REACH (Telegram) 76 - What do you think should be the priorities of the new Cabinet? What kind of leadership do you hope to see from the new Cabinet?

(SK)

22 May 2025 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [22/5/2025 9:45 am]

Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 10am to 7pm today. ⏰

House Rules (short version of our Terms of Use) to keep in mind:

1. Be kind and respectful. We all want to be in a safe space to share our views. 

2. Any and all threatening, abusive, vulgar or racially, religiously and ethnically objectionable content is prohibited. 

3. Consider the quiet ones among us and give them a chance to comment. 

4. No need to repeat your comment or in differnet forms (including caps) - we heard you loud and clear the first time. 

5. Let's protect each other's privacy and keep contact details in this group what it should always be - confidential. 

Full set of Terms of Use: https://www.reach.gov.sg/Participate/reach-telegram-group/REACH-Telegram-Group-Chat-Terms-of-Use/

We will strive to uphold these rules to ensure this is a safe space for all. 

Please be assured that the points made by participants during the chat are aggregated and shared with relevant agencies. 

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [22/5/2025 10:00 am]

📢 Topic 📢

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled his Cabinet following the 2025 General Election, featuring a major reshuffle with Gan Kim Yong confirmed as sole Deputy Prime Minister and the appointment of nine new political office holders. The Cabinet includes three coordinating ministers focused on key areas such as public services, social policy, and national security, with PM Wong emphasising continuity and leadership renewal. Notable changes include Chan Chun Sing taking over defence, Ong Ye Kung leading social policy coordination, and several first-term MPs rising to acting minister roles.

💬 What do you think should be the priorities of the new Cabinet? What kind of leadership do you hope to see from the new Cabinet?

📌  Strong and Experienced Leadership with a Focus on Succession and Renewal

PM Wong emphasised, “With your strong support, I have done my utmost to assemble the strongest team I could for Singapore.” The Cabinet now features a core group of four senior leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and three coordinating ministers, who mentor newer ministers to ensure steady governance. DPM Gan remains Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, providing continuity in economic leadership amid global uncertainties like rising trade barriers. At the same time, newer ministers like David Neo and Jeffrey Siow, who are both political newcomers, have been appointed as acting ministers, representing a fresh generation stepping up.

📌 Revamped Focus on Citizen-centric Public Service Delivery

A new “public services” coordinating minister role was created, held by Mr Chan Chun Sing, to enhance how public amenities and services are delivered, especially in new housing estates. PM Wong highlighted the government’s shift towards a “citizen-centric approach with forward-looking planning to provide a one-stop service for people.” Efforts to coordinate healthcare, community support, housing, and other public services mean residents can expect smoother access to what they need, reducing bureaucratic hurdles. 

📌 Focused Preparation for Ongoing Social Challenges, Especially an Ageing Population

PM Wong highlighted that “ageing will be the single largest social development we will see in the next decade.” The Cabinet reflects this priority by appointing Mr Ong Ye Kung as Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and retaining him as Health Minister to continue initiatives like Healthier SG and Age Well SG. On his priorities as Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, he said that "The country cannot take its 'inclusive' economic model and meritocratic system for granted." He stressed that this will be done by continuing the work of Forward Singapore and strengthening social safety nets, where policies need to keep pace with demographic changes, ensuring inclusivity for all ages.

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/pm-lawrence-wong-unveils-new-cabinet-post-ge2025-says-its-the-strongest-team-for-spore

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/lawrence-wong-cabinet-reshuffle-gan-kim-yong-chan-chun-sing-ong-ye-kung-5144301

----

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 11:45 am]

Notice a few attributes of Cabinet lineup that are vital to us:-

1. Continuity and stability - majority of the Ministries see continuation of Ministers.

This ensure stability in time of phenomenon challenges from the geopolitical situations.

2. Renewal and putting in place the momentum for training up 5G Leaders.

3. Emphasis on cross Ministries coordination - to ensure seamless delivery of public services without gaps.

Helm by Senior Ministers as Coordinating Ministers across multiple Ministries.

I think this will ensure stability, renewal and seamless integration in the delivery of public services - with interlocking mechanism put in place.

RY, [22/5/2025 1:40 pm]

Gd summary 👍

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 11:48 am]

This will ensure :-

1. Efficiency - without duplication of services or resources, hence saving cost.

2. Prevent gaps - that fall through the cracks.

3. Ensure new ideas from renewal of young 5G Leaders - who see things in different angles and perspectives.

4. Continuation of policies that require more than 1 terms of government to see through its fruitions.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 11:55 am]

1. Most important for the new Cabinet lineup is to ensure Singapore continue to survive and thrive in the new challenging geopolitical landscape that threaten our traditional ways of :-

a. Trade

b. Investment 

c. Global supply chain

d. The way we conduct our business

e. Job creation

2. Internal unity among our communities - as stress from far right champion 1 race supremacy at the expense of diversity and promote isolation rather than global cooperation.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 12:08 pm]

1 thing that deserve mentioned.

For the 1st time, US Treasury bonds have been undersubscribed for 3 weeks in a row.

This is unprecedented as US Treasury Bills are view as the safest and give good returns as liquidity instruments.

But look like global investors are not biting even though there are no other global instruments as replacement (based on MAS assessment - which I tend to agree).

But I feel that we should look at important signals in the next few months as few US treasury bonds tranches will be maturing:-

1. Whether will US able to pay bond holders the promised capitals and interest upon maturity.

2. Will US default in payment.

This will give us an indication whether we can still continue to hold the US treasury bonds or even subscribe to new ones as the bond yields has exceeded 5% from the previous 3%.

An indication that US experience increasing stress from raising debt capital to finance their fiscal deficit.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 12:08 pm]

US Treasury auctions off $16B of 20-year bonds at a high yield of 5.047% https://www.forexlive.com/news/us-treasury-auctions-off-16b-of-20-year-bonds-at-a-high-yield-of-5047-20250521/

US Treasury auctions off $16B of 20-year bonds at a high yield of 5.047%.

WI level at the time of auction: 5.035%.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 12:09 pm]

"US dollar assets remain virtually irreplaceable, says MAS chief Chia Der Jiun ".

Singapore still got confident with US Treasury bonds.

 https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/mas-chief-chia-der-jiun-says-us-dollar-assets-remain-virtually-irreplaceable#:~:text=US%20dollar%20assets%20remain%20virtually%20irreplaceable%2C%20says%20MAS%20chief%20Chia%20Der%20Jiun%C2%A0

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 12:09 pm]

"Treasury Bill auction undersubscribed for third straight week".

The government sought to raise GHS 6.68 billion but received total bids of GHS 2.76 billion.

US Treasury Bills grossly undersubscribed.

No investors want to buy US$ Treasury Bonds. 

Cannot raise more money, as global investors shun US$ ...

https://citinewsroom.com/2025/05/treasury-bill-auction-undersubscribed-for-third-straight-week/#:~:text=Treasury%20Bill%20auction%20undersubscribed%20for%20third%20straight%20week

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 12:27 pm]

US$262.7 billion of US Treasury Bonds hold by Singapore.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 12:28 pm]

"Bond yields jump after Moody’s downgrade of U.S. credit. Why it matters for consumers — and Congress.

Yields in the Treasury market are rising, threatening to make it more expensive for consumers and the U.S. to manage debt".

Foreign demands for US Treasury Bonds have been waning since Trump inauguration.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/bond-yields-jump-after-moodys-downgrade-of-u-s-credit-why-it-matters-for-consumers-and-congress-e5edd0f1#:~:text=Bond%20yields%20jump,to%20manage%20debt

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 12:28 pm]

Moody downgrade US finances from Aaa to Aa1.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 1:16 pm]

This mean if we place US$100 billion in US Treasury Bonds for 20 years, at 5%, we will earn US$5 billion interest every year.

Previously at 3%, we will only earn US$3 billion interest every year.

Very good money. US $2 billion more.

Provided US honour the bonds upon maturity and pay us the capital and interest upon maturity and don't default.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 1:23 pm]

1. Another thing that come to mind.

2. Notice fresh graduates can secure jobs even before they graduate through internships or other means previously.

3. But realise that companies no longer eager to do so, citing business uncertainty ahead.

4. Recent graduation batch have some anxiety.

5. Will the government and union work with Universities, IHL and business to conduct career fairs, internships, campus recruitment for the graduating batches to ensure fresh graduates can secure a job upon graduation.

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 1:24 pm]

Ong ye kang is very good. He have Chinese base and considering TCM to help in aging

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 1:25 pm]

As Yang sheng is very important for aging population.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 1:25 pm]

Good 👍.

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 1:27 pm]

I hope more policies to help on such things like insurance for TCM claims.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 1:31 pm]

1. Another issue about housing come into mind.

2. I think some of the older HDB flat lease is decaying soon.

3. Quite a while back, the Minister for housing is coining the concept of VERs to amortize the lease and provide a replacement.

4. Wonder how is this policy coming along.

5. I hope the new Minister of housing will look into this and provide us an interim update about the progress.

6. I know this will impact on the government budget.

7. Wonder how to ensure a healthy budget and yet provide assurance the people housing security is ensured.

RY, [22/5/2025 1:35 pm]

SG is a multi-racial with 70+% chinese

In my opinion, MOH should have started the TCM initiatives much earlier, and recognise TCM academics and encourage more people to take up TCM study/skills 

So far, I only see hospitals has added Acupuncture as part of pain management department

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 1:37 pm]

Maybe lky lhl don't like tcm. As western med earn a lot more

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 1:39 pm]

Now times are different. With aging pop gov don't want spend so much money and TCM is cheaper and no incentive. Gov can save a lot money

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 1:39 pm]

As you can see only Chinese medicine have charity clinics

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 1:40 pm]

I think western medicine and treatment are measurable and can see immediate results. And medical procedures are institutionalise uniformly and recognise internationally.

TCM though is helpful, but outcome not so directly related and measurable.

This is why some people are hesitant to jump into TCM.

RY, [22/5/2025 1:41 pm]

Oh ya, U are right

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 1:44 pm]

Small and long term sickness I go to TCM

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 1:46 pm]

I agree TCM are useful in some cases.

My family also take some TCMs.

But for illness, health screening that requires clarity and immediate results - I will go to Polyclinics and public hospitals.

Because MRI, CT scan, X-ray can see exactly where is the problem.

Then precise western medication can resolve the problem.

TCM pulse reading cannot achieve such clarity.

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 1:47 pm]

So there's a need for a binary system in health.  In some case patients can try both at the same time

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 1:47 pm]

Just like in china

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 1:48 pm]

I don't disagree.

365, [22/5/2025 1:48 pm]

TCM and western medicine can go hand in hand. With collaboration between both sides, the side effects of medication conflict can be reduced or removed

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 1:53 pm]

So I hope oyk can coordinate these 2 system together

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 1:53 pm]

And recognise TCM colleges in Singapore so can use both psea and skill future

REACH Singapore, [22/5/2025 2:00 pm]

📢 Topic 📢

Hanny, [22/5/2025 2:00 pm]

Tcm is getting more recognition. Insurance covers some spending for tcm. More can be done to make tcm more accepted in our healthcare system.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 2:01 pm]

1. Another issue I notice from the Ukraine war, Middle East conflict.

2. Sometimes, inexpensive weapon system can be a game changer.

3. Eg. Inexpensive drones that can escape radar detection, fly long range without detection, long range reconnaissance, precise strike on moving target like armour column, moving troops, arty piece.

4. Inexpensive surface sea drones and submarines that can sink big navy ships undetected.

5. AI robots to do recce and surveillance behind enemy lines, clear mines and booby traps, storm enemy hideout, tunnels etc.

6. I think is time to amass an array of expensive weapon systems and platforms plus a combination of such inexpensive drones and trained our army to master them.

7. This will ensure we are ready for such transform battlefield scenarios - fighting in untraditional ways.

8. Also can help to keep our defense budget from escalating to acquire very expensive platforms.

9. The inexpensive drones, robots, AI can be R&D and developed by our local scientists and researchers - and not so easily hack or disrupted by adversaries as encryption are done via our proprietary algorithms and secret keys.

10. We can beef up our domestic arm production in drones, robots and AI - and no need to depend on imports for ammo, parts - a lesson we can learn from Ukraine war when the supplier countries can cut military supply and support for expensive platforms or even prevent its used.

Hanny, [22/5/2025 2:01 pm]

My family use tcm and I can see the real benefits. However I need to pay most of it from my own pocket.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 2:12 pm]

11. I will certainly like to witness how our troops storm a buildup areas using a combination of drones, sniper, robots without using traditional soldiers clearing booby traps, storm into flats, throwing grenades, firing with their assault weapons - when a combination of flying drones into windows, robots mounted with machine guns and robots clearing booby traps can do a jobs that are done by platoons or companies of life soldiers for example.

12. The new method of flushing out enemies, clear booby traps and mines in build up areas can minimise casualties and only when clear by drones, robots, AI and snipers - human soldiers can then occupy the flush out buildings to secure the buildings and hold ground.

This will ensure minimal casualties - as our manpower shrink.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 2:18 pm]

This also is applicable to commando operations to rescue hostages - as a combination of drones, robots, AI and snipers without deploying commandos in real operations can do the job.

But very skillful drones, robots and AI operators with very well trained snipers need to be in place to ensure success in such high risk and high stake operations.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 2:29 pm]

Can try this military doctrines locally in a war game pitching the new method versus the traditional soldiers clearing of the build up areas in our new training build up areas and see the outcomes.

Then as we gain confidence, we can try out in overseas training and even introduce it as join war games with overseas troops in joint military training.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 2:32 pm]

But of course, traditional soldiers military operations also need to be in place in case drones, robots and AI malfunction or get jam.

RY, [22/5/2025 3:32 pm]

While watching new cabinet announcements everytime, our 

SG Ministers are taking up several titles and roles in different ministries

In my opinion, our SG Ministers are really busy, as they have to take up multiple roles in the cabinet

I often have non-singaporean friends asking me, SG as Ministers must be very busy/hardworking, as they still require to have meet-people session

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 3:37 pm]

One of 3 coordinating ministers to act as pm when pm not around

Jun Ming, [22/5/2025 3:37 pm]

I thought the priority should be given to dpm gan

RY, [22/5/2025 3:43 pm]

I hope MOH may further accredited and recognise TCM, and add more TCM svs/therapy into our hospitals also

Similar to the system in HK/Taiwan, that would be most ideal, as TCM certainly is a gd complement treatment to western meds

As we know, in terms of health, it is actually balancing yin&yang in our body 

Hope MOH may consider to give more subsidy for TCM treatments besides acupuncture

RY, [22/5/2025 3:44 pm]

Exactly

RY, [22/5/2025 3:49 pm]

It is a gd decision that Minister Ong remains as Health Minister, so that he may continue to oversee/implement the earlier initiatives/programs in MOH

REACH Singapore, [22/5/2025 4:01 pm]

📢 Topic 📢

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 4:24 pm]

Yes.

As what ex DPM Heng say, his working hours is 10x10 x7.

10am to 10pm -  7 days a week.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 4:26 pm]

That's why try not to disturb the Ministers for minor issues.

Let them concentrate on National matters.

They practically have no time even for their family members.

G, [22/5/2025 4:32 pm]

What can they do to bring down cost of living?

Which profligate govt spending are they cutting to help achieve lowering cost of living?

How much of what they want to do are to help achieve with WEF's 2030 agenda?

How much will they coerce Singaporeans to take some experimental "vaccine" when the next planned pandemic hits (as advised by SG president)?

What is going to be done to address the mingling with known money launderers wanted by China since 2015?

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 4:43 pm]

Actually not only Ministry of Trade.

But cut across other Ministries eg:-

1. Manpower - need to create jobs for workers if supply disruption disrupt jobs.

2. Education - need to train workers for new jobs.

3. Foreign affairs - to open doors to find new supply lines.

4. Tourism - to refresh tourism attractions and boost tourists visitation and spendings if manufacturing get hit.

5. Finance - if US treasury, US assets come under stress - need to look for other new investment and income sources.

6. Geopolitical tensions - increase pressure on military confrontation. New defence minister need to reevaluate military dynamics and landscape to adjust our military spendings, acquisition, deployment and training as well as military diplomacy to reduce the outbreak of regional war.

7. Geopolitical confrontation, far right ideologies, less tolerance for diversity etc will have an impact on our home security - need to relook how such development impact our communities dynamic and security.

8. Social development and services to ensure our various communities needs are look into without affected by external development and maintain our social harmony among our various communities.

9. Spruce up Digital economy with the rest of the world to compensate for stress from trade disruption and tariff war.

Boost resiliency and protection against online scam.

Steven Ong, [22/5/2025 4:47 pm]

IMO, 1st thing to do is to derive possible measures to help companies to survive the tariffs impact so that jobs and livelihoods can be saved.

Next, to continue to assist families to manage the cost of living.

Last, to continue support Singaporeans to improve our market values with training and education so that we can meet the existing and emerging market demands for better incomes for ourselves.

Hanny, [22/5/2025 4:50 pm]

The number one issue is Singapore position in the region and the world given the current turmoil. How it should be addressed? Only gov knows.

The number 2 issue is prepare the population for AI. The impact will be significant. People need to learn to understand the situation. How gov explains the situation matters.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 4:56 pm]

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/spore-smes-need-to-partner-chinese-firms-for-access-to-their-supply-chains-says-asme

Singapore SMEs need to partner Chinese firms for access to their supply chains, says ASME.

365, [22/5/2025 4:57 pm]

The government can explain their stance, but there will be those who always refuse to listen and understand.

The government can only do so much, people have to help themselves as well. Many always point finger at government without assuming personal responsibility and accountability.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 5:01 pm]

I think the news reports on how China SMEs supply chain investment $95.3 billion in Singapore - will have a tremendous impact on Singapore SMEs that employ 70% of our workforce.

Our SMEs will have tremendous competition from China SME extremely efficient supply chain.

Our government will need to come out with effective strategies to keep our SMEs afloat - else it will be completely wipe out from Singapore market.

Teaming up with China SMEs vast supply chain to penetrate China big market will help our Singapore SMEs grow - and achieve win-win mutual benefits.

Singapore SMEs exploring digital selling in conjunction with China online platform is one way to present, project and sell our goods to China market.

365, [22/5/2025 5:09 pm]

Will have to target specific sectors. China has the currency advantage, and economies of scale to do many thing far cheaper than us. There will be certain sectors where we simply cannot out-compete them, because price is the most competitive factor for those sectors.

Instead we should look into other sectors where the buyers are less price-sensitive. The pharmaceuticals that our ministers are negotiating for tariff exception is a good example. These are not just your everyday consumer drugs, but include lab samples for medical research.

Domestically it's going to be a challenge to explain, there will be resentment and feelings of unfair treatment, when sometimes it simply is the most logical option to focus resources on those that matter more or can get better returns.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 5:12 pm]

I agree that China have a lower cost and more cost efficient supply chain than Singapore which is a higher cost base and stronger currency.

But I think some value added goods and services can be sold to China because China has affluent groups of population that demand higher quality goods even at high prices, they will buy.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 5:15 pm]

Eg. China high income class will look for branded goods like Tesla, iPhone, Maserati, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Rolex, Birkin bags etc - even though China can produce all of these at cheaper price local brands.

So our niche SMEs can focus on this.

365, [22/5/2025 5:18 pm]

Yes, I would classify this as the luxury sector, and target consumers are less price-sensitive. So it make sense to invest more into this for the overall economic competitiveness.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 5:20 pm]

Agree.

I think there are some other sectors that we may not be aware of.

Eg. Industrial precision products and niche engineering stuff that China will be interested in.

I think our respective business sectors will know how to exploit the market demand and make our business viable.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 5:26 pm]

Even banking and insurance products, our local banks have good penetration into China and HK market.

Hospital services and GP consultation provided by our private healthcare chains has penetrated many provinces in China.

Not to mention some GLCs like ST Engineering, Sembcorp, Keppel Corps, and big enterprises like Raffles Medical Group, CityDev, osim etc.

I think we got niches to penetrate and China do welcome our presence and investment.

But our Government need to bring our business in especially SMEs who have lesser resources, finances and connections to go into China market unlike our GLCs and big private enterprises.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 5:35 pm]

I think Singapore can also make ourselves useful - by being a gateway to bridge China to the rest of the World.

So that supply chains can flow through us.

Our businesses and SMEs can play an intermediary roles.

This will ensure our local businesses can grow.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 5:39 pm]

"IBM Fires 8,000 Employees to Replace Them With AI — Only to Rehire Just as Many Because Of…

IBM shook the tech world by laying off thousands to make way for AI automation. 

But what happened next caught everyone off guard. The company’s workforce took an unexpected turn that is changing the future of work."

 https://indiandefencereview.com/ibm-fires-8000-employees-to-replace-them-with-ai-only-to-rehire-just-as-many/#:~:text=IBM%20Fires%208%2C000,future%20of%20work.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 5:42 pm]

AI will not completely replace jobs, but instead will produce new ones.

IBM experience as well as some other MNCs experience have proven so.

Hence we need to identify what are the likely roles that will be replaced by AI for each industrial sectors.

And what are the likely roles and jobs will be created by AI, then will train our workers into the new roles that come with higher pay.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 5:49 pm]

AI has 3 main categories areas:-

1. AI creators.

2. AI developers.

3. AI users.

1 and 2 are in high demand.

Won't get replaced by AI.

3 - most workers will fall into this categories and need to be trained in using and exploiting AI as productivity tools to perform their traditional jobs better.

In fact, every industry sectors will need to identify these specific categories to train their workers on how to use AI to make their job better, faster - so that their productivity will go up (similar to when computers are invented).

I think government can make use of the framework of ITM (Industry Transformation Map) to focus on how to use AI in their respective industries to transform and train workers on AI.

This will give assurance and clarity - and reduce the anxiety of workers on the threat of AI as disruptors.

365, [22/5/2025 5:58 pm]

China is already implementing AI training for their students. Starting from primary school, they will learn how to use AI, and then move on to understanding and creating in secondary and high school.

Instead of being so afraid of AI, we should learn how to embrace it and integrate it into our lives and workforce.

Automatic lifts took away jobs from lift operators, mobile phones took away jobs from phone operators, electrical lights took away jobs from lamplighters. 

If we were to return back in time, are we going to push against all these innovations in the name of job protection? Technology and progression should not be restricted due to people unwilling to adapt and change.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 6:01 pm]

For 1. AI creators - no need for government to identify or tell them what to develop - because they are top range AI scientists and researchers - who are innovative and creative - always thinking of how to come out with new AI ideas and breakthrough to develop new AI products.

Eg. Generative AI with LLM (Large Language Model) is one.

DeepSeek with Knowledge Distillation is another.

AI creators are busy trying to develop AGI (Artificial General Intelligence).

REACH Singapore, [22/5/2025 6:04 pm]

📢 Topic 📢

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 6:05 pm]

2. AI developers also no problems with high paying jobs - as they are also constantly doing AI development job based on business applications needs.

To develop AI apps to meet business requirements and needs to help users improve their productivity.

These AI developers will need to be very proficient with machine learning, python programming, neural networks, reinforcement learning, computer visions, training datasets etc.

They are always highly demanded by the market - no worries in getting jobs.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/5/2025 6:28 pm]

1. Eg. Every industries AI needs are different.

2. Banking - some banks use Microsoft co-pilot AI to tie their internal process and produce output for analysis.

3. Some industries use Chatgpt to do code generations, information search, report generations, create work schedule and workflow, create time table to schedule work tasks etc.

4. Chinese companies use DeepSeek in many of their industry development, R&D, integration of work processes etc.

Hence I feel that if industry sectors do ITM for their respective sectors to identify how AI can be used as productivity tools, then business can identify workers training needs.

Skillfuture can be directed and applied to train the respective workers and secure a higher salary jobs for every workers as productivity increases.

Then this will help every workers tackle the high cost of living - because their higher productivity can be translated into higher salaries as the business profit rises.

REACH Singapore, [22/5/2025 6:47 pm]

Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

RY, [22/5/2025 6:48 pm]

I wondering how the new public svs minister role may work ...

In fact, our govt is  progressing towards a "citizen-centric" approach since Mr LHL (ex PM) era 

That is certainly a positive approach, as I see the govt always hearing the public views for any new/amended policies/bills

RY, [22/5/2025 6:54 pm]

Nvidia has announced and will be setting up AI Hub in both Middle East & Taiwan

Hope south east asia 1st AI Hub will be in SG also, since AI will be the next coming Era

RY, [22/5/2025 6:55 pm]

Thanks Megan & Reach Team

REACH Singapore, [22/5/2025 7:02 pm]

Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

====

REACH (Telegram) 75 - What are your views on the latest updates by the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce? What more can Singapore do to navigate through the current economic uncertainties?

(SK)

19 May 2025 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [19/5/2025 9:44 am]

Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 10am to 7pm today. ⏰

House Rules (short version of our Terms of Use) to keep in mind:

1. Be kind and respectful. We all want to be in a safe space to share our views. 

2. Any and all threatening, abusive, vulgar or racially, religiously and ethnically objectionable content is prohibited. 

3. Consider the quiet ones among us and give them a chance to comment. 

4. No need to repeat your comment or in differnet forms (including caps) - we heard you loud and clear the first time. 

5. Let's protect each other's privacy and keep contact details in this group what it should always be - confidential. 

Full set of Terms of Use: https://www.reach.gov.sg/Participate/reach-telegram-group/REACH-Telegram-Group-Chat-Terms-of-Use/

We will strive to uphold these rules to ensure this is a safe space for all. 

Please be assured that the points made by participants during the chat are aggregated and shared with relevant agencies. 

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [19/5/2025 9:59 am]

📢 Topic 📢

DPM Gan said that Singapore may be able to escape tariffs on pharmaceutical exports to the US even if it goes ahead with plans to introduce sectoral tariffs. Providing an update on the progress made by the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce on 16 May, DPM Gan said the US wants to use sectoral tariffs to secure the supply chain for its pharmaceutical supplies.

💬 What are your views on the latest updates by the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce? What more can Singapore do to navigate through the current economic uncertainties?

📌 Pharmaceutical Exports to the US

DPM Gan said that this is a significant opportunity and agreement for Singapore because pharmaceutical goods are an important part of the country's exports to the US. Pharmaceuticals make up over 10 per cent of the country’s exports to the US.

The broad concept is "more or less there", but the Government will need to consult private pharmaceutical companies to find out what is possible or not in the agreement, said DPM Gan.

As for semiconductors, the US said it is happy to discuss how to ensure continued supply for Singapore, but the focus is on pharmaceuticals for now.

📌 Uncertainty in the Global Economy 

DPM Gan acknowledged that tariffs between the US and China have come down, and described them as "encouraging developments". The US and China recently agreed to slash sweeping tariffs for 90 days after meeting for talks in Geneva. 

DPM Gan stated that the discussion between the world's two largest economies is a "starting point" for what's likely to be quite a long journey. He added that “the fact that the US and China had a discussion at the negotiating table is encouraging, but it's too early to tell what the outcome will be, and the uncertainty remains”.

At the same time, Singapore is deepening ties with like-minded trading partners, such as its fellow ASEAN member states. One avenue will be the upgrading of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), which has been in force since 2010. DPM Gan added that under the agreement, tariffs are very low, if not zero, for most countries.

📌 Reshuffle of the Taskforce

DPM Gan said “there may be some adjustments because the task force appointments were based on the Ministers' portfolios”.

If there are any changes in portfolios, the composition of the Taskforce may change. "I think you just have to be patient, because the Prime Minister will announce the new Cabinet lineup," DPM Gan said.

👉 https://cna.asia/3SKpWQR

👉 https://str.sg/Kbyv

----

Khai Mun L., [19/5/2025 10:05 am]

Not much comments on this topic.

Nothing is confirmed and everything seems like regular government operations

Hanny, [19/5/2025 10:13 am]

We are at a juncture where it is no longer business/life as usual. The people needs to know and be prepared for it. Gov needs to be transparent as much as possible. 

It’s not an easy transition. The problem is not only us china relations. We have AI disrupting the way we live n the way we work.

Understanding what we are facing is the first important step.

365, [19/5/2025 10:19 am]

Considering how pharmaceuticals is our largest export industry to the US, it makes sense why we are focusing on this first. Being a country that thrives on open trade, any trade barriers removed is a win for us.

Given how they have handled foreign relations, I wouldn't be too worried about their capabilities of leading us through this.

Hanny, [19/5/2025 10:23 am]

I would like to see CNA to be impartial in its reporting. There are too many fake/one-sided news out there that it’s becoming more difficult to filter.

Hanny, [19/5/2025 10:25 am]

Currently CNA is biased. Once I read the title, I can sort of guess the line of the story.

Andy, [19/5/2025 10:47 am]

Can explain more? What are they biased about?

REACH Singapore, [19/5/2025 11:00 am]

[ Poll : 1. I am confident Singapore can continue to thrive amidst a more uncertain global environment. Please share your reasons in the chat. ]

- Strongly Agree

- Agree

- Neutral

- Disagree

- Strongly Disagree

REACH Singapore, [19/5/2025 11:00 am]

[ Poll : 2. I am concerned about the impact of the US tariffs. ]

- Very concerned

- Concerned 

- Neutral (taking a wait and see approach)

- Unconcerned

- Very unconcerned

REACH Singapore, [19/5/2025 11:00 am]

Dear Contributors,

Please take a moment to participate in our polls and share your opinion. The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!

Thank you.

Megan 😊

Joomua Tng, [19/5/2025 11:12 am]

young generations are changing.

the attitude for change, for better or worse,

and the under current threat of extremists and jihadists, calling for tribalism votes and growing political correctness of a portion of population is a call for concern.

coupled with a lack of indepth understanding of Singapore history, and differences in various religions' teaching is a recipe for potential tectonic political upheavel in the future is a cause for concern..

change maybe good, but the principles that keep Singapore relevant, survive, prosper and progress must not be removed.

E.g. Military Defenses and budget expenses is a must, the National Service of 2 to 2 and a half year cannot be reduced...

ISA cannot be abolished, it is a defense mechanism to protect Singapore from jihadists, extremists of all sorts 

The current system of National reserves cannot be touch at all cost other than crisis like SARs and Covid etc.

During crisis the value of money can shrink in purchasing power at a drastic level. Which most people who only see short term benefit and living in peaceful prosperity time cannot understand the big drop of cash value and purchasing power during crisis..

G, [19/5/2025 11:56 am]

This kind of topic is so technical, what kind of views are you really looking for?

So much focus on GKY, together with some possibility of some taskforce reshuffle, looking for praise?

Looking for speculation on next taskforce composition?

G, [19/5/2025 11:58 am]

What more can Singapore do to navigate through current economic uncertainties?

Get the taskforce to also do an in depth audit on profligate spending by the whole govt. Cutting unnecessary spending means less demand for tax dollars, and can in turn reduce taxes to contain cost of living

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 12:05 pm]

1. US is one of our biggest customer in pharmaceutical export US $9.96 billions in 2023 according to Google.

2. This does not include the downstream sectors such as freight, logistics, insurance, banking letter of credits, wholesale, retail, warehouse storages, transport etc.

3. Hence the tariff impact to our economy is very big.

4. It will impact many of our business and jobs - port, logistics, shipping, banking, bunkering service, warehousing , wholesale, retail services.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 12:10 pm]

5. If 10% reciprocal tariff is levy, it means $100 medicine will cost $110 to American consumers.

6. If we able to negotiate for zero tariff, that means American consumers will buy at $100.

7. That means our export will remain intact that will contribute to our GDP, business activities, jobs, salaries and tax revenue to our government.

8. Hence ensuring we get a good deal in the trade negotiation is extremely important to us.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 12:13 pm]

Indonesia’s plan to cut fuel imports from Singapore could disrupt trade flows, but fallout likely minimal: Analysts.

Indonesia is looking to change the source of some of its fuel imports from Singapore to the United States as part of tariff negotiations. 

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/indonesia-fuel-imports-singapore-trade-economy-united-states-tariffs-5126406

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 12:19 pm]

Indonesia import US $11.4 billion of fuel from Singapore.

Indonesia as a result of tariff negotiations with US intend to cut our fuel export to zero - and will totally import from US to appease Trump tariff as well as from the Middle East.

The impact to us is that our fuel refinery, port, logistics, shipping, bunkering services, insurance, banking etc will be hit.

Hence there is a need to find alternative customers to absorb our lost fuel exports of US $11.4 billion to other countries to make up for the loss.

Eg. China, ASEAN or other regional countries that need fuel.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 12:20 pm]

Having say so, I think there is a silver lining - based on detail analysis.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 12:20 pm]

"Indonesia’s plan to boost fuel imports from US in shift from Singapore raises questions over costs".

1. US oil and gas need to come via Suez canal - targeted by Houthi. Danger that the supply could be cut off. Longer shipping routes, higher freight cost.

2. Higher insurance costs due to war risk.

3. Shipping routes may have to go via South Africa - much longer routes - again translate to higher transport cost and delay.

4. The total price from US oils and gas could be higher than Singapore price as the Singapore oil and gas come from many countries being a refinery hub.

5. The US oil and gas could even be refined by Singapore refineries that come back to square one.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesias-plan-to-shift-fuel-imports-from-us-instead-of-singapore-raises-questions-over-costs#:~:text=Indonesia%E2%80%99s%20plan%20to%20boost%20fuel%20imports%20from%20US%20in%20shift%20from%20Singapore%20raises%20questions%20over%20costs

YKC, [19/5/2025 12:20 pm]

ASEAN needs to be more United in moment like this. Trump seem to love small player, easier to chew.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 12:30 pm]

1. Singapore GDP is about US $514 billions in 2024.

This is where we derive our tax revenue to finance our government spendings every year.

2. Trade is 3 times the size of our GDP in which more than 150% is derive from trade.

3. Hence securing our trade deals is imperative for our survival and prosperity.

Joomua Tng, [19/5/2025 12:34 pm]

is there websites for such information?

i must start to learn to do research on statistical data.

mind sharing?

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 12:46 pm]

You can do it a few ways:-

1. In Google type in your query in the search engines.

2. Use AI such as Meta AI, Chatgpt, DeepSeek through prompt 

Most important to get accurate response from the above, you will need to have a good understanding of the topic to provide a good prompt to get an accurate response.

Always verify one AI against another and verify with Google search engines because sometimes, GAI can hallucinate and give a false response.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 12:49 pm]

Another thing, read widely from various credible new source be it locals and foreign news to fact check against one another.

Use critical thinkings to analyse the news to reach a good understanding of the issues.

In fact CNA and Straits Times news are quite credible.

But again, I will fact check against other foreign news like BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, Yahoo, Google, SCMP etc to ensure no biasness.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 12:59 pm]

1. As trade, our External Economy form a big part of our GDP under stress that will impact our GDP, business profit and jobs; we need to ramp up our the other wing of our Economy - ie. Domestic economy.

2. External economy make up of trade (import and export, as well as services), balance of payment (include financial inflow and outflow) and foreign investment.

Increasingly our economy come under stress - that will impact our business margin and jobs.

3. Then we will need to boost up our domestic economy - to secure our GDP, business and jobs.

4. Domestic economy largely make up of Government spendings and Consumptions - we need to ramp it up - not cutting it down.

Else we experience an implosion of demultiplier effects whereby our Economy implode inwards leading to many business failures and massive job loss - as trade that form the largest portion of our GDP come under stress impacting business and jobs - that may trigger a Recession.

Dr. Goh, [19/5/2025 1:02 pm]

What are the terms and conditions for tariffs to be zero? Does it include using Singaporeans as free test specimens for new vaccines?

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 1:04 pm]

To explain further how our economy are impacted:-

1. Trade (export and import)

2. Balance of payment (cash inflows and outflows) - financial hubs 

3. Investment 

4. Government spendings 

5. Consumer consumption.

1, 2 and 3 come under stress.

Hence we need to ramp up 4 and 5.

Nicholas, [19/5/2025 1:05 pm]

We need to diversify as much as possible, USA has become an unreliable trading partner, behaves like an economic bully. Are there ways to diversify to other countries as customers? How about consider China and Russia? Potential tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors are very concerning. Will there be a baseline tariff similar to what has happened to other goods?

Hanny, [19/5/2025 1:06 pm]

I’m not sure about the rest but I feel that short writing, as in one screen length the most, is more readable than long write up.

Joomua Tng, [19/5/2025 1:06 pm]

point 4 is a slow "suicide" when point 1, 2 and 3 under stress.

point 5 is almost non existent. Singapore's domestic market area is too small.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 1:11 pm]

1. Government has the foresight to ramp up government spendings through our long term planning, accumulated budget surplus plus prudent fiscal budget years after years - to beef up our investment expenditure eg. Changi T5, MRT, Tuas Megaport, refresh our tourism spots etc.

2. These are not unnecessary government spendings, but productive investment capital that will sharpen our global competitiveness to ensure the world will continue to come to our seaports, airports, invest in our economy, our logistics supply chain, shipping continue to berth, tourist continue to come in to our tourist spots attractions,  mice for seminars and tours, big concerts eg. Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Coldplay etc.

3. And thanks to the foresight of our government that dish out CDC vouchers, SG60 vouchers, GST vouchers etc that boost our domestic consumption in our neighbourhood food stalls, groceries and retail shops.

Joomua Tng, [19/5/2025 1:15 pm]

i wonder wat useful statistic is able to be found within SingStats website.

does it include GDP information for the past 60 years?

frankly , i am a techno dinosaur....IT and searching for online data is an uphill task for me.

Khai Mun L., [19/5/2025 1:16 pm]

No one knows yet. Even trump himself don't know, he keeps changing his mind. Refer to the past proposed tariff with canada

RY, [19/5/2025 1:18 pm]

SG already part of the members of RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) + CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) 

Have SG Govt consider joining  BRICS also to expand her markets to emerging countries eg Africa/brazil and etc ? 

However, because Russia is one of founding BRICS member, SG may have some stumbling block in joining ....

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 1:19 pm]

1. Hence we should not levy tourist tax that will deter tourists from visiting us.

2. In 2024, 16.5 million visitors visit us.

If we levy tourist tax of say $10 to $30 per tourist, we only collect $165 million to $495 million but will deter tourists from visiting us as the tax is a very hefty sum compare to other countries.

3. Foreign tourists spend $22.4 billion in 2024. 

Conversely, through GST, we can collect $2.016 billion at 9% GST.

4. Hence Government levy of 9% GST tax is a very clever move, as foreign tourists is a big contributor of our GST revenue.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 1:27 pm]

5. Is government big spendings on our critical capital infrastructure a slow "suicidal" spendings?

6. In economic and accounting term, it is a misconception to layman - thinking that spending is a total loss and a big toll to collect tax from taxpayers.

7. I am sure for layman, buying big houses is not an expenditure but an investment. As houses will grow in values phenomenonlly.

8. Buying gold, expensive watches, jewelleries, designer bags etc or spending on investible instruments like insurance plans - are an investment not expenses as its values grow overtime.

9. Likewise, government spendings in seaports, airports, MRT, tourist attractions spots etc are investment spendings not expenses - because it attracts income, tax revenue and long term gains.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 1:29 pm]

10. The multipler effects of government spendings on critical infrastructure are many folds because the spendings are circulated within the domestic economy through circular flow of income via multiplier effects.

A $1 spend can multiply into $5 or $10 - will need economic metric models to compute.

And our economy will grow bigger, reserves grow bigger, Singaporeans become wealthier as our business, income and wealth grow because of growing business activities.

Joomua Tng, [19/5/2025 1:31 pm]

critical capital infrastructure..is not what I meant. already noted the limit view I had when you mentioned infrastructure like T5 and others.

Joomua Tng, [19/5/2025 1:32 pm]

something beyond me..

i only care about driving taxi, from morning to night and then learn trading forex at night.

RY, [19/5/2025 1:37 pm]

SG is quite strong in both  pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries

And further these 2 contributed  substantial part of SG GDP 

Hence our new setup SG Economic Resilience Taskforce must really work out strategic planning, to navigate USA always-changing trade-related announcements 

We understand there maybe some re-shuffling due to the new cabinet announcement by PM Lawrence Wong after GE2025 

Believe he will place the experienced trade people for this new Taskforce to negotiate with USA 

Although SG is expected not in the top list for USA in trade negotiation

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 1:39 pm]

1. For eg. Government need to throw tenders to build the critical infrastructure.

2. Foreign, big local firms, smaller supporting local firms will bid for the tenders.

Successful tenderers create jobs for Singaporeans.

Foreign firms make investment in Singapore creating jobs for Singaporeans.

Singaporeans learn new and critical skills from the large foreign MNCs and in turn can bid for large overseas projects earning foreign revenue.

3. Need to buy and import materials - hence port activities, logistics, shipping, banking services, supply chain, etc will be required - ensuring business and jobs are intact.

4. As majority of the government spendings are keep within our domestic economy, our monetary circular flow are circulated within our domestic economy.

5. Government can recoup its spendings through tax, and service fees.

No loss to our government spendings.

6. Yet business continues to survive and thrive and can pay GST, pay corporate taxes 

7. Singaporeans continue to earn salaries, pay GST, pay income tax.

8. This is how our economy survive despite external challenges in previous crisis like covid, financial crisis.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 1:43 pm]

9. Also CDC vouchers, SG60 vouchers, GST vouchers etc can only be spend within our domestic economy - cannot bring out to spend in Johor, or buy from Amazon that lead to leakage out of our economy.

10. When domestic consumption increase, our retail, food stalls, supermarkets make profit, pay corporate taxes, pay GST for goods.

11. They employ Singaporeans, PRs, earn salaries, pay GST for consumption and pay income tax.

12. Multipliers effect kicks in, our government coffers again grow.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 1:47 pm]

My close friend comments:-

(A bit concern.)

I'm just worried - a very basic rule of negotiation is for each party to  hold their cards tightly. 

Why this update. Many things can change. 

All other countries are trying to outwit one another. 

Why let out the info early, unless it is already done deal? 

Even if it were already signed off, would this be Singapore's little advantage and we should not shout? 

Voters have spoken, pls do what is right and good for singapore. 

Update only when and if necessary.

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 1:47 pm]

I agree on increasing domestic spending although overseas prices is more competitive

Joomua Tng, [19/5/2025 1:48 pm]

okok...a bit too "deep" in economy thingy...

good to know about such things , i will not know it from you if I am not in  this REACH Telegram.😅

RY, [19/5/2025 1:49 pm]

There is news saying that Trump policy following closely "Project 2025" book 

Maybe our govt may also read about this book to further understand Trump's mindset 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-project-2025-first-100-days/

REACH Singapore, [19/5/2025 2:02 pm]

📢 Topic 📢

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 2:05 pm]

Many social media, oppositions and supporters don't understand why Government do big infrastructure spendings, dish out CDC vouchers, GST vouchers etc - thinking that government anyhow spend money because many don't understand the economic principles behind it.

Thinking that large spendings should be avoided, then no need GST.

In fact, right government spendings and GST collection benefits all Singaporeans and make our income grow rather than causing a burden to us and make our government fiscal budget healthy and economy growing not shrinking.

Some even admire Trump and Elon Musk DOGE mass spending cuts - which in fact will deeply hurt US long term competitiveness compared to China strategic spendings.

Penny wise, pounds foolish. Because both of them don't understand economic.

Joomua Tng, [19/5/2025 2:13 pm]

maybe.

isn't it strange that the democrats senate or something earning $100k over salary having multi millions assets that is beyond their salaries.

thus, certain suspicious spendings need to be cut..?

....

anyway.

let's focus back on Singapore 😅

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 2:15 pm]

For example, Trump and Elon Musk DOGE cut spendings in:-

1. Cut Air controllers jobs, a few aircraft crash in US due to lack of air supervision in taking off and landings.

2. Cut medical spendings and vaccination, measles spread like wildfire in US, bird flu cripple US chicken and eggs lead to spike in prices.

3. Cut fundings to University research and Uni operations leading to outflow of talents in doing cutting edge research - losing future technology competition to China.

4. Cut social and medical spendings leading to widespread poverty in many US states. Consumption will go down as poverty means consumers has no money to spend.

5. Refuse to invest and spend on necessary infrastructure upgrading, repairs etc as US infrastructure are aging and crumbling down.

And so many more so call unnecessary spendings that are in fact critical spendings that will make US competitive, survive and thrive in the long run.

What Trump have been doing is harming US, not making America great again.

Joomua Tng, [19/5/2025 2:19 pm]

the integrity of the democrats is questionable, my person opinions.

(based on their inconsistent words in the past)

there is bound to be some suspicious spending that is not right.

........

and Elon Musk with his team is definitely smart and educated enough to know which are critical spendings and which is suspicious.

(hopefully)

Joomua Tng, [19/5/2025 2:19 pm]

anyway. lets focus on Singapore instead 😅

RY, [19/5/2025 2:25 pm]

They have extra money fm USA lobbying 

I am quite surprising to learn that Trump, as President, he/his family are profiting fm the cybercoins fw the middle east investment 

And as President, Trump can accept airplane gift fm middle east, when Boeing is capable to produce own country president plane  

All these are obvious corruption/bribery/conflict of interests 

And USA still claim that they are a democratic country, when the civil servants like senates also accepting money from giant fuel companies and etc

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 2:37 pm]

Not our taiji we focus on how to make sg better

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 2:37 pm]

Be it trying to remove foreigners or attract more foreign people in

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 2:38 pm]

Do we want to cut down spending or do we want to increase spending

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 2:44 pm]

If money cannot be printed or created will the situation be different

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 2:44 pm]

1. If we borrow big debts to fund government spendings - then we are harming Singapore and Singaporeans.

2. But if we have accumulated years and years of budget surplus with long term planning, in time of economic uncertainty or economic crisis, ramping up government spendings on critical infrastructure become important - to ensure our economy, our business, our jobs and our long term competitiveness remain intact.

3. Economic crisis that will lead to recession is not a recipe to cut government spendings and consumption.

4. Economists will always advocate Government to ramp up critical infrastructure spendings to boost domestic business activities and fuel domestic consumption in time of difficult economic challenges - so that our GDP remains in the positive territory.

5. Else business will close shops, no profit, cut jobs, lose income, pull out from Singapore - and we experience miseries and poverty - as once business leave our shores - very difficult to come back.

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 2:46 pm]

I think trump is setting a game to collect back the debt lah. The tariff thing is to deprived us debt value

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 2:47 pm]

That is what I heard from tik tok

365, [19/5/2025 2:47 pm]

What debt? We aren't in net debt to the US.

365, [19/5/2025 2:48 pm]

He anyhow spew nonsense, don't just blindly follow, such as claiming all other countries has high tariff charges against the US when reality is not the case.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 2:49 pm]

Government cannot anyhow print money to spend, else our currency values will plummet leading to a banana money.

And all our wealth and assets will decrease in values.

US previously try to do it and barely get away because countries all over the world dump in their money to buy US treasury bonds to fund it.

Hence ensuring US currency value does not fall to become Banana money.

But now countries all over the world become smart and will not become US suckers - have move away from funding US dollars.

Hence Trump cannot anyhow print money anymore.

Singapore all the more cannot print money - because our assets and wealth will lose value drastically - if not back by our economy and production activities.

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 2:56 pm]

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZShbehTMd/

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 2:56 pm]

This is what I saw on tik tok

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 2:59 pm]

1. Now we know why Singapore is doing so well despite being a very small Country and the 3rd richest country in the world?

2. Because we get all our Economic right.

3. Conversely, many rich developed countries get their economic wrong and incur large debts, social unhappiness, income inequality.

4. Hence our Government need to constantly educate and communicate to our people why the government are implementing policies in certain ways, when many people fail to understand the economic principles behind it.

5. Many comments fuel by oppositions and layman are misconception or misguided because they don't understand the underlying mechanism of the policies that are helping us, not harming us though on the surface level it looks like harming the people.

But in actual fact, putting us in a good stead.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 3:04 pm]

US borrow to fund its spending through issuance of US treasury bonds that some big tranches are maturing soon.

Trump will have to repay the bond capital and interest when the bonds mature.

If Trump don't have those billions of dollars to pay the bond holders upon maturity - then US will be in trouble as it will lose its credibility if default.

Big capital outflow will follow and US financial system will collapse.

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 3:08 pm]

They are trying to manipulate it to pay lesser

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 3:09 pm]

Trump don't know what he is doing.

He didn't employ the right economic advisers to help him.

But instead get a bogus economist that make matter worst.

RY, [19/5/2025 3:15 pm]

Yes, I concur that all Trump's tariff games, his main focus is to help in USA high national debts and interests to be paid 

This YT may give a clearer picture/explanation - 

https://youtu.be/Op_lsH_ys5g?si=jpG9Y_SnmnMDItxb

If we know Trump's motive, then our govt may know how to better negotiate with USA 

USA also seems to be following "Project 2025" book roadmap in Trump current administration also 

We may learn to read the other party's mindset/motives behind, and know what are their cards, in this negotiation 

所谓，知己知彼百战百胜

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 3:38 pm]

1. Tariff is a trade tool to ensure the right behaviour in trade.

2. It is never a financial tool to fund a fiscal budget.

No countries in the world ever do that.

1st time I heard and see Trump doing it - who wrongly believe in a bogus economist introduce by his son-in-law.

3. Tariff are never implemented across the board - it will invite wide retaliation from the world and can bring calamity like in 1930 Deep Depression when US did that (not as a financial tool) and trigger WW2.

4. Tariff are use as sectoral measure to prevent dumping, protect certain domestic industries in its infancy.

But tariff will always invite retaliation and hence sparsely used.

For eg. EU tariff China EV cars to protect its car industry.

India tariff agriculture to protect its farmers.

But other countries do retaliate in other sectors to maintain trade equilibrium.

5. No government or economists ever advocate tariff as financial tools to collect as tax revenue to finance government spendings because tariff are use sparingly to correct trading behaviour.

6. Tariff also impose a big burden on its consumers in which consumers have to pay a hefty tariff for the goods they buy.

US GDP 68.8% are through consumption.

If tariff take a toll on consumption, US economy will plummet rapidly leading to a recession.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 3:40 pm]

7. So indeed, Trump don't know what he is doing.

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 3:42 pm]

its dosent matter if trump knows what he is doing, it only matters to know what he intend to do so we can negotiate to get a better position.

RY, [19/5/2025 3:42 pm]

Taking Japan as an example, they are smart to use US bond as their card against USA, since Japan hold the highest US Bonds 

With Japan massive selling in mid Apr after 2Apr tariff announcement, Trump has to put a immediate pause for 90days for the reciprocal tariffs

Japan also learnt their lesson from the Accord Plaza Agreement in the 80s, which lead to the downfall of Japan economy for this past 30years 

Bec of USA restriction, Japan also fall behind the semiconductor

Hence, lead to the rise of Taiwan TSMC and Korea semiconductor industry 

Expected Japan will not give in so easily for this round of trade negotiation with USA

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 3:43 pm]

so what if trump dont know what he doing, its not like we can overthrow trump. lol

RY, [19/5/2025 3:43 pm]

Exactly

RY, [19/5/2025 3:51 pm]

China is also smart to throw their "rare earth card", since it processed 90% of the world rare earth materials

And rare earth materials is essential for many manufacturing eg military weapon/plane/automobile/electronic pdts and etc 

Even Trump gotten the 100-200 planes contract from middle east, Boeing still require the rare-earth materials to produce the planes ultimately

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 3:58 pm]

Previously, when certain tranches of bonds mature, US Treasury will issue new tranches of Treasury Bonds to cover the repayment of Treasury Bonds capital and interest.

But investors have been throwing and selling US treasury bonds enmass after Trump throw a tariff war - causing bond yields to spike, bond interest rate to spike, Moody (the last credit rating agency - to downgrade US finances from AAA to AA1), hence no investors want to take up US treasury bonds anymore.

The cost of borrowing for US government increases and no longer attractive to investors.

Now Trump in a Catch 22 situation.

Either way he also die.

Implement tariff - he can't trade.

Raise money through bonds - no investors want.

REACH Singapore, [19/5/2025 4:01 pm]

📢 Topic 📢

RY, [19/5/2025 4:12 pm]

I believe SG govt also has its own "card/s" when negotiating with USA also

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 4:12 pm]

Our government has.

But won't disclose.

RY, [19/5/2025 4:16 pm]

To me, Trump is not stupid, for all the games that he is playing, he has his motives behind 

But he maybe think that other people is not smart like him and cant read his motives only

RY, [19/5/2025 4:18 pm]

I believe also, bec SG do have smart and far-sighted govt, that leads to SG prosperity over the years

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 4:18 pm]

He is just penny wise but pound foolish.

If talk about strategically smart and long term visions, 2 Government come to my mind.

1. Singapore Government

2. China Government

RY, [19/5/2025 4:18 pm]

I concur

RY, [19/5/2025 4:40 pm]

I have confident in our Minister Gan, as he is experienced and hardworking and long-term politician 

And SG Govt is heading the right path in developing SG economy over the years 

Regret that we lost Mr George Yeo in past GE, he is also a gd Trade Minister

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 5:00 pm]

Luckily this GE 2025 election, our voters are rational, wise and mature not easily fool by populist unworkable ideas and arguments.

If we follow blindly what American voters do - being fool by Trump using all his flaw economic arguments, populist policies and lies that promise immediate gratification but result in long term woes - Singapore will be dead.

Hence our Government establishing trust with our people is extremely important.

In time of crisis, people know that our Government can be trusted to help us to get ourselves out of trouble and crisis unscathed.

In the time of election, Government can trust our people for support and the critical votes that are needed to stay in power to protect us.

RY, [19/5/2025 5:34 pm]

I think what Trump did wrongly is always using "threatening strategy" against others

Nobody likes to be Threaten and everyone wants Respect 

The EU already has come out with their counter-strategy against Trump reciprocal tariffs, it will be a tough negotiation with EU later 

US/EU/China are the 3 major economy in the world trade 

Both China/US are finally down with their negotiation, which is a gd sign for the world economy ultimately 

And Trump is going back to the olden UK days as protectionist, which ultimately may lead to recession/depression sooner/later

Steven Ong, [19/5/2025 5:38 pm]

He's a bizman. Part and parcel of his style to create a negotiation opportunity

RY, [19/5/2025 5:40 pm]

Singaporeans are always smart, as we learn from others happening 

It is gd to have 2nd voice in parliament, but we must have a strong ruling party also to carry out/implement the policies ultimately 

Our opposition party is still not up to level yet as Minister, basing on their past instances

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 5:41 pm]

Yes.

Even the current group of WP MPs don't possess the Minister qualities.

I didn't see alot of intelligent ideas flying out of the Parliament from the Parliamentary debate floated by the WP MPs that excite me.

Nor any fresh ideas that excite me from the many so call star candidates they field in the election through their manifesto or rallies.

RY, [19/5/2025 5:50 pm]

Trump negotiation style like buying grocery in the market - Quote high price and let U negotiate down 

Maybe it is applicable to real estate industry, but definitely not in tariff 

Trump high tariffs is just pushing everybody back to the negotiating table 

Every economist shd know the consequence of high tariffs, which may lead to war ultimately 

Japan is a gd example, why they started to invade asian countries in WW2, simply bec of fighting for resources due to embargo towards Japan that time

RY, [19/5/2025 6:00 pm]

Frankly speaking, I dont see Trump as gd negotiator but simply profiteering 

A gd example from Trump recent middle east trip, Trump/family all profited from this trip eg cybercoin 

Why Trump 1st overseas chosen middle east ? Bec these countries are rich enough and can make money from them

Trump Asset has already double/triple b4 and after his Presidency Trump 2.0  

I think Russia PuTin is a better negotiator than Trump, eventhough PuTin is not a biz man from his past

And as of now, Trump still unable to stop the war between Russia/Ukraine

REACH Singapore, [19/5/2025 6:04 pm]

📢 Topic 📢

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 6:13 pm]

Most important, we are eagerly waiting for the Cabinet lineup to be announced and the swearing in of the new Cabinets.

Then we can see the full steam ahead to tackle the economic challenges as the events unfold.

RY, [19/5/2025 6:16 pm]

It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal.

Henry Kissinger

Always rem Henry Kissinger above quotes 

USA always war-creator in order to market their military weapons ~  hope Taiwan learn from this Ukraine-Russia war  ...... 

EU/Japan/Korea/NATO and etc also finally learnt not to depend on USA for military support 

I read that USA is using military support in their trade negotiation with Japan currently 

All these, believe SG Govt is learning too

RY, [19/5/2025 6:22 pm]

However WP do have one member (Mr Low Thia Khiang) whom is gd from his past debate during LKY administration period

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 6:26 pm]

Hmm...

More domestic issues.

But not strategic thinking, not economic directions, reading of foreign affairs - the like of LKY.

He can't match some of our Senior Ministers.

As for the so call WP star candidates, I jot down a list of their ideas accompanied by point to point rebuttal that their ideas are flaws and will create problems to our economy and society.

I thought will not be appropriate to list it down here, else someone will accuse me of opposition bashing.

RY, [19/5/2025 6:31 pm]

Tks Megan for initiating this Topics for discussion 

Hope Reach participants opinions may help in SG trade negotiation with USA 

Singaporeans have already given a strong mandate to our SG govt in the recent GE 

SG JiaYou 💪

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:31 pm]

opposition in Singapore right now as what I observe focus on domestic issues

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:33 pm]

There's need a balance from domestic issues and international issues. Pap has been good in managing international affairs. The voice of having opposition is mainly issues on domestic such as cost of living and complaints happen locally

RY, [19/5/2025 6:34 pm]

Very but have to agree that domestic issues shd be their priority and not external

Andy, [19/5/2025 6:35 pm]

Focusing on domestic issues are a quick win, they resonate with the working class and they know it.

RY, [19/5/2025 6:35 pm]

Agreed that there shd be a balance in everything, just like the "yin-yang" sign, so as to achieve Harmony

365, [19/5/2025 6:35 pm]

You can't separate them, as some decisions are made between trade offs on domestic vs international. To maintain a balance, policy making has to be considered holistically, knowing what is the trade off for each other.

Andy, [19/5/2025 6:36 pm]

If people buy too much into such domestic talk, we will end up like US. Politicians are not here to make every one happy. Majority gain, some will lose and that is reality. National interest comes first.

Andy, [19/5/2025 6:36 pm]

As Singapore grows, people grow along.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 6:36 pm]

Even though is domestic, ideas must be workable and implementable - knowing its trade off - merits and demerits.

Also an oppositions worth its salt will be able to see what is happening in the world that will affect our domestic affairs.

Our oppositions MPs qualities have not reach this level yet.

RY, [19/5/2025 6:36 pm]

Agreed

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:37 pm]

Agree to a certain extent. They have more to learn.

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:37 pm]

You need to give them resources to grow.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 6:39 pm]

I think they have resources - else they can't organise mega rallies - even bigger than the PAP.

All they need is good brain.

That one no need much resources.

A smartphone or a laptop suffice.

RY, [19/5/2025 6:39 pm]

Tks Trump reciprocal tariff, that given landslide winning in Canada/SG recent GE 

I am unsure about Aussie recent GE, as didnt follow closely .....

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:40 pm]

But I really feel that do better deal with external issues sometimes internal issues need to settle also. I don't want Singapore been a situation of 内忧外患。

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:40 pm]

I hope one day we can reach zero crime in Singapore

RY, [19/5/2025 6:41 pm]

Our opposition still dont have the far/long vision yet like PAP ruling party

Andy, [19/5/2025 6:41 pm]

I think opposition is definitely disadvantaged. Perhaps it's the point Jun Ming was trying to make. But this is so in everything else, the market leader has the advantage. They created the market, or in this case, PAP built Singapore after all.

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:42 pm]

Which I don't see any opposition proposing in

Andy, [19/5/2025 6:42 pm]

So thats why opposition or new competitors come in and slowly chip away. It's an effective tactic for sure. pap will need to continue to step up their efforts to maintsin the major vote.

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:43 pm]

I don't see any opposition trying to discuss how to reduce scam rates. And further reduce crime in Singapore.

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:43 pm]

Domestically we have more to do

RY, [19/5/2025 6:44 pm]

Singapore voters are much more matured/smart/not easily brain-washed like the americans - fm what I see

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:44 pm]

We are far more educated

REACH Singapore, [19/5/2025 6:45 pm]

Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:45 pm]

I really think the cost of living issues partly because of high scam rates

RY, [19/5/2025 6:45 pm]

Yes, SG literacy is much higher than USA surprisingly

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:46 pm]

You need to understand Singapore is smaller than a city in us

LCL (Danny 心), [19/5/2025 6:46 pm]

Being educated not equate to being wise.

Actually Americans are more highly educated than us.

Alot of graduates, good r&d, entrepreneurs.

But they are fool by Trump because they let emotions overrun their wisdom.

Singaporeans luckily keep our cool and let wisdom overrun our emotions.

Singaporeans are not unscathed by the high cost of living, in fact many people still unhappy.

It is our level of trust on our Government and institutions that help us to elect the right Government.

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:47 pm]

We have the eastern knowledge

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:47 pm]

Looking at their FB post sometimes I want to facepalm

RY, [19/5/2025 6:48 pm]

It depends whether govt willing to invest in education, and not so much whether SG is small/big 

Both SG/USA do have the resource to invest in people

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:48 pm]

A lot people feel the stress not because only of inflation but also their savings been lost to scammers

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:49 pm]

I think a strong deterrence on scam is another step forward on dealing cost of living

RY, [19/5/2025 6:50 pm]

Scamming is a world crime issue and not only SG

SG govt already having a lot of deterrance measures compared to other countries

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:50 pm]

We should do something similar to drug smugglers

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:51 pm]

Give them bankruptcy for 5 years

RY, [19/5/2025 6:51 pm]

Maybe canning besides imprisonment

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:52 pm]

Canning cannot do deterrence for females thou

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 6:53 pm]

Giving them financially death for a period of time

RY, [19/5/2025 6:53 pm]

I agree also, why some americans so naive and believe in liar Trump ....

RY, [19/5/2025 6:54 pm]

Forgotten canning is for males only 😬

RY, [19/5/2025 6:55 pm]

We are discussing out of the topics already ....😬

RY, [19/5/2025 6:56 pm]

Tks Megan Team and Reach participants 

Enjoy yr evening !

Jun Ming, [19/5/2025 7:03 pm]

Thank you Megan

REACH Singapore, [19/5/2025 7:05 pm]

Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

====

REACH (Telegram) 74 - *What are your views on the Government’s approach to support Singaporeans with the cost of living? What other support measures can be put in place to help you deal with COL pressures?*

(SK)

14 May 2025 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [14/5/2025 9:45 am]

Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 10am to 7pm today. ⏰

House Rules (short version of our Terms of Use) to keep in mind:

1. Be kind and respectful. We all want to be in a safe space to share our views. 

2. Any and all threatening, abusive, vulgar or racially, religiously and ethnically objectionable content is prohibited. 

3. Consider the quiet ones among us and give them a chance to comment. 

4. No need to repeat your comment or in differnet forms (including caps) - we heard you loud and clear the first time. 

5. Let's protect each other's privacy and keep contact details in this group what it should always be - confidential. 

Full set of Terms of Use: https://www.reach.gov.sg/Participate/reach-telegram-group/REACH-Telegram-Group-Chat-Terms-of-Use/

We will strive to uphold these rules to ensure this is a safe space for all. 

Please be assured that the points made by participants during the chat are aggregated and shared with relevant agencies. 

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [14/5/2025 10:00 am]

📢*Topic*📢

All Singaporean households will each receive $500 in CDC vouchers from May 13 to help them with their daily expenses as part of a comprehensive package of support measures that were announced in Budget 2025. Speaking at the launch of the seventh tranche of the CDC voucher scheme at Nee Soon South Community Club, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that the CDC vouchers are not a one-off exercise to help Singaporeans cope with cost-of-living issues and that the Government will provide the help for as long as it is needed.

*What are your views on the Government’s approach to support Singaporeans with the cost of living? What other support measures can be put in place to help you deal with COL pressures?*

📌_Other forms of assistance:_

Aside from the $500 in CDC vouchers to be handed out from May 13, Singaporeans will also receive another $300 in CDC vouchers in January 2026. Other forms of assistance that will also be provided as part of the support package announced at Budget 2025 include LifeSG credits, Edusave top-ups for children and U-Save rebates. Beyond providing rebates and vouchers, PM Wong also said: “We have been and we will continue to review, update and strengthen our social system across different areas, be it housing, healthcare, education or retirement.”.

📌_Sustainability of voucher programme:_

PM Wong said maintaining fiscal responsibility has always been the Government’s approach. He said that the decision to increase taxes earlier in the decade was a difficult decision to make and that it was done to cover a funding gap in public finances, where Singapore’s finance expenditure was going to increase but revenues were not sufficient to cover the spending. He also added that because the Government raised the GST, “We have the resources to steer Singapore through the economic storms that we see coming ahead of us. That is precisely what good and responsible government is, and we will continue with this.”

📌_Closing ranks post GE2025:_

PM Wong praised the efforts of Singaporeans that include donating their CDC vouchers and implementing community initiatives like $1 deals. He noted that merchants, hawkers and supermarkets have come up with special SG60 deals to help Singaporeans make the most of their vouchers. He said that fellow Singaporeans have stepped forward to look after one another and that this is the spirit that will take Singapore forward for the next 60 years and beyond. He also called on Singaporeans to “close ranks” now that the 2025 General Election has concluded. 

👉https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/govt-will-provide-help-for-as-long-as-needed-pm-wong-at-launch-of-latest-tranche-of-cdc-vouchers

365, [14/5/2025 10:17 am]

Mathematically, I've received much more in vouchers (CDC, U-Save, gst) than I have paid out in the additional gst. I think it's a very smart tax for redistribution.

Instead of the standard wealth tax that pushes away the wealthy, they are much more willing to spend more in consumption tax, due to common ego and status behavior amongst them.

They naturally spend much more than the lower income, and thus naturally will pay more consumption tax than the lower income.

The reason why vouchers are given out instead of cash, is to make sure that this pool of money continues being circulated within the economy. It contributes back to the wealthy much lesser than the lower income group. The lower income group can spend this voucher (cdc in particular) in hawker centres and coffee shops, while the wealthy will consume more often in restaurants where cdc is not accepted (there's also face and ego issues even if cdc is accepted). 

Of course given the position of the government, they cannot come out and explain it this way, it'll push away the wealthy (again, face and ego issue of feeling being played) and reduce the tax we can collect from them. Some things are better to be left unsaid by them and just work in the background with plausible deniability. 

I've also referenced global inflation level for the past 5 years, online sources tell me it's around 28% cumulative, while I've really only experienced a just a bit under 10% increased COL after accounting for the vouchers. 

With the budget surplus we have gotten from last year, I think this should be sustainable barring any black swan events. Can't say I have any material complaints regarding this.

REACH Singapore, [14/5/2025 11:00 am]

[ Poll : The Government’s measures to support Singaporeans with cost of living pressures are adequate. ]

- Strongly Agree

- Agree

- Neutral

- Disagree

- Strongly Disagree

REACH Singapore, [14/5/2025 11:41 am]

Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your views on the Government’s approach to support Singaporeans with the cost of living? What other support measures can be put in place to help you deal with COL pressures?

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active! 

Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

Thank you!

Megan 😊

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 11:55 am]

Big household 500 small household also 500

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 11:56 am]

I envy those who are single living alone

Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J, [14/5/2025 12:03 pm]

500 2mth grocery. 

Need to bring rents down.

Need jobs, so can be self reliant.

Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J, [14/5/2025 12:03 pm]

Ya if they have jobs.

Andy, [14/5/2025 12:04 pm]

It's not for you to offset your full grocery spends..

Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J, [14/5/2025 12:05 pm]

The stress people go through paying bills , medical , food.

Forget enjoying eating out, watching movie or eating mac Donald

Andy, [14/5/2025 12:07 pm]

Is this an income opportunity problem or a cost of living problem?

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 12:09 pm]

I got a suggestion it will be better if the vouchers can use it like lifesg credits you type the exact amount and pay

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 12:09 pm]

So none of the vouchers get to waste

365, [14/5/2025 12:10 pm]

My baseline COL per household member is below 1.2k. This is including shared bills which won't need to be duplicated, or not increased linearly per household member, such as internet and electricity bills. 1.2k also includes a pretty hefty insurance policy due to personal circumstances, which probably can be reduced by another 200 if not for my personal circumstances. So overall I do find the COL to be very manageable. Looking to further decrease COL by 50 next year after changing my internet.

365, [14/5/2025 12:10 pm]

Agree to this, paying the exact amount saves a lot of time and effort, rather than having to think how to maximize the vouchers.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 12:50 pm]

1. To explain whether people can cope with high cost of living, GST hike, GST vouchers, CDC vouchers, SG 60 vouchers etc.

2. We need to address people's understanding using behavioural economics as suggested by an Economist.

3. Specifically, we need to address 2 problems that people face:-

a. Loss Aversion 

b. Salient bias

4. I have previously used calculation and life example calculations side by side to explain how tax redistribution side by side to illustrate how the tax transfer through GST vouchers, CDC vouchers, SG60 etc has exceeded inflation rate and GST hike and in fact reap profit for 90% of the people.

Government say 80% - as Government would have more accurate statistics to support the percentage.

5. Later I will illustrate this. Why people still fail to see GST hike is more beneficial to people than if no GST hike but using other form of taxes that will put more people in a bad position - by explaining Behavorial Economics.

Unless the Government fully address the 2 Behavioral Economics negative attributes that People has misconceptions about the GST hike.

Else no matter how much a large majority of the people benefitted from the GST hike and how adversely impacted if other taxes are used, people will still balked at the GST hike, still pin blame on Government trigger high cost of living and still believe opposition words that inflation is trigger by the GST hike.

6. Notice that a participant here give a good explanation here that GST hike in tax collection is not a regressive tax for Singapore unlike overseas countries because of the tax transfer in which overseas countries don't do.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 12:51 pm]

Good explanation.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 1:34 pm]

The 2 behavioral economics of people are boils down to 2 simple psychological factors:-

1. People form opinions and jump to the conclusion based on what they see on the surface or superficial level.

2. Unable to understand the latent or true reality that are indirect or complex or need computation to derive the real truth.

Hence negative impressions are derived by people of the GST hike and can be fully exploited by oppositions to distort the truth and people get fool that GST harm them when in fact GST hike benefit 90% of the people (based on ground experience) or rather 80% of the people as put forward by the government.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 1:36 pm]

Trump also fully exploited these 2 behavioral economics - loss aversion and salient bias to fool his MAGA voters that tariff benefit them which in fact harm them.

But Trump win the election and when the negative consequences of Tariff war manifested, all his supporters suddenly realise they were fooled by Trump and voters regret sets in.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 1:39 pm]

So to effectively deliver new taxes, adequately addressing and explaining the complex mechanism of GST hikes in simple illustrations how GST hike benefit people, to tackle the 2 negative behavioral economics - loss aversion and salient bias,  Government will always be cast in a negative lights by oppositions or people who don't understand the benefits.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 1:43 pm]

Luckily for Singapore, the reverse is true.

Government get a landslide win and the benefits of GST hikes and tax redistribution are shared by the people.

Still the poll reveals that people still feel cost of living is still impacting them.

Then we need to tackle and address the 2 Behavioral Economics head on again.

Khai Mun L., [14/5/2025 1:56 pm]

Downside would be they cannot be printed out for those less tech savvy

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 2:16 pm]

Life sg credits also have hard copy voucher

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 2:18 pm]

I think it can be done by printing qr codes and the merchant just scan type in the amount accordingly with balance showing 

Or maybe linking it to the IC and they can type the amount they want to pay on the merchant devices

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 2:50 pm]

*Why not use other taxes instead of GST tax that impact all the people?*

*Why not levy more income tax from the working population?*

1. Our younger generations shrink due to lower birth rate, TFR and elderly population from Baby Boomers grow.

Hence if levy personal tax - younger generations burden will be very heavy as the number of younger generations pool are smaller --- even higher personal taxes require to derive the same amount of taxes from GST hike (that have a bigger tax pool).

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 2:57 pm]

*2. Why not more corporate tax?*

We need to attract more investors and corporate here to set up business and create employment.

If we want the Government to levy higher corporate tax - than business will leave Singapore and our people lose jobs.

Already, BEPS minimum global tax already make Singapore competitive corporate tax structure not so attractive as before.

Already, business that solely or mainly manufactured for US market are coining to onshore back to US.

If we levy more corporate tax, it will hasten the speed of business withdrawal from Singapore.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 3:07 pm]

*3. Why not levy wealth tax, inheritance tax, estate duty from the ultra rich?*

- Ultra rich are very versatile and they spread their wealth all over the World to reap the most optimal tax structure and financial investment to grow their wealth.

- The moment they discover if we want our Government to target the ultra rich specifically to levy wealth tax, inheritance tax, estate duty - the ultra rich will simply transfer and shifth all their wealth outside Singapore with a click of a few buttons online. This is exactly what happens to many Countries that levy such wealth taxes and many ultra rich shift their wealth to Singapore because of our competitve tax structure.

- Why was Estate Duty abolished in Singapore? Prior to its abolition, Estate Duty collection ranged at around S$70-75 million a year. However, as wealth was generated in other ways such as by entrepreneurial means, even when there was little initial capital, inheritance tax did not seem as impactful.

Compared to billions of dollars we collect from GST, wealth tax collected is peanut.

- Then what happens if ultra-rich leave Singapore? 

- To compensate for GST collection lost from ultra-rich - Government will have to collect more income tax, corporate tax and even higher GST from our higher, middle and lower income group --- without the benefits of tax redistribution such as GST vouchers, CDC vouchers, SG60 etc.

- It backfire on us - when oppositions propose this solutions.

- Worst still, oppositions propose draw more from our reserves 60% NIRC and leave lesser and lesser for our younger generations.

- Finance fiscal budget through land sales - and leave no more lands for our future generations.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:16 pm]

Just need to tax 1% of wealth tax right might equivalent of the whole 2%gst liao

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 3:17 pm]

And this will drive away the wealthy, end up we all pay even higher GST to cover the lost.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:18 pm]

Maybe luxury goods tax.like your Prada Rolex etc.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:19 pm]

And a tourist entry fee

Daniel, [14/5/2025 3:20 pm]

I feel like GST is quite fair, since it will affect those more that spend more. So your Rolex might have the same rate as a Casio, but in absolute numbers it's a lot higher.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 3:20 pm]

Unless you can produce the statistics that wealthy will bite, the amount collected is billions of dollars.

History and many countries experience show that wealth tax bring the opposite effects.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 3:20 pm]

And countries that levy tourist tax curbing tourists from coming.

365, [14/5/2025 3:20 pm]

They don't have to purchase it within sg. It's the cumulative of all the small purchases that are not worth the hassle to purchase from elsewhere that will generate a high revenue. Also, services consumed within sg will always be purchased in sg.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 3:21 pm]

Exactly.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:22 pm]

Then other countries are doing it

365, [14/5/2025 3:22 pm]

The smart part of gst taxation is increasing the tax the wealthy contribute more against the average or lower income groups, while not pushing them away. Most other taxation methods sound good on paper, but run the risk of pushing them away.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:23 pm]

Australia Thailand Japan they all tax tourist

365, [14/5/2025 3:23 pm]

Tourism contributes a significant portion of our revenue, that's the last thing we want.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 3:23 pm]

As of May 11, 2025, a total of 12,948,032 foreign tourists have entered Thailand since January 1 — a 1.04% decrease compared to the same period last year.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:23 pm]

Due to scam

365, [14/5/2025 3:23 pm]

Australia, Thailand, Japan have other industries to support themselves, industries that they can possess by nature of their massive land area and resources which we do not enjoy.

365, [14/5/2025 3:25 pm]

Sg cannot adopt a protectionist attitude. Realise that no matter how hard we want to try, regardless of who is leading sg, we will always be affected majorly by other nations and global trends. That is the nature of our country, simply due to our size.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 3:26 pm]

Singapore tourism receipt is $30 billion.

1% tax is $300 million.

A fraction of billion of dollars from GST.

It is not practical.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:27 pm]

Pays a $2 entry fee for all foreigners

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:28 pm]

Cause Singapore is too crowded no space liao

365, [14/5/2025 3:28 pm]

Tourism gets us more revenue in transport, services, accommodation, gifts and souvenirs, food. It's spans across so many sectors that we want more tourist to come and spend.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:29 pm]

Those that can spend will not be blocked by a $2

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 3:29 pm]

*Let us explain the negative attributes of Behavioral Economics (a new branch of Economic) - loss aversion and salient bias*

*What is Loss Aversion?*

1. People feel more pain when they see the hike of GST - from 7% to 9%.

Eg. A product cost $100. 

GST is $7 if GST is 7%.

When GST is increase to 9%, it is $9.

People feel pain when they see they have to pay an extra of $2 to GST hike.

But despite the fact that Government give people back $2 through GST vouchers etc and in fact multiple times of the tax redistribution - people don't see the GST hike benefit them because of the Behaviorial Economics of "Loss Aversion".

People see pain in front of them - even though on their hindsight, they benefit much more from GST tax redistribution.

365, [14/5/2025 3:30 pm]

It's the emotional behavior of feeling being ripped off for nothing that deters tourists, not the actual monetary cost itself.

365, [14/5/2025 3:31 pm]

People in general don't like the feeling of something taken away from them, in this case it's the "free entry".

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:32 pm]

I think gst tax is like once done its done liao. Even if revert back the price is not going t change

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:33 pm]

But I terms of foreigners and pr and new citizens we should really reduce intake

365, [14/5/2025 3:34 pm]

I personally have a take on citizen conversion but seems like there isn't really a topic suitable for it yet.

G, [14/5/2025 3:34 pm]

Why not cut down on all those unnecessary govt spending so that there's less demand for tax money?

e.g.:

1. Stop stockpiling covid jabs that require super cold storage (pfizer jabs require -70 deg C) All those require huge amounts of electricity to store

2. Shut down unnecessary stat boards like the newly created one under MOH (CDA) whose sole purpose is to consolidate existing functions under existing stat boards. This is to reduce unnecessary and very costly overheads (C suite salaries & bonuses, dedicated supports (e.g. IT servers etc))

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:35 pm]

How about we out source our mayors

G, [14/5/2025 3:35 pm]

How about eliminate them? Outsource still need to pay. Pay means need to find money from somewhere

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:35 pm]

Give them 5k will be enough

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:36 pm]

Or maybe ncmp pay

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:37 pm]

As a part-time role I think ncmp pay good enough

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:37 pm]

I am doing reservist right now

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:37 pm]

Literally serving the nation

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:37 pm]

Right now i am figuratively locked in a room

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:37 pm]

Waiting

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:38 pm]

Because have to wait for everybody finish their stuff

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:38 pm]

I think ministers need to be locked in parliament to serve their nation, regardless of whether their time is well spent

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:38 pm]

How else can we confirm they are not exploiting the system

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:39 pm]

I am playing by the rules

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 3:39 pm]

Give them nsf allowance

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:39 pm]

They should too

RY, [14/5/2025 3:43 pm]

I hope the govt CDC vouchers may also extend the use of electronic pdts in bigger electronic chains, besides hawker/mkt/SMEs and supermarkets 

Every household will need to use electronic pdts eg TV/Fridge/Washing machine/Toaster/AirFryer/Aircon/MobilePhone/Laptop/Lights and etc 

The NEA Climate voucher does help but limited only to energy & water saving 10 pdts 

And we know there is shelf-life in every electronic pdts, that they maybe spoilt and need to be replaced later 

Maybe Govt can consider and extend the use of CDC vouchers to larger electronic chain eg Harvey/GainCity/Courts n etc, as they have the most varieties/brands/sale  

SuperMkts do carry electronic pdts, but only limited to certain brands 

Currently, the CDC only 2 categories and supermkts and non-supermkts, maybe govt may have the 3rd categories for electronic pdts ?

These larger electronic chains also part of SG economy, and every household definitely require the use of basic electronic pdts eg TV

Example if TV is spoilt, I may use the CDC voucher and go to larger electronics chains to compare the prices and get the brand I wish to have, as they have the most varieties/brands

Bec small neighbourhood electronic shops have very limited brands/varieties 

Just some suggestion

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:43 pm]

Speaking of reservist, we need to give disproportionately more voucher benefits or whatever to those that served

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:44 pm]

Everybody pay gst. Everybody benefits from being here. But not everybody has sacrificed their time for the country

G, [14/5/2025 3:44 pm]

What is the govt doing to tighten their belt, to eliminate unnecessary spending so that there is less demand for tax money?

Isn't it prudent to spend within their means? Why persist on spending on the same unnecessary things, then when realise current tax revenue cannot support, then come and increase tax?

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:45 pm]

If suddenly everybody stop serving and we had to hire private military, ambulance, police from open market. How much will gst need to increase. Did we think to value our servicemen

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:46 pm]

When will govt give back?

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:47 pm]

Mind you, the people who served are a small fraction of those that pay gst in singapore

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:48 pm]

fraction of all beneficiaries of household and universal vouchers

365, [14/5/2025 3:50 pm]

Gst is meant to be a redistribution to lower income, not based on merit and contribution. 

If it were to be based on contribution, then the wealthy will be getting back more because they tend to spend more and thus pay more in gst.

Not to say that there shouldn't be more to be done for those that are serving, but this doesn't seem to correlate well with gst and its intentions.

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:51 pm]

Ah but the money we give to servicemen has to come from somewhere. If gst isnt used for it then where? Income tax? Nirc?

365, [14/5/2025 3:51 pm]

There are also programs like the ns credit that are exclusive to those who have served.

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:51 pm]

So lets say we want to recognise servicemen more? No other way to increase gov money?

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:52 pm]

And do you think ns credit is sufficient?

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:53 pm]

Would women volunteer to go do ns for credit

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 3:53 pm]

*What is Salience Bias?*

1. What is more prominent, what is more obvious to me is more important.

2. So the GST hike of 7% to 9% - we see it everyday, we experience it everyday as we pay for food, buy groceries, buy stuff --- is more prominent and more obvious to people.

3. Whereas GST vouchers, SG60 vouchers, CDC vouchers will come in one lump sum many months once, or come silently (in cash form), utilities rebate etc - that are not as prominent, as obvious to people - even though the total amount collected is much more than the GST hike we pay in our daily purchase of essential items.

4. For eg. my monthly expenses is $4,000 for the whole household. So my monthly GST hike is $80 a month or $960 a year.

But my GST vouchers, CDC vouchers, SG60, utilities rebate plus others are $10,700 for the household - much more than the $960 GST hike.

5. Oppositions will say, oh GST hike has compounded effect - not only the 2% hike.

6. I take my household example, I don't agree with the compounded effect theory by the Oppositions or those who believe what the Oppositions say:

a. Global inflation is largely due to Geopolitical events eg. tariff war, global supply disruption, war, sanctions, global climate etc.

b. My family actual spendings as a result of inflation go from $3,800 a month to $4,000 a month or from $45,600 a year to $48,000 a year - and additional of $2,400 (due to inflation and GST 2% hike).

But my GST redistribution tax rebate is $10,700 -- a profit of *$8,300*.

7. This is a classic illustration of "Salience Bias" - despite benefitting *$8,300* a year from GST hike - people still complain about the higher cost of living due to inflation and GST hike of *$2,400* in my case.

That is people choose to believe what they "see" rather than what they *benefitted* - a classic example of "Salience Bias" that cloud people's judgement - and refuse to accept the reasoning despite knowing what is computed is the actual truth.

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:53 pm]

I see aunties waste time in queue for less so maybe

G, [14/5/2025 3:53 pm]

As shared previously, govt needs to do its utmost to reduce transport costs. Transport costs contribute significantly to costs of doing business

COE, fuel duties etc all contribute to business costs

Transport company top up fuel, need to pay fuel price (which already incorporates the duties levied), then on top of that, still need to pay gst on the fuel price.. so essentially, paying tax on the duty.  

All this extra transport costs add up: 

e.g. tau pok costs more to the hawker not just because actual raw material cost more, but also because cost of transporting the taupok from the factory to the hawker stall costs more.. So when the minister say hawker price increase because ingredient cost increase, it very conveniently omitted that it's the govt that also contributed to that cost increase thru the duties imposed on fuel

365, [14/5/2025 3:54 pm]

Let me reframe my words then, the intention of the vouchers such as cdc and gst vouchers are meant to be a redistribution. While the income sources are still derived from various taxation, the intents of these programme are not, and not meant to, align with those who have served ns, and thus doesn't correlate well with this topic.

There are other programmes such as ns credit which intentions are to acknowledge the contributions of our nsmen and nsf. Whether this is sufficient or not, is another topic. We always want more.

365, [14/5/2025 3:55 pm]

Someone would have to fact check this as I do not have the answer to it

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:55 pm]

Yes redistribution. Im arguing that people who served should get a greater piece of the redistribution

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:56 pm]

Im talking a hypothetical. You cant fact check

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:57 pm]

Most would not serve ns willingly if they had the choice

365, [14/5/2025 3:58 pm]

This would fall more towards acknowledgment and appreciation of service. Redistribution is meant to help the lower income group keep pace with the rest. Yes, I agree that those who have served should be recognized and rewarded for their efforts, but this should come under a separate programme, for ease of administration amongst other matters. Whether they are sufficiently appreciated or not is another topic for debate.

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:58 pm]

Im pretty sure you can pull some statistics that nsmen earn less than non serving peers at same age

Adam, [14/5/2025 3:59 pm]

Redistribution makes sense

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:01 pm]

So you think the current method of redistribution is good? Dinks get the same amount as big family in household gst voucher

365, [14/5/2025 4:01 pm]

And what if they don't? There are those who have served, who earn more as well.

That's why there's different programmes with different intentions, meant to target different groups of people. It is not only an administrative  nightmare, but also wildly inefficient to assess every person one by one all under a single programme.

G, [14/5/2025 4:01 pm]

NS credits to CPF already exist

Also nowadays have those milestone monetary NS rewards

365, [14/5/2025 4:01 pm]

They could have taken household size into consideration, yes I agree on this part.

G, [14/5/2025 4:02 pm]

Difficult to use NS to ask for redistribution to alleviate COL concerns

365, [14/5/2025 4:02 pm]

Especially when they are trying to encourage more childbirth, you don't want to make staying single or not having kids even more attractive than it already seem to be.

365, [14/5/2025 4:03 pm]

And I say this as someone benefitting from the current format, as I choose (well maybe some parts by others) to remain single.

G, [14/5/2025 4:03 pm]

As citizens, it's better not to ask for more handouts from govt.

G, [14/5/2025 4:04 pm]

It's better to ask why this govt is continuing to spend our tax money the way they keep doing until need to raise taxes

G, [14/5/2025 4:04 pm]

Because every tax increase affects prices negatively

G, [14/5/2025 4:04 pm]

Higher prices = higher COL

G, [14/5/2025 4:05 pm]

And the common knowledge goes:

vouchers are temporary, cost increases / taxes are permanent

365, [14/5/2025 4:06 pm]

You have to factor in the very high level of global inflation into account when they are raising gst also. The gst increase is very minimal, doing the math myself, my COL increased at a much slower pace than global inflation levels, and the 2% additional gst I've paid is much lesser than what I've actually gotten in return.

G, [14/5/2025 4:07 pm]

How do you know you'll keep getting "something in return"?

365, [14/5/2025 4:08 pm]

The 2% additional gst I've paid, is less than all the vouchers I've gotten in return. So monetarily, it's already net positive. And there are also considerations on what else they have invested into that can benefit me indirectly not accounted for.

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:09 pm]

Add to that, i think lots of places are gonna take into account all these vouchers on their prices. Just like skillsfuture.

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:09 pm]

Now got some arts voucher

365, [14/5/2025 4:10 pm]

Just to put up some numbers, the additional gst I would have to pay is around $22 per month. And even this is overstated because I'm calculating based on my COL, which also includes non-gst components.

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:11 pm]

Overall col is probably more than gst. I think most is because of rent

G, [14/5/2025 4:11 pm]

Indeed. Any profit maximising business will want a slice of that govt handout. Why wouldn't they?

RY, [14/5/2025 4:13 pm]

Beside the new Cultural Voucher announced in 2025 SG budget

I noticed that SG do not have special price entry tickets for handicapped people, where most developed western countries extend this privilege/special pricing to this grp of handicapped people 

In SG, only child/student/elderly have concession, but not extended to people with special needs 

Eg People with intellectual disability adults, they require to pay normal adult price for entry to place of interests/museums/cinemas n etc 

So far, I only see public transport concession extended to handicapped/people with special needs adults 

In fact, NCSS has this DDR card for people with special needs

But individual family with handicapped members have to apply separately with the Authority 

Maybe Govt may also implement the DDR card nationwide for people with special needs to those non-profit orgns eg MINDs/Deaf/Autism/Blind/paralysed n etc 

Bec if the pax is born with disability, it may follow them for lifetime 

If they have this DDR card issued by the Authority, then they may also enjoy concession pricing to maybe healthcare/place of interest eg museum/entertainment eg cinemas/public transport n etc  

This is also part of SG Govt promise to take care the vulnerable handicapped and be an inclusive society

365, [14/5/2025 4:13 pm]

Have you also taken global inflation rate into account? To me that is the biggest contributing factor for the past few years

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:14 pm]

Funny how some people were praising non protectionist tax policies, but the vouchers gov give is somewhat protectionist and is funding unsustainable businesses

G, [14/5/2025 4:14 pm]

Much of it is fuel costs too. 

Remember during early covid years? Fuel prices dropped so much.. But this govt introduced more duties on fuel to keep prices inflated

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:15 pm]

Tbf, it would make sense if the duties were used to subsidize fuel when times are tough but....

G, [14/5/2025 4:16 pm]

"MP Xie Yao Quan (PAP-Jurong) then asked whether the Government could consider reducing fuel duties on diesel, highlighting that it is used by vehicles that move Singapore's supply chain and deliver essential goods and services.

"Whether it is diesel or petrol, fuel duties, aside from the issue of who benefits, also has an important externality consideration," Mr Wong responded, saying that he risked sounding like a "broken record"."

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/fuel-price-subsidy-petrol-pump-prices-road-tax-rebate-lawrence-wong-2606276

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:16 pm]

Why do they always give vague answers

365, [14/5/2025 4:16 pm]

To reach an equilibrium with foreign competitors, you can either shut down foreign competition (protectionist) or boost local consumption (investment). It's 2 concepts trying to achieve the same goal, with different results.

REACH Singapore, [14/5/2025 4:16 pm]

📢Topic📢

G, [14/5/2025 4:17 pm]

"Fuel duties collected averaged S$920 million a year over the last five years, and revenue from these duties and taxes adds to the pool of resources available for various programmes and subsidies that "directly benefit" Singaporeans, he said."

How much of this $920mil per year could've been reduced so that cost of business and cost of living can be lowered?

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:17 pm]

Do both at the same time

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:18 pm]

If they reduce it is almost certain the savings will go to businessowners pockets, not end consumers

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:18 pm]

I will use trump quote make Singaporean great again

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:19 pm]

And let foreigners beg Singaporean. In trump tone

365, [14/5/2025 4:19 pm]

Their downsides are different, that's why we only adopt one of them. Looks at what protectionism did to the US. Farmers lost their sales, their people wouldn't have been able to get electronics if Trump had insisted on the tariffs for electronics.

G, [14/5/2025 4:19 pm]

Why give business owners more excuse to charge higher prices to consumers in the first place?

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:20 pm]

Can CDC vouchers use in farmse

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:21 pm]

Weekend farm

365, [14/5/2025 4:21 pm]

There's 1 thing for sure, the world can do without Singapore, but Singapore cannot do without the world.

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:21 pm]

Weekend farm?

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:21 pm]

The sungei tengah farms

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:21 pm]

They sell vegetables

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:21 pm]

I wonder the vouchers can be used

365, [14/5/2025 4:22 pm]

Even if we were to support them, they also can't supply the entire sg by themselves, the other downside of protectionist measures.

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:22 pm]

Do people go direct to farm for personal groceries?

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:22 pm]

Saying about this our local produce is more expensive than imports

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:23 pm]

I do

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:23 pm]

It's fresher thou

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:23 pm]

I didnt know they sold there. Is the price competitive to wet market?

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:23 pm]

I should try

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:24 pm]

Slightly more expensive but quality good

365, [14/5/2025 4:24 pm]

There's a lot of supplies we get from other countries. Some of which we won't have the capabilities to produce locally (just think of computer chips, but there's so much more). Thus, we cannot use protectionist measures and isolate ourselves.

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:24 pm]

I see singapore farm cant beat foreign produce in price at supermarket

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:25 pm]

Yes which cause consumer to buy lesser from local produce

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:25 pm]

And farmers don't get high salary

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:25 pm]

And nobody wants to farm

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:25 pm]

And we have less local produce

365, [14/5/2025 4:25 pm]

Our land area is limited, thus expensive. Limited land area also means they cannot make use of economy of scales, meaning they can't produce large batch and reduce cost per output.

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:25 pm]

I dont expect farmers these days to toil the fields.

365, [14/5/2025 4:26 pm]

Limited land area really constricts Singapore in many ways

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:26 pm]

Sg farmers i assume is mostly mechanised and high tech

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:26 pm]

We can explore underground to grow mushrooms since they no need sunlight

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:27 pm]

I wonder can we even meet the 30 by 30 vision

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:27 pm]

Only a matter of time before the gov gets us all to eat bugs

365, [14/5/2025 4:27 pm]

And if we want to isolate ourselves from the world, it'll accelerate this even faster

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:28 pm]

Even bugs not enough for the population lol

365, [14/5/2025 4:28 pm]

The bugs thing I think they are just exploring alternatives, just in case the world really turns into shit

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:28 pm]

Maybe instead of money vouchers, they give us food ration coupon

365, [14/5/2025 4:28 pm]

Extreme times call for extreme measures, this is just preparation for extreme times

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:29 pm]

The world is getting worse and worse lah

365, [14/5/2025 4:29 pm]

Like insurance, good to have, but hope you won't have to use it

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:29 pm]

Technically, many of us eat hyperprocessed bugs. Like one red food coloring is bug extract

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:29 pm]

Talking about insurance I feel like I should stop buying some

365, [14/5/2025 4:29 pm]

And technically crustaceans are just sea bugs

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:30 pm]

I heard bugs taste like prawn if you remove the shell

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:30 pm]

Haven't tried before as I am vegetarian

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:30 pm]

Maybe we just need to shell bugs like turning brown rice to white

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:31 pm]

Maybe we should build high rise farm city

365, [14/5/2025 4:31 pm]

Imagine the reaction to someone suggesting eating prawns, if it is not a common thing now

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:32 pm]

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AM1cKcLhY/

Adam, [14/5/2025 4:32 pm]

Prawns taste bad if you eat it with the shell whole

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 4:33 pm]

*Why GST hike is the best way to raise tax as compared to other form of taxes?*

1. GST tax is broad base - not specifically target a narrow segment of the population eg. :-

a. Wealth Tax - target ultra rich - they leave - all upper, middle and lower pay even higher taxes to compensate.

b. Personal Tax - target all working people - shrinking working young people, cannot tahan, demoralise working people and burden younger working people.

c. Corporate Tax - targert business - business leave, job loss to Singaporeans workers.

2. GST in Singapore context is not regressive unlike in overseas Countries - because Government introduce GST tax redistribution through vouchers, and is a "PERMANENT FEATURE" as long as people pay GST tax. 

90% (based on ground experience), Government say 80% based on statistics collected - of the entire strata of the population "Benefitted" from the GST redistribution.

The people who actually pay the GST tax are the ultra rich.

(Because, ultra rich buy very expensive and luxurious products and services and hence pay more GST.

Even though ultra rich receive CDC vouchers etc - they don't use it in neighbourhood food stall or supermarket).

3. Ultra rich don't feel they are specifically targeted for tax - and hence leave.

In fact they willingliy pay for products and services they buy no matter how expensive - as the GST hike of 2% is peanuts to them - and the ultra rich willingly pay for them and enjoy the goods and services they buy.

4. All strate of the population feels that they also benefitted from the GST tax redistribution and no one is left out (an inclusive tax rebate policy).

Because ultra rich, upper, middle, lower - also get GST voucher, CDC rebate, SG60, medisave rebate etc --- no one left behind.

5. Hence GST policy is a good and effective tax - that can ensure our fiscal budget remains healthy, incur no debt and is a responsible tax regime --- and most important "NOT REGRESSIVE" as coin by the oppositions.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 4:33 pm]

Time to own a house and be single

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 4:50 pm]

*Can we stop increasing our spendings and kept it stagnant for many many years?*

1. Laypeople often get the impression that our household spendings, our expenses can be kept constant without the need to increase the spendings years after year

And extrapolate this to National Spendings, spendings can be kept stagnant and don't increase.

2. This is devoid of understandings of Funadamental Economics and devoid of basic common sense.

3. Let us talk about our household spendings.

4. During 1970s when we are young - individuals spend very little, only go to schools, eat in canteen, buy enough as a kid - probably $200 to $300 a month enough.

5. When become adult and start to work, need to take transport, eat outside, buy shirts and gadgets, then spendings need $1,200 a month.

Spendings has increasd from $300 to $1,200  a month.

It can't be stagnant because spendings circumstances change.

6. When get married, need to finance house and feed a family of a couple, 2 persons, spendings will be $2,500 to $2,800 increase from $1,200 a month.

7. When kids arriive, baby pampers, milk, etc will come in and the expenses will say need $3,000 to $3,200 etc.

8. So everyone knows spendings won't be stagnant as life changes, demands changes, spendings needs will increase.

We cannot be always keeping our spendings stagnant in the 1960s, 1970s - because salaries increase every year, inflation increase every year, spendings needs changes every year.

It is a fallacy that we can keep spendings constant and don't change.

9. Likewise if we extrapolate it to National Spendings, needs and wants in 1960s, 70s, 80s etc to 2025 and beyond - spendings need to increase because :-

a. Salaries need to increase

b. Inflation increases

c. Spendings needs increase - more young people to more elderlies

d. Economic transformation changes from port to manufacturing to R&D to AI, to military spendings, to healthcare for more elderlies, to social spendings, to support business trasnformation, to reskill workers etc.

10. That is, in 2025, we can't be living like 1960s still wearing singlets, shorts, click klock and stay in kampung.

Can we?

Joomua Tng, [14/5/2025 4:53 pm]

not possible.

inflation will means the spending will increase... inflation is outside of the control of circle for Singapore government (be it PAP or other parties taking over)

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:02 pm]

But our salary doesn't keep up with inflation

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:02 pm]

This is why we complain

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:03 pm]

If salary goes up with the same rate of inflation I think there's no issue

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:03 pm]

Gov will not give cdc voucher

365, [14/5/2025 5:04 pm]

How much of salary increment should be the responsibility of the government, and how much should be personal responsibility?

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 5:04 pm]

Salary may not catch up for some.

But for others they do.

So need to constantly reskill to make our skillset relevant and valuable, then go for higher income jobs.

Some people not only gain income from salary but also invest in passive income.

Hence overall the income+ salary in total will be higher than inflation.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:05 pm]

Or maybe the world salary doesn't keep up with inflation. Might be some capitalist manipulate to make us suffer

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:05 pm]

Reskill does not equate to higher salary

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:06 pm]

Investment if someone gain there will be someone who loss

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:06 pm]

This is why people hate the rich

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 5:07 pm]

Also GST vouchers rebate etc more than cover the inflation+ GST hike - which I illustrated time and again.

But look like it doesn't registered into people's minds - so sad about "Salience bias".

People only see what they want to see and filtered out the rest that established the Whole Truth.

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 5:07 pm]

I don't hate the rich.

I work hard and smart to become rich.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:08 pm]

gst vouchers rebate to cover inflation to a certain extend. But on the ground people feel the pain

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:09 pm]

It's not about gst but the inflation

LCL (Danny 心), [14/5/2025 5:09 pm]

This is Loss Aversion and Salience Bias - perceived pain, not real pain.

Because of selective listening not real listening.

No amount of effort to communicate and explain will people accept if they don't want to accept.

365, [14/5/2025 5:10 pm]

And the inflation is not entirely within control of the government, especially a small nation such as sg, we have very little influence on the world stage, so we can only take the inflation thrown at us and try our best to navigate through it.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:11 pm]

My waffle has increased 100% in price over 5 years does my salary increase 100%

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:11 pm]

Everything has thrown to inflation but where is the breakdown of cost of each raw material

Hanny, [14/5/2025 5:12 pm]

We are living in a turbulent time. We are lucky that gov has money and it can help.

Moving forward, we need to reskill to keep our selves relevant. 

AI has just started to show its baby teeth.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:12 pm]

Which raw material has increased and is there any discussion to bring down the price of that raw material

365, [14/5/2025 5:12 pm]

Is your waffle representative of the actual inflation rate? On the other hand, the caifan near me has practically not raised prices for the past 5 years, does this mean I can say there's no inflation then?

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:13 pm]

So there's inequal inflation

Hanny, [14/5/2025 5:13 pm]

As consumers, we are lucky that sgd is quite strong compared to regional currencies. Hence reducing inflationary pressure.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:13 pm]

What o want is a breakdown why certain food prices has increased drastically but certain food have not

365, [14/5/2025 5:13 pm]

Amongst various factors, yes. Individual business decisions also affect prices.

RY, [14/5/2025 5:13 pm]

With the recent SG Budget increasing the caregiving grant, to recognise family with caregiving role to handicapped and elderly family members 

Glad to know  Ntuc has also started the UCare Caregiving Grant this year, in conjunction with the latest SG Budget announcement

However it seems that their focus is only for family with child whom attend special needs SPED schools mainly 

Wondering what about those special needs adults, whose caregiving role also include handicapped child whom grow up to be special needs adults ... since they dont remain as child forever .... 

As the disability and handicapped will mostly follow them lifetime, when these special needs child eventually grow up to be adults later

And family caregiving role to these grp of handicapped family members will also be lifetime, from born to child to adult too 

Wondering why these grant only applicable to special needs child and not to special needs adults  ?

In fact family with special needs family members, their caregiving role is much "heavier" than normal family, and usually most caregivers unable to work full-time 

SG Govt Blueprint has Enabling SG, and it should recognise the caregiving role to both parents/siblings, and not only to parents, as some responsible siblings also help to take care of their handicapped siblings also

Hopefully SG govt/Cooperative like Ntuc may extend caregiving grant to family with special needs adults sametime and not only to special needs child 

Usually this grp of special needs adults are difficult to find/get employment eg intellectual disability. Even if can get employment, their pay maybe minimum also

And family with special needs child/adults, also have to cope with COL, sametime caregiving role for them lifetime  

SG govt may also consider more healthcare subsidy to these grp of special needs people eg more medical/premiums subsidy granted to them, as these grp usually require more medical expenses/attention than normal family/people 

Hopefully also more insurance  coverage to these special needs people, since some insurance companies may likely reject coverage for these grp of people, except national insurance eg medishield/careshield 

Especially these people belongs to vulnerable handicapped that Govt/Insurance/Cooperative should render more assistance, besides low income and elderly families

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:15 pm]

Both are food and flour certainly. But what is the main cause if there's inflation why certain food inflate so much and why certain food stays the same

G, [14/5/2025 5:15 pm]

Sometime it's ownself snook ownself. 

When Singtel anyhow bid big for football rights in the 00s, it signalled to the world that SG is rich and got a lot of disposable income. 

Other industries definitely took note. Pharma companies charge SG a much higher price for the same drugs as compared to neighbouring countries 

So I don't believe that SG is as much a "price taker" as many make us out to be

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:15 pm]

What are the measures to prevent such food for inflating so much

365, [14/5/2025 5:16 pm]

Regardless of underlying factors, the truth is that business will either drop prices or drop out of the competition if customers are not buying. If they can still sustain their business while you're unable to afford, then maybe you are out of their target range already. Some business try to sell more at a lower price, while others try to sell less at a higher price.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:16 pm]

I don't see that incoming. All I see is vouchers and vouchers. I don't see any research to justify the increase

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:17 pm]

I tried to Google which raw ingredients of waffles that cause the increase Google can't answer me

Joomua Tng, [14/5/2025 5:17 pm]

people are taking for granted of Singapore GDP and revenue surpluses.

Singaporeans, not all, assuming the cheese (surpluses) will always be there...

(which is why the oppositions keep saying spend more...)

365, [14/5/2025 5:18 pm]

Capitalism doesn't need business to justify increases, they will get their answers from the customer's wallet. McDonald's has increased price for a few of their $5 meals during covid, only to drop it back to $5 while disguising it as a doing-it-for-you intentions.

G, [14/5/2025 5:18 pm]

Cost of transporting the raw materials to the shop la.. all that fuel duties adds up

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:18 pm]

Then why is other food not as expensive

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:19 pm]

Inflation is a vague term. It doesn't mean anything to me. What we want is detail break down what is the real cause of each individual price increase

Hanny, [14/5/2025 5:20 pm]

World economy faces a lot of uncertainties. Jobs are becoming scarce. Big companies are on hiring freeze. This is the world we are in.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:22 pm]

No one say hey let's search for the root cause and see if we can solve the problem so the price will be kept low

Hanny, [14/5/2025 5:22 pm]

To understand inflation. We need to compare with our neighbors. Travel neighboring countries. Understand the pressure felt by locals. The easiest indicator is the crime rate.  Crime is becoming more brazen.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:22 pm]

Agree I think crime rates has also increased in Singapore

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:23 pm]

Not to mention scam is all around

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:24 pm]

I think since COVID our world has been very different

Hanny, [14/5/2025 5:24 pm]

Scam is mostly syndicate. Petty crime is increasing by a lot.

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:24 pm]

Stealing robbery etc

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:24 pm]

Murder also increase

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:25 pm]

I not sure is it the increase of foreigners or what

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:25 pm]

A lot people blame it to foreigners

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:29 pm]

And foreign ladies who do vice activities earn more than 10k/month why authorities keep allowing these people comes in. 

Despite competition such service price did not goes down

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:35 pm]

To me vouchers should be a temporary fix. So government better get to do research what are the root cause of high cost of living and how can it be solved. How can the salary gets compatible.

Daniel, [14/5/2025 5:35 pm]

https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_02d07531b84cd0cf2cf901fc1bf5d395/view it seems to me both Murder and robbery are decreasing

Hanny, [14/5/2025 5:36 pm]

I’m not referring to sg. Look at crime rate at neighboring countries

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:37 pm]

More rape and cheating related offence

Hanny, [14/5/2025 5:37 pm]

Sg is doing quite good in many aspects (comparatively )

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:37 pm]

Is there any measures to deter scammers internally

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 5:38 pm]

External scammers easy to identify but Singaporean scammers hard to identify

REACH Singapore, [14/5/2025 6:03 pm]

📢Topic📢

Jun Ming, [14/5/2025 6:28 pm]

For example force bankruptcy for the scammer for 10 years

REACH Singapore, [14/5/2025 6:45 pm]

Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

RY, [14/5/2025 6:53 pm]

Totally concur

Adam, [14/5/2025 6:53 pm]

Cannot be complacent

Adam, [14/5/2025 6:54 pm]

Sg doing good also means we attract scammers and such

RY, [14/5/2025 6:55 pm]

Tks Megan 🙏

Gd evening Reach team & participants

REACH Singapore, [14/5/2025 7:01 pm]

Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

====