On or about 10 November 2019, the Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat during a speech at a People’s Action Party (PAP) convention stated that he would announced at the Budget 2020 on support package to cushion the impact of the impending Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike.
He stated that GST Voucher is a permanent scheme to help seniors and low-income households cope with the tax hike. The Government had given such support packages each time it raised the GST, but this time it has announced it in advance.
The Government has yet to decide when the hike is to take place, which is from 7% to 9% some time between 2021 and 2025; however, Mr Heng stated that the purpose of the hike was to benefit the future generations.
Besides announcing the support package, Mr Heng also spoke on the challenges for Singapore amid an uncertain global environment, like the US-China trade war.
He noted that societies around the world are facing widening inequality, growing divides between generations, and deeper political polarisation made worse by social media and talked about how Singapore was not immune to these financial crises, and has ridden through previous crises such as the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 and Global Financial Crisis in 2008 well.
He emphasised the importance of Party focusing on future objectives and long-term goals than merely during the election time.
Source: Today online, 10 November 2019