<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>July 21, 2009
ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Help cover basic costs
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to last Thursday's report, 'No need for additional stimulus, says minister', and applaud the Government for implementing economic packages to help Singaporeans cope with the economic downturn. These include GST Credits and Senior Citizens' Bonus for 2007 to 2010 as part of the economic package. There are also rebates on conservancy charges, property tax and utility bills.
No doubt recent indications show an economic recovery, such as strong demand for new private property developments, higher investments in shares and fewer people turning up at Meet-the- People Sessions to seek help from their Member of Parliament. However, the less well-off still do not benefit from this recovery.
Moreover, indications point to inflation in Asia later this year, due to the recent rebound in oil and commodity prices. Employers are also sticking to a cautious approach in the employment market. Needless to say, unemployment and retrenchment rates may rise further due to these uncertainties.
In a recent speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong mentioned that the economic outlook is still uncertain.
Therefore, before any decision is made to hold back further stimulus packages from the public, I suggest that the Government continue to help people by not raising utility bills, by lowering public transport costs and continuing to give rebates on conservancy bills.
Prolonging these stimulus packages until the economy is on a more stable footing will help people in a positive way and give them encouragement that the Government is helping them pull through. In turn, the public must stand by the Government if and when tough decisions have to be made.
Priscilla Sharon Hendriks (Miss)
ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Help cover basic costs
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to last Thursday's report, 'No need for additional stimulus, says minister', and applaud the Government for implementing economic packages to help Singaporeans cope with the economic downturn. These include GST Credits and Senior Citizens' Bonus for 2007 to 2010 as part of the economic package. There are also rebates on conservancy charges, property tax and utility bills.
No doubt recent indications show an economic recovery, such as strong demand for new private property developments, higher investments in shares and fewer people turning up at Meet-the- People Sessions to seek help from their Member of Parliament. However, the less well-off still do not benefit from this recovery.
Moreover, indications point to inflation in Asia later this year, due to the recent rebound in oil and commodity prices. Employers are also sticking to a cautious approach in the employment market. Needless to say, unemployment and retrenchment rates may rise further due to these uncertainties.
In a recent speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong mentioned that the economic outlook is still uncertain.
Therefore, before any decision is made to hold back further stimulus packages from the public, I suggest that the Government continue to help people by not raising utility bills, by lowering public transport costs and continuing to give rebates on conservancy bills.
Prolonging these stimulus packages until the economy is on a more stable footing will help people in a positive way and give them encouragement that the Government is helping them pull through. In turn, the public must stand by the Government if and when tough decisions have to be made.
Priscilla Sharon Hendriks (Miss)
