Proposal for Age-based Only Benefits Irrespective of Income and Housing Type in Majulah Package
Ministry of FinanceSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns proposals by Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng and Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui to include Majulah Package benefits based solely on age, rather than income or housing type. Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat replied that the package aims to enhance retirement and healthcare adequacy for citizens born on or before 31 December 1973. While the package prioritizes support for those with lower incomes and less wealth, Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat noted that the Ministry of Finance will consider including age-based criteria. Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng suggested learning from the inclusive design of the Pioneer and Merdeka Generation Packages, which offered MediSave top-ups and outpatient subsidies. Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat confirmed these suggestions would be considered as parameters are finalised for the Budget 2024 announcement.
Transcript
8 Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the Majulah Package for Singaporeans can be modified to include items for which only age, and not housing type and income, form the eligibility criteria.
9 Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the Majulah Package can be amended to encompass elements where sole age-based qualifications are applicable, excluding considerations of housing category and income.
The Senior Minister of State for Finance (Mr Chee Hong Tat) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to answer Question Nos 8 and 9 together?
Mr Speaker: Please go ahead.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Thank you. Sir, the Majulah Package is meant to boost the retirement and healthcare adequacy of Singapore Citizens who were born on 31 December 1973 or earlier.
The key segments we want to help are the “young seniors” who are now in their 50s and early 60s. They have benefited from Singapore’s economic growth and our investments in education, healthcare and social security. Hence, we have designed the Majulah Package to provide more support to those with lower incomes and less wealth.
Nevertheless, we recognise that there may be concerns that are common to all Singaporeans within this group. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) will therefore consider these suggestions by Ms Phua and Mr Edward Chia, as we finalise the parameters of the Majulah Package. Details on the Majulah Package will be announced in Budget 2024.
Mr Speaker: Ms Denise Phua.
Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Jalan Besar): I want to thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. Thank you also for being so positive in considering my inputs and hon Member Edward Chia's inputs.
The Majulah Package as it was announced at first, sounds like it is going to be means tested. And I can understand why because the state has limited resources. But like what Senior Minister of State just mentioned, there are some common needs amongst people of this age group, and therefore, I want to make a call to MOF to design the Majulah Package to be more like the Merdeka and the Pioneer Packages, which are very well designed and very inclusive. It had overall cash payouts, MediSave top-ups, outpatient subsidies and even health screening. I understand that you may not be able to design it totally like the previous packages, but I thought that we could learn more from the lessons from the design of these two earlier packages, for consideration.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Mr Speaker, I thank Ms Phua for her suggestions and MOF will certainly consider her suggestions as we design the Majulah Package.