During the recent MP’s Unplugged session on Saturday, February 18, the YP team got up close and personal with two of our MP’s in a 2-hour informal chat session. This is the first for the Young PAP Political Discussions committee holding such an event to lend a light-hearted touch to politics. Let us take a look at some of the interesting facts and quotes which MP Zaqy Mohamad and MP Dr Intan Azura left us with.

1. Mr Zaqy loves playing sports since his schooling days. He was an avid rugby player and now plays football during his free time.
   

   Zaqy in a game of soccer

2. Dr Intan got married at the young age of 22 and loves reading books and collecting stamps during her school days.
   

   Dr Intan with her children

3. Dr Intan’s big dream is to set up a school for underprivileged children.
4. Mr Zaqy misses spending time with his family and spends what little free time he has with them. He grew up in a 4-room flat in the Whampoa area.
   

   Zaqy's Family

5. Dr Intan enjoys traveling with her family and is blessed with three children.
   

   Dr Intan and her children

YP Activists from our Chong Pang branch organised an internationally- renowned, Southeast Asia’s Biggest Street Dance Battle in January 2012.

To catch some of the pre-grooving action, click on the link below to see some head-turning dance moves and sleek dance action, click on the YouTube video link below.

The Patron for the event was Law Minister, K Shanmugam. View the speech here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQNtQW5m3_0&feature=youtu.be

Click here for dance video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxvxefecxyw&feature=player_embedded

For business owners, the Budget also saw more help given to them. In particular, the measures are expected to significantly aid SMEs in their business models to maximise productivity. To combat the shortage of workers and to restructure the economy, four key measures the government has implemented include:

1)Special Employment Credit
To encourage businesses to employ older Singaporeans

2)Enhance Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) Scheme
To encourage businesses to invest in innovative and productive  ventures

3)Enhance existing schemes
To increase support for existing SMEs, support SME upgrading and productivity

4) One off SME cash grants
Pegged at 5% of a company’s revenue of up to $5000

More information about the Budget can be accessed via this weblink: http://app.singaporebudget.gov.sg/budget_2012/default.aspx

Adapted from MyPaper/AsiaOne, 20 Feb 2012

Middle-income earners in Singapore may not have been the target group whose needs the Government seemed most concerned about in this year’s Budget.

But analysts say that they still stand to reap benefits from what is being disbursed. This is because their key concerns – which typically revolve around their ability to provide health care for their elderly parents and for their children’s educational needs – have been dealt with indirectly.

The Government had already extended subsidies significantly for preschool children. Last year, it raised the income ceiling for families who could claim the payments from $1,800 to $3,500. This year, it will go further by introducing a new per-capita- household-income criterion for subsidies.

Link to full story: http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20120220-328929.html

Adapted from TODAY news, 1 March 2012

Mr Tharman addressed the concerns over the Government’s S$1.1b investment on buses, saying it is a subsidy for public transport commuters, not operators.

The money is meant to step up bus service levels beyond what is currently required of transport operators. Without the Government stepping in, raising service levels would only have been achievable if fares are raised significantly, said Mr Tharman.

He said: “If operators were to achieve service level improvements on their own, fares would have to go up 12 to 13 per cent.”

He added that the Government would be monitoring operators’ losses on new buses, and funding will be reduced accordingly if losses are lower than expected.