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updated 11 Mar 2013, 13:11
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Mon, Mar 11, 2013
The Straits Times
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Baby bonus? Look into costs instead: Chiam

THEY were fighting words from a man so frail, his voice quavered as he threw down the gauntlet.

'Singapore's birth rate continues to decline despite the Government's special tax incentives, such as the baby bonus schemes,' Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir) said yesterday. 'As usual, the PAP practice is simply throwing money at the problem and encouraging more foreigners to fill the gap. Little attention is paid to the accompanying social consequences.'

It was a resolute attack not only in its content, but also in the valiant way Mr Chiam fought to speak his mind.

He paused often, searching for the next word to say. He had missed his assigned cue to speak but the Speaker of the House gave him extra time.

As he struggled to rise from his chair, his neighbour, Dr Lee Boon Yang (Jalan Besar GRC), a former minister, moved to assist him.

But his physical weakness, the result of a stroke he had suffered in February 2008, did not stop Mr Chiam from driving an incisive critique home.

The real reasons why Singapore's total fertility rate had dropped to 1.23 - among the lowest worldwide - were high costs in housing, education and childcare, job insecurity and long work hours, he argued.

His alternatives were: To change attitudes towards unwed mothers, boost social safety nets and control costs.

'As long as things continue to worsen for families in the form of high cost of living or taxes, there will be an imbalance,' Mr Chiam said. 'A more integrated and holistic approach is required.'

He added that Singapore should take lessons from Sweden and France, two countries which have reversed declining fertility trends.

One of Mr Chiam's suggestions, that of increased incentives for couples seeking fertility treatment such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), was shared by Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC), who suggested that the first course of IVF treatment be fully paid for by the Government.

Beginning in August 2008, the Government introduced a $3,000 subsidy for up to three IVF cycles carried out in public hospitals. As of February last year , public hospitals charged around $7,000 to $10,000 per IVF cycle.

Mr Seah quoted statistics, reported by The Straits Times last year, which found the number of women undergoing IVF rose 40 per cent to 50 per cent in the months after the subsidy, compared to the same period in 2007.

Apart from enhanced maternity leave and introducing paternity leave, Mr Seah suggested giving couples who are planning to start a family higher priority in applying for Housing Board flats.

The Government could also raise the number of university places for Singaporeans. 'Many of us worry about our children as they near 18 years old,' Mr Seah said. 'Why not aim for at least 30 per cent of Singaporean children having a place in a Singaporean university?'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

readers' comments


I propose to honour Chiam.

He will be buried as A Singapore Hero and should give him a Singapore National Ceremonial Parade.
Posted by wibi91 on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 at 07:36 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by BulliedWorker
Spot on comment...the main reason people are not reproducing is that they do not feel safe bringing the next generation into this world without securing basic needs like affordable homes,family time and a secured job. I have friends who are profesionals in their 30s who are still having problems getting a decent home to start a family,not choosy but just plainly can't afford to pay the high price of a home. They are still staying with the in-laws.When Mah Bow Tan commented that the take-up rate of BTO HDBs are very low did he try to get HDB to find out the reason why the applicants do not want what they have built? An organization that use "build it and they will come" mentality would not survive in a normal free market.For the price that HDB sells its flat one would be .....
Posted by commonpeople on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 at 07:20 AM


I agree..............we need a change in Singapore.
Posted by wibi91 on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 at 07:00 AM
Spot on comment...the main reason people are not reproducing is that they do not feel safe bringing the next generation into this world without securing basic needs like affordable homes,family time and a secured job. I have friends who are profesionals in their 30s who are still having problems getting a decent home to start a family,not choosy but just plainly can't afford to pay the high price of a home. They are still staying with the in-laws.When Mah Bow Tan commented that the take-up rate of BTO HDBs are very low did he try to get HDB to find out the reason why the applicants do not want what they have built? An organization that use "build it and they will come" mentality would not survive in a normal free market.For the price that HDB sells its flat one would be able to get much better quality somewhere else.When .....
Posted by BulliedWorker on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 at 05:36 AM




The Way I See It:


Your expectation is only want the govt to ensure your children can only study in local universities?

Like that SG where got hope? :D
Posted by ILostMyBall on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 at 01:54 AM
Before we talk about have more babies, there are some issues that needs attentions. Can the Gov ensure that our children will have a place in the local universities if they qualify? Can the baby bonus cover the cost of going to local Uni? If can't then what the point of having more? Remember, if we can't ensure our children anything then we shouldn't have more.
Posted by bigfitter on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 at 01:06 AM
Dear AsiaOne

First of all I like to commend Dr. Lee Boon Yang for helping Mr. Chiam to his feet to speak on the declining fertility rate issue. This is the decent thing to do by any decent human being - to help an old man to his feet even if he is from the opposition party!

When we assigned a $ amount to the cost of giving birth to a child and educating/nurturing/developing him or her to 21-year old, an age when I considered they should be independent, the number can be very big indeed.

It is very likely to exceed whatever baby bonuses or whatever other incentives that the government had thrown at the problem.

This is the crux of the issue. The incentive is SIMPLY just NOT attractive enough!!

Since we .....
Posted by lukeehong on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 at 23:56 PM
Mr Chiam...salute to you...how I should there are more MP like you............able to see the real problem and give valuable solution.
Posted by 73laowgt on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 at 22:46 PM
chiam is extremely right with the message: 'As usual, the PAP practice is simply throwing money at the problem and encouraging more foreigners to fill the gap. Little attention is paid to the accompanying social consequences.'

Let's see how the public agree with this when it comes to next election.
Posted by ItsMyView on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 at 21:22 PM


The current elite team is planning to cleanse this good man and also replacing us w/low class FT's, PR's and FW's.

How if we replace our current leaders w/ a much better leader like Chiam?
Posted by wibi91 on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 at 21:15 PM

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