ST March 29, 2008This is a little sad. The government's best idea for helping Singaporeans cope with inflation is - nothing, really.
SM signals a lid on govt fees for now
By Ravi Velloor
NEW DELHI - SINGAPORE may postpone increases in government charges as an inflation-taming measure.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong disclosed this yesterday in response to media queries on what steps the Government could take to alleviate the impact of rising prices.
He said: 'Government fees, although their going up is justified, may be restrained for a few months, postponing the increases to next year or so.
'Where it is within our control, we will try to do what we can.'
Mr Goh was speaking to the Singapore media at a press conference wrapping up a five-day visit to India.
Consumer price inflation in Singapore hit 6.5 per cent last month from a year ago. In particular, food prices have gone up sharply.
That's right. The government's plan is just not to raise its own fees. It won't raise fees and it won't lower fees - it will leave the fees exactly as they currently are.
In other words, the government will do nothing.
Well, brilliant idea *clap, clap, clap, clap*. I wish someone would pay me a multi-million dollar salary for coming up with ideas that revolve around the concept of doing nothing.