Does he deserve it?

Singapore Democratic Party
7 Apr 07

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong makes the claim that the PAP Government performs so well that he and his ministers must be paid salaries that most Singaporeans fight outrageous and unacceptable. Here's some facts and figures on what the PAP does for (some people argue, to) the people.

7,340 households were not able to pay their utility bills as of Sept 2005. (Channel News Asia, 20 Sep 05)

31,570 Singaporeans sought financial aid from the government in 2003. This was an increase of 40 percent from 2002 where 22,500 people sought assistance and 120 percent from 2001 (14,300). (Straits Times, 29 Jan 05)

17,000 families or individuals sought help from Family Service Centres due mainly to retrenchment and debt problems in 2003 - up 32 percent from 2002. (Straits Times, Jan 3, 2005)

37,823 households could not afford to buy their own flats or rent homes as of the end of 2004. (Straits Times, 29 Jan 05)

18 divorces take place on average in Singapore every single day in 2003! In 1993 there were only 2,313 divorces, in 2003 there were 6,561 cases - an increase of 180 percent. (http://www.getforme.com/previous2004/24...)

22,540 This is the number of un-discharged bankrupts as of August 2005 (Straits Times, 7 Nov 05)

150,000 credit cards were in default as of the end of 2003. (Straits Times, 7 Nov 05)

46 percent. This was the increase in the number of young people below 35 who were issued writs for overdue debt - from 5,019 in 2000 to 7,328 in 2003. (The New Paper, 24 Sep 03)

21,434 Singaporeans went bankrupt as of 31 December 2004 - the highest in Singapore's history. (Straits Times, 19 Jan 05) 4,190 people were made bankrupt in the first 11 months of 2004 - the highest number in 19 years. (Straits Times, 5 Jan 05)

1 Singaporean commits suicide everyday on the average. (AFP, 8 Sep 03)

70 percent of those who commit suicide in Singapore are between 20 and 49 years of age. They kill themselves mainly because of "financial commitments, having stress at work, caring for the elderly and the children at home." (AFP, 8 Sep 03)

1,692 dollars is the average monthly retirement income an average retired Singaporean will have – one of the lowest among 15 countries (including Australia, Canada, USA, Spain, Italy, Hong Kong and Japan) surveyed by AXA Insurance Group. Canada ranked first with $4,216. Yet, Singaporeans contribute the most to savings plans, that is, the CPF. (Today, 25 Feb 05)

85 percent of elderly Singaporeans feel that their lives would be worse five years down the road. This is up by 14 percent in 2000. (Today, 21 Jun 05)

54 percent of nearly 3,000 laid-off workers in the first quarter of 2004 were aged 40 and above. Those of you who are younger better think about this: 53 percent of Singapore's workforce will be 40 or older in five years' time. (The Star, 27 Feb 05)

14,000 children were seen by psychiatrists at the Institute of Mental Health, of which 2,233 were new cases. (Straits Times, Apr 02)