[Tee tiong huat]

These disbursements are GST Voucher (GSTV) scheme, which helps to permanently defray GST expenses for lower- to middle-income S'poreans as cope with hike in goods & services tax over the past two years. In January 2023, the GST rate increased from 7% to 8%, be4 jumping to 9% cent at the start of 2024. 2024 GSTV disbursements, which were first announced by PM Lawrence Wong in February 2023, will amount to $1.4 billion, which is around $200 million more than in 2023,