• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

SDP to PAP: Now is not the time for a GST hike

by kathleen
12/02/2020
in Current Affairs, Politics
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

Now is not the time to raise the GST after the next elections, said the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) to the ruling party, People’s Action Party (PAP) on Wednesday (12 February) given the ‘trying few weeks’ ahead of Singapore amidst the Covid-19 outbreak.

On their website, SDP called on Singaporeans to “come together” to help contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus by following the public health warnings and advise by the relevant authorities.

SDP said, “We acknowledge and appreciate the hard work of public health experts and recognise that this will be a trying few weeks ahead for all of us.”

“This is also an added reason why the SDP is calling on the PAP not to raise the GST after the next elections as announced,” it added.

SDP referred to Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat’s statement that he will be laying out the GST support measures in his next budget statement scheduled for Tuesday, 18 February. The GST is expected to be raised from 7 percent to 9 percent.

The party noted that the country’s economy will “take a hit” as global trade and commerce is affected by the outbreak, which has already been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO) early this month.

SDP highlighted, “The government says that it anticipates business and consumer confidence to be affected in the future as the situation is expected to last for some time.”

Therefore, the party asserts that it would be help Singaporeans if they did not need to pay more in GST and other taxes, which will “crimp spending”. SDP explained that individuals will need the extra cash in their pockets to get them through this uncertain economic period while businesses will also be helped if consumer confidence is boosted.

The planned GST hike will clearly not help neither consumers nor businesses, says the party.

“There was already little justification for the government to increase the GST before the coronavirus outbreak,” said SDP.

“Now with the adverse economic conditions ahead, it is all the more inconceivable for the PAP to proceed with its plans to increase the GST to 9 percent.”

Impact of Covid-19 outbreak the global economy

The outbreak has caused authorities in China to shut down massive swathes of the country, including placing several provinces under quarantines, leaving millions stuck. Though the quarantine was only implemented late in January, with millions believed to have already left the affected areas well before shut down was enforced.

In early February, Apple Inc, announced a temporary closure of all its stores and corporate offices in China. It is also considering shutting down its factories there which produces components for its range of products that are sold around the world. Apple Inc. employs about 10,000 people in China.

Additionally, Levi Stauss & Co.—which opened its biggest China store last October in Wuhan itself, the city at the centre of the outbreak—McDonald’s Corps, and Starbucks Inc., H&M, Nike, Tiffany & Co. and more have collectively shut down thousands of outlets around the country, partly in adherence to the government’s request for people to stay off the streets.

Even Disneyland Shangai has closed its doors until further notice due to the outbreak in an effort to help curb the spread of the virus.

The Edge Markets highlighted on 5 February the magnitude of the impact the outbreak has had on numerous business and corporations that have dealings with and in China.

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city
AFP

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city

01/02/2023
Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok
AFP

Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok

01/02/2023
AFP

6.0-magnitude quake rocks southern Philippines: USGS

01/02/2023
Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary
AFP

Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary

01/02/2023
MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income
Labour

MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income

01/02/2023
Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent
Politics

Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent

01/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city

01/02/2023
Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok

Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok

01/02/2023

6.0-magnitude quake rocks southern Philippines: USGS

01/02/2023
Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary

Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary

01/02/2023
MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income

MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income

01/02/2023
Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent

Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent

01/02/2023
高庭驳回迪哥达索取警方录供的刑事动议

CEO of D1 Racing sues a woman to claim S$3 million for “emotional trauma” suffered from being friend-zoned

01/02/2023
Thai police chief apologises for Taiwanese celebrity’s alleged extortion case by police officers

Thai police chief apologises for Taiwanese celebrity’s alleged extortion case by police officers

01/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
19

...

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
41

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Indian rupee falls 60% since signing of CECA while Singapore becomes top investor in India

by Correspondent
25/01/2023
68

...

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

by The Online Citizen
26/01/2023
58

...

Ho Ching breaks silence over Temasek’s write down of its US$275 million investment in FTX, says it “can afford to be contrarian”

US regulator questions VCs’ due diligence work prior to investing in FTX; Ho Ching says Temasek can afford to be contrarian

by The Online Citizen
24/01/2023
28

...

February 2020
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
242526272829  
« Jan   Mar »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz