How do you find DPM Tharman?

[Jeremy1]

My ward MP...................

 

[OrLengJuz]

Really catch no ball when he talked this

I can tell u that this bugger ish as out of touch as the rest of his colleagues!
Ask him to fug spider with $1,000 income lah

 

[geppar66]

Tharman is bad, for a few reasons:
1) He created IP education programme, so that those who DSA into Schools don't have to compete with others in the IP schools affiliated JCs (which are all the best JCs in Singapore!).
No fair competition for entry in these best JCs since the IP school kids already chopped the places in advance without needing to fairly compete.

2) He has no respect for Mr Lee Kuan Yew (who advocated asset/property appreciation policy) and had implemented many property cooling measures to crash Singapore property prices, causing the property prices of >90% of property owners' properties to drop in price. Which property owners want their properties drop in price? Property prices already dropping for 8 consecutive quarters and still falling. He crashing our property prices so that the foreigners can buy CHEAP CHEAP? I suppose many foreign Indians are scoping up East Coast GRC properties on the cheap???

3) He has been charged before under "Official Secrecy Act".

4) Expect more "wealth taxes" from him (listen to the intention from the horse's mouth, see below news!)
And in case you think the "wealth taxes" will not affect you, wait till you hear what he said:
“There is no country in the world that has been able to provide something for everyone without raising taxes for the middle-income group..."

Yes, you are right! All of us, most of us in the middle-income group, will be taxed more with these "wealth taxes" so that they don't have to tax the highest 1% income earners more!

5) I can't retire because my property price crashed! I believe many middle-age people who wanted to retire soon are in similar situation as me and found that they can't retire?

So, Vote him out!


TITLE: No way to ‘give something to everyone’ without raising taxes for middle class: Tharman

POSTED: 06 Sep 2015 00:13

The fair approach is “where the rich pay more and the poor get more” and the burden is not pushed to the next generation, says Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
SINGAPORE: With opposition parties presenting proposals galore ranging from free health care to handouts and a minimum wage, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam took to the rally stage on Saturday (Sep 5) night urging Singaporeans to “see through” such “false promises”.

“There is no country in the world that has been able to provide something for everyone without raising taxes for the middle-income group – not France, not Germany, not the UK,” said Mr Tharman, who is also the Minister for Finance.

“The middle class pays very high taxes in order that everyone gets something. It’s a very expensive system for the middle class - not just for the rich.”

Alluding to the Workers’ Party’s proposal to increase taxes on the wealthiest group, Mr Tharman said: “I’ve been studying it for years. You can’t do it by just taxing the top 1 per cent. That’s a bluff. First, because the top 1 per cent know how to move money around the world.

“But secondly, you can’t jack up the tax rate for the top 1 per cent without affecting the next 5 or 10 per cent.”

Mr Tharman, who was speaking at a People’s Action Party rally held at Petir Road in Bukit Panjang, said the Government took “very seriously” the concerns of social mobility, workforce inequality and the elderly who need support. It has worked to address these issues, and is continuing to do more.

“But let me make this very clear - we are doing it in a way that is fair, where the rich pay more and the poor get more. We’re doing it in a way that is fair, because we’re not pushing the burden to the next generation, to our children and grandchildren. That is what fairness is about,” said the candidate for Jurong Group Representation Constituency.

THE MYTH OF EGALITARIAN ‘FREE’ SYSTEMS

Mr Tharman pointed out that in France, the average worker pays “well over 20 per cent” of his or her income to the government, in the form of income tax and a value-added tax.

It would be the equivalent of a median worker in Singapore, who earns about S$3,800 a month, paying S$850 in income tax and goods and services tax (GST), he said.

“So, when you think of free healthcare and free social services, you must realise it is not free. The average citizen is paying for it big time in these countries… because everybody, including the rich, is benefitting,” he added. “It is a complete myth to think they are egalitarian systems.”

In Singapore, for every S$1 that a middle-income family pays in tax in one form or another, they get back S$2 in subsidies – such as for education, healthcare and in retirement.

Compare that to Finland, said Mr Tharman, where for every $1 the middle-income group pays, they get back $1.30.

As for the bottom 10 per cent in Singapore, they get back S$6 in subsidies for every S$1 of tax – mainly GST – that they pay, he added. The top 10 per cent, meanwhile, get back 20 cents for every S$1 paid. “That’s what I call a fair system,” he said.

THE MYTH OF TAKING FROM INVESTMENT RESERVES

To ensure that a heavy burden is not placed on the middle-income group, Mr Tharman said the way was to keep income taxes “low or close to zero” for them and to “try as far as possible to keep GST low in years to come”.

But he called it a “myth” to think it was possible to draw more money from the investment reserves.



“We are already maxing out on our investment income from the reserves. The Constitution allows us to spend 50 per cent of income from reserves,” said Mr Tharman. This has gone to increased spending on social programmes, health care and infrastructure. “There is no more money left that can be taken out without compromising the next generation.”

In fact, he noted, the Constitution was changed this year so that more of the returns earned by Temasek could be taken out for spending on the Budget.

Mr Tharman also lambasted as “scaremongering” some opposition claims that the PAP would raise GST after the elections. “That is just cheap,” he said. “We have been upfront and I said in this year’s Budget very clearly, we have raised the revenues we need for the next five years.”

Measures taken, such as increased income taxes on the rich and a hike on higher-end property taxes, will give the Government S$4 billion a year over the next five years, he reiterated.

HELPING EVERYONE DEVELOP THROUGH LIFE

Beyond redistributing resources, Mr Tharman also emphasised the need to open up new opportunities for all Singaporeans, “no matter where you start from”, to maximise their talents.

At the primary school level, 50 per cent more is being spent on weak learners compared to the average child.

“We used to think, in the past, that how well people did depended on what they’re born with or what they do in education early in life. That’s not true,” he said.

“You may start off weak but you can develop your strengths through life. We’re going to be making it possible for every Singaporean, through education, expanding the ITEs and polytechnics, and through SkillsFuture, to keep developing through life.

“We must make that possible in Singapore, in a way that no country has achieved,” he added.

“Maximise opportunities, have a fair system, a fair deal for the middle class – that’s our new path.

"And I feel proud to say we start on this new path from a position of strength, not weakness unlike so many countries - because our pioneer generation saved up with they were young, our subsequent generations kept the same ethic of working hard and putting something aside, and future generations will now benefit,” said Mr Tharman.

I don't think he's well liked among the local educators in the tertiary education fraternity. Messed up the education system by emphasizing money over quality.

I think he is more about extracting money and creating money streams for the govt. Perhaps that's why he is the finance minister.

 

[mocax]

rast time oso thought he quite steady.... but near erection all de color come out... moi ish disappoint...

 

[lalalalalala]

One of the few eh kan old guards left.

Sent from OnePlus A0001 using GAGT

 

[Shy_Shy]

hpwPciW74b8

go watch the intervew. The host is rude and somewhat condescending

 

[PiPiChew]

My friend once told me "his head is brighter than your future"

Sent from 10 Buangkok View, Buangkok Green Medical Park using GAGT

 

[pushtopen]

Smart, hardly talks and seldom shoots himself in the foot like the rest, so when he talks, people listen.

But, I kind of hold him responsible for opening the floodgates since he was both minister for manpower and finance in the years when the influx were at its highest.

And they made no bones about it, was pretty clear when they said he held both portfolios to better control and align the financial policies with the manpower ones since both are so closely intertwined here, I think it was announced on msm before.

 

[Tiongz]

Tharman is good. He needs to stay in PAP. Every party needs good leaders.

 

[spiritual84]

Actually some investors don't like him..

I happen to know some investors claim SG government control too much on SGX.

I see also tulan.....daily if market good at most up to 10 cents that is not always depend on that stocks performance.

usually just few cents.

Not very active unlike in USA and China ..even compare to other asia counter part.


I feel yes they control is to make sure the market run smooth but over controlling does more harm than good.

Harm to who and good to who?

Somehow I feel its a good thing that investors don't like him.. If investors like our finance minister then we peasants are screwed for sure.

Sent from 1949 using GAGT

 

[jttckk]

Whatever he has spoken for ge has made me loss all the respect for him

 

[walter2011]

Woof woof.

Tharman is bad, for a few reasons:
1) He created IP education programme, so that those who DSA into Schools don't have to compete with others in the IP schools affiliated JCs (which are all the best JCs in Singapore!).
No fair competition for entry in these best JCs since the IP school kids already chopped the places in advance without needing to fairly compete.

2) He has no respect for Mr Lee Kuan Yew (who advocated asset/property appreciation policy) and had implemented many property cooling measures to crash Singapore property prices, causing the property prices of >90% of property owners' properties to drop in price. Which property owners want their properties drop in price? Property prices already dropping for 8 consecutive quarters and still falling. He crashing our property prices so that the foreigners can buy CHEAP CHEAP? I suppose many foreign Indians are scoping up East Coast GRC properties on the cheap???

3) He has been charged before under "Official Secrecy Act".

4) Expect more "wealth taxes" from him (listen to the intention from the horse's mouth, see below news!)
And in case you think the "wealth taxes" will not affect you, wait till you hear what he said:
“There is no country in the world that has been able to provide something for everyone without raising taxes for the middle-income group..."

Yes, you are right! All of us, most of us in the middle-income group, will be taxed more with these "wealth taxes" so that they don't have to tax the highest 1% income earners more!

5) I can't retire because my property price crashed! I believe many middle-age people who wanted to retire soon are in similar situation as me and found that they can't retire?

So, Vote him out!


TITLE: No way to ‘give something to everyone’ without raising taxes for middle class: Tharman

POSTED: 06 Sep 2015 00:13

The fair approach is “where the rich pay more and the poor get more” and the burden is not pushed to the next generation, says Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
SINGAPORE: With opposition parties presenting proposals galore ranging from free health care to handouts and a minimum wage, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam took to the rally stage on Saturday (Sep 5) night urging Singaporeans to “see through” such “false promises”.

“There is no country in the world that has been able to provide something for everyone without raising taxes for the middle-income group – not France, not Germany, not the UK,” said Mr Tharman, who is also the Minister for Finance.

“The middle class pays very high taxes in order that everyone gets something. It’s a very expensive system for the middle class - not just for the rich.”

Alluding to the Workers’ Party’s proposal to increase taxes on the wealthiest group, Mr Tharman said: “I’ve been studying it for years. You can’t do it by just taxing the top 1 per cent. That’s a bluff. First, because the top 1 per cent know how to move money around the world.

“But secondly, you can’t jack up the tax rate for the top 1 per cent without affecting the next 5 or 10 per cent.”

Mr Tharman, who was speaking at a People’s Action Party rally held at Petir Road in Bukit Panjang, said the Government took “very seriously” the concerns of social mobility, workforce inequality and the elderly who need support. It has worked to address these issues, and is continuing to do more.

“But let me make this very clear - we are doing it in a way that is fair, where the rich pay more and the poor get more. We’re doing it in a way that is fair, because we’re not pushing the burden to the next generation, to our children and grandchildren. That is what fairness is about,” said the candidate for Jurong Group Representation Constituency.

THE MYTH OF EGALITARIAN ‘FREE’ SYSTEMS

Mr Tharman pointed out that in France, the average worker pays “well over 20 per cent” of his or her income to the government, in the form of income tax and a value-added tax.

It would be the equivalent of a median worker in Singapore, who earns about S$3,800 a month, paying S$850 in income tax and goods and services tax (GST), he said.

“So, when you think of free healthcare and free social services, you must realise it is not free. The average citizen is paying for it big time in these countries… because everybody, including the rich, is benefitting,” he added. “It is a complete myth to think they are egalitarian systems.”

In Singapore, for every S$1 that a middle-income family pays in tax in one form or another, they get back S$2 in subsidies – such as for education, healthcare and in retirement.

Compare that to Finland, said Mr Tharman, where for every $1 the middle-income group pays, they get back $1.30.

As for the bottom 10 per cent in Singapore, they get back S$6 in subsidies for every S$1 of tax – mainly GST – that they pay, he added. The top 10 per cent, meanwhile, get back 20 cents for every S$1 paid. “That’s what I call a fair system,” he said.

THE MYTH OF TAKING FROM INVESTMENT RESERVES

To ensure that a heavy burden is not placed on the middle-income group, Mr Tharman said the way was to keep income taxes “low or close to zero” for them and to “try as far as possible to keep GST low in years to come”.

But he called it a “myth” to think it was possible to draw more money from the investment reserves.



“We are already maxing out on our investment income from the reserves. The Constitution allows us to spend 50 per cent of income from reserves,” said Mr Tharman. This has gone to increased spending on social programmes, health care and infrastructure. “There is no more money left that can be taken out without compromising the next generation.”

In fact, he noted, the Constitution was changed this year so that more of the returns earned by Temasek could be taken out for spending on the Budget.

Mr Tharman also lambasted as “scaremongering” some opposition claims that the PAP would raise GST after the elections. “That is just cheap,” he said. “We have been upfront and I said in this year’s Budget very clearly, we have raised the revenues we need for the next five years.”

Measures taken, such as increased income taxes on the rich and a hike on higher-end property taxes, will give the Government S$4 billion a year over the next five years, he reiterated.

HELPING EVERYONE DEVELOP THROUGH LIFE

Beyond redistributing resources, Mr Tharman also emphasised the need to open up new opportunities for all Singaporeans, “no matter where you start from”, to maximise their talents.

At the primary school level, 50 per cent more is being spent on weak learners compared to the average child.

“We used to think, in the past, that how well people did depended on what they’re born with or what they do in education early in life. That’s not true,” he said.

“You may start off weak but you can develop your strengths through life. We’re going to be making it possible for every Singaporean, through education, expanding the ITEs and polytechnics, and through SkillsFuture, to keep developing through life.

“We must make that possible in Singapore, in a way that no country has achieved,” he added.

“Maximise opportunities, have a fair system, a fair deal for the middle class – that’s our new path.

"And I feel proud to say we start on this new path from a position of strength, not weakness unlike so many countries - because our pioneer generation saved up with they were young, our subsequent generations kept the same ethic of working hard and putting something aside, and future generations will now benefit,” said Mr Tharman.

 

[bttorn]

I stay in jurong 20+ years. Never seen him before.

 

[Strikk]

If I want someone in charge of my life, it would be tharman.
He's a very matter of fact guy, see numbers.
To him, it is possible to own a HDB flat if you earn just $1000 IF you don't need cash for other stuff. But how many household are earning just $1000 a month?

 

[catzilla123]

his shiny head