Nominated Member of Parliament, Eugene Tan explained that the budget is a tool to set the direction of Singapore not just financially, but also economically, politically and socially.
He commented that the budget this year is more popular and it tends more to our "growing social needs".
While the position has shifted slightly towards more welfare, the underlying themes are still the same as previous years with productivity and reducing the reliance on foreign labour being key focuses.
He pointed at that this year, there is more appreciation being shown with the Pioneer Generation Package and there has been a shift to the left with the government showing its ability to give more.
This year, more middle income earners will be included in some of the schemes previously only for low-income earners as the government acknowledges the rising pressures that the middle class is experiencing.
While Singapore has always taken a more prudent approach to social spending, Ms Tan observed that the shifts we are seeing now are good, particularly as there has been a lack of social spending in the past.
However, the government also emphasised that there is 'collective' responsibility and that we should not become a society which is dependent on welfare.
Ms Tan commented that the Budget could have done more to give direct benefits to average Singaporeans in order to reduce the class gap. He suggested that the budget could be used to shape the mindset that the well-off Singaporeans must help those who are less well-off.
He said that in general, the budget has shaped 'social investment' where social spending is not an expenditure and instead is an investment into stability for future growth.