Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to hand over leadership to Lawrence Wong on 15 May 2024

It marks Singapore's long-planned leadership transition to 4G political team

PM Lee to stay on as Senior Minister; any major Cabinet changes will come after General Election: Lawrence Wong

By Tham Yuen-C, Senior Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 16 Apr 2024

Singapore will have a new prime minister on May 15, with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong set to take over from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on that day.

The date for the handover was announced in a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on April 15, a key detail in Singapore’s long-planned leadership transition from the third-generation to the fourth-generation (4G) political team.

When he is sworn in at 8pm on May 15 at the Istana, DPM Wong, who entered politics 13 years ago, will be Singapore’s fourth prime minister.

In a video message put up shortly after the announcement, DPM Wong said he had never expected to be asked to serve as prime minister one day when he first agreed to enter politics in 2011.

“I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty. I pledge to give my all in this undertaking,” he said.

“Every ounce of my energy shall be devoted to the service of our country and our people. Your dreams will inspire my actions, your concerns will guide my decisions.”

PM Lee said on his social media pages that leadership transition is a significant moment for any country.

“Lawrence and the 4G team have worked hard to gain the people’s trust, notably during the pandemic,” he said. “Through the Forward Singapore exercise, they have worked with many Singaporeans to refresh our social compact and develop the national agenda for a new generation.”

PM Lee said the 4G team is committed to keeping Singapore working well and moving ahead, and asked that Singaporeans give DPM Wong and his team their full support to jointly create a brighter future.

DPM Wong, who is 51, had been the presumptive next prime minister since April 2022, when he was picked by his peers as the leader of the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) 4G team.

Before DPM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, emerged as leader, former minister Khaw Boon Wan had spoken individually to the 4G leaders and other members of the Cabinet to move along the process of finding a successor for PM Lee. Mr Khaw revealed that 15 out of the 19 he had spoken to had put DPM Wong as their top choice.

It capped a period of uncertainty in Singapore’s leadership succession.

A year before, in April 2021, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat – originally earmarked for the job by his 4G peers in November 2018 – had stepped aside to pave the way for a younger person to lead the country. He was going to turn 60, and the Covid-19 pandemic, which began in 2020, had shortened his runway as the next prime minister, he had explained.

The pandemic, meanwhile, was also what helped DPM Wong come into prominence, pundits had said.

As co-chair of the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19, DPM Wong had been front and centre in Singapore’s fight against the pandemic, along with Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong.

His assured manner during the task force’s many media conferences and ability to break down issues simply had gained him admirers.

The usually business-like minister also showed a gentler side, choking back tears as he thanked healthcare and other front-line workers during a speech in Parliament at the height of the crisis.

PM Lee, 72, later said that his younger colleague and the 4G team had “earned their spurs” during the pandemic. The baptism of fire they went through put paid to worries that the team would have only a short time to forge bonds and learn to work together before having to take over.

Since then, DPM Wong and his team had gone on to take on more responsibilities, chief among them spearheading the Forward Singapore exercise to forge a new social compact with Singaporeans.

The team’s report, put out in October 2023, set the public agenda for the years ahead. It called on Singaporeans to partner the Government in developing a fair, caring and inclusive society with people progressing together.

While the Forward Singapore report has been described as a continuation of the work of the Government, there are signs that the new team will go further than their predecessors, as signalled by policy shifts such as the forthcoming introduction of unemployment assistance.

The coming into power of the 4G team also happens at a more troubled time for the world, with wars raging in Europe and the Middle East, and uncertainty in the global economy.

Amid this, Singapore is restructuring its economy for the future.

While there have been positive signs that Singapore’s economy will do better in 2024 than it did last year, more layoffs are expected due to rising costs and greater automation. Overall growth for 2024 is projected to be between 1 per cent and 3 per cent.

In many developed countries, rising inequality and slowing mobility have also divided people, and a key plank of the 4G team’s agenda has to do with strengthening bonds between people through sports, the arts and philanthropy in order to build national resilience.

With DPM Wong taking over before August, he will have the National Day Rally to lay out his plans for the year ahead. He also has his work cut out as he prepares his party for the next general election (GE).

At the biennial PAP convention held at the Singapore Expo in November 2023, PM Lee, who has been prime minister for 20 years, made his intention clear that he wanted to hand over to DPM Wong before the next general election, due by November 2025.

DPM Wong, on his part, signalled his readiness for the task. Speaking to a hall full of his party’s members, he said: “I am ready for my next assignment.”

The handover announcement sparked an outpouring of tributes from both political office-holders and backbencher MPs on PM Lee’s two decades as head of government. Many, like DPM Heng, reflected on PM Lee’s role in building a Singapore that is cohesive and future-oriented.

PM Lee will relinquish his role on May 15, and is required under the Constitution to inform President Tharman Shanmugaratnam of his decision to step aside.

He will also formally advise the President to appoint DPM Wong as his successor, said the PMO.

At the PAP convention in November 2023, PM Lee had said he will be at the new prime minister’s disposal after he steps down.

Giving an indication of his possible next steps, he had said: “I will go wherever he thinks I can be useful. I will do my best to help him and his team to fight and win the next GE. I want to help him to fulfil his responsibilities leading the country so that Singapore can continue to succeed beyond me and my 3G colleagues, for many years to come.”

MediShield Life to offer Singaporeans more coverage and benefits under proposed changes to be implemented in early 2021

Government to provide about $2.2 billion to help Singaporeans with Medishield Life premium adjustments

MediShield Life Council recommendations includes higher annual claim limit of $150,000; premiums set to rise by up to 35%

By Salma Khalik, Senior Health Correspondent, The Straits Times, 30 Sep 2020

The compulsory national health insurance scheme is set to get a massive revamp next year, with wider benefits proposed so it can cover more and larger hospital bills.

The proposal includes raising the yearly claim limit under MediShield Life from $100,000 to $150,000.

To pay for these benefits and rising healthcare costs, premiums are expected to go up next year by as much as 35 per cent.

This will be the first increase in MediShield Life premiums since the scheme was launched five years ago.

At the upper end, the proposed hike will exceed $500 a year.

But given the difficult times Singaporeans are facing now, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said the Government will soften the impact of the premium increase with a special COVID-19 subsidy for the first two years.

In the first year, all Singaporeans will get a 70 per cent subsidy on the increase. This goes down to 30 per cent in the second year. This will cost the Government $360 million.

This is on top of the existing subsidies of 15 per cent to 50 per cent given to middle-and lower-income groups, and 40 per cent to 60 per cent for the Pioneer Generation.

The Merdeka Generation receives additional age-based subsidies of 5 per cent to 10 per cent.

In all, subsidies for the next three years will amount to $2.2 billion.

The proposal will allow for wider benefits, including:

• Higher coverage for sub-acute care at community hospitals - such as for someone recovering from a heart attack - as this is 20 per cent more expensive than normal rehabilitative care.

• Higher annual claim limit of $150,000, from the current $100,000.

• Higher claim limits for some charges, such as for intensive care, which will be raised from $1,200 a day to $2,200 a day, dialysis and psychiatric care

.• An additional $200 a day claim for daily ward charges for the first two days of hospitalisation, when most tests and investigations are done. 

• MediShield Life will in future also cover treatment for attempted suicide, self-injury, substance abuse and alcoholism.

• Lower deductible of $2,000 (down from $3,000) for people 80 years and older for day surgery. This brings it in line with their deductible amount in a C-class ward, so patients will not need to be hospitalised just to qualify for insurance cover.

However, the cap on claims for people treated at private hospitals will be reduced from 35 per cent of the bill to 25 per cent.

Based on recent bills, 35 per cent of private hospital care amounts to far higher sums than bills incurred by subsidised patients.

The new claim limits should bring MediShield Life back in line with its original mandate to cover 90 per cent of subsidised bills beyond the initial deductible.

It was revealed last year that only 80 per cent of subsidised bills were fully covered.

These changes are expected to get rolling some time in the first quarter of next year.

MediShield Life Council chairman Fang Ai Lian said: "We have to periodically review and update the scheme benefits and premiums to keep pace with evolving medical practice, healthcare cost inflation and actual claims experience, so that it continues to provide assurance for Singaporeans, while remaining sustainable."

From now, reviews will be carried out every three years.

Dr Tan Wu Meng, head of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, supports the changes, although he said some of the premium increases are "significant".

He told The Straits Times: "The revised policy year claim limit and the ICU claim limits are consistent with supporting Singaporeans through catastrophic illness."

As for the removal of some exclusions, he said: "This would also be a key statement about inclusivity and the tone we want in our society."

Enhanced vaccination subsidies for eligible Singaporean kids, adults from 1 November 2020

By Cheryl Tan, The Straits Times, 14 July 2020

From November, eligible Singaporean children under the age of 18 will receive free vaccinations for diseases such as influenza and chickenpox as part of enhanced subsidies for nationally recommended vaccines, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday.

These vaccines will come under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) and National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS), which will be administered at all Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) general practitioner (GP) clinics and polyclinics from Nov 1.

The subsidies are part of efforts to "better protect Singaporeans from vaccine-preventable diseases and to reduce the risk of outbreaks in the community", said MOH.

Two types of varicella-containing vaccines, to prevent chickenpox, will be added to the NCIS, as well as influenza vaccines for children at high risk of developing influenza-related complications.

In addition, a pneumococcal 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine will be included to protect children with chronic or rare medical conditions who are at risk of developing severe pneumococcal disease.

All eligible Singaporean children will also receive full subsidies for seven childhood development screenings at polyclinics and CHAS GP clinics so they can receive their developmental assessments together with their childhood immunisations from their family doctors.



Singaporean adults will also be able to benefit from higher subsidies of between $35 and $125 for nationally recommended vaccines listed on the subsidised vaccine list, which is administered at CHAS GP clinics, said MOH.

For instance, after government subsidies, eligible Pioneer Generation card holders will have their payments capped at between $9 and $16 per vaccination dose.

Eligible Merdeka Generation and CHAS Blue and Orange card holders will see a payment cap of between $18 and $31 per vaccination dose.

All other eligible Singaporeans will have payments capped at between $35 and $63 per vaccination dose.

At polyclinics, adult Singaporeans will receive up to 75 per cent subsidies for NAIS vaccinations. Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors will receive an additional 50 per cent and 25 per cent subsidy on their subsidised vaccination bills respectively, said the ministry.

It added that only selected vaccine brands listed under the subsidised vaccine list will be eligible for vaccination subsides, though MOH will review the listings periodically.

GST Voucher 2020: 1.4 Million Singaporeans to receive $570 million in August 2020

Cash payouts of up to $300 from Aug 1; those 65 and above to also get Medisave top-ups of up to $450
By Cheryl Tan, The Straits Times, 2 Jul 2020

About 1.4 million Singaporeans will benefit from $570 million in goods and services tax (GST) vouchers next month, in the form of cash payouts and Medisave top-ups.

Eligible Singaporeans will receive text messages by tomorrow to inform them of their benefits, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said yesterday. Some have received letters since yesterday.

Around 1.4 million Singaporeans will receive cash payouts of up to $300, credited directly into their bank accounts from Aug 1.

Those who have not provided their bank account numbers can do so at www.gstvoucher.gov.sg by July 22, and they will receive their payouts via bank transfer on Aug 1.

The rest will receive cheques sent to their official address by Aug 17.

MOF added that a small number of citizens who qualify for the benefits of the GST Voucher scheme have not signed up for the government payouts in the past. They will be invited to do so via SMS or letter before May 31 next year.

Singaporeans aged 21 and above whose assessable income for year of assessment 2019 did not exceed $28,000 will get $150 or $300, depending on their home's annual value as of Dec 31 last year.

Those who own more than one property are not eligible for GST vouchers.

About 545,000 Singaporeans aged 65 and above this year will also receive GST vouchers in the form of Medisave top-ups of up to $450 from Aug 1.

They will receive between $150 and $450, depending on their age and annual value of their home.

Cash payouts for GST vouchers will amount to around $410 million, while Medisave top-ups will total $160 million.

The GST Voucher scheme was introduced in 2012 to help lower-and middle-income Singaporeans offset some of their GST expenses.

The annual scheme comprises three components: cash, Medisave and U-Save.

The cash payout helps lower-income citizens with their immediate needs, and is paid every August.

Similarly, the Medisave top-ups paid every August help support Singaporeans aged 65 and above with their medical needs.

The U-Save vouchers provide lower-and middle-income Housing Board households with a rebate to offset their utility bills every January, April, July and October.

Eligible HDB households will receive double their regular U-Save vouchers this year, through a one-off special payment.

Eligible households with five or more members will get 21/2 times their regular U-Save rebate this year.

The U-Save payments - amounting to about $630 million - will benefit around 940,000 Singaporean households living in HDB flats.

In addition, around 940,000 households will also receive 11/2 months to 31/2 months of service and conservancy charges (S&CC) rebates between April this year and March next year, depending on their HDB flat type.

The S&CC rebates will be disbursed on a quarterly basis in April, July and October this year and January next year.

These rebates have been paid annually by the Government since 2013, in a bid to directly offset HDB households' S&CC payments.

Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation Seniors to Receive $255 million in MediSave Top-Ups in July 2020

Eligible seniors will receive top-ups ranging from $200 to $800 next month
By Cheryl Tan, The Straits Times, 18 Jun 2020

Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors will receive a total of $255 million in Medisave top-ups next month.

The top-up can be used for payment of insurance premiums for MediShield Life and other Medisave-approved insurance plans, as well as to pay for medical expenses such as for hospitalisation, day surgery and outpatient treatments.

The sum will be credited into their Medisave accounts next month. Seniors will be given more details of the top-up in a letter by the end of this month.

The top-ups are part of the benefits under the Pioneer and Merdeka Generation packages.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said it is to "thank our Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors for their contributions to Singapore".

"Altogether, we had set aside more than $14 billion for these packages, to cover about one million seniors for life."



He added that the Pioneer and Merdeka Generations had weathered difficult storms in the early years of Singapore, and contributed to Singapore's growth.

"We owe them a debt of gratitude for their hard work and dedication. Let us continue to support them to stay active and healthy," he said.

In a joint statement, the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health said the top-up for Pioneer members totals $160 million, while the top-up for Merdeka seniors is $95 million.

Eligible Pioneer members will receive between $200 and $800, depending on their age this year. Those who were born earlier will receive higher top-ups as they typically have less accumulated savings. Eligible Merdeka Generation seniors will receive $200 in Medisave top-ups annually until 2023. They started receiving the sum from last year.

Around 450,000 Pioneer and 500,000 Merdeka Generation seniors have been receiving Medisave top-ups as part of the Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation packages since they were launched in 2014 and last year, respectively.

For the Pioneer Generation Package, $8 billion was set aside in 2014 to be given out to those born in 1949 or earlier.

This helps to cover outpatient subsidies, Medisave top-ups, MediShield Life premium subsidies, and payouts for long-term care.

As for the Merdeka Generation Package, $6.1 billion was set aside last year to provide seniors with greater assurance of their healthcare costs, and to help them stay active and healthy through their silver years. The top-ups help ease the burden of healthcare costs for Singaporeans who were born between Jan 1, 1950 and Dec 31, 1959.

From last year, Merdeka Generation seniors received additional benefits such as higher subsidies under the Community Health Assist Scheme and an extra 25 per cent discount on their bills at polyclinics and specialist outpatient clinics, in addition to the yearly $200 Medisave top-ups.

The Pioneer and Merdeka Generation Medisave top-ups are in addition to the annual Medisave top-ups under the GST (goods and services tax) Voucher scheme for Singaporeans who are aged 65 and above.

The Medisave top-ups under the GST Voucher scheme will be made in August, and the amount that seniors can receive will depend on their age, the annual value of their place of residence, and the number of properties that they own.

Medisave withdrawal limits commensurate with Singaporeans' healthcare needs

We thank Dr Yik Keng Yeong for his feedback (Why set Medisave withdrawal limit to per-patient basis?, March 16).

To help Singaporeans manage their chronic conditions, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has been expanding financing support to them. This includes primary care chronic subsidies under the new Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) green card, and special outpatient and CHAS subsidies for the Pioneer and Merdeka generations.

Under the Medisave500 scheme, patients are able to withdraw up to $500 yearly to further offset their costs for outpatient chronic disease treatments, approved vaccinations and screenings.

As the cost of treatment is closely linked to the complexity of a patient's chronic medical condition, MOH will introduce Medisave700 from 1 Jan 2021 to better support patients with complex chronic conditions who will be able to withdraw up to $700 yearly under the scheme.

We expect more than 176,000 patients to benefit from the higher withdrawal limit.

MOH has carefully studied the impact of the change of the withdrawal limits to a per-patient basis. Only a small proportion of patients will exceed this limit, especially with the new higher limits for patients with complex conditions. This is also similar to how the rest of the Medisave withdrawal limits are structured.

Furthermore, family members can still use their Medisave to pay for the patient's treatment as suggested by Dr Yik, up to the annual limit of the patient.

Patients who face difficulties with their subsidised medical bills may approach their medical institutions for advice and assistance, and those in need may apply for more financial support through Medifund. No Singaporean will be denied access to appropriate healthcare due to an inability to pay.

Cham Dao Song
Director, Finance Policy
Ministry of Health
ST Forum, 19 Mar 2020

Singapore must stay open to world, learn from history: PM Lee Hsien Loong's New Year Message 2020

Constant effort to improve lives, share fruits of progress points the way forward, he says
By Royston Sim, Deputy Political Editor, The Straits Times, 1 Jan 2020

Singapore must stay open and connected to the world even as many societies lose faith in globalisation, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Having benefited enormously from globalisation, it must resist the temptation to turn inwards, he cautioned in his annual New Year message yesterday. "A Singapore turned inwards cannot survive."

He noted that the current state of the world worries Singaporeans, as the global slowdown has affected the economy. In November, the Trade and Industry Ministry said the economy is expected to have grown by 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent last year.

But PM Lee assured Singaporeans that the upcoming Budget will have measures to help businesses, workers and families, as well as the poor, the elderly and the vulnerable.

While companies will get help to raise their productivity and build new capabilities, workers, especially mid-career PMETs - professionals, managers, executives and technicians - will be given a hand to retrain, find new jobs and stay employable, he added.

Social safety nets will be improved, and "we will help households with their cost of living", PM Lee said in his message recorded at the Bicentennial Experience exhibition in Fort Canning.



The showcase of important moments in Singapore's history was a key event to commemorate the country's bicentennial year, which he said provided a vivid reminder of how much the island has changed over the centuries, and how far the Republic has come.

"Recounting this history has enhanced our collective consciousness of the past, strengthened our sense of togetherness in the present, and boosted our confidence in a shared future," he said.

One lesson to be drawn from history, he noted, is that while the Government has to stay on top of bread-and-butter issues, the intangible ethos of a society is even more vital in the long run.



In Singapore, the aim is to build a fair and just society, where growth and prosperity benefit everyone, and the human spirit can flourish, he said, citing the values and qualities that impelled the country's forefathers to stay rather than return to their land of birth.

"Here, pathways of progress are open to all, and every Singaporean can chase his or her dreams.

"Here, we are building a society where everyone is equal, regardless of race, language or religion.

"Here, we will uplift the most vulnerable amongst us, and leave nobody behind whatever the vicissitudes of life.

"Here, each generation never stops thinking of tomorrow, so that our children can look forward to exciting opportunities, and in their turn build a better Singapore."



PM Lee said the bicentennial also helped put into perspective what is happening now in the world and in Singapore, which had many ups and downs in the past 200 years.

Today, serious frictions exist between the United States and China, he noted.

Despite economic growth, societies such as Hong Kong, Chile and France are under stress and beset with protests. Their people worry about such basic needs as housing and jobs. They are also angry that the fruits of economic growth have not been shared equitably, with income gaps widening, said PM Lee.

Large parts of their populations have lost faith in their systems, and are pessimistic about the future. "This is fuelling nativism and chauvinism, and sectarian strife."

Singaporeans, too, are anxious, but "we are in a better position than most countries because for decades, we have toiled to improve our people's lives", PM Lee said. "And we continue to make steady progress, year after year."

He pointed to Singapore reforming its education system by changing the PSLE scoring system, and opening more post-secondary education pathways. The quality of pre-schools is being raised, and fees are being made more affordable.

In housing, first-time buyers are getting more subsidies, while healthcare is improved for more seniors with the new Merdeka Generation Package. In transport, the MRT system is now one of the most reliable in the world, with fewer than one breakdown every one million km travelled on average, he noted.



PM Lee said that ideals such as uplifting the vulnerable and building a fair and just society will enable Singaporeans to remain "one united people" and prevail despite the odds.

There was never any guarantee of success at any time in Singapore's history, he noted.

"But if we stand together and keep making the effort, I am confident Singapore can continue to shine brightly in the world."

In a separate New Year message yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said the Government is looking at measures to tackle the economic slowdown.

Home Caregiving Grant: $200 monthly cash payout for home caregivers from 1 October 2019, shorter waiting period for respite care

Foreign Domestic Worker Grant to be replaced by $200 Home Caregiving Grant
By Felicia Choo, The Straits Times, 26 Sep 2019

Home caregivers will enjoy more financial relief from next month when the $200 Home Caregiving Grant takes effect, replacing the $120 Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) Grant.

They will also benefit from a shorter waiting period for respite care since a pre-enrolment pilot by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) began in April.

Senior Minister of State for Health Edwin Tong yesterday outlined these initiatives, which were first announced as part of the Caregiver Support Action Plan unveiled by the Ministry of Health (MOH) during February's Budget debate.

Mr Tong was speaking on the sidelines of a visit to St Luke's ElderCare in Pandan Gardens.

The Home Caregiving Grant, which goes into effect on Oct 1, will be a monthly cash payout that gives recipients the flexibility to defray caregiving expenses, including for hiring a maid, as well as home and community-based services.

Those who are already receiving the FDW Grant will be automatically enrolled into the Home Caregiving Grant, while new applicants can start applying from Oct 1.

The grant will be paid to eligible recipients, who can also choose to nominate a caregiver to receive it.



Recipients must meet certain criteria to qualify for the grant. They need to:

• Always require some assistance with at least three activities of daily living.

• Have been means-tested to have a per capita household monthly income that is $2,800 or less, or belong to a household with no income and be living in a residence with an annual value that is $13,000 or less.

• Be a Singaporean, or a permanent resident with a parent, child or spouse who is a Singaporean.

• They also must not be living in a residential long-term care institution like a nursing home.

Mr Tong acknowledged that people may abuse the cash payout, and MOH is looking at measures to prevent this.

"We have surveyed the landscape enough to build in some safeguards. We also want to give flexibility... and so we have to trust that caregivers will not abuse it," he added.

Mr Lim Chin Hwee, who takes care of his 88-year-old mother with dementia, welcomed the additional support, but thinks it is still not enough.

"It will lessen the financial burden slightly," said the 57-year-old taxi driver, whose mother's expenses are around $600 a month.

Mr Lim and his wife, a shop employee, as well as their son, who works in the IT industry, support the entire family, including three other children.

His mother currently receives help from the Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme and the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly, amounting to $350 a month.

But her recent hospitalisation at Changi General Hospital last month after she had a fall set them back by $3,000, and they paid another $300 to buy assistive devices like a wheelchair.

Besides the financial help, caregivers now also have access to the Go Respite pilot. It cuts down the waiting time of four weeks to an average of one week for senior care centres and two weeks for nursing homes.

Close to 150 people have applied for the pilot and over 10 per cent of them have used the respite care services, which are offered by 20 senior care centres and 26 nursing homes currently on board.

MOH hopes that at least 500 people will apply by the middle of next year, said Mr Tong.

MOH will also expand AIC Link counters beyond the current eight locations to give caregivers and seniors better access to information and referrals. AIC Link@Toa Payoh just started operations this month, and three more AIC Links in Choa Chu Kang, Nee Soon and Pasir Ris will open by the end of the year.

How GST vouchers help in various ways

Govt will disburse $1 billion in GST vouchers and Medisave top-ups in 2019, defraying costs
By Lorna Tan, Invest Editor/Senior Correspondent, The Sunday Times, 15 Sep 2019

None of us like forking out more money to the Government than we have to. Since the goods and services tax (GST) came along in 1994, it has been accompanied by a range of offsets to take some of the pain away, especially for lower-income groups.

The latest payout was last month when about 1.4 million Singaporeans received up to $300 each in the form of GST Voucher - Cash. In a few weeks, about 930,000 eligible HDB households will each receive their GST Voucher - U-Save to help offset utilities bills.



The GST Voucher scheme was introduced in 2012 to help the lower-and middle-income households with daily expenses and to defray GST expenses.

It has since become an indispensable source of support, providing assurance that there is government support for GST expenses for individuals and households, particularly those with lower incomes.

If you received the GST Voucher - Cash payout last month, you can expect to get the GST Voucher - Cash (Bicentennial Payment), which provides an additional cash payment of up to $300.

All in, the Government will pay out $1 billion in GST vouchers and Medisave top-ups this year, benefiting 1.7 million Singaporeans.

The Sunday Times highlights the GST Voucher scheme and other government assistance measures.

GST VOUCHERS (CASH, MEDISAVE, U-SAVE)

The GST Voucher scheme has three components:

• GST Voucher - Cash: This goes out every August to defray some of your GST expenses.

• GST Voucher - Medisave top-up: This is credited to the CPF Medisave accounts of eligible Singaporeans aged 65 and above every August. It can be used to pay for their own or their immediate family members' hospitalisation expenses incurred at any of the participating medical institutions under the Medisave scheme. Medisave can also be used to pay for day surgery and approved outpatient treatments.

• GST Voucher - U-Save: This is given out over four payments each year as a rebate to help HDB households offset part of their utility bills. Note that GST Voucher - U-Save payments are credited automatically to the household's utilities account once it is opened.

Each household will get a GST Voucher - U-Save of up to $400 this year, based on the HDB flat type. This includes an additional U-Save of $20 a year from this year to 2021.

The U-Save rebates are paid out in January, April, July and October this year.

Singaporeans will get some or all of these three components depending on their age, income and the valuation of their homes.

People who own more than one property are not eligible for the GST vouchers - Cash, Medisave and U-Save.

The eligibility criteria is available at www.gstvoucher.gov.sg

NDP 2019: Singapore celebrates its 54th birthday at the Padang

Stand up, stand up for Singapore
27,000 spectators mark nation's 54th birthday with moving celebration at NDP
By Kor Kian Beng, Defence & Security Editor, The Straits Times, 10 Aug 2019

The lyrics "Stand up for Singapore" took a literal turn last evening when spectators at the Padang spontaneously rose to their feet, time and again, moved by the emotion of marking the nation's 54th birthday.

The National Day Parade (NDP), which also marked the bicentennial of an event that changed Singapore's history, turned out to be an occasion to express gratitude and respect. The mood seemed to wash over the 27,000-strong audience at the Padang, where Singapore held its first NDP in 1966.

Like every year, the crowd stood up solemnly when President Halimah Yacob arrived, when the National Anthem was played and when the Pledge was recited.

Gratitude for the Merdeka Generation - those born in the 1950s and who comprised the earliest batches of national servicemen - was particularly evident when 39 of them appeared as part of a mobile column.

As the 171 vehicles from the Singapore Armed Forces and the Home Team drove past, the masters of ceremonies asked spectators from the Merdeka Generation to stand up so that others in the crowd could acknowledge them. This they did with roaring applause, and some felt moved to stand up as well.



Many in the crowd also rose to their feet when sound engineer and music producer Danial Bawthan - who has muscular dystrophy and goes by the moniker Wheelsmith - came on stage with other performers and rapped "Stand up, Lion City, stand up" - from a wheelchair.

Retiree Alvin Lim, 62, said watching fellow servicemen reminded him of his national service years as a signaller. "Seeing how we have progressed from those days makes me proud," he told The Straits Times.



This year's Parade was the first held at the Padang since 2015, with previous years' NDPs held at the Marina Bay Floating Platform and the National Stadium.

The venue was apt, given the bicentennial. The Padang, which has served as a gathering spot for many since the 1880s and has witnessed several historical milestones, was picked to show how far the country has progressed since Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in 1819.



Together with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad attending at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, spectators and those watching the telecast were shown glimpses of Singapore's history since then.

These included eight floats honouring organisations that have existed since the 19th century and contributed to Singapore's progress. Among them were Singapore Post, Singapore General Hospital and The Straits Times.

At one point, screens played a video showing Singapore's first mobile column in 1969, which featured only 18 AMX-13 tanks. Pride must have swelled in the hearts of many as they looked on at the size of the mobile column last night.

During the show segment, tribute was paid to Singaporeans who have made a difference, such as retired healthcare adviser Iris Verghese, who had reached out to Singapore's first Aids patient in 1985 amid a climate of fear.



The Parade ended on a soulful note with a unique rendition of Majulah Singapura by 66-year-old rock pioneer Ramli Sarip. Right behind him was 25-year-old Wheelsmith.

Amid uncertainties about the global economy and friction between major powers, the image of a young man in a wheelchair and a seasoned senior singing the National Anthem sent a powerful message about Singaporeans' commitment to unity and harmony.

Right after, Stand Up For Singapore blasted through the speakers again as part of a medley, and the crowd was back on its feet, united in song.

National Day Message 2019: Singapore must prepare for a very different future, says PM Lee Hsien Loong

PM Lee says world is entering troubled period, but past proves nation can overcome challenges
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 9 Aug 2019

Singaporeans need to prepare for a "very different future", said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, pointing to the grave challenges that global upheavals had thrown up.

Speaking on the eve of National Day, he said he was confident that the country would overcome the challenges. But he pointed to the task at hand.

The world is fundamentally entering a more troubled period, he noted. Trade and globalisation are under pressure and friction between the major powers is growing, while global warming and rising sea levels pose existential threats.

"Singapore will not be immune to these global problems... They will disrupt supply chains, alter trade patterns and shift investment flows. We must get ourselves ready for a very different future," he said.

Singapore has taken steps to renew and reinvent itself, he added in his annual National Day message delivered from Changi Airport's Jewel, which he held up as symbolic of the country's spirit to dare to do the new - and do it first.

Singaporeans have gone through many ups and downs over the years, he noted. Today, economic uncertainties and the threat of climate change are grave challenges, PM Lee said.

"But our past gives us confidence. Throughout our history, when trials and tribulations have beset us, we picked ourselves up and worked together to overcome them. Each time, we reinvented and renewed our economy, our people and our city, and we thrived again. And this is what we must keep on doing."



Giving an indication of what he will focus on at this year's National Day Rally on Aug 18, PM Lee said pre-school and tertiary education will be made more affordable, especially for lower-and middle-income families. The retirement and re-employment ages will be raised to help older Singaporeans who wish to work longer, he added.

While he did not give any forecast of growth figures for the year, he noted that the economy has slowed. Global demand and international trade have weakened, affecting Singapore's manufacturing sector and trade-related services.

"We have experienced such slowdowns before, and we will take this one in our stride," said PM Lee. "Should it become necessary to stimulate the economy, we will do so."

Singapore is making good progress in transforming its industries, and in its efforts to reskill and upgrade the workforce, he noted.

The technology and start-up scenes are flourishing, with agencies helping entrepreneurs and companies scale up and expand into the global market.

Meanwhile, the SkillsFuture scheme is helping Singaporeans to be more productive and prepared for new jobs that are being created. "All these structural measures will not only address our longer-term challenges, but also help see us through a more immediate downturn."



PM Lee pledged that the Government will keep on investing heavily in Singaporeans and help everyone achieve their potential and give their best to Singapore.

But he also stressed that this is a joint endeavour. "Each one of us must strive to improve ourselves, do our best and chase our dreams."

PM Lee compared Singapore to Jewel, saying the gleaming new complex shows how Singaporeans have the creativity and daring to reinvent themselves, as well as the passion and competence to turn dreams into reality. "As you might expect, other cities and airports are already planning to emulate Jewel, and perhaps do it bigger and better," he said. "But we dared to attempt the new, and we did it first."

Other projects to remake the city include Changi Terminal 5, Tuas Megaport and the Jurong Lake District, as well as the redevelopment of Paya Lebar Airbase and the Greater Southern Waterfront.

These will keep Singapore busy and create new opportunities for Singaporeans for decades to come, he said. But he added: "To stay in front of the pack, we must constantly come up with fresh ideas, always be ready to break new ground.

"What limits our possibilities is not the physical size of our island, but the ingenuity of our people and the boldness of our spirit."



In a spirited call to Singaporeans, he urged them to be as intrepid as the first settlers who arrived here from distant lands, and as tough as the earlier generations who endured war and occupation, rebuilding their lives afterwards.

"Let us be as resolute as the Pioneer Generation who fought for independence and founded our nation, and be as united as the Merdeka Generation, who took up the baton and brought Singapore from Third World to First.

"Let us continue to work together as one united people to thrive in an uncertain world, challenge ourselves to explore new horizons, and commit our hearts and souls to Singapore and its future," PM Lee said, wishing Singaporeans a happy National Day.