What do Singaporeans think of Budget 2012?

By withholding our CPF, the budget should have provided those 55 and above free outpatient healthcare, free transport. Good to have more hospitals built for those requiring in-patient, better if they can actually provide $8 charges for heart by-pass surgeries, free pre and post natal healthcare ... basically the budget is not good enough.

Singaporeans should, if not must, be given the choice of whether to withdraw their CPF savings at 55 or not. This then is fair because many of us were told that we could at the point in time when we first joined the workforce about three decades ago. Choices and flexibility are keys to lesser stress level!

They don't care and can't give back our CPF at 55 but they can take time to meticulously work out a plan to give 1.1 BILLION of the budget to a GROSSLY PROFIT MAKING PRIVATISED transportation entity? I have totally lost hope on our ruling party...

The bonus of 12K to 20K for the elderly to downgrade their existing flat to a smaller unit is not very justified. HDB under Khaw Boon Wan is now building Studio flats all over the island. The shoe box unit of between 35 to 45 sq mtr. which comes with only a 30 years lease is giving HDB lots of profits. The present selling price of a 45 sq mtr. studio flat in areas like Queenstown is about 150K. The buyers have to pay the full sum upfront. When someone buys a property, most likely the price will appreciate with time but buyers of HDB studio flats gets nothing after the expiry of 30 years lease. The 1st owner of a studio flat in Queenstown pays 150K. After 30 years, the flat belongs to the HDB again and they would sell it to another buyer. By then property could have appreciated by a few folds. HDB would sell the flat to another buyer at probably 400K. Another 30 years later, (60 years ) again the HDB will take back the flat and sell it to a 3rd buyer at probably 600K. So for a total of 90 years, HDB could sell the same property (a small shoebox unit ) to 3 different buyers at a total value of over 1 million. For a small shoebox unit, they could sell over 1 million on a 90 years total lease period is far more costly than buying a private condo a few times bigger with a 99 years lease and some are even freeholds. If any old folks would join this sceme, after selling their existing flat, part of the proceeds would go back to the CPF and would be locked up as retirement sum. Another 150K would go to the paying of a studio flat. So in the end, what balance amount would they have. So is this a fair deal for the senior citizens who have help to build our nation. Think about that.

Nothing very great and still favouring FTs. 7% GST to abolish for Rich people to invest in Gold, this should have announced in the Budget, but said yesterday in the separate announcement. Why such kind of tricky and physiological approach with our Singaporeans? Every Citizens need to note one thing, ALWAYS WHENEVER OUR MIW VISITING OVERSEAS THEY HAVE ANNOUNCE IMPORTANT NATIONAL ISSUE IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THIS IS ALSO A PHYSIOLOGICAL APPROACH. I believe is not work always and now days due to Social communication via modern Technology.

If the govt. and Mr Khaw Boon Wan truly care for the senior citizens who bought studio flats, allow them to sell the flat in the open resale market if they intend to sell the flat. Alternatively, after the 30 years lease expired , let them have part of the profits when the property price appreciated and not just taking back the flat without a single cent given back to them.

Living in Singapore day by day make us old folks so SICK!!!!!!!!!! I am 58, how to live till 64
before I can lift my weak hands to touch my CPF. I have 121K in my retirement account and
26K in medisave but not enough to eat everyday. OH, WHAT IS LIFE TO ME NOW!!!!!!!

nothing spectacular ..... Singaporeans are still at the shortest end of the economic stick and mind you this is a very thin stick for Singaporeans ..... the biggest end of the economic stick goes to the self-serving incumbent party and their elites cahoot and FTs .... after all Singaporeans have to slogged to raised their families both parents have to be working full time while the FTs can survive on Single Income arrangement and live in spanking places

talk about work life balance and this is only relevant for the self-serving elites incumbent party and FTs while many Singaporeans have to rely on dual income for survival.

WTH...till now...die die also hold tie of our CPF $$$ & dun let go at 55..I can't get a job at 46 although I a technical specialist..Ya...I dun mind to downgrade my standard...BUT will you stand it to become a cleaner or a operator ? & even buy a resales flats cost at $650k+COV $40K also cannot get the flat & realised it taken by the China ppls..after the property agent reveal...how our childrens get the flats when they marry..??? Those married couple pls go & check how much is the fees for your future children to study in Uni..Bloody 60% ..hope you are the persons invole in all this issues..

The Minister started off by assuring that the Budget was aimed at creating a “fair system of taxes and benefits”.

Then he declared: “Investment–grade gold and other precious metals are essentially financial assets that are actively traded and are just like other financial instruments that do not attract GST. I will therefore exempt them from GST.”

The move, according to the Minister, is to facilitate the development of gold trading in Singapore. This would lure even more asset managers to Singapore in our frenzy to turn this island into a financial centre.

With wealth disparity getting bigger and bigger, the tax system should be adjusted to become fairer towards the poor. Many countries have removed the GST for basic necessities so that those at the bottom of the economic scale are not unduly burdened.

Everyone – from billionaires to the homeless – has to eat. A 7 percent tax on food affects someone earning $1,000 a month much more than it does his neighbour earning $10,000.

But despite evidence that demonstrates that removing the GST for essential items would significantly benefit the working-class and help level up society, the PAP has steadfastly refused to do so.

Instead, it chooses to abolish the GST for gold and other precious metals which only the rich are able to afford to deal in. Do rich people in Singapore look like they are in need of more help from the Government?

This is symptomatic of the policy direction of the PAP. It remains callous to needs of the people who most need state support while paying meticulous attention to the wants of those with wealth and power.

It is a Government that has lost all sense of decency.

all i can say is this is the budget that will be remembered by voters in the next election.

The annual income shall based on entirely members in the family NOT only on individual pay when given the budget. Let give one example, there may be 1 person working in the entire family and earning $4500 per month and the monthly family income per month is only $4500 whereas there are 4 person in the family with each earning $2500 per month and the month family income per month $10k. Is it fair to those family with one person working only to support total 5 memebers in the family?
Please think carefully before implement the budget given to the citizen..

They raise the fare and promised us with better service,they keep the profit ! and now we have to paid for their bus !(1.1BILLION ) why...why..can anyone please explain...WHY ????

Removing the GST for gold and other precious metal will only benefit the wealthy.
Seriously, I am sitting here in front of my computer, extremely disgusted with these hopeless politicians.
Still, blame for all these failed policies lies entirely with the daft 60% who keep voting for these useless politicians despite them not wanting to improve the lives of ordinary Singaporeans.
“How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food
court or restaurant?”

I wonder is the removal of 7% GST for gold , a subtle way to signal the population that its time to keep Gold rather than hard currency. After all there are many nations who are in debt now. Gold may be the new security. Any way its always better not to keep all your eggs in one basket.

When they are high above the clouds, they can’t see the ground. Who cares if you earn $1000 and you neighbor earns $10000 per month. The message from them is … To pay less gst, to buy less, to eat less, to wear less, to enjoy less and not to compare yourself to your neighbour and them getting 6digit monthly pay.

No never help all the singaporean only concern about their older families member benefit but sure no concern or relate to all singaporean. CPF what is 2.5%? few dollars then spend more then few hundreds in order to stay alive. shit you pap vampire blood sucker and I sure send god solider to punish you all.

Millionaires can now buy gold... No GST anymore..

STINKS !
Should reduce spending on Military.
Should reduce spending on salaries and the PMO.
Increase spending on Health, Social and Housing.
Get rid of ineffective COE and ERP systems,
Don't hog CPF Monies.
Reduce CPF Draw-down age.
Discard FOREIGN TRASH policies. Singaporeans FIRST !
Bottom line, ruling party STINKS ! ! !

Hello Mr Finance, stop giving us all this bonus when we have to pay to back with interest is worst than any loan shark.
Just cut the crab and cut the GST. That's all we ask for and that's what most Singaporean want.