Data Used to Ascertain Cause Resonating with Singaporeans for Pilot Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction Scheme
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the data used to determine that overseas emergency humanitarian assistance resonates with Singaporeans for the pilot Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction Scheme (OHAS). Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang inquired about the specific surveys or data justifying the focus on this cause rather than a broader range of causes. Minister Edwin Tong Chun Fai explained that the scheme’s scope balances encouraging overseas giving with ensuring the local charity sector receives sufficient support. He cited substantial donations to recent crises, including over $3 million for Türkiye-Syria earthquake relief and $8.1 million for the Israel-Hamas conflict, as evidence of resonance. The Government will monitor giving trends and assess the OHAS at the end of its four-year pilot period.
Transcript
16 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth what data or surveys does the Ministry use to ascertain that overseas emergency humanitarian assistance is a cause which resonates with many Singaporeans, rather than a broader range of causes for the pilot run of the Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction Scheme.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: In our previous reply to Mr Louis Ng on the Parliamentary Question regarding the Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction Scheme, or OHAS, at the 14 October 2024 Parliament Sitting, we highlighted that the OHAS was scoped to overseas humanitarian assistance, in order to strike a balance between encouraging overseas giving while ensuring that our local charity sector continues to receive the necessary support. Overseas humanitarian assistance is also a cause that resonates with many Singaporeans.
We have observed generous donations towards overseas emergency humanitarian assistance causes. Singaporeans gave generously to recent crises, such as the relief efforts following the devasting earthquake in Türkiye and Syria last year, as well as the outpour of donations in response to the tragedy arising from the Israel-Hamas conflict. Singapore Red Cross Society raised over $3 million in under a week to support relief efforts in the aftermath of the Türkiye and Syria earthquake. Similarly, the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation Limited raised over $8.1 million in under a month to support those affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict. Both registered charities had valid foreign fund-raising permits issued by the Commissioner of Charities for the period of their fund-raising appeals held last year.
The Government will assess the OHAS at the end of its four-year pilot. We will also continue to monitor the giving trends closely to balance our encouragement for overseas giving to relevant causes, while ensuring that our local charity sector continues to receive the necessary support it needs.