After crap hits the fan, the cleaning up only just
started..
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Target help at those who need it
By Leong Wee Keat , TODAY | Posted: 29 January 2007 1312
hrs
Michael Palmer said he will look into what can be done for students
to offset the upcoming GST hike
Identify those who have defaulted on their HDB loan repayments or
have not been able to pay their utilities bills when deciding who
should get a bigger slice of the Goods and Services Tax (GST)
offset package instead of sticking to stark criteria of personal
income or flat size as in the past.
This unorthodox suggestion of how to allocate Government relief
came from economist Tan Khee Giap, who was speaking at a People's
Association Youth Movement (Paym) policy forum yesterday,
He suggested a "country-wide record", monitored by a centralised
agency, be set up to monitor those people who regularly turn to
agencies for aid and, hence, are likely to be in real need of
help.
"I suggest that you look at people and how many months they do not
pay their PUB bills; the number of people who default on their HDB
rental or HDB instalments," said the Nanyang Technological
University don. "These are all valid indicators that (they) cannot
make it in day to day (life)
and ought to be helped."
Going beyond the offset package, Associate Professor Tan said that
while there are many social assistance schemes to help the poor,
the problem is to improve their access to such help.
He suggested that a one-stop centre, providing information on
government and welfare groups' assistance schemes, be set up.
Currently doing research on how easily Singaporeans tap such help,
Prof Tan noted that those in the lower-income group could easily
double, or even triple, their monthly source of funds if only
they were able to tap into all the schemes available to them.
Yesterday's forum was attended by about 80 youths between the ages
of 19 and 35, who felt the young should not be left out of the
offset package for the 2-percentage-point GST hike.
Temasek Polytechnic student Faris Basharahil pointed out that
students are consumers, too. Yet, unlike adults who receive offset
package benefits, students receive little direct help, said the
19-year-old.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Pasir Ris-Punggol Group
Representation Constituency Michael Palmer agreed with his
concerns. Speaking to reporters later, Mr Palmer said he would look
into what could be done for the students.
"Yes, we do a lot in terms of indirect investment in them,
education, transport, it's all subsidised ... But, directly, the
students feel, 'Hey what am I getting? Everybody is getting a
Progress Package, an offset package, what am I getting?'" he
said.
Noting the previous GST increases, industry development manager
Ricky Ng also asked during the forum whether the impending increase
was "the end of the road" for GST hikes.
And, if there is to be a future increase, Mr Ng, 33, said: "Why
take your medication once or twice? Why don't we just take an
injection and call it a day?"
In reply, Mr Palmer said he would need a crystal ball to predict
any further GST hikes, and these would depend on the added
expenditure needed for the development of services and the physical
infrastructure. - TODAY/sh
