Pritam Singh blames GST hike for 'turbocharging inflation'; International school in Malaysia sets up Pokemon TCG club: Singapore live news
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Singapore opposition leader and WP chief Pritam Singh criticised the government during the Budget 2025 debate. He questioned the need for a GST hike, which he said "turbocharged" inflation, considering Singapore's "exceedingly healthy" fiscal position. For more on his Budget 2025 debate speech, read on.
Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.
Leader of the Opposition and Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh criticised the government's "poor fiscal marksmanship" during his Budget 2025 debate speech.
He also questioning the need for a hike in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2023 and 2024, considering Singapore's "exceedingly healthy" fiscal position, and said it contributed to inflation.
On Wednesday (26 Feb), Singh pointed out that 2024's fiscal surplus, originally estimated at S$778 million, was "revised massively" upwards to S$6.4 billion. This was after factoring in the "latest CDC and SG60 voucher programme".
He also noted that the government had projected deficits in FY2021 and FY2022, but it turned out to be surpluses instead.
It was announced last week that the government collected more revenue than anticipated for FY2024, with operating revenue rising to S$116.6 billion, an increase of S$8 billion.
"Even as imported inflation contributes to price rises locally, there was no need for the PAP (People's Action Party) government to add fuel to the fire and fan the flames of inflation further with the GST hike," said Singh.
"Even if the decision was made to raise it in 2023, there was ample policy space to delay the second increase in 2024 when the country was in the thick of inflation.
"Why the PAP went headlong and headstrong into raising GST and thereby turbocharging inflation further, is something only the PAP itself can answer to Singaporeans for."
Leader of the Opposition and Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh criticised the government's "poor fiscal marksmanship" during his Budget 2025 debate speech.
He also questioning the need for a hike in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2023 and 2024, considering Singapore's "exceedingly healthy" fiscal position, and said it contributed to inflation.
On Wednesday (26 Feb), Singh pointed out that 2024's fiscal surplus, originally estimated at S$778 million, was "revised massively" upwards to S$6.4 billion. This was after factoring in the "latest CDC and SG60 voucher programme".
He also noted that the government had projected deficits in FY2021 and FY2022, but it turned out to be surpluses instead.
It was announced last week that the government collected more revenue than anticipated for FY2024, with operating revenue rising to S$116.6 billion, an increase of S$8 billion.
"Even as imported inflation contributes to price rises locally, there was no need for the PAP (People's Action Party) government to add fuel to the fire and fan the flames of inflation further with the GST hike," said Singh.
"Even if the decision was made to raise it in 2023, there was ample policy space to delay the second increase in 2024 when the country was in the thick of inflation.
"Why the PAP went headlong and headstrong into raising GST and thereby turbocharging inflation further, is something only the PAP itself can answer to Singaporeans for."
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