Govt should be transparent if it's worried about a disconnect with the public

We refer to the article “People and government must pull together as a family: ESM Goh” (Sunday Times, Aug 17).

“Loosening ties between people and Govt”?

It states that “Loosening ties between people and government could pull Singapore apart unless Singaporeans demand as much of themselves as they do of the Government, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong warned on Saturday.

Unrealistic demands and frequent criticism of the Government are straining the cohesiveness of the Singapore family, he said.”This state of relationship between the people and the Government is part of the so-called new normal,” he said.

“But if this new normal leads to fractiousness, divisiveness and estrangement in the Singapore family, then we will be undoing what the pioneer generation had painfully and diligently built over many decades.”

“5 Points” plan for policy review?

- The “Loosening ties between people and government” can be mended if the Government is transparent and accountable in respect of the following:-

… Disclose the land (60%?) and construction costs (40%?) of HDB flats – and gradually reduce the prices of HDB flats by reducing the cost charged to land.

… Disclose the S$ annualised returns of GIC from inception and the average weighted returns of all CPF accounts – and pay CPF members the GIC rate less 1%.

… Increase healthcare spending and pay for part of Medishield premiums – instead of not spending a single cent on healthcare from a cashflow perspective (Medisave contributions annually exceed total public healthcare spending and all withdrawals from Medisave).