GE: Study World Bank to boost CPF, says WP
Posted: 02 May 2011 2054 hrs <LINK rel=image_src href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpHiUikJ.jpg">
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Koh Choong Yong, Workers' Party</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD class=update></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD><TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cccccc" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=240><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=topic vAlign=top>Video </TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#cccccc vAlign=top>
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</TD><TD class=bodytext vAlign=top width="60%" align=left>GE: Study World Bank to boost CPF, says WP</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top background=/images/dotline_240.gif align=left>
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SINGAPORE: Worker's Party's candidate for Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Chen Show Mao has urged Singapore to follow recommendations by the World Bank to strengthen the CPF model and grow the people's money.
"Inflation is close to five per cent... Does a 2.5 per cent interest rate on CPF represent a good return?" Mr Chen said.
"After you use CPF for housing and other needs, will you have enough to retire when you reach 62 (years old)?
"We suggest Singapore follows international best practices recommended by the World Bank and study the feasibility of a pension fund model to enhance the returns on our CPF monies."
Mr Chen, who was at the WP rally held near Kallang, also said the People's Action Party's (PAP) immigration and foreign worker policy has depressed the wages of many working Singaporeans.
"We can be more calibrated and sensible in our foreign worker policy because we want foreign talent in Singapore where they do not compete against Singaporeans, and where they help small businesses such as in the healthcare or food and beverage industries.
"The Workers' Party is not an anti immigration party," Mr Chen said.
Touching on the affordability of HDB flats was WP candidate for Moulmein-Kallang GRC L. Somasundaram.
Mr Somasundaram challenged National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan to explain what he means by affordable HDB flats when a new three-room HDB flat costs anywhere from S$200,000 to S$250,000.
He asked how much there would be left in the CPF after paying for the flat over a 25 to 30-year period.
"If the government truly wants to implement affordable public housing, they should price them such that the majority of people can afford it. Prices should be pegged to the median income of households," Mr Somasundaram said.
Meanwhile, WP candidate for the Sengkang West Single-Member Constituency (SMC) Koh Choong Yong said credit for the planning of Singapore's constituencies should go to the hardworking civil servants, and not the ruling PAP.
"Come every election, the PAP will tell you 'I have this plan for this area, that plan for that area'," Mr Koh said.
"(They are) all very nice, very glossy -- well packaged but very expensive.
"But I think people like you and (I) have this question on our mind Whose money are they using? Is it the People's Action Party's money or the people's money?
"And who do you think came up with these plans? Is it the PAP or is it the efficient and effective civil servants in our ministries and stat boards?"
Mr Koh reiterated his party's call for the GRC system to be abolished, adding that PAP candidates are riding on the coattails of civil servants.
"The GRC system introduced by the PAP have given you, in the past, MPs (Members of Parliament) who are so used to this that they themselves don't even realise," he said.
"... No one should ride on anyone's coattails. Everyone should win and lose based on their own merits. We should abolish the GRC system and revert to single constituencies across the island."
Meanwhile, fellow WP member and candidate for East Coast GRC Glenda Han said she and team are aware of the problems in the constituency and will try to resolve them, if they are voted into Parliament.
"To the residents of East Coast GRC, over the years we (have) listened to your needs and issues," Ms Han said.
"We have noted the parking problems in the landed property areas, the problem of various HDB blocks and the various inefficiencies of the transport system, especially in Bedok.
"If we are voted in, we will ensure you enjoy relevant facilities and trim unnecessary expenses such as repainting and retiling your void deck when there is no need to.
"We will also keep communication to us open and readily available.
"Without your mandate we cannot work to improve East Coast GRC."
Ms Han also took issue with traffic woes and questioned whether the various schemes implemented have worked.
"On transportation, the high COE prices and all the ERP charges have not solved road congestions and traffic jams," she said.
"And by letting the two transport operators impose fare increases almost yearly, is this the way to encourage us to take public transport?
"Don't forget that SMRT and SBS Transit are raking million-dollar profits every year. Our various proposals include tighter regulations on fare hikes and service standards. Right now, we are paying more to get into overcrowded trains and buses.We also propose scrapping ERP on public buses since the costs are passed to consumers."
Speaking at the same rally, WP candidate for Moulmein-Kallang GRC Mohamed Rahizan Ya'acob emphasised the need for good governance, and called on the electorate to vote the WP into Parliament to provide the check and balance.
Echoing the importance of an alternative voice in Parliament, WP chairman Sylvia Lim said voting WP into Parliament would ensure the ruling party does not take voters for granted.
"What happened after the 1991 general elections shows that the PAP takes election results very seriously," Ms Lim said.
"Poor election results make them examine what is wrong with the existing policies. They will make a serious study of what is wrong and recommend how to improve your lives.
"If you opt for the Opposition, they will wake up and take concrete steps to address your concerns. They do not want to lose more seats. But if you vote for the PAP and give them a high mandate, the PAP will take you for granted and ignore your concerns.
On the other hand, Mr Gerald Giam, WP's East Coast GRC candidate, shared with the rally crowd WP's ideas to improve the healthcare system.
Mr Giam said: "Right now, when you need to see specialist at government hospitals, you have to queue up for a long time at polyclinics just to get a referral letter.
"We propose that private clinics located near your homes (can also) refer you to government hospitals and you should still be able to pay and receive subsidised rates at government hospitals".
Mr Giam also proposed that the elderly population be allowed to use their Medisave more freely to pay for their healthcare costs.
"I mentioned earlier that Medisave is actually your own money and currently, all your Medisave withdrawals for outpatient medical treatment come with a whole lot of restrictions on what you can and cannot use it for.
"We propose that patients above 75 years old should be allowed to use Medisave for all outpatient treatment without restrictions."
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Posted: 02 May 2011 2054 hrs <LINK rel=image_src href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpHiUikJ.jpg">
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Koh Choong Yong, Workers' Party</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD class=update></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD><TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cccccc" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=240><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=topic vAlign=top>Video </TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#cccccc vAlign=top>
</TD><TD class=bodytext vAlign=top width="60%" align=left>GE: Study World Bank to boost CPF, says WP</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top background=/images/dotline_240.gif align=left>
SINGAPORE: Worker's Party's candidate for Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Chen Show Mao has urged Singapore to follow recommendations by the World Bank to strengthen the CPF model and grow the people's money.
"Inflation is close to five per cent... Does a 2.5 per cent interest rate on CPF represent a good return?" Mr Chen said.
"After you use CPF for housing and other needs, will you have enough to retire when you reach 62 (years old)?
"We suggest Singapore follows international best practices recommended by the World Bank and study the feasibility of a pension fund model to enhance the returns on our CPF monies."
Mr Chen, who was at the WP rally held near Kallang, also said the People's Action Party's (PAP) immigration and foreign worker policy has depressed the wages of many working Singaporeans.
"We can be more calibrated and sensible in our foreign worker policy because we want foreign talent in Singapore where they do not compete against Singaporeans, and where they help small businesses such as in the healthcare or food and beverage industries.
"The Workers' Party is not an anti immigration party," Mr Chen said.
Touching on the affordability of HDB flats was WP candidate for Moulmein-Kallang GRC L. Somasundaram.
Mr Somasundaram challenged National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan to explain what he means by affordable HDB flats when a new three-room HDB flat costs anywhere from S$200,000 to S$250,000.
He asked how much there would be left in the CPF after paying for the flat over a 25 to 30-year period.
"If the government truly wants to implement affordable public housing, they should price them such that the majority of people can afford it. Prices should be pegged to the median income of households," Mr Somasundaram said.
Meanwhile, WP candidate for the Sengkang West Single-Member Constituency (SMC) Koh Choong Yong said credit for the planning of Singapore's constituencies should go to the hardworking civil servants, and not the ruling PAP.
"Come every election, the PAP will tell you 'I have this plan for this area, that plan for that area'," Mr Koh said.
"(They are) all very nice, very glossy -- well packaged but very expensive.
"But I think people like you and (I) have this question on our mind Whose money are they using? Is it the People's Action Party's money or the people's money?
"And who do you think came up with these plans? Is it the PAP or is it the efficient and effective civil servants in our ministries and stat boards?"
Mr Koh reiterated his party's call for the GRC system to be abolished, adding that PAP candidates are riding on the coattails of civil servants.
"The GRC system introduced by the PAP have given you, in the past, MPs (Members of Parliament) who are so used to this that they themselves don't even realise," he said.
"... No one should ride on anyone's coattails. Everyone should win and lose based on their own merits. We should abolish the GRC system and revert to single constituencies across the island."
Meanwhile, fellow WP member and candidate for East Coast GRC Glenda Han said she and team are aware of the problems in the constituency and will try to resolve them, if they are voted into Parliament.
"To the residents of East Coast GRC, over the years we (have) listened to your needs and issues," Ms Han said.
"We have noted the parking problems in the landed property areas, the problem of various HDB blocks and the various inefficiencies of the transport system, especially in Bedok.
"If we are voted in, we will ensure you enjoy relevant facilities and trim unnecessary expenses such as repainting and retiling your void deck when there is no need to.
"We will also keep communication to us open and readily available.
"Without your mandate we cannot work to improve East Coast GRC."
Ms Han also took issue with traffic woes and questioned whether the various schemes implemented have worked.
"On transportation, the high COE prices and all the ERP charges have not solved road congestions and traffic jams," she said.
"And by letting the two transport operators impose fare increases almost yearly, is this the way to encourage us to take public transport?
"Don't forget that SMRT and SBS Transit are raking million-dollar profits every year. Our various proposals include tighter regulations on fare hikes and service standards. Right now, we are paying more to get into overcrowded trains and buses.We also propose scrapping ERP on public buses since the costs are passed to consumers."
Speaking at the same rally, WP candidate for Moulmein-Kallang GRC Mohamed Rahizan Ya'acob emphasised the need for good governance, and called on the electorate to vote the WP into Parliament to provide the check and balance.
Echoing the importance of an alternative voice in Parliament, WP chairman Sylvia Lim said voting WP into Parliament would ensure the ruling party does not take voters for granted.
"What happened after the 1991 general elections shows that the PAP takes election results very seriously," Ms Lim said.
"Poor election results make them examine what is wrong with the existing policies. They will make a serious study of what is wrong and recommend how to improve your lives.
"If you opt for the Opposition, they will wake up and take concrete steps to address your concerns. They do not want to lose more seats. But if you vote for the PAP and give them a high mandate, the PAP will take you for granted and ignore your concerns.
On the other hand, Mr Gerald Giam, WP's East Coast GRC candidate, shared with the rally crowd WP's ideas to improve the healthcare system.
Mr Giam said: "Right now, when you need to see specialist at government hospitals, you have to queue up for a long time at polyclinics just to get a referral letter.
"We propose that private clinics located near your homes (can also) refer you to government hospitals and you should still be able to pay and receive subsidised rates at government hospitals".
Mr Giam also proposed that the elderly population be allowed to use their Medisave more freely to pay for their healthcare costs.
"I mentioned earlier that Medisave is actually your own money and currently, all your Medisave withdrawals for outpatient medical treatment come with a whole lot of restrictions on what you can and cannot use it for.
"We propose that patients above 75 years old should be allowed to use Medisave for all outpatient treatment without restrictions."
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