BUDGET 2025 balances current cost-of-living needs while planning for a prosperous future. The PAP Government took in feedback from the ground — the cost-of-living issues that Singaporeans faced — when balancing this forward-thinking Budget.
Minister of State for Health and Communications & Information Rahayu Mahzam shared this information with a 21-strong group made up of members of the public, PAP activists and Friends of the PAP, during the Malay Affairs Bureau’s (MAB) post-Budget dialogue session (20 Mar).
PAP MPs Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Chua Chu Kang GRC) and Nadia Ahmad Samdin (Ang Mo Kio GRC) also attended the dialogue.
The Budget plans for the future
“A key thrust in developing the Budget is balancing the current needs versus the future planning. It’s inherent in the system,” said MOS Rahayu. “We have frameworks from which we actually exercise discipline in our fiscal spending.”
The big structural projects announced during each Budget — such as roads and schools — also deserve the Singaporean public’s attention, she added. These benefit communities in major ways.
“All these things are really costly, and all these are unseen [by the public] in a way,” she said. “There are a lot of these structural things that are not the most featured. But a lot of the funding actually does work towards that, towards their manpower, towards having expertise, towards maintaining [public] systems.”
The PAP Government is also planning for the future, and making sure Singapore’s ageing population will be cared for, added MOS Rahayu.
“Government spending will continue to rise because the grey shift is just going to happen,” she said.
This increased spending is why the PAP Government has embarked on the national health programme Healthier SG, MOS Rahayu detailed — to keep Singaporeans living longer in good health.
This increased spending is also why the GST increase is necessary, she added.
“It’s about financial prudence,” said MOS Rahayu. “We see time and time again, governments promising this and that and spending the money of the future.”
“Or borrowing,” said an attendee.
“Yes. Or borrowing. So we watched how it is like [with those governments]. And then we decided,” said MOS Rahayu.
And as for one big reason why CDC vouchers are part of the Budget?
“There are people facing difficulties with cost of-living issues,” said MOS Rahayu, adding that the Government genuinely considers these cases.
But the vouchers are not the only help which the Government gives, she added.
“They’re part of a larger structure [with] lots of programmes out there.” said MOS Rahayu about the overall ecosystem of help the Government has put in place for Singaporeans.
SUPPORT FOR SINGAPOREANS
Housing: CPF Housing Grants for couples/ families, seniors, and singles
Jobs: Workfare Income Supplement and ComCare Assistance
Kids: Enhanced Baby Bonus Scheme, Preschool Subsidies and MOE Financial Assistance Schemes
Public Transport Benefits: Public Transport Vouchers
