Hougang resident: I don't get upgrading, so can I pay less tax?
Mr Seah Yin Hwa, 25, a fourth-year NUS engineering student who lives in Hougang SMC, asked the Prime Minister about upgrading programmes for opposition-held wards, and if not getting to benefit from the government scheme means he can pay less tax.
Mr Seah: Good evening, Mr Lee. Just like many people in the audience, I serve my NS, and when I graduate this year, I'll be paying taxes.
But I guess the main difference from everyone here is that I come from an SMC, or single-member constituency, where the majority of the people have decided to pick a 'Teochew nang' (dialect for Teochew person) who doesn't wear a white uniform.
So, my question is: Why are we penalised for our choice of MP?
PM Lee: How are you penalised?
Student: When it comes to upgrading, what is being told to us is that we don't have the funds to actually go ahead with lift upgrading, as well as shelters to the bus stops. When I look across the road to Aljunied GRC, they have everything. (Audience laughs)
PM Lee: Low Thia Khiang says they have no difficulty funding the lift upgrading programme.
Mr Seah: No, my question is...
PM Lee: Your question is, why is the opposition ward not treated at least as good, or maybe even better than the PAP ward? And the answer is that there has to be a distinction. Because the PAP wards supported the Government and the policies which delivered these good things.
All the basics apply to everybody - your roads, your trains, your houses, your schools, your hospitals, your security and defence. But the extras - which come down to the upgrading programmes - it's a national programme. Between the people who voted and supported the programme and the Government, and the people who didn't, I think if we went and put yours before the PAP constituencies, it would be an injustice.
Mr Seah: So, having said that, can I pay less tax, and maybe take one or two years off my NS? (Audience laughs, applauds)
PM Lee: You are... (laughs, pauses, more laughter from the audience) How shall I put this? If you are on an offshore island and not part of the SAF security defence, such a thing could be imagined.
But the SAF, defence, taxes, all the facilities which have been provided, go to everybody. Priority, first and second, who comes first, who has to wait. Somebody has to wait.
Moderator: Okay... Can we have the next question?
PM Lee: (Interrupts) But you can do something about it, you know. You don't have to keep voting for people not in white-on-white. (More laughter from the audience)
Mr Seah Yin Hwa, 25, a fourth-year NUS engineering student who lives in Hougang SMC, asked the Prime Minister about upgrading programmes for opposition-held wards, and if not getting to benefit from the government scheme means he can pay less tax.
Mr Seah: Good evening, Mr Lee. Just like many people in the audience, I serve my NS, and when I graduate this year, I'll be paying taxes.
But I guess the main difference from everyone here is that I come from an SMC, or single-member constituency, where the majority of the people have decided to pick a 'Teochew nang' (dialect for Teochew person) who doesn't wear a white uniform.
So, my question is: Why are we penalised for our choice of MP?
PM Lee: How are you penalised?
Student: When it comes to upgrading, what is being told to us is that we don't have the funds to actually go ahead with lift upgrading, as well as shelters to the bus stops. When I look across the road to Aljunied GRC, they have everything. (Audience laughs)
PM Lee: Low Thia Khiang says they have no difficulty funding the lift upgrading programme.
Mr Seah: No, my question is...
PM Lee: Your question is, why is the opposition ward not treated at least as good, or maybe even better than the PAP ward? And the answer is that there has to be a distinction. Because the PAP wards supported the Government and the policies which delivered these good things.
All the basics apply to everybody - your roads, your trains, your houses, your schools, your hospitals, your security and defence. But the extras - which come down to the upgrading programmes - it's a national programme. Between the people who voted and supported the programme and the Government, and the people who didn't, I think if we went and put yours before the PAP constituencies, it would be an injustice.
Mr Seah: So, having said that, can I pay less tax, and maybe take one or two years off my NS? (Audience laughs, applauds)
PM Lee: You are... (laughs, pauses, more laughter from the audience) How shall I put this? If you are on an offshore island and not part of the SAF security defence, such a thing could be imagined.
But the SAF, defence, taxes, all the facilities which have been provided, go to everybody. Priority, first and second, who comes first, who has to wait. Somebody has to wait.
Moderator: Okay... Can we have the next question?
PM Lee: (Interrupts) But you can do something about it, you know. You don't have to keep voting for people not in white-on-white. (More laughter from the audience)
