It has become increasing depressive to live in this
country.
Not that I did not want to help the poor but when I hear this
kind of news... I am doubtful if the "help" is good enough for the
poor and HOW MUCH it is going to cost the us and the
poor.. Take $2 from us give us $0.50.
======================================================
PM Lee says govt will help mitigate rising
costs of food
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia |
Posted: 03 February 2008 2258 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
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PM Lee says govt will help mitigate
rising costs of food
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has assured
Singaporeans that the government will help mitigate the rising
costs of food.
Speaking at the Teck Ghee Lunar New Year celebrations, Mr Lee said
revenues have been strong and the government will be distributing
help – especially to the poor and elderly – in the upcoming Budget
debate.
But Singaporeans must also make necessary adjustments.
Mr Lee said: "I expect the inflation to be higher this year than
last year, especially in the first half of this year. Last year,
the inflation was about 2 percent. This year, it may be 5 percent,
it may be even more."
Singapore is not the only country experiencing rising food prices.
Prices in China and India are also going up, due to affluence and
more consumption demand.
Adverse weather conditions in Australia and China are also sending
food prices upwards.
Some measures that the government will undertake to ease the
situation are to diversify the country's food sources and encourage
consumers to switch to house brands, which are cheaper and give
better value.
Lower income families can expect relief in the form of the
government's Workfare Scheme, which paid out S$150 million last
month, benefiting some 290,000 workers.
The Public Assistance Scheme is also being reviewed.
Mr Lee said: "Most importantly, we need to grow the economy so that
incomes will go up. Last year we had a good year, so wages, bonuses
went up. And NTUC did a survey and found that last year, the
bonuses which workers were getting were the highest bonuses in any
year since 1990 - which means nearly in 20 years, we have not had
such good bonuses.
"Lots of people are working, unemployment has come right down. We
had 230,000 more jobs last year and unemployment has gone down to
1.6 percent."
The prime minister added that being an open economy that imports
all its food, Singapore cannot simply control the prices of food
essentials as this will hurt the retailers and suppliers, resulting
in shortages and queues.
And if the government subsidises these essentials, it will be
costly and ineffective as the subsidies would also go to those who
are not poor.
Mr Lee said while the government will help, Singaporeans must also
do their part to work together to keep the country strong and
competitive.
- CNA/so
======================================================
MPs, volunteers distribute hong baos and food
packs to needy
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 03 February 2008 1853 hrs
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Photos of
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MPs, volunteers distribute hong baos
and food packs to needy
SINGAPORE: Many members of parliament (MPs), ministers and
volunteers spent the last Sunday in the Year of the Pig fanning out
across the island to distribute hong baos (red packets) and food
packs to the needy.
A total of 150 public assistance recipients from Kolam Ayer were
treated to lunch, singing and dance performances. They also
received NTUC gift vouchers, mandarin oranges and festive food
stuff.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim was there
to wish them good health.
Over at the Sree Narayana Mission Home in Yishun, Health Minister
Khaw Boon Wan presented new wheelchairs and hong baos to residents.
Low-income residents in the area also received food hampers worth
S$150.
Mr Khaw said the Health Ministry is looking into building more
nursing homes in housing estates. This is to make it easier for
children to visit their aged parents regularly.
"With population growth and ageing, you have to keep up with
demand. But you don't want to overbuild because it will be too easy
for children to send their parents to nursing homes. The best
solution is to allow the elderly to age at home," he said.
Help was also at hand for the elderly in Bedok. 44 of those who are
on the Public Assistance Scheme received hong baos from their MP
who said there are several schemes to help Singaporeans cope with
temporary hardships.
Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar said: "We have many schemes –
whether it's Comcare or schemes under the community development
council (CDC) and within the grassroots organisations – so we're
able to cushion them in times of difficulty until their period of
difficulty is over."
The South East CDC, NTUC Fairprice and Hwa Chong Institution also
got together to help low-income families and single elderly persons
cope with rising costs.
Under its "Food Samaritan" project, the students got Fairprice
shoppers to sponsor some 1,900 food and non-food packages which
were then distributed to the needy in the district in time for the
Lunar New Year celebrations.
- CNA/so
======================================================
