Look, we all know life in Singapore isn’t cheap. Prices going up, bills piling up—it’s enough to make anyone feel the squeeze. But Prime Minister Lawrence Wong came out on March 3, 2025, in his Budget debate speech, to assure us that the government’s still got our backs.
He went straight to addressing the big elephant in the room—cost of living—and showing us why the GST hike isn’t the big bad wolf some make it out to be.
GST Hike? Not the End of the World
Let’s be real—nobody likes hearing “GST increase.” When it went from 7% to 9% over the last two years, plenty of us felt the pain. Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh, even said it’s “turbocharging inflation.” But PM Wong shut that down fast. He pointed out that inflation’s been dropping—yes, dropping—since the GST went up. Consumer Price Index shows it’s not the GST pushing prices up like crazy. It’s those global affairs—wars, supply chain cock-ups, all that jazz. We’re a small dot, everything we eat, use, buy, almost all imported. So, of course, we would be whacked by the world’s problems.
But here’s the thing—PM Wong didn’t just shrug and tell us “bopian”. He reminded us about the Assurance Package, that safety net they rolled out to soften the GST blow. Most of us won’t even feel it for years, and lower-income families get extra cushioning. Now with Budget 2025, he’s throwing in more goodies like the SG60 package. Special cash vouchers, more help for everyone—sounds like a government that’s trying, not just sitting there collecting tax.
Inflation’s a Global Problem
PM Wong was damn candid about this: inflation isn’t some Singapore-made monster. It’s a worldwide headache, thanks to COVID, wars, and whatever else is messing up supply chains. He said it plain and simple—“no country spared.” Back when COVID was still making us all stay home and hoard toilet paper, we didn’t even know how long that chaos would last. Prices shot up everywhere, not just here.
But instead of pointing fingers or crying victim, the government got to work. They beefed up the Assurance Package over the years, and now they’re adding more measures to ease the squeeze. That’s not blind optimism—that’s planning ahead while we’re all still figuring out this new normal.
I mean, think about it. We’re not some big country that can grow our own food or drill our own oil. We import almost everything. So when the world sneezes, we catch the cold. But PM Wong’s saying, “Okay, we’ll pass you the tissue and some Panadol also.” That’s the kind of leadership we need, right?
Opposition Can Talk, But Actions Speak Louder
Okay lah, I get it—opposition MPs like Pritam Singh made some good points. They’re worried about cost of living too, and they’re asking why GST had to go up when inflation’s already hitting us. It is fair, it’s their job to poke holes. But PM Wong didn’t just dodge the question. He explained that the GST hike wasn’t some random “let’s make life harder” move. It’s about keeping Singapore steady for the long haul. Without it, we’d be staring at deficits—less money for healthcare, schools, HDB upgrades, all the stuff we take for granted.
And, the government’s not just collecting tax and laughing all the way to the bank. They’re giving back—CDC vouchers, SG60 payouts, extra help for the needy. Compare that to some countries where people are still waiting for relief that never comes. Here, we grumble, but at least we see the action. Opposition can talk about “turbocharging inflation” all they want, but PM Wong’s got the data and the plan to back him up.
SG60 Package: A Little Thank You for Sticking Together
Oh, and that SG60 package? It’s like a big “thank you, for being part of this little red dot” from the government. More cash vouchers, more support—it’s not just about surviving the GST hike; it’s about celebrating 60 years of us making it work together. PM Wong said they’ll keep doing what’s needed to help us through tough times, for as long as it takes. These are not empty promises—that’s a government that knows we’re all in this together.
They’re Not Blind to Our Struggles
At the end of the day, PM Wong’s message was clear: they hear us lah. Cost of living isn’t just some small issue they sweep under the carpet. He knows it’s tough for families, and he’s not pretending otherwise. But instead of panicking or delaying hard choices, he’s steering the ship with a steady hand. The GST hike, the extra support, the focus on global pressures—it’s all part of a bigger plan to keep Singapore strong, not just for now but for our kids and grandkids.
So yeah, life’s not cheap, and nobody’s saying it’s all rainbows and unicorns. But with PM Wong and the government on the case, it feels like we’re not facing this alone. They’re not perfect, but they’re damn well trying. And in a world that’s going a bit haywire, that’s more than good enough for me.
