People first?

The Rhetoric

“MPs back ‘people first’ promise. Members of Parliament yesterday supported the government’s promise to put people first…”
– Straits Times, Oct 12, 1999

The Reality

“With GST rising to 5 per cent on Jan 1 2004, Singaporeans have an additional burden to bear of $1.32 billion a year, forever. The government has also refused to restore CPF cuts…
– The mirror of opinion, BigO, 2003

In the meantime…

“Ministers’ salary cuts to be restored in two phases”
– Straits Times, June 17, 2004