CNA - 28 Feb 07
MPs warn of the danger of crutch mentality among low income
group
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 28 February 2007 2114
hrs
On the second day of the Budget debate in Parliament, MPs warned of
the danger of a crutch mentality developing among the low income
group.
And they urged Singaporeans to look at the various support schemes
announced in the Budget as a means to help them be
self-reliant.
There continued to be all-round support for new schemes in the
Budget - like the Workfare - including qualified support from the
opposition camp.
However MP for Potong Pasir Chiam See
Tong and Non-Constituency Sylvia Lim argued that revenue from
government land sales could have been used to finance social
programmes, instead of raising the Goods and Services Tax to seven
percent.
Even the young want to benefit from it.
Teo Ser Luck, Parliamentary Secretary, Community Development, Youth
and Sports Ministry, said: "Two young student 16 years of age asked
me a question: everybody seems to getting some bonus, what about
us? They said: 'We work part-time and income is below $1,500,
shouldn't we get financial help to have more pocket money?' Of
course I went on to explain about the principles of the Budget, why
and where the help is going to and what is in it for them.
"As in education and whatever is for their parents would channel
down to them as well. We do not want to build a generation of
takers. We need a generation of earners, (who) earn their keep and
givers, those who share."
Workfare also recognised social realities and this includes the
impact of globalisation on the widening income gap.
NMP Eunice Olsen cautioned that the politics of class and social
inequality, caused by an accelerating income divide, would be
detrimental to our national interests.
She said, "There will always be income disparity, but it is how we
manage it so it does not become an income divide that is entrenched
and cannot be bridged, that counts."
MPs stressed that lifelong handouts cannot be the solution.
Mr Arthur Fong, MP - West Coast GRC, cited a constituent who was
reluctant to return to the workforce as her children's education
needs were already met by various assistance schemes.
He said: "While the government constantly comes up with programmes
to help the needy, we must ensure that the needy have the self
determination to help themselves. I am therefore heartened; the
Minister reminded the House that our people should not lose their
self reliance. This is crucial for us to flourish as a
nation."
And some constituencies are already doing this.
MP for Tampines GRC, Irene Ng, said: "In Tampines Changkat, we have
started a Sunday market for retirees and housewives to set up
stalls to earn some pocket money. With some funds, we can do more
to train the housewives and retirees there to be more enterprising
and to also promote the market and their wares."
While much of the Budget debate has been focused on ways to help
the low income help themselves, some MPs said the government should
make it easier for the less educated or lower skilled workers to be
self-reliant in ways that are within their capability.
Wee Siew Khim, MP - Ang Mo Kio GRC, said: "Make it easier for these
people to become small stall holders or hawkers. The present
approach of tendering out all stalls in the market and hawker
centres make it almost impossible for those with limited means to
attempt to start making a living this way. Maybe a cooperative to
facilitate the entry of the small, poor stallholders and hawkers
could be looked into."
Even the elderly, MP Lily Neo felt, can be self-reliant with proper
retirement financing, such as a compulsory Universal Annuity
Insurance Scheme.
She said: "This scheme makes it mandatory for Singaporeans to pay
for a universal insurance fund using a small percentage of their
CPF. Contributions could be progressive in nature, and lower income
groups could receive Government top-ups to fund their
contribution."
She added: "I would like to suggest a mandatory Universal Annuity
Insurance Scheme to ensure that all Singaporeans are self-reliant,
and able to provide for basic retirement needs. Members are already
allowed to use their CPF for investments, housing purchases and
MediShield.
"This scheme establishes a common insurance fund that is
redistributive in nature. Contributions could be progressive in
nature, and lower income groups could receive Government top-ups to
fund their contribution. The advantages of such a scheme are better
economies of scale, lower premiums and higher payouts."
Second Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam will respond to the
MPs' suggestions on Thursday. - CNA/ch
source from CNA
Non-Constituency Sylvia Lim argued that revenue from government
land sales could have been used to finance social programmes,
instead of raising the Goods and Services Tax to seven percent at
least hold water as compared to the MIW. instead she was bombarded
with hokkien "ai pang sai ka ki chuay jam ban". didin't the MIW
says that the GST increased to 7% was only thought upon after the
General Election.
the quality of the new generation MP performance is really below
par