http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,191018,00.html?
S'poreans prefer instant relief like GST credits
By Tan May Ping
January 28, 2009
TNP INFOGRAPHICS: JONATHAN ROBERTS
HELPING businesses survive the sharp downturn and saving jobs formed the thrust of this year's Budget.
But to the man in the street, cash in hand is what matters.
This emerged from a random poll of 200 Singaporeans conducted by The New Paper over the weekend.
When asked which of the Budget goodies made them most happy, almost a third singled out the doubling of GST credits.
The reason: It served their immediate needs.
As civil servant Preeti Rai, 23, put it: 'It is the only item that I can benefit directly from.'
In addition to what Singaporeans will get in July as part of the 2007 GST Offset Package, there will be one more payout this year.
This payment, to be made on 1 Mar, will cost the Government $580 million.
The next favourite Budget goody was the Jobs Credit scheme, to help companies with their wage bills.
One in four of those polled favoured this innovative measure, under which the Government will pay 12 per cent of the first $2,500 of the wages of citizens and permanent residents.
The reason for their choice: It would help stave off retrenchments.
The $4.5 billion temporary wage subsidy is the single biggest item in the Budget, and is equivalent to a 9 percentage point cut in employers' CPF contributions.
Hope
It gives hope even to soon-to-be job seekers like undergraduate Lee Ting Jun.
Mr Lee said: 'As a student about to graduate, I am concerned about employment prospects, and this scheme will definitely boost my chances of finding a job in the future.
'With the cost of employment now lower, employers might be more willing to employ Singaporean workers during this financial crisis, and this directly benefits me.'
The other Budget measures that people polled were pleased about were again those that would help them save money.
Some picked the property tax rebate, personal income tax rebate, and others the service and conservancy charge rebates for households.
A handful were heartened that the Government is looking to the future and will invest in infrastructure, health care and education.
As a mother, housewife Madam Ivy Neo, 44, felt it was important to invest in children.
Madam Neo said: 'There are children who are restricted in many areas because of this financial crisis. If children are enriched because of government aid, it will naturally help our economy improve in the long term.'
Another interviewee, Emeritus Professor Lee Seng Lip at the National University of Singapore, 84, said that a country cannot achieve economic development without good infrastructure.
'This is the reason why Singapore has done so well economically in the last 20 to 30 years,' Prof Lee said.
'Building roads and bridges will create more jobs, and is necessary as it leads to long-term economic benefits.'
Tapping into past reserves caught the attention of only six of those interviewed.
Mr Melvin Cher, 31, who is a teacher, said he felt better about the uncertain times knowing that there are enough reserves that can be used if needed.
Mr Cher said: 'It is heartening to see how much has been put in place to help the common Singaporean cope. However, I'm not sure if these measures are quick fixes rather that long-term solutions.'
Ironically, despite the massive $20.5 billion bonanza, 10 of those interviewed were more excited by news that bus and train fares are set to go down this year.
The announcement came on Friday, just a day after the Budget.
Line manager John Tang, 46, said: 'The Budget doesn't seem to affect me much because it is targeting businesses. I am more interested in transport fares because it would help my family more.'
Out of the 200 polled, only 13 people were unimpressed with the Budget measures.
Mechanical engineer Patrick Liow, 51, said the Government should have dipped more into the reserves, and given out vouchers which he felt would have been of more use.
Additional reporting by Stacey Chia, Eoin Ee, Joanna Hor, Bernice Huang, Julian Lee, Sing Keng Loon, Audrey Tan, Pearly Tan, Su Vien Tan and Geraldine Yeo
S'poreans prefer instant relief like GST credits
By Tan May Ping
January 28, 2009
TNP INFOGRAPHICS: JONATHAN ROBERTS
HELPING businesses survive the sharp downturn and saving jobs formed the thrust of this year's Budget.
But to the man in the street, cash in hand is what matters.
This emerged from a random poll of 200 Singaporeans conducted by The New Paper over the weekend.
When asked which of the Budget goodies made them most happy, almost a third singled out the doubling of GST credits.
The reason: It served their immediate needs.
As civil servant Preeti Rai, 23, put it: 'It is the only item that I can benefit directly from.'
In addition to what Singaporeans will get in July as part of the 2007 GST Offset Package, there will be one more payout this year.
This payment, to be made on 1 Mar, will cost the Government $580 million.
The next favourite Budget goody was the Jobs Credit scheme, to help companies with their wage bills.
One in four of those polled favoured this innovative measure, under which the Government will pay 12 per cent of the first $2,500 of the wages of citizens and permanent residents.
The reason for their choice: It would help stave off retrenchments.
The $4.5 billion temporary wage subsidy is the single biggest item in the Budget, and is equivalent to a 9 percentage point cut in employers' CPF contributions.
Hope
It gives hope even to soon-to-be job seekers like undergraduate Lee Ting Jun.
Mr Lee said: 'As a student about to graduate, I am concerned about employment prospects, and this scheme will definitely boost my chances of finding a job in the future.
'With the cost of employment now lower, employers might be more willing to employ Singaporean workers during this financial crisis, and this directly benefits me.'
The other Budget measures that people polled were pleased about were again those that would help them save money.
Some picked the property tax rebate, personal income tax rebate, and others the service and conservancy charge rebates for households.
A handful were heartened that the Government is looking to the future and will invest in infrastructure, health care and education.
As a mother, housewife Madam Ivy Neo, 44, felt it was important to invest in children.
Madam Neo said: 'There are children who are restricted in many areas because of this financial crisis. If children are enriched because of government aid, it will naturally help our economy improve in the long term.'
Another interviewee, Emeritus Professor Lee Seng Lip at the National University of Singapore, 84, said that a country cannot achieve economic development without good infrastructure.
'This is the reason why Singapore has done so well economically in the last 20 to 30 years,' Prof Lee said.
'Building roads and bridges will create more jobs, and is necessary as it leads to long-term economic benefits.'
Tapping into past reserves caught the attention of only six of those interviewed.
Mr Melvin Cher, 31, who is a teacher, said he felt better about the uncertain times knowing that there are enough reserves that can be used if needed.
Mr Cher said: 'It is heartening to see how much has been put in place to help the common Singaporean cope. However, I'm not sure if these measures are quick fixes rather that long-term solutions.'
Ironically, despite the massive $20.5 billion bonanza, 10 of those interviewed were more excited by news that bus and train fares are set to go down this year.
The announcement came on Friday, just a day after the Budget.
Line manager John Tang, 46, said: 'The Budget doesn't seem to affect me much because it is targeting businesses. I am more interested in transport fares because it would help my family more.'
Out of the 200 polled, only 13 people were unimpressed with the Budget measures.
Mechanical engineer Patrick Liow, 51, said the Government should have dipped more into the reserves, and given out vouchers which he felt would have been of more use.
Additional reporting by Stacey Chia, Eoin Ee, Joanna Hor, Bernice Huang, Julian Lee, Sing Keng Loon, Audrey Tan, Pearly Tan, Su Vien Tan and Geraldine Yeo
