[Bigiron]

PM Wong rejects Pritam's claim that GST hike 'turbocharged' inflation: 'This chamber is not an election rally' - Mothership.SG - News from Singapore, Asia and around the world
https://mothership.sg/2025/02/pm-wong-re...Ya5mW3GX6Q

[Bigiron]

PM Wong Rejects Pritam's Claim that GST Hike 'Turbocharged' Inflation: 'This Chamber is Not an Election Rally' - Mothership.SG
 
Summary:
 
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has rejected Workers' Party (WP) MP Pritam Singh's claim that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike "turbocharged" inflation for consumers. In his closing budget speech on Feb. 28, PM Wong stated that while inflation has eased globally and in Singapore, cost pressures remain a concern. He also emphasized that the government is committed to providing temporary relief measures, such as Community Development Council Vouchers, to help with the cost of living.
 
Key Points:
 
- PM Wong's Response: In response to Pritam Singh's assertion that the GST hike exacerbated inflation, PM Wong stated, "Where is the turbocharging? Look, I know elections are approaching, but this chamber is not an election rally," adding, "Let's not get carried away by hyperbole and have a debate based on facts."
 
- Global Factors Driving Inflation: PM Wong explained that Singapore's small and open economy means inflation is primarily driven by global factors such as wars, supply chain disruptions, and rising energy costs.
 
- GST Hike's Effect on Inflation: He pointed out that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) assessed the GST hike's effect on inflation to be temporary, with CPI inflation moderating to 4.8% in 2023 and further declining to 2.4% in 2024.
 
- Government's Response to Cost of Living Concerns: PM Wong reiterated that the government understands concerns about cost pressures and will continue providing temporary support through measures like Community Development Council Vouchers. He also mentioned that a "much larger" portion of the budget is allocated to structural programs aimed at equipping Singaporeans through education, skills training, and skills upgrading.
 
- Long-Term Solutions: PM Wong emphasized that the government's focus is on helping Singaporeans achieve higher real incomes, which is the most sustainable way to address cost of living issues.
 
Overall:
 
The debate revolves around the impact of the GST hike on inflation. PM Wong dismissed Pritam Singh's claim, citing global factors and the MAS's assessment of the GST's temporary impact. The Prime Minister highlighted the government's commitment to addressing cost of living concerns through a combination of temporary relief measures and long-term investments in skills development and income growth.

[Gemstar]

I certainly agrees GST does affect inflation. It is one of the cause factor of inflation. It eats into the costs of businessmen that merely ultimately make them increase prices.

[Bigiron]

Here are some flaws and inconsistencies in the article about PM Wong's response to Pritam Singh's claim:
 
1. Dismissing concerns as "hyperbole":
 
- Flaw: PM Wong's dismissive tone ("Let's not get carried away by hyperbole") undermines the seriousness of Singaporeans' concerns about the cost of living. While global factors play a role, the GST hike undoubtedly adds to domestic price pressures.
 
- Inconsistency: If the government truly understands these concerns (as PM Wong later claims), dismissing them as "hyperbole" seems incongruent.
 
2. Focus on MAS assessment but ignoring its limitations:
 
- Flaw: While citing MAS's assessment, the article doesn't acknowledge potential limitations of the assessment. Economic models are not perfect predictors, and the GST's impact on inflation might be longer-lasting than initially projected.
 
- Inconsistency: The article claims the government understands concerns about cost pressures, but then relies solely on the MAS assessment, which doesn't address the lived experiences of individuals.
 
3. Promoting "temporary help" and "long-term solutions" as separate entities:
 
- Flaw: The article presents temporary relief measures like CDC vouchers as a separate strategy from long-term solutions. This implies that the government is not actively working to bridge the gap between short-term needs and long-term solutions.
 
- Inconsistency: PM Wong states that the government understands cost pressures and will provide support "for as long as needed." This seems contradictory to the assertion that vouchers are solely "temporary."
 
4. Downplaying the impact of vouchers:
 
- Flaw: The article claims the government "never said" that it's solely relying on vouchers. However, the article also states that vouchers are "temporary help measures, they are not long-term solutions." This undermines the value of vouchers for those who rely on them for ongoing support.
 
- Inconsistency: PM Wong emphasizes the importance of "higher real incomes" as the solution to the cost of living, but does not explicitly connect this to the ongoing need for support measures like vouchers.
 
5. Not addressing the regressive nature of GST:
 
- Flaw: The article focuses on general inflation but doesn't delve into the disproportionate impact of GST on lower-income households.
 
- Inconsistency: PM Wong talks about ensuring that Singaporeans are able to "stand on their own feet," yet the article doesn't acknowledge the inherent challenge this poses for lower-income groups who are disproportionately affected by regressive taxes.
 
Overall:
 
While the article presents PM Wong's defense of the GST hike, it overlooks crucial aspects of the debate. It minimizes the genuine concerns of Singaporeans struggling with the cost of living, fails to fully acknowledge the limitations of the MAS assessment, and avoids addressing the regressive nature of GST.

[Bigiron]

The article's arguments, while presented as strong rebuttals to Pritam Singh's claims, contain several weaknesses. These weaknesses stem from the article's presentation of PM Wong's responses and the lack of counter-arguments to his claims.
 
Here are some of the key weaknesses:
 
Overreliance on Global Factors: While global factors undoubtedly play a role in inflation, the article overly emphasizes them to downplay the impact of the GST hike. This conveniently deflects responsibility for the government's role in contributing to the cost of living pressures. It ignores the fact that a domestic policy like the GST hike can exacerbate existing global inflation pressures.
 
Ignoring Long-term Implications of GST: The article claims the GST hike's impact on inflation will be "temporary". However, it fails to acknowledge the potential long-term consequences. A permanent GST increase, even with temporary relief measures, can lead to a gradual erosion of purchasing power for lower-income households, affecting their long-term economic well-being.
 
Dismissive Tone Towards Concerns: PM Wong's retort about "hyperbole" and "election rallies" diminishes the legitimacy of concerns expressed by Pritam Singh. This dismissive tone creates the impression that the government is not truly listening to the public's concerns and is more focused on political strategy than on genuine solutions.
 
Vague Promise of "Higher Real Incomes": The article presents "higher real incomes" as the ultimate solution, but it lacks concrete details on how the government plans to achieve this. This vague promise leaves Singaporeans unsure about how their incomes will be improved and if they can realistically expect meaningful change.
 
Limited Focus on Social Safety Nets: The article emphasizes the strengthening of social support systems but doesn't clearly outline the specifics of these systems or how they will directly alleviate the burden of the GST hike on vulnerable groups. This leaves the impression that the government is more focused on generic improvements to social support rather than targeted action to counter the regressive nature of GST.
 
Lack of Counter-Arguments: The article primarily focuses on PM Wong's statements and doesn't present counter-arguments to his claims. This leaves the reader with an incomplete picture of the debate, lacking any dissenting viewpoints or alternative perspectives.
 
Failure to Acknowledge Trade-offs: The article doesn't address the trade-offs inherent in raising the GST, particularly the potential negative impact on consumer spending and economic growth. This creates an illusion that the government is acting purely out of economic necessity without acknowledging the potential downsides.
 
Overall, the article's arguments fall short of providing a comprehensive and balanced perspective on the GST hike debate. The weaknesses highlight the importance of critically evaluating government statements and considering alternative perspectives, especially when policy decisions impact the cost of living for all citizens.

[pinkypanther]

https://tinyurl.com/3cxbsu37

[Ola]

PAP has shown they do not have any courage to admit their mistakes

Flooding was called ponding

Kindness was misused as courtesy

Nuar- Nuar tried to cover up about the vaccine by saying- No evidence when it was Insufficient Evidence

Even disGrace abused "Foreign Workers" when the topic is about FTs

Inflation definitely turbo- charged inflation because it is on ALL & Every item and it has compounding effects




Want 10 MORE how Bad PAP is trying to lighten their mistakes

with their PAP English Dictionary?

[Scythian]

Yes, increasing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would likely contribute to higher inflation, as it would directly increase the cost of goods and services for consumers. 
Here's a more detailed explanation:
GST and Inflation:
The GST is a consumption tax, meaning it's levied on most goods and services sold in Australia. When the GST rate increases, businesses are required to charge more for their products and services, leading to a rise in the overall price level, which is a key indicator of inflation.

[RiseofAsia]

I certainly agrees GST does affect inflation. It is one of the cause factor of inflation. It eats into the costs of businessmen that merely ultimately make them increase prices.

上有政策，下有对策lah.
只懂治标不懂治本。This is the main issue.
越搞越糟糕！

做鬼的永远是当官lah.

[[[ForeverAlone]]]

Yes, increasing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would likely contribute to higher inflation, as it would directly increase the cost of goods and services for consumers. 
Here's a more detailed explanation:
GST and Inflation:
The GST is a consumption tax, meaning it's levied on most goods and services sold in Australia. When the GST rate increases, businesses are required to charge more for their products and services, leading to a rise in the overall price level, which is a key indicator of inflation.

Bills also every thing you spend and pay

Is just excuse to cover LHL losses he don’t even make SG profit much and worst lost money next he also create many useless additional public services to create a fake employment these additional civil servants wages and bonus surely need to take from somewhere.

[cheekopekman]

PM Wong rejects Pritam's claim that GST hike 'turbocharged' inflation: 'This chamber is not an election rally' - Mothership.SG - News from Singapore, Asia and around the world
https://mothership.sg/2025/02/pm-wong-re...Ya5mW3GX6Q

All those who oppose PAP shouldn't be given all those goodies lah!  Did Pritam Singh use CDC vouchers leh?

[Alice Alicia]

"There is nothing so permanent as a temporary government program."

- Milton Friedman

[grotesqueness]

All those who oppose PAP shouldn't be given all those goodies lah!  Did Pritam Singh use CDC vouchers leh?

use tax payer money to buy votes

[Gemstar]

PAP has shown they do not have any courage to admit their mistakes

Flooding was called ponding

Kindness was misused as courtesy

Nuar- Nuar tried to cover up about the vaccine by saying- No evidence when it was Insufficient Evidence

Even disGrace abused "Foreign Workers" when the topic is about FTs

Inflation definitely turbo- charged inflation because it is on ALL & Every item and it has compounding effects




Want 10 MORE how Bad PAP is trying to lighten their mistakes

with their PAP English Dictionary?

Adamant of not admitting mistakes is the gravest mistake. These are the people that wil be easily defeated for their outright flaws.

[grotesqueness]

PAP trickeries and lies

they going to increase to 12%

that why they denied the inflation

so they dont cause panic as they increase to 12%

[Niubee]

Look at all the developed countries. It is the same playbook.
All the taxes increase also cause inflation.

[cheekopekman]

use tax payer money to buy votes

PAP buy votes with our money lah!  Give you chicken wing take away whole chicken lah!

[Bigiron]

https://youtu.be/0SSKDDNd3Cw?feature=shared

[factuup]

Look at all the developed countries. It is the same playbook.
All the taxes increase also cause inflation.

KNNIUBEE GOTCH SHO SMART? 

Fucking idiot. 11th Aug is closing ceremony 

it is 12 Aug  YOU DUMB FAGGOT!
not 11 aug

there are still a lot of events

HOW CUM KNNIUBEE SO STOOPID, DUNNO SG TIME EARLIER THAN OLYMPIC? EVERYDAY GONG GONG LOOK FOR SELECTIVE TIONG NEWS PCC ONIE, WORTHLESS LIFE 

Time Spent Online:
6 Months, 1 Week, 6 Days

[SgWinner]

wow, he mention inflation ease to 2.4% in 2024 ?

I think not realistic as my favourite hawker food like bak chor mee and chicken rice up more than 10% yearly from $3.5 to $4 and soon $4.5

Event public transport hike up 6% when fee increase 10ct each ride from 28 dec 2024

Transport hike news
https://mothership.sg/2024/12/mrt-bus-fa...-dec-2024/

[Gemstar]

PAP trickeries and lies

they going to increase to 12%

that why they denied the inflation

so they dont cause panic as they increase to 12%

Sounds more like it. Is a kind of mindset whereby since 9% GST does not impact inflation, then jolly-well go ahead with 12%. I believed this is the self beneficial excuse they wil give.