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Singapore Dance Theatre presents Ballet under the Stars (31 Aug – 2 Sept, 7 – 9 Sept 2018 at Fort Canning Green)

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Charge 10 cents for plastic bags – cannot – because cheng hu don’t make money hor!

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Resentment for immigrants is created by a lack of government planning or foresight

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部长减薪,增乐龄福利? 吴作栋批居民建议“民粹”

在上周五,英语社交新闻网站Mustsharenews爆料,分享一则荣誉国务资政吴作栋,在一项研讨会场合回答提问者的谈话音频。谈话中,吴作栋回应提问者,指减部长薪资和国防预算,以便增加乐龄人士福利的建议乃是民粹做法,无利解决年长者低收入处境。 本社向吴资政求证音频真伪,其部属澄清,有关对话是在本月2日,于职工总会中心举行的东南区研讨会上,吴作栋回答基层居民的提问。吴资政也提供完整对话逐字稿,相对网路上流传的剪接视频,较能还原完整对谈内容。 当时,70岁的布莱德岭居民委员会成员阿都阿兹说,年长者为了生存,即使入古稀之年也不能退休,还要继续工作,令他感到忧虑。他询问吴资政,为何不从国防开销和部长薪资中,提取一部分来改善年长者的生活? 还原吴资政完整谈话内容 吴资政和蒙巴登国会议员林谋泉,在问答环节回应阿都阿兹。以下我们整理逐字稿,以理解吴资政的原意。 阿都阿兹(来自布莱德岭居民委员会):我现已70岁,很关心乐龄课题。不幸的是,我看到的老者为了生活,必须从事清洁厕所、收盘碗等劳动工作。 孟理齐部长提及,年长者不是被迫工作,他们只是想要劳动、活络筋骨和社交,但这些群体属少数例外,大部分居民都不会这么认为,因为年长者确实需要工作维持生活。 为此我建议,为年长者提供退休金,并经过适当审核确保不会被滥用。可能市长会问我,退休基金拨款从何而来?我想,可以从国防部削减预算,例如少买一架F15战机,就足以支付整个退休金开销。又或者从部长百万薪资中,减薪10巴仙?这些只是我的建议,谢谢。 针对阿都阿兹的提问,草根组织顾问林谋泉则答复: 首先,我们有乐龄补贴计划(Silver Support),它确实帮助了许多年长者。我不确定我们是否对打工的年长者太严苛。对我来说,只要是新加坡公民、低收入群体,政府一定会好好照顾你们。有太多太多计划/福利帮助贫穷群体。如果你不穷,但是又想工作,我个人认为是好事,不然您认为老人呆在家做什么呢? 当我和年长者见面时常告诉他们,多出去做点有益身心活动,例如当义工等等。常呆在家患上痴呆的几率更高。…