In Parliament this week (7 Apr), PAP MPs such as Elysa Chen (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) and Ng Chee Meng (Jalan Kayu SMC) spoke up on trade and energy supplies, as well as supporting Singaporean households, in light of the conflict in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
Stabilising food prices and diversifying energy sources
Source: Poh Li San / Facebook, Zaqy Mohamad / Facebook
MP Poh Li San (Sembawang West SMC) asked about Singapore’s food supplies and affordability. “How [can] the Government stabilise prices of essential food items and curb profiteering so that seniors, and also low-income families, can still afford their meals and food expenses?”
Singapore imports its food from diverse sources such as Thailand and Vietnam for rice, and maintains food stockpiles, responded Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad.
“We will keep up our diversification, global partnerships, local production and stockpiling efforts as required,” added SMS Zaqy. “We stand ready to activate our existing arrangements with partner countries to ensure that food continues to flow as needed.”
Source: Saktiandi Supaat / Facebook, Tan See Leng / Facebook
Regarding energy supplies, MP Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) asked about the potential risks of Singapore’s partners, especially regional ones, applying energy export restrictions.
“Our Prime Minister has also issued a joint statement with the Prime Minister of Australia, Prime Minister [Anthony] Albanese, to establish ties and to ensure that we can continue to get a supply of liquified natural gas (LNG) from Australia,” responded Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Tan See Leng, noting that Singapore’s diversity of energy sources also includes America and Mozambique. “Even as we speak, we continue to look for new markets.”
Minister Tan also mentioned that Singapore’s power generation systems, if needed, can switch between LNG and diesel.
Supporting more transport workers and disadvantaged commuters
Source: Elysa Chen / Facebook, Ng Chee Meng / Facebook, Jeffrey Siow / Facebook
MP Ng Chee Meng (Jalan Kayu SMC) asked about extending the $200 of government support to even more transport sector workers. “May I clarify if similar support is being considered for other self- employed groups who are significantly impacted, such as […] bus drivers and limousine drivers?
“NTUC (National Trades Union Congress) will stand ready to partner the Government as a stakeholder to ensure that these workers are not left behind,” said MP Ng, who is also NTUC Secretary-General.
“The Government will work very closely with the NTUC to work out the support measures for this particular group,” said Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow. “We’ll be happy to work with NTUC again to see how that can be done.”
MP Elysa Chen (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) asked about keeping daily travel affordable for broad sectors of Singaporeans.
“Passengers such as lower-income shift workers, caregivers and those in essential services often have the least flexibility to change their travel patterns when global events occur and fuel-linked costs rise,’ she said. “How will the Ministry of Transport and the Government ensure long-term affordability for lower-income or vulnerable [Singaporeans] …with no realistic ability to substitute or reduce usage?”
“If there are people who cannot afford transport, we will find ways to support them,” said Acting Minister Siow. “Even for large families who need to take private-hire vehicles, we have additional subsidies that we have worked into through the Life SG Large Families Scheme.”
“We will continue to make sure that transportation is affordable for all Singaporeans,” emphasised Acting Minister Siow.
