SINGAPORE — Members of Parliament (MPs) lauded the Pioneer Generation package today (March 3), the first day of the Budget Debate in parliament.

They called it a symbol of gratitude to the first generation of Singaporeans, even as the nation looks to the future.

But there was also a reminder that the needs of the elderly go beyond healthcare.

A total of 25 MPs took turns to speak, calling this year’s Budget generous, caring and extraordinary, while Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam listened intently.

The star was the Pioneer Generation Package — S$8 billion set aside by the Singapore Government — to give some 450,000 elderly Singaporeans special benefits for life.

“Many Singaporeans may not yet appreciate how extraordinary a feat this is for any government to be able to pull off. How many governments in the world can deliver such a commitment to its people and still maintain fiscal balance?” said West Coast GRC MP Foo Mee Har.

Aljunied GRC MP Slyvia Lim said: “I agree that it should not be means-tested, unlike most other Government schemes. This universality of entitlement is a very important recognition of all our pioneers, regardless of where they live now or how much they have earned over the years.”

While MPs lauded the package, which is focused on healthcare benefits, they also stressed the need to look into other areas that concern the elderly to ensure that those who are able can still participate meaningfully in society.

“While the Government has worked hard to remove the monetary obstacles in healthcare affordability, we need to ensure that in other areas, the elderly can still participate meaningfully in society. This includes the areas of employment, and access to knowledge, especially infocomm technology,” said Sengkang West MP Lam Pin Min.

“We can and should do more to ensure that older persons, including the pioneer generation, continue to have the opportunities to lead their lives they want to, to work in the jobs they want to and to access the information they need. The non-monetary aspects of growing old must not be neglected and the government can do more to help them.

“Can we for instance, look at abolishing the retirement age and continue to pay older workers based on their performance and contribution?”

As for other day-to-day needs such as transport costs, Whampoa MP Heng Chee How said: “For the recurrent category, I suggest that the Government consider which of the grants and subsidies can be made permanent and/or enhanced.”

Another MP acknowledged the rise in Central Provident Fund (CPF) contribution rates for older worker but wants the Government to make bolder moves by restoring the rates for workers above 50 to 55 years to be on par with younger workers.

Nominated MP Mary Liew said: “For a worker with a monthly wage of S$2,000, an additional three per cent monthly will be S$60.

“This S$60 may be a small sum to the employer. However, for the worker, that would be S$720 annually and in a career across 30 years, even without factoring in any annual increment and interest, would be more than S$21,000 additional savings to retire on. This would make a significant difference for the workers.”

But while they pushed for more, MPs were also mindful of the fiscal burden on the Government.

Nee Soon GRC MP Lim Wee Kiak said: “The Pioneer Generation Package is unique as it promises life-long benefits. How sure is the Government that S$8 billion is sufficient?

“What if there is a medical breakthrough that can prolong the life of our elderly significantly in the near future? Or if there is a significant drop in our economy and weakening of our currency in future, resulting in decrease in our S$8 billion?”

MPs stressed that for the Pioneer Generation Package to be successful, its benefits have to be clearly communicated to those eligible.

They also called on the community and corporates to get into the act and equip these seniors with a Pioneer Generation card so that these seniors can be easily identified and other benefits extended to them. CHANNEL NEWSASIA