PM Lee chides the Opposition
Low and Chia reproached by Mr Lee for trying to 'score political
points'
Tor Ching Li
[email protected]
PRIME Minister and Finance Minister Lee Hsien Loong turned up the
heat on the Opposition yesterday. Not only did he criticise the
Workers' Party (WP) "time bombs" and manifesto in his round-up
speech, Mr Lee also rebuked both WP chief Low Thia Khiang and
Non-Constituency MP Steve Chia.
.
The former was chided for his "selective memory" and sole interest
in "scoring political points", and the latter was portrayed as a
bank raider for his suggestions for tax cuts and fee waivers.
.
Responding to Mr Low's question as to why the Government could
incur a spending deficit of $2.9 billion while the WP's suggestion
for increased education and healthcare expenditure was labelled
"fiscally irresponsible", Mr Lee said the problem lay in the call
for "an unconditional needs-based welfare safety net" in the WP's
manifesto.
.
"In contrast, this Government lives within its means, without
neglecting its obligations to lower income Singaporeans," he
said.
.
While explaining that the Government's capital receipts from the
statutory boards were sufficient to fund the $2.6 billion Progress
Package without drawing on past reserves or burdening taxpayers, he
went on to say: "(Mr Chia) wants to raid the bank he proposed
cutting all sorts of taxes and fees and (wants to) just declare
that Christmas has arrived."
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Mr Lee also pointed out that Mr Low chose to forget the $7.8
billion worth of assistance measures doled out by the Government
since 2001. Instead, he said, Mr Low had accused the Government of
raising the GST after the last elections.
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"But before we raised the GST, we had also provided $2.7 billion
worth of Economic Restructuring Shares to help Singaporeans cope,"
Mr Lee said. Visibly irked, he then launched into a scathing dose
of Latin: "Mr Low has, to say in Latin, suppressio veri suggestio
falsi suppressed the truth while suggesting what is false!"
.
Pointing out that Mr Low had nothing constructive to say about the
Progress Package unlike Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong Mr Lee
said this "shows he is not really interested in whether
Singaporeans are getting the help they need, only in scoring
political points".
.
"Why make a speech to score political points?" he asked Mr Low.
"There will be an opportunity to do so before the next General
Elections."
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But both Mr Low and Mr Chia persisted with their concerns during
clarification time. Mr Chia asked which chapter or clause in the
Constitution states that land sales go into the reserves and not
the budget position. Mr Low questioned the Government's "ad hoc"
help only in times of Budget surpluses before being put down by
Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House Wong Kan Seng for a
"clarification" that seemed more like a speech.
.
In response to Mr Chia, Mr Lee pointed to a White Paper that states
land sales are to be locked up as past reserves and cannot be
touched. Still, Mr Chia told Today there was a lack of transparency
where national reserves were concerned.
.
"I did not say money should be given out freely. I'm trying to say
that if there is a lot of money then the spending on the people
should reflect it," he said.
.
More than just 2 days
.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng yesterday revealed to the House
that the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee had completed its
report.
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It is now with the Prime Minister, and a copy would be sent to the
MPs within the week.
.
The report would map out the wards and the number of MPs for each
constituency and reveal if any constituencies are absorbed into
others or if any new ones are formed. It is usually released just
before the polls are called.
.
Non-Constituency MP Steve Chia, who is the Secretary-General of the
National Solidarity Party, wanted to know how long the campaigning
period for the coming General Election will be, and if there would
be "at least three months" between the release of the boundaries
report and the dissolution of Parliament which precedes the
issuance of the writ of election.
.
In response, Mr Wong said: "I am very certain what was experienced
in 2001, where there were only two days between the publication of
the electoral boundary report and the dissolution of Parliament,
will not happen this time.
.
"But if the Prime Minister decides and when he decides to have the
election and dissolve Parliament, I think all of us will know of
it."
Low and Chia reproached by Mr Lee for trying to 'score political
points'
Tor Ching Li
[email protected]
