"'Misleading' to link Merdeka Generation Package to election cycles: Chee Hong Tat to Workers'
SINGAPORE: It is "misleading" to link the Merdeka Generation Package and Pioneer Generation Package to election cycles, said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education Chee Hong Tat in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 26).
He was responding to Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh, who earlier said that the "ground feel" on the Merdeka Generation Package is that it helps senior citizens with their medical bills even though it is less generous than the Pioneer Generation Package.
"There are also quarters who conclude that it is pungently timed with the election cycle, giving off the odour of an unfair advantage aimed at the electoral prospects of the People's Action Party," Mr Singh said in his speech during Parliament's debate on Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat's Budget 2019 statement.
Mr Chee urged the WP not to diminish the significance of the Merdeka Generation Package and Pioneer Generation Package, which were introduced to express appreciation for senior Singaporeans.
Mr Chee also addressed WP's call for a permanent, universal healthcare package for the elderly, where those aged 60 and above will be automatically enrolled into the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) which provides subsidies for primary care services.
Mr Singh argued that some seniors miss out on a few years of medical benefits because of the "cohort-based" packages which qualify beneficiaries based on the year they were born.
By having a universal and permanent senior citizen healthcare package that offers a "basic level of medical benefits", it can provide "peace of mind" to all Singaporeans throughout their lives, Mr Singh said."
A good question to ask by the opposition MP. A fair one.
If the gov n PAP MPs n Ministers disagreed, they must state their position n rationales too. That is why we hv parliamentary privileges for MPs to ask pertinent though at times questions.
Now that both sides hv their days, it is for the voters to decide which one makes more sense or more balanced.
My take on PG Package has always been: they earned it! Many were uneducated hard working n obedient Singaporeans n residents. Many truly did not fully shared in the fruits of Sgp econimic miracle.
As for the MG, they were born in the most rapid growing period of our economic miracles. Many more hv done reasonably well n really don't need the MG package! In fact, maybe the top 70% of them don't need these "bonuses", including the money for their MedishieldLife premium! For the MG that need help on these things, they probably DO NEED help. N so the state should help! This is what I would call: a TARGETED Approach that the gov is talking abt. Or maybe it can be make more distinct to call it: "A more precise targeting" approach?
Let the debates begin. Let the voters b the judges!!
SINGAPORE: It is "misleading" to link the Merdeka Generation Package and Pioneer Generation Package to election cycles, said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education Chee Hong Tat in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 26).
He was responding to Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh, who earlier said that the "ground feel" on the Merdeka Generation Package is that it helps senior citizens with their medical bills even though it is less generous than the Pioneer Generation Package.
"There are also quarters who conclude that it is pungently timed with the election cycle, giving off the odour of an unfair advantage aimed at the electoral prospects of the People's Action Party," Mr Singh said in his speech during Parliament's debate on Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat's Budget 2019 statement.
Mr Chee urged the WP not to diminish the significance of the Merdeka Generation Package and Pioneer Generation Package, which were introduced to express appreciation for senior Singaporeans.
Mr Chee also addressed WP's call for a permanent, universal healthcare package for the elderly, where those aged 60 and above will be automatically enrolled into the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) which provides subsidies for primary care services.
Mr Singh argued that some seniors miss out on a few years of medical benefits because of the "cohort-based" packages which qualify beneficiaries based on the year they were born.
By having a universal and permanent senior citizen healthcare package that offers a "basic level of medical benefits", it can provide "peace of mind" to all Singaporeans throughout their lives, Mr Singh said."
A good question to ask by the opposition MP. A fair one.
If the gov n PAP MPs n Ministers disagreed, they must state their position n rationales too. That is why we hv parliamentary privileges for MPs to ask pertinent though at times questions.
Now that both sides hv their days, it is for the voters to decide which one makes more sense or more balanced.
My take on PG Package has always been: they earned it! Many were uneducated hard working n obedient Singaporeans n residents. Many truly did not fully shared in the fruits of Sgp econimic miracle.
As for the MG, they were born in the most rapid growing period of our economic miracles. Many more hv done reasonably well n really don't need the MG package! In fact, maybe the top 70% of them don't need these "bonuses", including the money for their MedishieldLife premium! For the MG that need help on these things, they probably DO NEED help. N so the state should help! This is what I would call: a TARGETED Approach that the gov is talking abt. Or maybe it can be make more distinct to call it: "A more precise targeting" approach?
Let the debates begin. Let the voters b the judges!!
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