Published November 2, 2009

Living standards, expectations have risen

PM says in response to complaint that daily expenses have gone up

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RISING costs of living? It's also more likely to be rising standards and expectations of a certain quality of life, according to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

'Over the years, the standards of living have gone up. But expectations and spending have gone up as well,' he said yesterday at an hour-long dialogue with activists of the ruling People's Action Party

Responding to one activist's complaint of daily expenses going up, Mr Lee, who is also the party's secretary-general, conceded that the costs of houses have increased. 'But food, electricity, transport, clothing, daily necessities - these have not become more expensive,' he said.

Three in four homes have air-conditioning installed, Mr Lee pointed out. Of the bottom 20 per cent of households, half of these enjoy air-conditioned comfort.

The appliance consumes electricity, which in turn causes the monthly spending budget to go up, he said.

Mr Lee further noted that the number of mobile phone lines is higher than the total number of people here, while many homes now have flat-screen televisions, washing machines and DVD players.

Still, he said that the government would play its part by ensuring that the economy gets up and running as soon as possible, which would result in more jobs being available.

'This would allow people to afford what they need to buy,' Mr Lee said.

Another party activist shared his concerns about the influx of new citizens and foreign talent - and of the difficulties of explaining the importance of their role in the country to his fellow constituents.

This was a 'serious' topic, Mr Lee said. But it was important to know foreign workers put in hard work here for Singapore, he said. And they have been integral to the construction of many projects in Singapore - the new MRT Circle Line and HDB flats, for example.

A foreign chief executive officer leading a bank could create many new jobs that Singaporeans could take up, Mr Lee said. New immigrants who set up families here also do their part to help boost Singapore's dwindling birth rate, he added.

Other questions raised at the dialogue touched on topics such as the promotion of entrepreneurship, the role of new media, the plight of the sandwiched class and the needs of older workers.