Government pledges to help Sporeans cope with rising costs
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By Joanne Chan | Posted: 02 February 2011 0603 hrs
SINGAPORE: The government has pledged to help Singaporeans, especially lower-income households, cope with rising costs.
In his Lunar New Year message, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government has more scope to implement schemes after last year's strong economic performance.
It was a roaring good year for Singapore's economy in the Year of the Tiger, with the economy growing at 14.7 per cent last year.
While this meant better bonuses for workers, it also brought its own set of problems such as rising costs.
Those aspiring to own cars found it more expensive, as fewer were made available in a bid to curb the car population and reduce congestion on the roads, even as demand rose amid rising incomes.
Together with external factors such as higher oil prices and food shortages due to bad weather, prices of consumer goods shot up.
Property prices also rose significantly in the past year, boosted by positive market sentiments, low interest rates and high liquidity.
Prices of HDB resale flats and private homes rose 14.1 per cent and 17.6 per cent respectively in 2010, setting new records.
In his message, Mr Lee said the government has acted to curb speculation and cool the property market. He added more will be done to stabilise the market if and when it becomes necessary.
Mr Lee pledged that housing, especially public flats, will be kept affordable to Singaporeans.
He added that in a prospering economy, home owners should see their properties appreciating in value over the long term.
Mr Lee also acknowledged concerns among some Singaporeans about the rapid changes in society and the competition from new immigrants.
He said the country needs immigrants to reinforce the ranks. But there must also be a clear majority of locally-born Singaporeans who set the tone of society and uphold core values.
Mr Lee added that while many want to become permanent residents and new citizens, only those who can add value to Singapore will be selected.
He also called on Singaporeans to produce more babies - a task that has proven to be extremely challenging.
Singapore's total fertility rate fell to an all-time low of 1.16 last year. The decline was across all races, but it was sharpest among the Chinese, where the fertility rate fell to 1.02, far short of the needed replacement level of 2.1.
On keeping Singapore's culture vibrant, Mr Lee said it is important to keep mother tongue languages alive. So the recent measures announced by the Ministry of Education will ensure that the teaching of the languages will be current and effective.
As Singapore ushers in the Year of the Rabbit, Mr Lee said the country's essence must be preserved while adapting to changing times and circumstances.
Mr Lee concluded his message by wishing all Singaporeans a very happy Year of the Rabbit.
- CNA/de -
they are helping to raise the living cost indeed
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Originally posted by FBFIce:
they are helping to raise the living cost indeed
haha lol -
Oh NO!!!
They are going to increase GST to help the poor again.
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I got solution !
1) Govt should subsidise 80% of the purchase of any bicycle. Bicycle become the preferred transport hub in a 3km radius. More bicycle parking. Tis will save fuel cost and reduce traffic congestion.
2) Turn Jurong Port and Pasir Panjang container terminal into container city. All container stack on top of each other, cut window holes and turn them into steel HBD flats. Demand for container HBD flats will increase supply thereby lower price.
3) Prevent the opening of Angel7030 290 Joo Chiat bars tat prevent men from going back to their wives to make babies. Encourage more Blue film and magazines to boost singaporean interest in sex. Tis will boost fertility rates.
4) Lower income groups be allowed to do side business like extortion, drug peddling and open gambling dens (GST free).
Ok Ok, let be serious. What PM Hsien Loong just said sound as BS as what I just said justnow. No matter wat PAP do, they will only make the poor & lower income suffer more.
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utter rubbish
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Originally posted by Julian.khor:
I got solution !
1) Govt should subsidise 80% of the purchase of any bicycle. Bicycle become the preferred transport hub in a 3km radius. More bicycle parking. Tis will save fuel cost and reduce traffic congestion.
You think this is China.
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Originally posted by gUms:
utter rubbish
Yeah like u. RUbbish. Go fix yer gum b4 u splutter any garbage language from yer garbage mouth.And yer don't contribute anything to society except steal your upstair neighbour's pant for yer own fetish to bite yer gums on.
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
You think this is China.
China got MAGLEV. -
Originally posted by βÎτά:
Oh NO!!!
They are going to increase GST to help the poor again.
likely.
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Pasir Panjang is alrdy forming a mega port to berth 41 vessels
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Originally posted by sbst275:
Pasir Panjang is alrdy forming a mega port to berth 41 vessels
wah.... -
on fertility and marriage issues, it is just not good enough to report on falling statistics....what are the root causes?
No doubt rising cost of living is one of the key causes, the tight legal framework affecting gender interests which they need to balance in tune with changing financial status of today's women and not favouring on just one side of the gender is the other half of the solution...
There is no circumspection of the whole issue - its just not about costs and subsidies alone, neither marketing through dating agencies help much...the programme to resolve that has all failed....they need to look into the one very important aspect i.e. balanced gender interests and a new legal framework to sustain to that effect, and other social psychological phobias which cause delayed marriages or even to remain single...all these have not been sufficiently covered...
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every single year the same old bullshit and they expect dumb S'poreans to believe ???
apparently they do............LOL
let's hope S'poreans finally find their balls this elections........
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It's not as if the opposition is anymore promising.
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looks like the GST will increase
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Originally posted by nfshp253:
It’s not as if the opposition is anymore promising.
at least get more to oppose -
Talk cock la.....ask us to produce babies. Then when the time comes, they will justify their decision to import foreigners by saying we singaporeans don't want to give birth.
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Originally posted by nfshp253:
It’s not as if the opposition is anymore promising.
if you're on the Titanic and it's sinking.......................do you wait for another ocean liner before you jump ship ?
saying the opposition not good enough is always the excuse of ball-less people afraid to vote against PAP.....................