Spend CPF savings wisely, NMP urges S’poreans

SINGAPORE — It is not often that a speech is met with raucous approval in the House, but rookie Nominated Member of Parliament (MP) Chia Yong Yong, who is barely seven months into her term, yesterday earned plaudits for her impassioned speech calling on Singaporeans to exercise individual responsibility and not become a burden to others.

Speaking in Parliament during the Budget debate, Ms Chia noted that the “arguably very generous” Budget had been praised by some as “leaning to the left”. For example, the new Silver Support Scheme, which gives quarterly payouts to needy elderly, is seen as a departure from previous permanent assistance schemes such as the Workfare Income Supplement that are tied to individual endeavour.

“But I would argue that, if we lean too much to the left, we will not have much left,” she said, prompting MPs to thump their armrests in approval.

Ms Chia, a lawyer and president of social service provider SPD, stressed that collective responsibility — a notion that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam brought up several times at a television forum on the Budget — must entail individuals exercising their personal responsibilities.

The Government is investing S$1 billion a year from now to 2020 on SkillsFuture initiatives that seek to create an environment of lifelong learning. Ms Chia said she was concerned whether the money would “go down the drain”, given the intangible returns. She urged people dispensing the fund to exercise individual responsibility to ensure there is no wastage.

Likewise, those conducting the training must exercise integrity and professionalism, and not issue certificates only for the sake of it, she said.

Ms Chia also spoke out against calls for more flexibility to access Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings, including the Workers’ Party’s suggestion yesterday that CPF monthly payouts begin earlier at age 60. “I have great unease and I cannot support this recommendation (for flexibility) ... We are placing a very great fiscal obligation upon our future generations, living off what our forefathers have built for us,” she said.

She added: “I believe we have the right to spend the money, our money, any way we want it, whenever we want it ... But when what we do is going to have a foreseeable effect or cause foreseeable loss or injury to another person, there is merit for us to argue that that right has to be circumscribed.”

Arguing against cultivating a mindset that Singaporeans are entitled to use their CPF savings however they want, Ms Chia pointed out that the savings had been accumulated via co-payment by employers and top-ups from public funds, among other sources.

“Because I am not the only person contributing to that fund, I cannot be the only person to call the shots as to how I’m going to spend it. At the very least, I have a moral obligation to spend it wisely,” said Ms Chia.

“When we talk about personal choice, choice always comes with responsibility. Benefits come with obligations and, when we exercise our personal choice, there is a price to be paid. And Madam, I submit that price should not be paid by someone else,” Ms Chia concluded, to another round of armrest thumping by MPs.

Speaking to TODAY, Ms Chia said she had to speak off the cuff after her laptop froze just before her turn to speak. Adding that she had worked on her speech till the wee hours, she said she was surprised by the reaction and her intention was to spur public debate.