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7,700 Singaporeans received inaccurate CHAS subsidies due to software error: MOH SINGAPORE: An error in the computer system administered by NCS caused about 7,700 individuals to receive inaccurate healthcare and intermediate- and long-term care subsidies, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Saturday (Feb 16). The affected individuals are among those whose applications or renewals of their Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) cards were processed from Sep 18 to Oct 10 last year. The error arose in the computer system when it calculated means-test results. The means-test system calculates the healthcare subsidies which individuals are eligible for, based on their income information. Healthcare subsidies are means-tested so that greater financial support is extended to lower-income households. "The means-test and subsidy tiers for all affected individuals have been corrected by Feb 16, 2019,” MOH said. MOH said no proactive action is required on the part of the affected people at this point. The ministry added that it is working closely with healthcare service providers and scheme administrators to reach out to those affected. “About 1,300 individuals who received lower subsidies will have the difference reimbursed to them. “Another 6,400 individuals received higher subsidies due to the error but will not need to return the additional subsidies disbursed,” MOH added. MOH said that it intends to recover from NCS the costs and expenses incurred as a result of this incident, as allowed for under their contract. The first case of discrepancy in the means-test results of a CHAS cardholder was detected by the CHAS processing team on Sep 24, 2018 and NCS was alerted immediately, MOH said. “The issue was initially attributed to intermittent network connection problems. Five more cases were subsequently detected between Oct 9 and Nov 2, and a more thorough investigation was initiated,” added the health ministry. In late November, NCS traced the root cause of the discrepancies to a software version issue on a server used by the means-test system when it was migrated to another government data centre in September. “This resulted in the means-test results being computed without the requisite income information. NCS further discovered that their deployment team had in fact fixed the software version issue earlier on Oct 10, 2018 in response to an unrelated slow performance issue. “This stopped further cases of errors but it did not correct the means-test results that had been generated from Sep 18, 2018 to Oct 10, 2018,” MOH said. CORRECT SUBSIDY TIERS RESTORED BY FEB 16 MOH said that it worked with NCS from December to establish the extent of the impact, including the correct subsidy tiers for each individual under the different services and schemes. This was to determine who could have received higher or lower subsidies than what they were eligible for. The final assessment was completed on Jan 14 and MOH worked with grant scheme administrators and healthcare institutions to finalise the remedial action plans, including how affected individuals will be informed and reimbursed. The correct subsidy tiers of all affected individuals were restored by Feb 16. Service providers and scheme administrators will now progressively inform the affected individuals and arrange for reimbursements where applicable. “We expect all the affected individuals to be informed by mid-March 2019,” MOH said. MOH said that NCS has acknowledged the error and has taken further remedial action by tightening the system deployment processes. “Additional safeguards have been put in place to prevent any recurrence of such incidents. NCS has reiterated its commitment to being held to the highest standards as a service provider. MOH takes a serious view of the incident, and has worked with NCS on appropriate remedial measures. MOH will work with NCS on measures to prevent such errors in the future,” the ministry stated. Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/7-700-singaporeans-received-inaccurate-chas-subsidies-due-to-11249848

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-30140728 Is this the end of jaunts into Malaysia?

How can parents take it.... Look at how our MSF subsidies fee structure for special needs.

ST Jul 15, 2011 Jump in applications for childcare subsidies By Judith Tan THE number of applications for subsidies for kindergarten and childcare fees has gone through the roof since the income ceiling for eligibility was raised. For the Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS), the number of applicants has swelled by 163 per cent, growing from 469 in April last year to 1,233 in April this year. Figures for the Centre-based Financial Assistance Scheme for Childcare (CFAC) are less dramatic but applications have still increased by a third, from 608 to 808 over the period. Since April, families with a monthly household income of up to $3,500 have been eligible to apply for assistance under the two schemes. The previous ceiling was $1,800. With the higher ceiling, 24,000 children from lower-income families now benefit from the schemes. This is double the previous figure. Among them are the Ong twins, aged five, who attend the Big Apple Child Care & Development Centre in Tampines. Their father Tony Ong earns $1,800 a month as a technician while their mother Mary brings home $1,000 as an office assistant, so previously the two girls were not eligible to receive subsidies for their childcare fees.

SINGAPORE: Singapore

Malaysia may cut petrol subsidies Posted: 06 April 2008 2255 hrs Photos 1 of 1 A driver fills up his car with petrol at a petrol station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (file pic). KUALA LUMPUR : With oil prices near record highs, Malaysia could cut subsidies for higher grades of petrol in order to keep prices down for middle income groups and the poor, reports said on Sunday. The government expects to spend 35 billion ringgit (10.7 billion dollars) on fuel subsidies this year if oil stays around 100 dollars per barrel, and has already indicated there would be some cuts ahead. Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Samad was quoted saying the bulk of the subsidies would go for a new octane 95 fuel for use in most vehicles, while a higher octane petrol for luxury cars and SUVs would get less state support. According to the New Straits Times, Shahrir said the government would save costs by mainly subsidising only one type of fuel. It currently subsidises two types, octane 92 and octane 97. "The goal is to have subsidies targeted and more focused at those who need it, such as the lower and middle-income group, and giving a choice to the rich on what petrol they want to fill in their tanks," he said. "The system is a shift in how we price petrol, but it is necessary if we are to lessen the burden on the lower and middle-income groups," the paper quoted him as saying. Malaysia imposed its highest-ever fuel price rises in February 2006, citing the spiralling cost of crude oil. The move was condemned by political and civil groups, arguing it was unnecessary as the country is a net exporter of oil. The central bank recently said that rising prices of fuel, commodities and food will see headline inflation for the year rise to 2.5-3 percent from 2.0 percent in 2007. - AFP/de

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Malaysia's prime minister said Friday he will soon reduce government subsidies in the clearest sign that fuel prices will go up, a move that will likely be unpopular before general elections expected in a few months. "We have to restructure our subsidies. It is very difficult to maintain the current subsidies," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a speech to his ruling party delegates. Abdullah refused to give a time frame for when the subsidies will be lowered, but acknowleged many Malaysians would be unhappy. "There is always some unhapiness. Not everybody will be happy but I think Malaysians are reasonable," he said. He also declined to say how the decision will effect the government's performance in elections. The biggest chunk of government subsidies is spent on keeping prices of gasoline and diesel down. Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Friday the government would have to spend 35 billion ringgit (US$10 billion;