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https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Inflation/Singapore-Malaysia-Indonesia-unleash-cash-to-ease-inflation-bite?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20220706123000&seq_num=2&si=44594 Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia unleash cash to ease inflation bite Governments attempt to balance political pressures with fiscal discipline A woman shops at a supermarket in Singapore. Food prices have surged in Southeast Asia. (Photo by Takashi Nakano) TAKASHI NAKANO, Nikkei staff writerJuly 6, 2022 04:34 JST SINGAPORE -- Southeast Asian governments have started to roll out another round of economic relief packages to help citizens stay afloat in difficult economic times, but this time the funding is targeting the fallout from inflation instead of COVID-19. Across the region, people are struggling to make ends meet as the Ukraine war as well as persistent supply chain disruptions have driven up the prices of everyday items. With several countries getting ready to hold elections in the next 18 months, officials have made moves to disperse cash before people vote with their wallets. Singapore has announced a stimulus measure worth 1.5 billion Singapore dollars ($1.07 billion) that assists households and small businesses. Individuals earning SG$34,000 or less a year will receive as much as SG$300 in August. Taxi drivers and couriers struggling with high fuel prices will receive payments between SG$150 and SG$300. All households will also receive a SG$100 utility credit. In addition, the government will provide financial subsidies for small and midsized food manufacturers and retailers that adopt fuel-efficient equipment. In Malaysia, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said households in the bottom 40% income bracket will receive payments of 100 ringgit ($22.65) while individuals in that same bracket will receive 50-ringgit payments. Relief payments will total 630 million ringgit, benefiting 8.6 million people. The government also froze hikes on electricity and water fees on June 24. The Thai government has granted a three-month extension to ongoing relief measures, which will now run until September. Assistance includes cooking gas subsidies for low-income people. In Indonesia, the cash payments are being directed to roughly 20 million households and 2.5 million street food vendors in response to surging cooking oil prices. These measures come amid historically high inflation rates. Thailand's consumer prices rose 7.66% in June from a year earlier, marking a 14-year high. Singapore's consumer prices in May jumped 5.6%, the fastest pace in more than 10 years. "The support measures in this package are tilted toward helping our lower-income and vulnerable groups, because they are the ones who are disproportionately impacted by the effects of inflation," Lawrence Wong, Singapore's minister of finance and deputy prime minister, said when announcing the support package last month. There is also a political wrinkle to the relief measures. Malaysia and Thailand will hold general elections by the end of 2023. Governments often take the blame for inflation and the lower quality of living that can come with it. Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri said last month that the price caps on chicken that were due to expire in July will be kept in place to "safeguard the interests" of the Malaysian people. In Singapore, Wong has been appointed as the successor of the current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. As such, Wong is leading the relief rollout. "You have my word that if the situation worsens significantly, we will be prepared to do more, especially to provide targeted help for the lower-income groups," Wong told lawmakers on Monday. However, the additional relief packages risk damaging national finances already strained by the pandemic response. Some countries have already begun to show signs of lax fiscal discipline. Last year, Thailand raised the cap on government debt to 70% of gross domestic product from 60%. That same year, Malaysia raised the debt ceiling to 65% of GDP from 60%. "Southeast Asian countries have relatively low shares of debt that are denominated in foreign currencies, so there will be no problems in terms of short-term funding," said Hiromasa Matsuura, senior economist at Mizuho Research & Technologies. "However, interest rates are expected to rise, so care needs to be taken toward additional fiscal burdens." The Thai baht has sunk to a five-and-a-half-year low against the U.S. dollar. Concerns over economic stagnation caused by inflation, as well as over deteriorating fiscal conditions, could lead to a weaker currency and accelerated capital outflows. Singapore plans to fund its SG$1.5 billion economic relief package with additional tax revenue. The government has committed to go ahead with plans to hike the national sales tax on next year and in 2024, despite inflationary pressures. According to Malaysia's 2023 budget proposal released last month, the financial subsidies will not be universal. Instead, the government is set to take a "more targeted approach" that focuses on vulnerable income level groups. A prolong conflict between Russia and Ukraine may lead to long-term high food and energy prices. Those least able to weather these trends are becoming increasingly impatient. "A single cash payment is not going to erase my struggles," said Latifah Ismaill, a janitor in Singapore.

Has anyone used this pressure relief mattress? https://www.qoo10.com/item/BION-ANTI-BEDSORE-MATTRESS-2-5-INCH-4-INCH/489831980 It's the beige coloured one 2.5 inches thick I'm interested in. I'm trying to find out if the air pump is noisy and if the mattress actually works? Also I've guessed how it might relieve pressure but am not sure if my ideas are correct.

Hmmm how come our gahment so neow

http://www.divaasia.com/article/18126

SINGAPORE: From April 1, Singaporeans returning from overseas and tourists can enjoy more Goods and Services Tax (GST) relief. Those who spend more than 48 hours abroad will be able to enjoy GST relief of up to S$600 - double the current amount of S$300.

 The Singapore Customs said the amount has been revised upwards to keep pace with rising expenditures, and brings the relief amounts closer to international norms.

 Those who are away from Singapore for less than 48 hours can get GST relief for goods valued up to S$150.

 Customs will also do away with the age criterion for GST relief claims. Currently, the GST relief depends on the traveller's age, in addition to the time he spends outside Singapore.

 Those below 18 years old currently claim a lower amount for GST relief.

 The new GST relief will apply to all travellers, including children, with the exception of pass/permit holders and crew members.

 All goods brought into Singapore for local use or consumption are subject to GST of seven per cent.

 To minimise inconvenience to travellers bringing a small amount of goods into Singapore for personal use, they are granted GST relief based on the value of goods they bring in. Such goods include new articles, souvenirs, gifts or food items.

 The GST relief does not apply to liquor, tobacco products, petroleum and goods imported for commercial purposes.

-CNA/ac Currently, no GST relief is given to those, such as day tripper to JB, who usually spent less than 24 hrs away from SG if he is below 18 years old. For day-tripper who are 18 years old & above, gets a GST relief for goods up to S$50. With the new rule to be implemented in Apr, day-tripper to Malaysia/Batam who spent less than 48 hrs away from SG, will get a GST relief for goods up to S$150 regardless of the age. Thus, for a family of 4 on a day trip to JB, the total relief will be S$600, which means a family of 4 can bring back more than RM1400 worth of goods from MY wef 1 Apr. Will this result in Singaporean making more shopping trips across the causeway? And also more traffic jams at the checkpoints?

Dear All Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery 88 Recycling in conjuction with Firefly Mission are appealing to members of public in requesting for items stipulated below for victims hit by Cyclone Nargis - Myanmar . Firefly Mission of 7 volunteers will be leaving for Myanmar on 17th May 2008 (Saturday) for relief work. We will be assisting in collecting and packing the following needed items to assist them in their Humanitarian Relief efforts. We need the following latest by 16 May 2008 for the Silk Air flight. 1) Biscuits/Can Food- immediate 3) Rice - continuous 4) medicine - immediate - preferably in commercial packing a) Paracetamol - 50 x 2,000 b) lomotil - 10 x 2000 c) Mefenamic acid - 2,000 d) Dicofenac (50mg) - 25 x 100e) Amocil - 2,000 f) Ampicillin tab - 2,000 g) Ciprobay tabb - 50 x 200 h) Oral dehydration salt - 20 x 100i) Multivit tab - 20 x 2,000 j) Chlorpheniramine tab - 10 x 2,000 k) Surgical mask - as many as possible l) Surgical gloves - as many as possible m) Anti-septic hand wash - 100 bottles n) etc etc etc (useful items) Pls put the following Items to our 88 Recycling Kiosk at Kong Meng San in the bins Labeled 'Humanitarian Relief Myanmar'. With Metta http://www.kmspks.org/community/88kiosk/index.html Om Mani padme hung

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=86...652609281&hl=en 1) Never signal, suddenly want to cut to a 'moving' lane. 2) Then panic signal right want to cut back in again. 3) Taxi never got chance to give way. 4) Big rubbish truck charging down on lane 3. Phew....a chain accidents could have happened if a) The taxi jam brake and I will bang into taxi b) The taxi swerved into lane3 and slow to a stop, the rubbish truck will ram into taxi. c) The suzuki could have swerved back into lane 1 causing accident. So many possibilities turning wrong.....but with god's grace....all is peaceful and well for everyone on the road today! P.S. Lady driver in Suzuki!