200 more Singaporeans to get Public Assistance from July which gives monthly allowance of $360
March 11th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
With the elections around the corner, the propaganda machinery of the PAP has gone into overdrive to “show” how much it is doing to help the poor and needy in Singapore.
The Straits Times carried an article today claiming that more Singaporeans will be eligible for Public Assistance (PA) as it will be made more “flexible” to benefit a larger pool of people.
Previously, one has to be proven either completely medically unfit to work, destitutes without any living family members and not having a single cent left in their CPF accounts before they can qualify for PA.
From July onwards, Singaporeans whose CPF payouts under the Minimum Sum Scheme or CPF Life fall below the monthly PA allowance of $360 will receive cash top-ups in addition to their CPF payouts.
An additional two hundred Singaporeans may become eligible when the new scheme kicks off with another 2,000 over the next five years.
However, there will be no changes in the monthly allowance of $360.
With the cost of living escalating throughout the year, the government should consider increasing the PA allowance. Furthermore, there are an increasing number of Singaporeans who do not qualify for PA, but are struggling to cope with daily living in Singapore.
The present criteria is too stringent and should be relaxed to allow more Singaporeans to qualify for it, not that the PAP cannot afford it when it can lose billions of dollars in failed overseas investments without blinking an eyelid.
Though Singapore is the second richest country in Asia after Japan, Singaporeans enjoy few social welfare benefits from its miserly PAP government which exhorts them to work for as long as they can well into their golden years till they drop dead while being “faster, cheaper and better” at the same time.
When asked by MP Lily Neo in 2007 to increase the monthly PA allowance so that its recipients can have three basic meals a day, Minister for Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan retorted:
“How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”
He added that “one limiting factor must be the sum that we give through public assistance cannot be so generous as to erode the work ethic.”
[Source: Channel News Asia, 9 March 2007]
His subordinate, Minister of State Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, who made the announcement of the changes in the PA scheme in Parliament, said it will likely cost the Government $4 million more a year.
To get a sense of proportion, the same Ministry unveiled a mega $10-million Community Integration Fund last October to make the new citizens feel accepted, welcomed and happy in Singapore.
Last week, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC was reported to lose learly $10 billion dollars in its investment in Swiss bank UBS.
With Singapore’s economy set to grow again this year, the PAP will be rewarding its ministers and other political appointees a 8.8% pay hike costing taxpayers another $58 million dollars more or so.
In the aftermath of the 2006 elections, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong raised GST from 5 to 7 percent to “help the poor.” Till today, he has yet to explain to Singaporeans where the last four years of GST has gone to.
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39 Responses to “200 more Singaporeans to get Public Assistance from July which gives monthly allowance of $360”
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On one end i read that TR only report the fact and is neutral, on the other end i read article that clearly has its own opinion on how the government should be run.
Giving money to te needy U made so much noise. it will cost the goverment 4million more a year. Losing so much Billion $ U Dogs MP trying hard to cover up. If this Billion $ return of interest of 5% return.It is more than sufficent with remain for medication.
@ The Sims on Thu, 11th Mar 2010 6:21 pm
When you opened your shameless mouth and sprew out nonsense, everybody will know you are nothing but a shameless Piece of Shit!
Go back to your master and lick their shit will you – you shameless retard creature!!
A big head small heart, arrogant and stingy nanny. This nanny has no sense of proportion at all. Now I understand why in this household, members cannot wait to kick this nanny out.
Wah… Always right on time.
Every 5 years, around this magical time period just before the election, so much care, concern, generosity and love from the PAP regime.
Other symptoms of this magical time period:
1) Lots of good news, usually exaggerated, and mostly about the economy.
2) More PAP politicians suddenly show face in public. It’s like you’ve never seen them before for the past 5 years, then suddenly they’re out and about. All crawling out of the woodwork.
3) More newsletters/literature issued. Case in point: at a certain condo near Queensway, what used to be the place for free copies of Japanese weekly newspapers now has ‘Focus’ newsletters featuring Baey Yam Keng and his cronies. A major photo-op featuring Mr Baey pushing wheelchair, mingling with Old Man Lee etc etc.
So very predictable.
Expressing an opinion about current issue can be factual and neutral politically.
The main question now is: Why are the policy makers so stingy in helping those who are behind in the crazy rat race that the society has been embarking?
Do we really expect all Singaporeans (100%) not to fall behind in this ever increasing pace?
With the wages increasing at a slower pace than inflation, there will be many of us who will be poorer in the years to come.
To top it all, we are burdened with the multi-layered tax system – income tax + GST + property tax + road tax + S&CC + petrol tax + COE + hikes in utilities and public transport.
My goodness, with some much revenue collected by government, is there no charity for those who find life a struggle and cannot find an answer to their predicament?
Is that not what those who are in power are supposed to do – the well being of all in the society?
It is easily and more tempting to curry favor the rich and powerful but it takes conviction and grit to actually help the poor and destitute among us.
In the aftermath of the 2006 elections, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong raised GST from 5 to 7 percent to “help the poor.” Till today, he has yet to explain to Singaporeans where the last four years of GST has gone to.
Money gone to GIC and Temasek. However it goes to foreign investors that laugh to the bank.
You loss in investment which is someone gain.
@ The Sims on Thu, 11th Mar 2010 6:21 pm
I don’t think TR is neutral, and they don’t claim to be. But TR is unique (and hence has value) because they report on things that do not get noticed in other media outlets.
Having competitors is a gain to it citizens. Dont be so foolish that the ruling party can promise anything after they win GE.
Still remember the abalone porridge? Who benifits?
You mean govt can’t come out 4 million a year? Just ask those redundant mentors step down and you will get this money more than enough to help those needy.
It’s sad to hear a Minister supposedly for COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, spoke in such blasé manner about (not) helping the poor too much. I can’t even detect an ounce of empathy, let alone sympathy in his tone!
Even my 2 yr old son is more humane; I could see how eager and happy my son was whenever I gave him some money to donate to the handicap, old and poor people we so often met on the streets of Spore.
It only goes to show that it takes more heart than brains, to be of service to the community.
$360/30 days = $12/day = $4/meal
Please ask the frigging ministers to survive on $360 a month, or $4/meal. EVERY MEAL. EVERY DAY. AND WITH NO MONEY LEFT TO PAY FOR *ANYTHING ELSE*. If they get sick, they’re better dead (and straightaway, cos no extra money to see doctor.)
Like squeezing blood from stone..
besides 3 meals a day,
Doesn’t a basic person need to pay for basic hygiene?
Water and electricity are needed. Basic daily essentials are needed too. You want them to wash with salt or dettol? The $360 will decide.
Still, i think the current government can do more for them. Whether was it being done, we shall decide through our vote.
Mmm…perhaps in someone’s mind, they must be thinking “hey, that 4 mil can be use to employ another god-like minister”
$4/meal. That’s if you calculate a single person. For a family of 4? $1/meal. Wow. That sure is going into overdrive. What bout me-family of 5.
And it benefits an UNBELIEVABLE 200 S’poreans. Oh this is simply revolutionary.
When it comes to spending on the people, PAP is very stingy. When it comes to giving themselves salaries, they become very generous.
“SOMEONE GOT CHOKED ON FISHBALL! HE IS GOING TO DIE!! OH LETS GIVE HIM A TOOTHPICK!!!”
Yes, it is very helpful indeed!
Look around us from the bottom, the number of needies far exceeds the “qualified” 200!…
Why is it that these pappies continue to reward themselves with more money while others should have so little? The money they have collected from us are only for their use as they kept saying that its only them that deserve such high pay.Tell me,how is it that for a miserable sum of $360, they made such a big deal out of it where the huge amount of money we are paying to those imbecile fat cats who are not doing their job well and sleeping on their jobs is Ok? Where is all the justice? Its only in Singapore that Ministers reward themselves when they don’t do a good job and lost all our money. They fudged with the statistics to justify themselves. Got everyone to be productive and not themselves.
How is it that these arrogant idiots keep spurting out garbage and no one seems to make an issue of it? How out of touch are they? Are we going to take it that only the selected few are worth the money because they are academically inclined. Are all Singaporeans still in slumber and not aware that this is an illusion that is created by those people to keep us in order and to maintain the statues quote? Its no wonder we are but donkeys for we just go on slogging for just a few carrots while the master have all the harvest. Its no wonder that they these masters continue to openly disregard the concerns of the commoners. Just look at the Singaporeans. They are more interested in reading and commenting about Jack Neo’s affair than about what’s going on with the situation in Singapore. Its no wonder those pappies that we are daft, sheep and a bunch of nincompoops.
Awake Singaporeans. Open yours to see what’s happening to this land. We need to have more intelligent people in it. We need to let those pappies to come down from their Ivory Tower by knocking them down. Life is more than the Jack Neo’s and his exploits. There are more important issues to deal with. Talk to people about what’s happening in Singapore. If you want to talk about Jack Neo, just go tell them that how the government would only appreciate people who are rich and how they would be willing to go behind and support them even when they have done things which are wrong. As for those we are poor we are to fend for ourselves and if we died on the road when knocked down by a diplomat we would just have to wait for Jesus, Buddha, Krishna and Allah to help.
IT’S TIME TO TAKE ACTION
during the whole parliament session the loong loong keep quiety. the housing crisis, he didnt give a definitive and reassuring voice also. statistics dont back him up that standards of living have ‘improved’. and now more people on public assistance? wtf is going on???
涸辙之鲋
庄周家里穷，所以到监河侯那里借粮米。监河候说：“可以，我将要收到封地的税金，借给你三百金可以吗？”
庄周忿然作色说：“我昨天来，路上听到呼喊的声音，四面张望见干涸的车辙中有一条鲫鱼。我问它说：‘鲫鱼啊，你是做什么的呢？鲫鱼回答说：‘我是东海的波臣。你能给一升半斗的水救我的命吗？’我说：‘可以，我要去南方游说吴、越的国王，引西江的水来迎接你，可以吗？’鲫鱼忿然作色说：‘我失去了我不能离开的水，困在这里，我只要得到一升半斗的水就可以活，你如果说这些，还不如趁早到卖干鱼的店铺去找我呢！”。
小恩小惠,何足道哉
They are increasing the number… 2 points:
1. it is a tacit agreement that the situation in S’pore has worsen in s’pore.
2. it is to counter people’s criticism that when the subsistence funds were merged, the number of people who got monies were reduced in total.
Given the opportunism of the PAP, they are laying the ground for the election.
Always remember. Whatever they are doing now are corrections that they should have done much earlier.
The current system makes people lives difficult because the govt is not responsive.
If the corrections they made were appropriate, they take a long time to do so.
Gan was raising the minimum sum for special account to 40 K for prudent sake.
My question is:
only the 1st 20K earns 4%.
The remaining 20K earns 2.5%.
What is the point?
Given that this is a sum that is held for at least 20 years.
4% is fucking low.
Well said Angel.
The whole Jack Neo BS is nothing but a distraction. And bloody local media is exaggerating it like nobody’s business.
Stay focus guys.
We still need to vote those buggers out.
If only all ministers and top civil servants are more compassionate and socially concerned,and if they just take half the pay of what they receive each month,more destitutes could be helped!
minimum amt in special account raised to 40K:
only the 1st 20K earns 4%.
The remaining 20K earns 2.5% in the future.
What is the point?
Given that this is a sum that is held for at least 20 years.
even 4% is fucking low.
At the end of 20 years with 40K kept initially, you will end up with 87.6K.
Now, with the new scheme or tiered interest rate, you end up with 73.2K at the end of the same period.
A decrease of 14.4K over 20 years.
We have not even reached the minimum sum yet.
And Tan Kin Lian was complaining about low yield from insurance when most people don’t put up half the contributions to the special account to insurance.
What a joke!
Fucker Gan is slapping us with a tax of 14.4 K over 20 years masked as a prudential measure against misinterpreting and I wonder why we took it like that calmly…
Cambridge didn’t teach him ethics apparently.
The PAP minister condescending reply should be remember and replayed during the election. Yes, the opposition must remind the voters how arrogant the government is.
Correct me if i am wrong.
@Last week, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC was reported to lose learly $10 billion dollars in its investment in Swiss bank UBS.
A 3% return would be 300million p.a. Now gov gives 360 to
sg. But gives themselves 8.8% pay rise. Which is more than 100K p.a.
Is this a better hoax then GN? Or, just another biggest joke other than April fool joke?
Daft. Daft. Daft. Daft.
@ The Sims on Thu, 11th Mar 2010 6:21 pm ,
TR show us what ST , CNA and other media did not show .
It’s a platform for all Singaporean to get the fact without
being sensor .
You i think got some sort of a problem if you does not accept
the following fact .
1) Our MP are the highest paid in the world.
2) GIC & THEMARSEK lost 10 of billion of dollars
( No action taken , CEO HO chin still in charge.
In private sector already SACK )
3) Our Gov , fail to take care of it’s own citizen
( FT integration spend 10mil for Sin needy spend 4mil )
4) Housing cost have out strip wage increment.
( 1989 my pay is S$2k bought my 5rm A for 127k now
2009 5rm A cost 375k . Total difference is S$248k
in 10 years . Average increase per year S$24.8k . Does your salary increase 24.8k per Year ?
TR give us a new insight to Sin political issue , not read
crap form PAPaya control news . You my friend is Pro PAPaya
if so go read Straight Times watch CNA and be a FROG .
LKT of worker party knock the problem of FT levee on the head.
( BY using different ratio of FT vs Sin employee for
different industries . i.e job that Sing dont want to do
set higher FT ratio , Job that Sin willing to do set lower
FT ratio . Without imposing levee , which will reduce the cost )LKT of WP well done , i am one proud Singaporean to have
you voicing our problem in parliament.
Where as PAPaya MP are usless only know TAX TAX TAX .. Easy
Job for high paid MP, just need follow the FATHER , SON and HOLLI GOST and say AYE ! to every issue.
Good bless al tru borne SINGAPOREAN , please wake up vote this bunch of Frog out!
wow….most generous…..but they are more generous to reward themselves 8.8% increment
Whilst GIC & TH both combined have lost $billions of our hard earned money, not a word have been whispered in the Parliament with regards to accountabilities & transparencies!! Here, they are making such a big wayang show about 200 who are going to receive a meagre $360 per month,which is barely able to keep them alive!!
Where is your sense of proportion?? (remember this quote?)
Well, the Minister of MCYS may be comforted to know that, at least 200 more can make their way to the hawker centres
to have their decent meals!! Which is by the way is a BIG deal to him!!
hi donkey, some points for you to think about:
1. our ministers are highest paid in the world but we enjoy lowest rate of corruption in asia. are we prepared to pay ministers peanuts and then suffer the consequences of higher corruption?
2. ho ching has been trying to quit, but they cannot find replacement. i think anyone who is qualified for the temasek CEO job will be highly intelligent and would not want to work under the oppressive legacy of the Lees.
3. housing prices – this is a deliberate policy of the government to boost housing prices because this is how they squeeze us by the balls – vote PAP and your HDB flats will be worth more. but many people don’t think ahead – if prices keep going up, will their children be able to afford a flat??
VERY WELL SAID!! Angel on Thu, 11th Mar 2010 10:44 pm
@Angel on Thu, 11th Mar 2010 10:44 pm
Because we are F ..ing DAFT.
Why will it cost 4Mill more to five $360 to 200 more people? 360 x 200 = 72,000
Don’t tell me it takes SGD2928,000 to administer this little bit of money to the poor? Is this the kind of wastage we’ve been making?
How can anyone live on such meager money?
We should fire Yao Jin, head of GIC,finance mister and hire Buffett instead. Not because Buffett can made the amount of money but his humble and passion.
“Minister of State Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, who made the announcement of the changes in the PA scheme in Parliament, said it will likely cost the Government $4 million more a year.”
Hang On ! $360 for another 200 needy sinhaporean .. and cost the government $4m more a year ???
Hey, the garment think we stupid or wat ? $360 X 200 singaporean X 12 months only cost $864,000. Why $4m ?
Again… wayang ! Minister cant even do simple calculations !
If minister’s salary is around $2.5million, then it works out to about $200,000/month. Of course, they need that amount to survive every month. Now they are giving a measly sum of $350 to every destitute family on PA and they think they are overly generous. A family trying to live on $350/month? Ask those heartless ministers how much they need to survive on. Our ministers have very big brains and NO hearts. SINGAPOREANS WAKE UP FROM YOUR LONG SLUMBER.
The increase of GST from 5% to 7% was probably lost in UBS (Useless Bull Shit) investment. For that they rewarded themslves with a 8.8% pay rise. Now be prepared for another GST hike after the next election.
//Old Chubby
Good point.
The difference between your calculation and theirs is the fee to be paid to civil servants.
They charge up for taking monies from them.
And charge us for a high salary for having to look after a bigger group of people.