Dr Neo, an MP for Jalan Besar GRC, appealed to the Minister of
State for Community Development, Youth and Sports for more help for
those with long-term problems in making ends meet.
She also asked the minister to confirm a survey's findings that
there were 100,000 such households.
Mrs Yu-Foo replied by citing a list of help schemes for the
poorest 20 per cent of Singaporeans and, in some cases, those
earning more.
Mrs Yu-Foo also said: 'Our ministry's concern is...how far you
want to cover.
'You want to cover up to 30 per cent, 40 per cent or 50 per
cent?'
Just as Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi was moving on to
the next question, Dr Neo rose and insisted on her right to reply
to what she saw as Mrs Yu-Foo's challenge to her.
'I have to come in here because I was asked a question,' Dr Neo
said.
'I'd like to object to the fact that I was asked...what I wanted
the assistance for; wasn't 20 per cent enough, 30 per cent
enough?'
She added: 'I definitely never asked for 30 per cent or 40 per
cent of assistance to Singaporeans, and I object to being asked
that kind of question.'
Mrs Yu-Foo then clarified that her question was not directed at
Dr Neo in particular, but at Singaporeans in general.
'I didn't say Dr Lily Neo asks for 30 per cent...My question was
generally to Singaporeans, whether we want to cover beyond 20 per
cent.'
The exchange took place as the Trade and Industry Ministry
released figures that showed rising prices in the first half of
this year had hit the bottom 20 per cent of Singaporeans the
hardest.
They faced an inflation rate of 7.4 per cent in the first half
of this year, compared to 6.9 per cent for the middle 60 per cent
and top 20 per cent of households by income.
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What is media value in this article? Is there an absolute need
to publish these insignificant squabbles? Or
are Singaporeans getting more interested in the drama than the
Government's primary role.
