Achieve Group CEO Joshua Yim was quoted in The Business Times’ Views from the Top column on 26 August 2013 as he shared his take on the policy changes announced during the Prime Minister’s National Day Rally.

He said: “The policy changes that strike me most are in the areas of housing and healthcare. In terms of housing, there has been a lot of concern among the people, especially low-income families, about whether they are able to afford a home. PM Lee’s speech provides a great assurance that every one of us will be able to afford a roof over our heads, and he provided a precise breakdown of the numbers whereby even a household earning $1,000 a month will be able to afford a flat.

As Singapore progresses, many of its citizens have begun to feel that the country is getting more and more expensive, catering to the rich and not to commoners. Likewise, medical care is getting more expensive for the man in the street. It is good that the PM’s Office is rolling out various strategies to assure the general public that the healthcare system will remain affordable.

Having said that, I do feel that more can be done to address the issue of an ageing population. According to the Population White Paper released earlier this year, the number of citizens aged 65 and above will triple to 900,000 by 2030 and this group will be supported by a declining base of working-age citizens. This is a very serious issue that will impact the healthcare system and our society as a whole. I believe the PM’s Office is looking into this issue and the policy changes he has announced during the National Day Rally show that the government is moving towards the right direction in terms of taking care of its people.

While these steps outlined by PM Lee are very encouraging, I would like to see more initiatives to help the low-income especially, who may not have a strong nest-egg for their retirement.”

Source : The Business Times, 26 August 2013