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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Faishal Ibrahim says govt understands how community feels about Palestine; $8.5b in GST collected in 2024: Singapore live news
Faishal Ibrahim recently sat down with the media for the first time in his new role of Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs. Faishal, who has not shied away from discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the past, weighed in on the topic once more. Singapore Customs collected $8.5 billion in goods and services tax (GST) in 2024 – an increase of more than $1 billion from the amount collected in 2023. The GST collection figures for 2024 are made available by Singapore Customs in its annual publication for the year. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. Faishal Ibrahim, Singapore's new Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, says the government is aware of the public's strong feelings regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. "We understand how the community feels," Faishal was quoted as saying by Mothership. "And it is natural for the community to feel that these are not right. I think they want peace. They don't like killings, and they want people to respect the people's rights to live where they should." Faishal, who was speaking to the media on 4 June, also said that the government has been "very principled and consistent" in how they look at the Israeli-Palestinian issue. This includes advocating for a negotiated two-state solution. And last month, Faishal said he agreed with former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza. Singapore Customs collected $8.5 billion in goods and services tax (GST) in 2024. The figure was an increase of more than $1 billion from the $7.2 billion collected in 2023. This is the highest amount of GST collected by the agency to date, according to statistics from open government data portal Imported goods made up almost all of the GST amount collected. Singapore's GST rate was increased in two stages – from 7% to 8 in 2023, and from 8% to 9% in 2024. The government has previously said there will be no need to raise the GST again until 2030. The GST collection figures for 2024 were made available by Singapore Customs in its annual publication which also reported on significant increases in cases involving tobacco and liquor offences. Faishal Ibrahim, Singapore's new Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, says the government is aware of the public's strong feelings regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. "We understand how the community feels," Faishal was quoted as saying by Mothership. "And it is natural for the community to feel that these are not right. I think they want peace. They don't like killings, and they want people to respect the people's rights to live where they should." Faishal, who was speaking to the media on 4 June, also said that the government has been "very principled and consistent" in how they look at the Israeli-Palestinian issue. This includes advocating for a negotiated two-state solution. And last month, Faishal said he agreed with former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza. Singapore Customs collected $8.5 billion in goods and services tax (GST) in 2024. The figure was an increase of more than $1 billion from the $7.2 billion collected in 2023. This is the highest amount of GST collected by the agency to date, according to statistics from open government data portal Imported goods made up almost all of the GST amount collected. Singapore's GST rate was increased in two stages – from 7% to 8 in 2023, and from 8% to 9% in 2024. The government has previously said there will be no need to raise the GST again until 2030. The GST collection figures for 2024 were made available by Singapore Customs in its annual publication which also reported on significant increases in cases involving tobacco and liquor offences.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
More than $8.5b GST collected by Singapore Customs in 2024; increase in tobacco and liquor offences
This is the highest amount of GST collected by the agency to date, based on statistics from the open government data portal PHOTO: ST FILE More than $8.5b GST collected by Singapore Customs in 2024; increase in tobacco and liquor offences SINGAPORE - Singapore Customs collected more than $8.5 billion in goods and services tax (GST) in 2024, an increase of more than $1 billion from the year before. This is the highest amount of GST collected by the agency to date, based on statistics from the open government data portal which tracked the figure from 2013 onwards. That year , Singapore Customs collected $5.5 billion in GST. A decade on, when the GST rate increased in 2023, it collected $7.3 billion. Of the amount collected from GST , almost all of it was on imported goods, with less than one per cent on locally manufactured goods subjected to excise duty. GST rates increased from 7 per cent to 8 per cent in 2023, and to 9 per cent in 2024. Singapore collected a total of $20.6 billion in GST in 2024, with the Ministry of Finance saying this was due to stronger-than-expected growth in private consumption. The Government has said the revenue from the increase will go towards meeting Singapore's medium-term needs, such as in healthcare and social spending. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also the Finance Minister, said there will be no need for further increases in GST up to 2023. The amounts collected by Singapore Customs were revealed in its annual report that was released on June 5. Aside from GST, it also collected $1.1 billion in duties for tobacco and $775.9 million in duties for liquor in 2024. On the enforcement front, it reported significant increases in cases involving tobacco and liquor offences. Tobacco cases jumped by almost 40 per cent to 20,131 in 2024, from the 14,510 in 2023. Liquor cases increased by more than 80 per cent with 3,384 cases in 2024, as compared to 1,848 cases in 2023. Cases involving GST offences saw a slight increase, from 4,664 in 2023 to 5,447 in 2024. Over the past year, several cases of tax and duties evasion have made the headlines, including one involving a woman who shared online tips on how to avoid paying GST on luxury goods. The 27-year-old went on a trip to Europe with her family and boyfriend in May 2024, where she bought luxury goods such as bags and wallets and received an engagement ring purchased there. But she did not declare these items upon returning to Singapore. She posted about her overseas purchases and gave tips on evading customs checks on her social media account. Netizens reported the post to the authorities. She was arrested in January and fined $18,000 in March. Most recently, it was reported that almost 200 travellers were caught between May 21 and May 27 for a series of similar offences, including not declaring large cash amounts and evading taxes on tobacco. Mr Tan Hung Hooi, Director-General of Singapore Customs, said that in 2024, its frontline officers disrupted complex tax evasion schemes and uncovered sophisticated smuggling operations. He noted how over 200 customs officers were recognised for their exemplary service or excellent work in 2024, with 11 of them receiving international honours from the World Customs Organisation. 'Our mission remains clear: to protect Singapore's revenue and enable trade that is secure, fair, and future-ready,' he said. 'These stories reflect more than tactical success; they are reminders that every seizure safeguards public revenue, protects legitimate businesses, and preserves trust in Singapore's trade integrity.' He added that the agency is working to strengthen its use of automation of data and artificial intelligence. Under the Customs Act, those convicted of evading duties can be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, or jailed for up to two years. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
02-06-2025
- New Paper
Cyclist taken to hospital after accident with car in Aljunied
A 50-year-old cyclist was taken to hospital after an accident involving a car near the junction of Aljunied Road and Sims Avenue on June 1. The man was conscious when taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), who, like the police, were alerted to the accident at around 5.05pm. A video of the incident posted on Facebook shows the cyclist landing on the front of a car and bouncing off it onto the road. It is unclear from the footage whether the cyclist had been struck by the vehicle. In photographs circulating on Facebook, the man is seen with one side of his face covered in blood following the accident. Uniformed officers tend to him as he is seated on a pavement. Two ambulances are parked nearby. Other images show a dark-coloured car with a partially shattered windscreen, possibly from the impact of the crash. Police investigations are ongoing. According to statistics from an open government data portal, 591 cyclists and pillions were injured in road traffic accidents in 2024. They accounted for approximately 6.3 per cent of the total 9,302 people injured in such accidents that year.
Straits Times
02-06-2025
- Straits Times
Cyclist taken to hospital after accident with car in Aljunied
The cyclist, with a bloodied face, is seen seated on a pavement, with uniformed officers tending to his injuries. PHOTO: SG ROAD VIGILANTE/FACEBOOK Cyclist taken to hospital after accident with car in Aljunied SINGAPORE – A 50-year-old cyclist was taken to hospital after an accident involving a car near the junction of Aljunied Road and Sims Avenu e on June 1. The man w as conscious when taken to T an Tock Seng Hospital, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), who, like the police, were alerted to the accident at around 5.05pm. A video of the incident posted on Facebook shows the cyclist landing on the front of a car and bouncing off it onto the road. It is unclear from the footage whether the cyclist had been struck by the vehicle. In photographs circulating on Facebook, the man is seen with one side of his face covered in blood following the accident. Uniformed officers tend to him as he is seated on a pavement. Two ambulances are parked nearby. Other images show a dark-coloured car with a partially shattered windscreen, possibly from the impact of the crash. Police investigations are ongoing. According to statistics from an open government data portal, 591 cyclists and pillions were injured in road traffic accidents in 2024. They accounted for approximately 6.3 per cent of the total 9,302 people injured in such accidents that year . A car with a partially shattered windscreen was seen at the accident site. PHOTO: SG ROAD VIGILANTE/FACEBOOK Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
