Budget 2025 debate: Louis Chua on levers to ensure broad-based support for Singaporeans

This year appears to be the “year of vouchers”, said MP Louis Chua. Given the record surpluses that the government is enjoying, it is only right and appropriate that the money is being shared with Singaporeans who have also contributed to the government coffers, he said in parliament on Thursday (Feb 27). He pointed out that with the General Election around the corner, it is only natural for Singaporeans to be cynical about the vouchers as “election handouts tied to the political cycle rather than the economic cycle”. He said it is important to put in place structural levers in the system as opposed to relying on one-off schemes which may be politicised, incur a lot of administrative costs and resources to operate and create unnecessary uncertainty for Singaporeans. It is also important to direct the resources to those who need them most, rather than with broad-based handouts to everyone, he added.