Mr Chee - who is from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) - said that with the government’s implementation of permanent GST vouchers and GST absorption for education and healthcare, it is the tourists, foreigners and the better-off who pay most of Singapore’s GST revenue.
"It is not our lower- and middle-income households. It is not our lower- and middle-income Singaporeans. They pay a far lower effective GST rate than 9 per cent," said Mr Chee.
"In fact, with the Assurance Package, we have effectively delayed the GST increase for most Singaporean households - at least five years for the majority of households and more than 10 years for lower-income households.
"And through our many support packages, we have helped many households cope with the increases in their expenditure. And we are prepared to do more to help you, for as long as it is necessary."
Mr Chee said the revenue generated from the GST - from tourists, foreigners, and the better-off - is part of a "progressive" system to give the government the resources it needs to support Singaporeans in many areas, including healthcare, education, housing and public transport.
"So if we reduce the GST, we will forgo this revenue that we collect from these groups that are currently benefiting Singaporeans today," said Mr Chee, who is also Minister for Transport.
"If we did not increase the GST, we would not have the resources to support our seniors in an ageing society and today, in a more turbulent world, to help Singaporeans, to help our companies, to help our workers, to help our people."
Continue reading...
"It is not our lower- and middle-income households. It is not our lower- and middle-income Singaporeans. They pay a far lower effective GST rate than 9 per cent," said Mr Chee.
"In fact, with the Assurance Package, we have effectively delayed the GST increase for most Singaporean households - at least five years for the majority of households and more than 10 years for lower-income households.
"And through our many support packages, we have helped many households cope with the increases in their expenditure. And we are prepared to do more to help you, for as long as it is necessary."
Mr Chee said the revenue generated from the GST - from tourists, foreigners, and the better-off - is part of a "progressive" system to give the government the resources it needs to support Singaporeans in many areas, including healthcare, education, housing and public transport.
"So if we reduce the GST, we will forgo this revenue that we collect from these groups that are currently benefiting Singaporeans today," said Mr Chee, who is also Minister for Transport.
"If we did not increase the GST, we would not have the resources to support our seniors in an ageing society and today, in a more turbulent world, to help Singaporeans, to help our companies, to help our workers, to help our people."
Continue reading...