Most important Qn the Oppos should ask about the budget 2009
In my own opinion, the NMP and even the opposition MP should ask this question in the parliament.
1. Is one of the purposes of the 2009 budget to sweeten the grounds for an snap election later in the year?
If PAP say no and there is really a snap election held in 2009, we can say that PAP can lie now, they can lie about election promises.
If PAP say yes, we can prepare for the new election 2009 and not to speculate and caught unaware by snap election. Also we will know budget 2009 is also used to "buy votes".
I'll like to see how PAP will worm out of this question.
Its a bit too obvious a question, even if its warranted.
But I'm wary of any obvious showing of red flags by the opposition to the ruling party, especially about elections.
My two main question to them are basically this: is this budget gonna be a trickle down version, where the money would go through these big state-owned companies, and trickle down to the SMEs- or would this be directly to these SMEs themselves by means of transferring money, like the rental rebates, to the bank accounts of these companies?
Because if its trickle down, it's slower and thus in short, the effect would be minimal, and it won't do much for these SMEs and for the economy. The workers would be especially be affected by the slowness of the money transfer if its done through Capitaland, SMRT etc.
The second question would be this: is it really a stimulus package or a political pork budget designed to benefit those who are closest to the government inner circle? Because if the money is given, for example, to upper class people who don't need these tax rebates, then the money is not gonna be recycled back into the economy.
I mean, if a supergrade civil servant gets a few thousand dollars in tax cuts or rebates, if he spends it in London, Singaporeans obviously won't benefit.
And in terms of infrastructure, if Marine Parade under SM Goh gets another 6 storey car park building when they don't really need it, while Hougang is again neglected by the government for lift upgrading, then this is pork money designated to appease SM Goh, and well connected grassroot leaders.
That'd certainly send a wrong message- and that's why the second question is just as important: is this a real stimulus package or is it pork? If its pork, then I'm afraid we will repeat the mistakes Japan did during the 90s, whose numerous stimulus packages were basically pork and therefore didn't really help jump start the stagnant Japanese economy.
