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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - SDP:Cut defence spending and ministerial</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>metalslug84 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>5:53 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 5) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>44635.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_635570.html
Cut defence spending and ministerial salaries: SDP
<!-- by line -->By Tessa Wong
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File photo of Dr Vincent Wijeysingha speaking at a Singapore Democratic Party rally at Hong Lim Park. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
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CUT defence spending and ministerial salaries, and spend more on education, healthcare and social benefits.
These are among the many proposals in the Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) shadow budget, released on Wednesday as a counter-proposal to the Government's Budget due on Friday.
The project, which took about three months to conceive, was led and presented by one of the party's newest members Dr Vincent Wijeysingha.
One key suggestion is slashing the $11.46 billion defence budget by about 20 per cent yielding about $2 billion. The SDP reasons, in its budget paper, that enhancing relationships with neighbours would reduce the need for expenditure on military capabilities.
Ministerial salaries would also be slashed heavily to yield an estimated $30 million. The SDP suggests pegging the Prime Minister's salary to about $60,000 a month, with other ministers' salaries reduced proportionately.
It also suggests cutting out the positions of Minister Mentor, Senior Minister, and Ministers without Portfolio in the Prime Minister's Office.
Other suggestions include: a tiered GST system; a Singaporeans First hiring policy where employers must proritise hiring Singaporeans over foreigners; and a focus on building up small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and niche sectors such as green technology.
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Cut defence spending and ministerial salaries: SDP
<!-- by line -->By Tessa Wong
<!-- end by line --><!-- end left side bar -->
<!-- story content : start -->
CUT defence spending and ministerial salaries, and spend more on education, healthcare and social benefits.
These are among the many proposals in the Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) shadow budget, released on Wednesday as a counter-proposal to the Government's Budget due on Friday.
The project, which took about three months to conceive, was led and presented by one of the party's newest members Dr Vincent Wijeysingha.
One key suggestion is slashing the $11.46 billion defence budget by about 20 per cent yielding about $2 billion. The SDP reasons, in its budget paper, that enhancing relationships with neighbours would reduce the need for expenditure on military capabilities.
Ministerial salaries would also be slashed heavily to yield an estimated $30 million. The SDP suggests pegging the Prime Minister's salary to about $60,000 a month, with other ministers' salaries reduced proportionately.
It also suggests cutting out the positions of Minister Mentor, Senior Minister, and Ministers without Portfolio in the Prime Minister's Office.
Other suggestions include: a tiered GST system; a Singaporeans First hiring policy where employers must proritise hiring Singaporeans over foreigners; and a focus on building up small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and niche sectors such as green technology.
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