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PM promises more help to cope with cost of living
By Li Xueying, Political Correspondent
THE Government is zeroing in on low-income households to ensure they can cope with the rising cost of living, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.
He added that the Government knows who the most needy people are, and that it has the resources to help them.
'We know what to do, and we know who the people are who need the help,' he said, citing various government welfare schemes.
Speaking during a community event in his Teck Ghee ward in Ang Mo Kio GRC, he also hinted that those who are better off will get a helping hand too.
'The broader range of Singaporeans - well, we'll see how things go and what is necessary to be done,' he said.
The Government is expected to unveil its annual Budget statement next month. Most observers believe it will contain goodies for a wide range of Singaporeans.
Mr Lee, however, declined to elaborate more on what Singaporeans could expect in the coming Budget.
'I am not the Finance Minister and I have not seen Tharman's proposals yet,' he said, referring to Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. 'I have some idea what he is going to do, but I think it's best that we decide carefully and then announce properly.'
Asked if Budget Day would be Feb 18, he said it would be 'around' that date.
He acknowledged that inflation is of concern to many households at present, but pointed out that Singapore also weathered high inflation in 2008.
That year, the wholesale price of rice increased by half, and the prices of many other staples also rose. But prices stabilised after a few months, he noted.
'And I expect that to happen again this time,' he said, noting that the current bout of inflation stemmed from external factors such as bad weather in food-producing countries.
He also placed the rising prices within the context of a recovering economy with a low unemployment rate: 'I think one good thing this year is that everybody has jobs. Unemployment is very low, about 2 per cent. So finding work and earning pay is not a problem. That's a big plus.'
Yesterday, 280 needy residents in Teck Ghee received from Mr Lee, their MP, hongbao containing $100 in cash and $50 worth of FairPrice vouchers.
One recipient, housewife Habsah Abdul Hamid, 51, was there with her daughter Siti Noriza, 19, a student at the Institute of Technical Education.
The single mother said the cash would go towards her health expenses and more pocket money for her two children. They used to get $2 a day, but now get $4.
Miss Siti explained: 'In the past, $1.50 or $2 could get us a meal of rice with meat and vegetables. Now, the same thing costs $3 in the school canteen.'
Mr Lee also toured Teck Ghee's wet market and hawker centre for two hours to greet residents - his annual practice in the lead-up to Chinese New Year.
Residents grasped his hand, posed for photos, and held out their babies to be carried.
There were also some, like housewife Toh Bee Yen, 48, who took the chance to ask him for help. She complained that a ledge blocked her flat's ventilation.
Later in the morning, Mr Lee opened an activity centre for elderly residents in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10. 'We need more of such centres, where old folks can stay active, chit-chat, play mahjong and have a meaningful life,' he said.
The Government will do its part to build the infrastructure, he said, but families must also take care of their elderly.
Yio Chu Kang MP Seng Han Thong told The Straits Times that plans are afoot to set up a similar centre in Yio Chu Kang. He said: 'We will learn from this one, and see how else we can improve on it.'
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By Li Xueying, Political Correspondent
THE Government is zeroing in on low-income households to ensure they can cope with the rising cost of living, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.
He added that the Government knows who the most needy people are, and that it has the resources to help them.
'We know what to do, and we know who the people are who need the help,' he said, citing various government welfare schemes.
Speaking during a community event in his Teck Ghee ward in Ang Mo Kio GRC, he also hinted that those who are better off will get a helping hand too.
'The broader range of Singaporeans - well, we'll see how things go and what is necessary to be done,' he said.
The Government is expected to unveil its annual Budget statement next month. Most observers believe it will contain goodies for a wide range of Singaporeans.
Mr Lee, however, declined to elaborate more on what Singaporeans could expect in the coming Budget.
'I am not the Finance Minister and I have not seen Tharman's proposals yet,' he said, referring to Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. 'I have some idea what he is going to do, but I think it's best that we decide carefully and then announce properly.'
Asked if Budget Day would be Feb 18, he said it would be 'around' that date.
He acknowledged that inflation is of concern to many households at present, but pointed out that Singapore also weathered high inflation in 2008.
That year, the wholesale price of rice increased by half, and the prices of many other staples also rose. But prices stabilised after a few months, he noted.
'And I expect that to happen again this time,' he said, noting that the current bout of inflation stemmed from external factors such as bad weather in food-producing countries.
He also placed the rising prices within the context of a recovering economy with a low unemployment rate: 'I think one good thing this year is that everybody has jobs. Unemployment is very low, about 2 per cent. So finding work and earning pay is not a problem. That's a big plus.'
Yesterday, 280 needy residents in Teck Ghee received from Mr Lee, their MP, hongbao containing $100 in cash and $50 worth of FairPrice vouchers.
One recipient, housewife Habsah Abdul Hamid, 51, was there with her daughter Siti Noriza, 19, a student at the Institute of Technical Education.
The single mother said the cash would go towards her health expenses and more pocket money for her two children. They used to get $2 a day, but now get $4.
Miss Siti explained: 'In the past, $1.50 or $2 could get us a meal of rice with meat and vegetables. Now, the same thing costs $3 in the school canteen.'
Mr Lee also toured Teck Ghee's wet market and hawker centre for two hours to greet residents - his annual practice in the lead-up to Chinese New Year.
Residents grasped his hand, posed for photos, and held out their babies to be carried.
There were also some, like housewife Toh Bee Yen, 48, who took the chance to ask him for help. She complained that a ledge blocked her flat's ventilation.
Later in the morning, Mr Lee opened an activity centre for elderly residents in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10. 'We need more of such centres, where old folks can stay active, chit-chat, play mahjong and have a meaningful life,' he said.
The Government will do its part to build the infrastructure, he said, but families must also take care of their elderly.
Yio Chu Kang MP Seng Han Thong told The Straits Times that plans are afoot to set up a similar centre in Yio Chu Kang. He said: 'We will learn from this one, and see how else we can improve on it.'
[email protected]
