PM Lee: No big hongbao budget

• Chew Bakar

  23 Jan 10, 23:09

  No big hongbao budget

  PM  Lee tempers expectations ahead of  Feb 22 statement 

  By Kor Kian Beng The Sunday Times
  

  
  

  PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday cautioned Singaporeans against measuring the pace of the economic recovery by looking at the property market.

  He also tempered any expectations of a mound of goodies in the coming Budget, saying it 'may be too early to hope for a big hongbao'.

  The Budget statement will be made on Feb 22, he said.

  He was speaking to reporters after attending the official light-up ceremony of Chinatown's Chinese New Year celebrations last night.

  Looking cheerful and jovial as he spoke about the economic recovery, Mr Lee highlighted the need to strike a balance between making people feel confident they can improve things and ensuring they do not assume all problems are gone.

  'And you can't just look at the property market and say 'wow, it's gone up so much and next year will go up even more' and get carried away, whether carried away with enthusiasm or carried away with panic,' he said. 'I think we have to treat these things with detachment and calmness.'

  PM Lee cautions S'poreans against getting carried away with economy's recovery
  Posted: 23 January 2010 2217 hrs

  SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has cautioned Singaporeans against getting too carried away with the recent recovery in the economy.
  
  He noted that Singapore is not expecting a very vibrant and strong recovery.
  
  Mr Lee said that although the government wants people to feel that things are better, at the same time, Singaporeans cannot assume that all problems have passed.
  
  Mr Lee was speaking to reporters at the Lunar New Year light-up ceremony in Chinatown on Saturday evening.
  
  On the buoyant property market, Mr Lee said that Singaporeans cannot assume it will continue going up.
  
  He added that the government is confident that things are under control.
  
  On whether Singapore will achieve 3 or 4 per cent economic growth this year, Mr Lee said it will depend on how well things turn out.
  
  He was also asked about the Economic Strategies Committee report.
  
  Mr Lee did not want to give details but said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam will release the report on February 1. - CNA/ms

• charlize

  23 Jan 10, 23:14

  So that ordinary folks won't ask for higher salaries this year.

   

  On a related note, GDP will probably grow by x% this year and ministers deserve a pay raise of another 100%.

• I-like-flings(m)

  24 Jan 10, 00:08

  when is he going to donate all his salary to charity leh? really knn...

• Chew Bakar

  24 Jan 10, 00:13

  Originally posted by I-like-flings(m):

  when is he going to donate all his salary to charity leh? really knn...

  possible?

• caleb_chiang

  24 Jan 10, 05:33

  Well, who was the one who say economy going down?

  And which sector gave 6 months bonus (or what I heard) and suddenly the straits time says bonus looking good?

  有他们说没我们说�。。。。

• Miracles&Prophecies

  24 Jan 10, 06:46

  So you got it folks that how well ther econpomy is going depends on how things turn out not depending on your leaders . . . . there's nothing special about your leaders to justifiy multi million dollar salary . . . .which is simply legitimized corruption
• Rock^Star

  24 Jan 10, 10:52

  now my question is: so what if we get carried away? Carried away means what? lol

• noahnoah

  24 Jan 10, 10:54

   

  he always cant decide e le

  every 3 months or so

  sure change one

• annoy-you-must

  24 Jan 10, 10:57

  Recovery? What recovery?

• Chew Bakar

  24 Jan 10, 14:06

  Recovery for a salary raise for their hardship during the difficult times.

  

• sunnytv

  24 Jan 10, 14:24

  I think he & his party are the one who get carried away by recovery. With million $ salary, confirmed recover 1000 times faster than ordinary people.

   

   

• Fantagf

  24 Jan 10, 14:27

  Originally posted by sunnytv:

  I think he & his party are the one who get carried away by recovery. With million $ salary, confirmed recover 1000 times faster than ordinary people.

   

   

  
  Yes, i agree.

  They are the ones who talk about recession not over and next moment talk about recovery.    Can't decide what they want.

• Chew Bakar

  24 Jan 10, 14:28

  Originally posted by sunnytv:

  I think he & his party are the one who get carried away by recovery. With million $ salary, confirmed recover 1000 times faster than ordinary people.

   

   

  They will tell you those millions are not enuf to have a pool to soak their aching feet.

  

• Chew Bakar

  24 Jan 10, 14:35

  expect no hand out.

  

• Fantagf

  24 Jan 10, 16:34

  Does not matter whether there is pay out for us.  What is most important is there must be sufficient $$$$$$$$$$$$$ for them to raise their own salary.  Now they are paying themselves world class salary, I wonder what is the next level/grade of the range of salary they are going to pay themselves.

• caleb_chiang

  24 Jan 10, 19:58

  Wonder if it is the SG treasury or their own?

• Chew Bakar

  24 Jan 10, 21:51

  Originally posted by caleb_chiang:

  Wonder if it is the SG treasury or their own?

  What's the difference?

  

• likeyou

  27 Jan 10, 13:59

  No hand out is ok.

  But give more rebates.

• Fantagf

  27 Jan 10, 15:03

  Originally posted by likeyou:

  No hand out is ok.

  But give more rebates.

  
  TKK

• Chew Bakar

  27 Jan 10, 17:22

  wait long long..

  

• Fantagf

  27 Jan 10, 17:25

  Ya lor, will be thankful if they cut down asking us for money.  Not expecting them to give anything.  Remember, they give you more, they take more or all from you.

• Chew Bakar

  27 Jan 10, 17:28

  Just pray hard they not to increase every damn bills and whatever new ones.

  Won't dare to dream of rebates or such.

  

• Fantagf

  27 Jan 10, 17:32

  Originally posted by Chew Bakar:

  Just pray hard they not to increase every damn bills and whatever new ones.

  Won't dare to dream of rebates or such.

  

  
  Think this is not possible.

  I only hope they don't overcharged.   Starhuh overcharged  me , claimed I did not pay bill.  overcharged still got the cheek to keep calling me to pay. 

• Chew Bakar

  28 Jan 10, 01:20

  Originally posted by Fantagf:

  
  Think this is not possible.

  I only hope they don't overcharged.   Starhuh overcharged  me , claimed I did not pay bill.  overcharged still got the cheek to keep calling me to pay. 

  Yes, they do overcharge from time to time. Giro and they love it.

• Fantagf

  28 Jan 10, 01:23

  Originally posted by Chew Bakar:

  Yes, they do overcharge from time to time. Giro and they love it.

  
  Now they told me they only focus on the internet bill,  leave the overcharged cable bill aside.   Despite the fact that I kept telling them i have paid they insist I still owe them .

  I am tempted to ask them -   "is starhub overcharging to cover up the losses made by Temasak Holding?"