SINGAPORE: The upcoming Budget is likely to look into sustainable measures to cushion the lower income against the effects of inflation and higher oil and food prices.

Minister of State for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua said this to reporters on Monday after launching the latest version of a game that involves young people taking on the role of 'finance minister'.

Students have to work out a strategy on the best way to use the country's finances in an enhanced version of the game, "If I Were The Finance Minister".

Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam was scheduled to attend the event, but was held up at meetings with officials on issues relating to the Budget throughout the day.

The latest version of the game comes with graphics, instead of text, and is available on the Budget 2008 Website.

The topics on the virtual site highlight the concerns of Singaporeans. These include high oil and food prices, caused by factors outside of Singapore's borders.

Along with a strong economic growth, Singapore's inflation rate hit a 25-year high of 4.4 per cent in December and this could climb even higher.

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua said: "The government basically has to do whatever it can to sustain on the longer-term basis in terms of measures, in terms of what is realistically possible if it is from external factors.

"Then it would be more of mitigating measures, rather than measures that will try and address those factors."

Analysts expect a big surplus for the financial year ending March 2008 because of the strong economy. This would allow the government to afford more generous rebates and handouts for the low-income group. - CNA/vm