By Tan Qiuyi | Posted: 30
January 2011 1535 hrs
SINGAPORE: During his visit to the Yio Chu Kang
division on Sunday morning, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was
asked about possible goodies in next month's Budget to be delivered
in Parliament on the February 18.
He preferred to leave the details to Finance Minister, Tharman
Shanmugaratnam.
But Mr Lee said that Singaporeans will receive the news in good
time.
He added that 2010 was a good year in which the Singapore economy
grew by 14.7 per cent. More details of the economic performance are
expected to be released just before Budget Day by the Trade and
Industry Ministry.
When asked at a separate event, Mr Tharman said the Budget will be
for the good of Singapore in the long term and cover more than just
one group of Singaporeans.
He also noted that people here are feeling the impact of rising
inflation.
"It'll be something good for Singapore, but we don't shape budgets
just for the short term. The budgets are very important about
strengthening Singapore for the long term.Inflation has picked up,
it's all across the region, look at the news China, India,
Indonesia, that's something we have to live with. Fortunately in
Singapore, it's been a lower rate of inflation than elsewhere
because we have a relatively strong currency.
But it's uncomfortable for many people and we know that and we make
sure we help families where we can...The budget is something that
we plan not just for the short term but for the good of Singapore
in the long term. We try to cover more than one group, it's not
just focused on one group of Singaporeans," said Mr
Shanmugaratnam.
Mr Shanmugaratnam was speaking to reporters at the launch of newly
completed cycling tracks in Taman Jurong.
-CNA/ac
