PAP MP Tin Pei Ling has suggested to state media Straits Times to raise the GST tax, claiming that it will “help the hardest hit”:
“If the hike was in the GST, now at 7 per cent, we could help those hardest hit by giving financial aid like bursaries to children.”
State media Straits Times also spoke to several cronies of the ruling party, who are unanimous in supporting a GST hike. PAP MP Liang Eng Hwa said the GST increase may likely be in 2019:
“Mr Tharman’s timeframe was the end of the decade, which I suppose is 2019 or 2020. PM Lee did not say when the tax hike could kick in, except that the current term of government, which ends in 2021, had enough revenue.”
Former PAP NMP Eugene Tan said Singaporeans must pay regardless:
“They may be preparing the ground for a tax increase, but there is also the larger game plan, in trying to set the narrative: With the need for increased expenditure, how are we going to pay for it, and who is going to pay for it?”
PAP MP Lim Biow Chuan said that the government will have to ramp up on propaganda to help Singaporeans “understand” and not get angry:
“There is always a political cost if you cannot persuade the ground that a hike in taxes is necessary. Nobody likes it, and if people think you are just doing it for no valid reason… they get angry. With messages potentially distorted over social media, the authorities need to explain their position clearly.”
Singapore has been seeing budget surpluses for years, with 2016 registering a S$3.45 billion surplus. The dictator Prime Minister did not explain why he needs more money to run the country, but he is unwilling to reduce his S$2.2 million-a-year salary and his S$53 million-a-year Cabinet.