Budget 2023 debate: Pritam Singh on moving forward together as one Singapore
The Workers' Party (WP) sees this year's Budget as another plank of a multi-year agenda to prepare Singapore for the future, said Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 22), he stressed that the social compact must be one where "we move forward together as one Singapore" to tackle an unpredictable and potentially disruptive future. He said Singapore must guard against a split in society where the rich and the well-off high earners are pitted against the rest. To achieve that, significant work needs to be done, he said. Noting that commentators have characterised the Budget as "Robin Hood", he warned that this reinforces the perception of "two Singapores" being created. Mr Singh said fiscal redistribution, better social protections and greater support for the most vulnerable Singaporeans must remain a mainstay of future budgets. It is imperative that policies should be continually refreshed and reviewed, including the applicability of the principles they were originally based on, he said. "Singapore, a young country where Singaporeans feel, live and experience the emotions of nationalism and citizenship, must continue to thrive in a fair, broad and balanced way so that we leave a better future for today's generation and those that come after, " he said. WP, he said, supports the Budget. He also addressed three specific areas, namely jobs and the new Jobs-Skills Integrators, CPF income ceiling and grants for buyers of HDB resale flats.
The Workers' Party (WP) sees this year's Budget as another plank of a multi-year agenda to prepare Singapore for the future, said Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 22), he stressed that the social compact must be one where "we move forward together as one Singapore" to tackle an unpredictable and potentially disruptive future. He said Singapore must guard against a split in society where the rich and the well-off high earners are pitted against the rest. To achieve that, significant work needs to be done, he said. Noting that commentators have characterised the Budget as "Robin Hood", he warned that this reinforces the perception of "two Singapores" being created. Mr Singh said fiscal redistribution, better social protections and greater support for the most vulnerable Singaporeans must remain a mainstay of future budgets. It is imperative that policies should be continually refreshed and reviewed, including the applicability of the principles they were originally based on, he said. "Singapore, a young country where Singaporeans feel, live and experience the emotions of nationalism and citizenship, must continue to thrive in a fair, broad and balanced way so that we leave a better future for today's generation and those that come after, " he said. WP, he said, supports the Budget. He also addressed three specific areas, namely jobs and the new Jobs-Skills Integrators, CPF income ceiling and grants for buyers of HDB resale flats.
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