Special Goodwill Transport Vouchers in View of Lower Oil Prices

Debated in Parliament on 13 Feb 2015.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Mr Gan Thiam Poh suggested extending special transport vouchers or fare rebates to all Singaporeans, particularly the Pioneer Generation, to commemorate SG50 and due to low oil prices.
The Minister for Transport replied that the Public Transport Fund would issue 250,000 vouchers worth $30 to needy families, using $7.5 million of the $13.5 million contributed by transport operators.
Mr Gan further proposed making all Singaporeans shareholders of public transport companies to share in profits and savings, similar to past Singtel special shares, for SG50.
The Minister noted that the shareholder proposal falls outside the Transport Ministry’s scope but would be raised with the Minister for Finance for consideration.
The debate highlighted both targeted support for needy families and broader ideas for national celebration through shared benefits from public transport assets.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Gan Thiam Poh

Mr Gan Thiam Poh askedthe Minister for Transport whether the public transport operators (PTOs) will consider extending a special transport voucher to all Singaporeans especially the Pioneer Generation, in commemoration of SG50 and/or extending a special fare rebate to all commuters due to the current low oil prices.

The Minister for Transport (Mr Lui Tuck Yew)

Mdm Speaker, I thank the Member for the suggestion. It is also one that Mr Seng Han Thong had separately raised to me earlier. As part of the 2014 Fare Review Exercise, the two public transport operators will contribute $13.5 million to the Public Transport Fund. We intend to use up to $7.5 million from this Fund to provide 250,000 Public Transport Vouchers of $30 value to needy families for this fare exercise.

The Government also has plans for the remaining amount in the Public Transport Fund and we will announce the details when we are ready to do so.

Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol)

I thank the Minister for the positive reply. I think we are all aware that Singapore public transport is heavily subsidised by the Government. My thinking is that since it is heavily subsidised, and actually there are profits made by the transport companies and there are also savings there, would the Ministry perhaps consider making all Singaporeans as shareholders of these public transport companies, so that they get to share in the savings, especially for this year, which is the 50th year of Singapore's Independence (SG50)?

I think we had done that in the past via the issuing of Singtel Special Shares. Perhaps, the Government may consider that to celebrate SG50 and to thank all Singaporeans for their support this year, the understanding that they have shown, their support of the transport operators, especially in the past two years, and for the inconvenience that some of them have to go through.

Mdm Speaker

Mdm Speaker : Mr Gan, can you please put your question?

Gan Thiam Poh

Okay. Thank you.

Lui Tuck Yew

Mdm Speaker, let me thank the Member for his suggestion which is to make all Singaporeans shareholders in the company. I am afraid that this is something that goes beyond the ambit of the Ministry of Transport, but I will raise this matter to the

Page: 20

Minister for Finance and let him consider this in his own good time.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Mr Gan Thiam Poh suggested extending special transport vouchers or fare rebates to all Singaporeans, particularly the Pioneer Generation, to commemorate SG50 and due to low oil prices.
The Minister for Transport replied that the Public Transport Fund would issue 250,000 vouchers worth $30 to needy families, using $7.5 million of the $13.5 million contributed by transport operators.
Mr Gan further proposed making all Singaporeans shareholders of public transport companies to share in profits and savings, similar to past Singtel special shares, for SG50.
The Minister noted that the shareholder proposal falls outside the Transport Ministry’s scope but would be raised with the Minister for Finance for consideration.
The debate highlighted both targeted support for needy families and broader ideas for national celebration through shared benefits from public transport assets.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Special Goodwill Transport Vouchers in View of Lower Oil Prices | PAPERCUTS

Special Goodwill Transport Vouchers in View of Lower Oil Prices

Debated in Parliament on 13 Feb 2015.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Mr Gan Thiam Poh suggested extending special transport vouchers or fare rebates to all Singaporeans, particularly the Pioneer Generation, to commemorate SG50 and due to low oil prices.
The Minister for Transport replied that the Public Transport Fund would issue 250,000 vouchers worth $30 to needy families, using $7.5 million of the $13.5 million contributed by transport operators.
Mr Gan further proposed making all Singaporeans shareholders of public transport companies to share in profits and savings, similar to past Singtel special shares, for SG50.
The Minister noted that the shareholder proposal falls outside the Transport Ministry’s scope but would be raised with the Minister for Finance for consideration.
The debate highlighted both targeted support for needy families and broader ideas for national celebration through shared benefits from public transport assets.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Gan Thiam Poh

The Minister for Transport (Mr Lui Tuck Yew)

The Government also has plans for the remaining amount in the Public Transport Fund and we will announce the details when we are ready to do so.

Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol)

Mdm Speaker

Mdm Speaker : Mr Gan, can you please put your question?

Gan Thiam Poh

Okay. Thank you.

Lui Tuck Yew

Page: 20

Minister for Finance and let him consider this in his own good time.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Mr Gan Thiam Poh suggested extending special transport vouchers or fare rebates to all Singaporeans, particularly the Pioneer Generation, to commemorate SG50 and due to low oil prices.
The Minister for Transport replied that the Public Transport Fund would issue 250,000 vouchers worth $30 to needy families, using $7.5 million of the $13.5 million contributed by transport operators.
Mr Gan further proposed making all Singaporeans shareholders of public transport companies to share in profits and savings, similar to past Singtel special shares, for SG50.
The Minister noted that the shareholder proposal falls outside the Transport Ministry’s scope but would be raised with the Minister for Finance for consideration.
The debate highlighted both targeted support for needy families and broader ideas for national celebration through shared benefits from public transport assets.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Special Goodwill Transport Vouchers in View of Lower Oil Prices

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Gan Thiam Poh

The Minister for Transport (Mr Lui Tuck Yew)

Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol)

Mdm Speaker

Gan Thiam Poh

Lui Tuck Yew

Summary

Questions Identified

Special Goodwill Transport Vouchers in View of Lower Oil Prices

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Gan Thiam Poh

The Minister for Transport (Mr Lui Tuck Yew)

Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol)

Mdm Speaker

Gan Thiam Poh

Lui Tuck Yew

Summary

Questions Identified