Debate on President’s Address: Jamus Lim on need for ‘official poverty line’ to help the poor

The incomes of Singaporeans present themselves as somewhat of an “enigma”, said MP Jamus Lim. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Apr 17), he pointed out that by some measures, Singapore is among the richest countries in the world. He voiced support for President Halimah Yacob’s call to improve Singapore’s social compact and strengthen its social safety nets to ensure that the fruits of progress are shared fairly. But he highlighted the apparent economic success declared by the headline numbers versus the “economic precarity” felt by a large group of Singaporeans. He stressed the need to support the poor but to do so, “we must know who they are”. He said Singapore has yet to establish an “official poverty line”, and he finds this “both puzzling and exasperating”. Associate Professor Lim pointed out that Singapore has a “confusing mishmash of thresholds”, instead of an official transparent benchmark. “It is time for an official poverty line,” he said. This should be established based on components such as opportunities for education, healthcare, employment with work-life balance and a sense of inclusion. They should go beyond the basic needs of housing, food and clothing, he said. The people who are figuring out what constitutes poverty should not just be representatives from the Ministry of Social and Family Development, but should also be leaders from civil society and experts from academia. They should also look at the impact of thresholds for Government assistance. Singapore can do more much if it wants to truly call itself a First World nation, he added.