PROMISING BUT IMPLEMENTATION IS KEY
The Workers’ Party notes the Prime Minister’s acknowledgment at National Day Rally 2013 of the need to strengthen safety nets and boost social mobility, in the context of a globalized world and rising inequality in Singapore. The Workers’ Party has long advocated that the Government needs to move in this direction, to give Singaporeans security and peace of mind in an increasingly competitive environment where not everyone can thrive on their own. We are thus pleased to hear of the “shift” towards a nation where “we are all in this together”.
The steps to revamp healthcare financing are a recognition of the limitations of the 3M framework currently. The overhaul of the MediShield insurance scheme to cover everyone, without excluding for age or pre-existing conditions, is in line with the Workers’ Party call for a universal hospitalization insurance to cover acute hospital bills. The pending review of Medisave to facilitate its greater use for outpatient treatment is a subject close to the hearts of many Singaporeans; to this end, the Workers’ Party repeats its previous calls for Singaporeans above 75 to be allowed to withdraw their Medisave savings for medical care without restriction. The Government also needs to look into the affordability of step-down care and drugs, two major cost items in healthcare.
As regards the affordability of BTO flats, the Government has changed its gauge by taking reference to a loan period of 25 years instead of 30 years. Though this falls short of the Workers’ Party’s preference of a loan period of 20 years, the revision will be welcome to those in BTO queues.
We welcome the use of Edusave for students in madrasahs, which is something that has been advocated by the Workers’ Party in Parliament. We had also called for more holistic development of students to cultivate their love for learning rather than grooming them for high-stakes examinations. The changes announced in education represent incremental shifts in this direction.
The Workers’ Party hopes to see the realization of the Government’s promises so as to create a society where mutual care and concern is a hallmark. We await the concrete implementation of the directions announced at the National Day Rally 2013.
SYLVIA LIM
CHAIRMAN, WORKERS’ PARTY MP FOR ALJUNIED GRC