Budget Cannot Be All ‘Sweetness and Light’: Deputy PM

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

Canada: Free $30 Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Free $30 Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam while speaking in a post-Budget dialogue involving 400 youths on Sunday, said that the Government shaped the Budget in the interest of Singapore’s future and not to win elections.

While responding to a question whether increasing petrol duties will have an impact on the General Election, Thraman said, ‘It’s largely the middle class and upper middle class and the rich who are affected, including parts of the middle class who drive cars. And many of these same households also employ a maid and the reduction in the maid levy this year was more significant than the extra costs that they will face in petrol duties.’

Channel News Asia further quoted him saying, “This is an example of how we’ve got to look at things in balance – never expect that the Budget is all sweetness and light. The petrol duties are necessary for the reasons given – step by step, in small ways, we are trying to reduce carbon emissions and we are trying to improve congestion on our roads. But the foreign maid levy was also necessary because we wanted to help the middle-income group with the costs of living and particularly when they have young children or elderly at home.” The news portal further informed that the discussion also included SkillsFuture and Silver Support Scheme which is aimed at helping the needy seniors of Singapore.

Share with friends
You can publish this article on your website as long as you provide a link back to this page.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*