Calling the new tax “a leap forward”, Singapore’s propaganda state media ChannelNewsAsia (CNA) expressed support for the incoming 2018’s carbon tax claiming that the new tax will not cost much to most Singaporeans even though it provided an increase estimation of up to S$3.30 a month for regular households:
“According to the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS), households will likely see an increase of S$1.70 to S$3.30 per month for electricity in a typical 4-room flat, on top of an average monthly bill of S$72. Similarly, for businesses, increases in costs will likely be in the range of the equivalent of a US$3.50-US$7/bbl increase in crude oil prices. This is estimated to represent a 6.4 per cent to 12.7 per cent increase from current oil prices. Both these increases fall well within usual market fluctuations…While the costs arising directly from the carbon tax will not be significant for most users, the key is for larger users of electricity to take further stock of how efficiently they use energy.”
In his propaganda article published yesterday (Dec 14), CNA editor Jaime Ho also lied on behalf of the dictatorship claiming that the purpose of the new tax is “not to raise revenue”:
“The ultimate goal of the carbon tax is not to raise revenue, but to reduce emissions through changing behaviour at the level of facilities and industries. ”
CNA claimed that Singaporeans should take the tax increase positively, and speculated that the burden on the people will translate to increased investments in “clean and green sectors”.
Singapore’s mainstream media is ranked 154th in the world for credibility due to government interference. Just earlier this week, Human Rights Watch called on the Singapore government to relax it’s authoritarian control on media regulations. The Singapore government did not respond to the international NGO’s criticism, but the dictatorship has always denied any wrongdoing.