Economic cycles have shortened in the last two decades. We’ve weathered through the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the aftermath of 9/11 in 2001, SARs in 2004, the 2007 global financial meltdown, the slowdown in 2010 and now in 2012, we are bracing for the impact of the European debt crisis. It is important that the Government continues to show the same level of commitment to its people – that whatever form the crisis takes, it has a framework in place to safeguard those who find themselves out of work.
Helping to ease the rising cost of living and cope with medical expenses
We not only have to find ways to boost employability and mobility for our workers and ensure our economy remains resilient, but also look at securing a safety net for the lower income groups. I applaud this Budget for its moves to help the elderly, the low income and less privileged, and would like to appeal to the Ministry of Finance to review its tax relief policies again and see if more can be done to increase personal tax reliefs and reliefs for spouses and dependents.
Health, after all, is an important asset. As an elderly gentleman once told me, if the chickens are not healthy and strong we can’t be assured of an egg every morning. The health of our nation is dependent on the health of our people. I am happy to see increases in the public healthcare budget, but I hope the government could also look at how we can continue to ensure sufficient medical insurance coverage for all. Yesterday, the media reported that hundreds of Singaporean did not pay their hospital bills. The top-ups and GST vouchers for Medisave are good moves, but by no means sufficient. I believe MOH should continue to restructure Medishield coverage so as to protect more and ensure it does indeed help shield Singaporeans in times of crisis and illness. We should also look into how we could help the 8% who do not even have Medisave.
At the workplace, I hope the Minister of Finance could consider more incentives to encourage companies to adopt Portable Medical Benefits. Since 2004, employers implementing PMBS enjoy a higher tax deduction cap for medical expenses of up to 2% of their employees’ remuneration, compared to 1% for non PMBS companies. However, to qualify for the tax incentive the companies must either contribute at least 1% of the employees’ monthly salary into their Medisave Account or fully subsidise the employees' Shield premium. From our experience, companies who qualify by making 1% Medisave contribution have not been effective in ensuring that all employees purchase Shield plan and many continue with Group Hospitalisation and Surgical Insurance Scheme which is a duplication and not portable. To require that only full subsidy can qualify for tax incentive has been prohibitive as the cost of full subsidy is higher than the cost of GHS cover. As a result many companies found it costly and no incentive to switch to PMBS. I would like to suggest that MOF review the tax incentive criteria to allow companies who fund at least half of the Shield premium to also qualify for the tax incentive.
Sir, I am also happy to see the enhancements to our Workfare scheme to benefit SPED graduates and those with disabilities. Workfare has been very successful in topping up the wages of low-income families. Seeing as wages and the cost of living are going up, I would like to propose that an the Workfare eligibility criteria be reviewed more frequently to ensure it remains fair and truly encourages the economic mobility of those who benefit from it. Can the Ministry also review the cash and Medisave component proportion as well? Some low-wage workers told me that they wish the cash component could be more.
On the issue of encouraging employment among low income earners, As a labour MP, I’d like to highlight the important role played by the public service. One area that should be looked into is the social responsibility of government service buyers. I urge all government agencies to set a good example as service buyers and support the Best Sourcing Initiatives advocated by the Labour Movement. When outsourcing work, they should adhere to best sourcing practices. Commonly, when tendering for a contract, to get ahead of the competition, vendors are likely to offer a lower price -- at the expense of their workers. The lowest quote often suppresses the wages of contract workers. For example, at MOE’s schools, many of the cleaners’ salaries remain around $700, unchanged from many years ago. This is not fair to the workers. Public agencies should walk the talk and take the lead. I am pleased to learn that PAP Town Councils are taking the lead and now, thanks to skills upgrading and an overhaul of the tender system, their cleaner have seen a 30% pay increase since 2008.
Driving economic growth
Sir, even as we boost our social and financial support systems, we must remember to maintain our economic fundamentals. Economic growth is important and we must continue to drive it. In the social media, there are some who talk about lowering our economic growth – a worrying mindset. We have done well to grow our economy by 3.6% on-year in 2011 despite the various challenges brought on by the slowdown in the United States and the Japan Tsunami.
But to deliberately slow down economic growth is a shortsighted and unsustainable model. It is a dangerous slippery slope to go down. We can see from other developed countries how unemployment shoots up when economy slows down. The best way for us is to continue building our economy, enlarge the economic pie, as the best 'welfare' we can offer as a nation is full employment with a strong economy. Nothing better than a tight labour market!
Filling in the gaps
As we move forward, I am happy that the Prime Minister has highlighted the need to support Singapore families. I would like to highlight the need to support less traditional families. With divorce rates going up, we are seeing more single-parent families. This is an unfortunate trend that is made all the more challenging due to the difficulties caused by high rents and difficulties applying for a new flat. Single mothers with children especially are struggling.
Rental rates are going up. A check of the median rental rate shows that the average rate for a three-room flat in the fourth quarter of 2010 was $1888, up 33% from the same period in 2009 ($1,419). This makes renting a flat quite prohibitive, but at the same time, these families find it difficult to apply for a new flat as a second time applicant. I think HDB should review their policies concerning single-parent families and consider these mitigating circumstances. Can HDB consider giving them the same priority as the first time home owners or priority above other second time home buyers? Their situation is desperate especially when there are children involved. High rentals and not being able to buy a home can be quite challenging and has both financial and social costs.
Developing a vibrant society
These issues – concerns over family life, social challenges, inflation and boosting our safety nets – remain the top concerns among Singaporeans. It is heartening that Singaporeans have made their concerns heard and taking an interest in the social and political issues that matter to them. For this year’s Budget, REACH received 38 per cent more feedback for its Pre-Budget 2012 Feedback Exercise compared the previous year.
This is a welcomed new norm. We are seeing a more vibrant society that is keen to share its views and discussion. This is encouraging. But we also see a small group who abuse these platforms by derailing discussions with unconstructive comments and hide behind anonymous identities. It is akin to trouble seekers who cover their faces and join riots to incite trouble and even violence. As the government and its people evolve to become more open with its communication with each other, we must remember that freedom of speech is a responsibility and must be taken in good faith. For anyone who wants to participate, we encourage all to do so, but please be above board and honest about individual identity.
Sir, I will continue my speech in Mandarin.
共同建设包容性经济,共享成果
议长先生,随着包容性预算案的提出，我们要强调让国人有更多的渠道发表意见和参与国家的建设！不过,在各种言论中，我们终须根据现实条件制定出切实可行、行之有效的政策, 以实际的做法去实行。政治领袖应当求大同存小异，齐心协力为民生利益努力,更要让全体人民理性扮演积极公民的角色,好好说敢敢做，共同来谱写“ 新加坡故事”的新篇章!
我想和大家分享国学大师南怀瑾先生说的一个小故事:在明朝，有一个人每天半夜在庭院烧香拜天，他非常虔诚，拜了好几年，有一夜感动了一位天神，便全身发光站在他的面前，天神说，你天天夜里拜天，很诚恳，你可以说说你的愿望，我可以帮助你完成心愿。那人想想说，“我什么都不求，只要一辈子不愁吃不愁穿，游山玩水，没有病痛，无疾而终。”天神笑着回答，“你求的可是神仙的清福啊,如果你求人世间的东西我还可以给你，但你要成仙得上界神仙的清福,我却给不了你!”
这个故事提醒我们,人终归是人,我们可以有理想,有梦想, 但不要妄想! 我们不要妄想成仙, 我们当以身为新加坡人而感到自豪! 因为我们今天的成就,是国家安定, 国人刻苦努力和上下一心,同舟共济的成果。当今我们所处的世界竞争空前激烈,就像凤飞飞唱的 “世界变得比天气还快”; 这其间, 许多国家失业率不断高涨, 我们仍继续保持全民就业的低失业水平; 许多国家实际工资都停滞不前了, 我们继续取得实际工资增长。我们今年的预算案就是要让我国务实而具包容性的发展得到延续。我们要鼓励劳资政各方，全民参与，集思广益。
服务业为我们提供了75% 的就业机会.劳资政三方要下定决心去芜存菁, 拿出具体方案来减低对外劳的依赖. 特别是老板们, 要像媒体报道: “Turning ‘bad jobs in Service Sector into ‘good jobs’”中的老板一样提升工作来吸引国人加入.
要集思广益,新媒体是一个很重要的平台，但我希望使用网络平台的政治支持者和民众要以开放的心和负责任的态度来参与。除了希望部长们要能对各种政策做更具体的阐述和更多解释之外, 有好些基层朋友告诉我， 他们对网上“鱼目混珠”的议论现象感到担忧；他们希望“网中人”都是“有身份”的“真汉子”而不是匿名的“隐士”，坦然地以实际的身份积极参与，有话好好说。我们要鼓励人们以开放的胸襟讨论我们面对的问题, 就事论事; 摒弃人身攻击和传播不实传言的行为。记得《论语》中就有曾母投梭的故事：孔子的学生曾参是一个品德高尚的人，有一天，有人跑去向曾参的母亲说曾参杀人了。起初曾母不相信，继续在织布机上织布，但连续三个人跑来告诉她，曾参杀人啦！这回曾母急忙丢下织布的梭子，跑去找儿子。这就是信心的动摇了。母子之间都会这样，其他的就更不必说了，不实言论被一再不实的传播，重复多了，就指鹿为马，让人真把鹿当成马了。我国不能承受泛政治化可能造成的社会和族群分裂, 我们需要团结，避免被似是而非的言论牵着鼻子走。
在一个同舟共济的社会, 不是 ‘让同舟去干,共济来看’,政治宣言不是甜言蜜语，我们要的是实实在在，言表于行,以行之有效的行动为人民服务的政治领袖。《论语-先进篇》有这么一段：“子曰：论笃是与？君子者乎？色庄者乎？” 孔子说， “碰到有人讨论问题听来头头是道，认为这就是君子，就是庄重，这是不对的”。 我们要了解讲得再精辟，也是止于话！孔子提醒我们，有时候听人家讲得好还不算，要进一步了解有没有实际的表现. 古话就说: “但听楼梯响,不见人下来”,“壁虎斷尾” 不同于 “壮士斷臂”! 就拿铁锤来做个比喻吧，作为一个工具，如果只能敲出声响，却打造不出成品，它便不是好工具，甚至不能称之为工具！
议长先生,我们今日拥有的一切, 就像李茂山唱的, 的确是 “得来不易”! 这是一个面向未来的预算案, 让我们继续发扬我们实事求是的精神，继续脚踏实地努力奋斗，携手共创未来; 让全民共享国家前进和繁荣的成果吧! 新加坡永远是我们美好的家园!
Concluding remarks
Many see this year’s package as a comprehensive one, and it should be viewed as part of a sustained effort over the years to build a resilient economy and strong social safety nets. While it is not perfect, we should focus on what we have and what we have done instead of focusing just on what we do not have.
As we face what is expected to be a difficult year, we must work together as one to overcome the challenges ahead as public servants and as Singaporeans , we must strengthen our tripartite collaboration to create and recreate jobs. It is important that we keep in mind some of the key strengths that have helped us tide through the previous economic storms – a resilient people, a competitive economy, a strong re-skilling and re-employment initiatives and a compassionate and flexible range of social and financial safety nets. We must remember that every one of us, every Singaporean, has a part to play. “ Majulah Singapora !” It takes every one of us working together to enhance the social fabric, stay united and cohesive as nation so that we can come together to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress. Mr Speaker sir, I support the Budget.
