During the debate in Parliament on the Pioneer Generation Fund Bill today, Nominated Member of Parliament Chia Yong Yong tried unsuccessfully to amend several words in the Bill.
Ms Chia said the words in bold in Section 3:
"…
by providing to them who are now elderly and are or
may be in need of financial relief, assistance or other
support …"
suggested that the Pioneer Generation Package is subjected to means testing. The words suggest that for a scheme to qualify for funding under the Pioneer Generation, the disbursement of moneys or provision of benefits to any pioneers must be subjected to means testing or differentiation on grounds of financial need. She suggested that the words in bold be replaced with the word "pioneers".
The Government had said that there would not be means testing.
Senior Minister of State for Finance Josephine Teo replied, "… Section 3 is an acknowledgement that our pioneers are likely to be less well off and be in need of greater assistance. It is meant to reflect a fact and not to signal the Government's intent to restrict pioneer benefits to the financially needy."
Members of Parliament were asked if they would agree to Ms Chia's amendment, but it was rejected.
Mrs Teo said the Government would still "take a look" at Ms Chia's suggestion, and consider an amendment to the Bill.
It appears that Mrs Teo believes that Ms Chia's comments and/or proposed amendment have merit. Yet the majority of the Members of Parliament present did not.
In any case, Mrs Teo should have supported the sensible amendment.
No comments:
Post a Comment