19 Resilience Medal were awarded to 100,000 individuals in recognition of their invaluable contributions to Singapore’s battle against the virus.
This medal proudly features the state crest, our national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim, and even a shield adorned with the same five stars and crescent moon found on our national flag.
The medals were given during a carnival held at the F1 Pit Building.
PMO Urges Respectful Handling of Medals
When contacted by TODAY, a spokesperson from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), emphasised that the Covid-19 medals are a national award and should be “handled with respect, in accordance with the spirit with which they were presented”.
Similarly, a group of anonymous healthcare workers, operating under the Instagram handle @thehonesthealthcareworker, expressed their disappointment regarding the sale of these medals in a recent Instagram post.
They acknowledged that individuals are entitled to do as they wish with their medals but also stressed the importance of recognizing that these national awards were given as a recognition for the collective effort and bravery of healthcare workers during the height of the pandemic.
Furthermore, they highlighted the sacrifices made by these workers, including enduring long hours wearing N95 masks, residing in their facilities to prevent transmission to their families, and relocating from their homes to safeguard vulnerable elderly residents from the virus.
They conclude the post by stating that putting the medals up for sale “dishonours and diminishes the significance of all they did.”
You can view the post here:
It turns out that the COVID-19 resilience medal are not the only medals being sold. Shockingly, other medals such as the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Good Service Medal are available at prices ranging from a modest $20 to $60.
From a personal perspective, it’s challenging to comprehend how one can part with an emblem representing years of dedication and rigorous training.
To provide context, this medal is exclusively awarded to NSmen who have successfully completed five years of dedicated service. This means that the honor is granted after one has completed two years of full-time National Service and fulfilled subsequent reservist duties.