I APPLAUD the Government's plan to subsidise Singaporeans who wish to study part-time. This will help working adults like myself pursue a post-graduate course and alleviate the financial burden of supporting a family at the same time.

Fees for such courses range from $22,000 to as much as $45,000. A subsidy will go a long way in helping working adults like myself.

Sng Choon Kwee

Budget surplus can cover rise in GST

THE Finance Ministry's estimate of a $0.7-billion deficit for last year was off the mark by a factor of 10 because Singapore ended the year with a $6.4-billion surplus.

The surplus could have covered the $1.4 billion generated by the increase in GST if a more realistic Budget was planned. Even if the unprecedented $2.3-billion gain in stamp duty due to the sizzling property market was factored in, we would still have had a $2.7-billion surplus if we did not increase the GST.

Malek Ali

Thanks for helping SMEs

SMALL and medium-sized (SME) businesses account for 92 per cent of all enterprises, and employ more than half of Singapore's working population.

We are delighted with the new tax incentive to grant special allowances for fixtures and fittings, which will benefit SMEs in the services sector, and a liberalising of the Start-Up Tax Exemption Scheme which will encourage entrepreneurship.

Penelope Phoon (Ms)
Country Head, ACCA Singapore

Live coverage of Budget debate?

WHEN I was in Perth last year, a radio station aired the Australian Budget debate live. Can MediaCorp do likewise with Singapore's upcoming Budget debate?

Retnam Thillainathan