Singaporeans’ wishes for Budget
2011
Dr Amy Khor
SINGAPORE : Rising cost of living, housing affordability,
widening income gap and healthcare costs for the elderly are the
top concerns expressed by Singaporeans ahead of Budget 2011.
A pre—Budget dialogue session was held on Wednesday evening as
part of the government feedback channel REACH’s exercise — which
had close to 100 participants.
Chairman Dr Amy Khor told Channel NewsAsia it had received some
400 inputs since the beginning of this month.
Suggestions included a reduction in personal income tax, income
tax rebates, more service and conservancy rebates, childcare
subsidies, housing grants, higher assistance payout to the needy
and elderly, as well as skills upgrading and training
incentives.
Asked if it would be a pre—election Budget, Dr Khor said
expectations on the ground are high.
Dr Amy Khor, chairman, REACH, said: "If you judge by our past
record, whenever there is economic growth we’ll share the fruits of
economic growth with Singaporeans at large, election or no
election.
"Because the economy rebounded stronger and faster than
expected, I think that many feedback participants and also on our
REACH website and other platforms would be asking for direct
sharing of some of the budget surpluses due to strong economic
growth."
— CNA/al
Source:
http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4523400
