STORY
Policy changes to put S'poreans first
By Victoria Barker
The Government will continue to put Singaporeans first by adjusting its policies on housing, education and employment, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his National Day Rally speech at the University Cultural Centre last evening.
In what is considered the biggest annual political address, he reminded Singaporeans that the country must remain open to attract global winners to invest here.
On the topic of housing, Mr Lee said that the income ceiling for buying Build-To-Order (BTO) Housing Board (HDB) flats will be raised from $8,000 - which has been unchanged for the past 17 years - to $10,000.
This is to address the worries of young couples who are earning just below the current income ceiling, as well as the fact that incomes have gone up and that people are marrying later.
The income ceiling for buying executive condominiums will also be raised, from $10,000 to $12,000, Mr Lee announced.
He added that housing "is a key expression" of putting Singaporeans first.
He said: "Our home-ownership policy ensures every family has a stake in Singapore."
He acknowledged that the new income ceiling would increase demand for BTO flats and, to meet the demand, HDB will build another 25,000 such flats next year.
An additional 7,000 rental flats will be available over the next two years. The demolition of some blocks under the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme will also be postponed.
This will ease the wait for needy Singaporeans who require rental flats.
In terms of education,local universities will add 2,000 more places by 2015 - and all of them will go to Singaporeans.
The increase will create 14,000 places for Singaporeans by 2015, up from 12,000 now.
Mr Lee also stressed the importance of striking the right balance between the number of Singaporean and foreign students at universities.
He added that foreign enrolment will be capped at current levels, leading to a gradual decline in the proportion of foreign students at universities here, which now stands at 18 per cent.
"Some Singaporeans question the policy of taking in foreign students, and giving some of them scholarships... I understand their unhappiness," he said. Still, he urged Singaporeans to "see the issue from a broader perspective".
Foreign students provide healthy competition, which raises the standards of local students and better prepares them for a global workplace, he said.
Mr Lee urged Singaporeans to take advantage of the many options to help them upgrade themselves throughout their lives, such as the Singapore University of Technology and Design, which will open by 2014.
Speaking about the employment situation here, Mr Lee said that the qualifying salary levels for foreigners on Employment Passes will be raised, while educational qualifications will be tightened to make sure they "come with real skills (that are) valuable to us".
This is to assuage concerns among white-collar Singaporeans who may "not be so confident of themselves that they are ready for unrestrained competition" from foreigners.
Mr Lee also spoke about improving the country's social safety nets, such as for health care - he pledged that the Government will take steps to help ageing Singaporeans with their medical expenses, in particular in the area of outpatient care.
He noted that Singapore's 3M - Medisave, MediShield and Medifund - framework has worked well for inpatient care, but more needs to be done about outpatient treatment.
He announced that the age limit for the Primary Care Partnership Scheme, which provides subsidies for the low-income elderly and disabled, will be reduced to 40. It is currently applicable only to those aged 65 and above.
Subsidies for prescription drugs will also be increased, with details to be announced later, he added.
While these safety nets will be improved, Singapore must be careful not to become a welfare state, he cautioned.
Mr Lee said: "We cannot afford to think that we don't have to try hard, because the state is there (to fall back on)."
Instead, he stressed on active citizenship and the Singapore spirit - as displayed by those like 27-year-old photographer Sam Kang Li (see other report).
"Singapore can succeed only if every one of us works hard, does our best and helps others to make progress together," he added.
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