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Kenneth Jeyaretnam: NODX plunge exposes real struggle in Singapore’s economy

RP Chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam voices concern on Singapore’s NODX plunge in March 2024, highlighting struggles reflected in declining consumption share of GDP. He urges Singaporeans to vote wisely in coming GE.

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SINGAPORE: Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam, the Secretary-General of the Reform Party, expressed profound concern over the alarming decline in Singapore’s Non-oil Domestic Exports (NODX) in March 2024, which was significantly worse than most economists expected.

In a recent blog post, Mr Jeyaretnam emphasized that the decline in the share of consumption in Singapore’s GDP reflects the real struggles faced by many Singaporeans, who feel a sense of relative impoverishment.

He highlighted the challenges of making ends meet due to higher costs compared to consumers in other advanced countries and lower wages per hour.

Official data released by Enterprise Singapore (ES) on Wednesday (17 Apr) revealed that the NODX contracted by 20.7% year-on-year, a stark contrast to the slight reduction of 0.2% in February.

Mr Jeyaretnam, a Cambridge-trained economist and a former hedge fund manager, pointed out that while NODX is an important indicator, it only represents one aspect of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He emphasized that GDP encompasses private consumption, government spending, domestic investment, and net exports.

He illustrated a concerning trend over the past decade, revealing a decline in private consumption expenditure as a percentage of GDP from 37% in 2013 to 31% in 2023, despite the total GDP reaching approximately $673 billion in 2023.

Meanwhile, net exports surged significantly from 23% to 37% of GDP during the same period.

Mr Jeyaretnam warned the shift indicates an imbalance in the Singaporean economy, with the government prioritizing increasing net exports by holding down domestic consumption.

“By contrast private consumption expenditures in most developed economies like the US are close to 70%. Not only has consumption fallen precipitously as a share of GDP. Investment, or Gross Fixed Capital Formation, has declined from 28% of GDP in 2013 to only 22% in 2023.”

Furthermore, he claimed that the decline in the share of consumption in GDP aligns with the experiences of many Singaporeans who feel a sense of relative impoverishment.

“They are struggling to make ends meet with much higher costs than consumers in other advanced countries and much lower wages per hour, ” he claimed.

Mr Jeyaretnam further accused the PAP government of prioritizing the generation of larger surpluses at the expense of ordinary citizens, utilizing what he described as “accounting tricks” in the national budget to channel funds into reserves rather than investing in Singapore.

He criticized the government for allegedly failing to provide transparency regarding the utilization of these reserves and questioned the necessity of accumulating such vast reserves at the expense of current and past generations of Singaporeans.

He urged Singaporeans to question government officials like Lawrence Wong about the low consumption levels and the purported rush to boost reserves beyond the reach of citizens.

“Every Singaporean should remember what the PAP really think of them when their turn comes to cast their vote at the upcoming election, ” Mr Jeyaretnam concluded.

President Tharman lauds PAP Govt’s budget

Previously, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam emphasized Singapore’s distinctive approach to budgeting, noting the nation’s proactive measures to ensure financial sustainability and prudent spending practices.

Approving the government’s spending plans for the coming financial year in March, he emphasized Singapore’s avoidance of what he termed as “magical thinking,” a practice prevalent in many countries.

Tharman noted the challenges posed by ageing populations and the imperative to address climate change, suggesting that most countries would need to increase spending in the years ahead.

“We have avoided what many countries are doing: Which is to spend first, borrow so they can finance the spending, let government debts rise to unsustainable levels, and hope that revenues will somehow spring up to pay for it later,” Mr Tharman said.

“Magical thinking always ends up unhappily.”

Mr Tharman emphasized that the next generation faces a “raw deal” when governments inevitably confront economic realities.

This can lead to cuts in government spending, deterioration of critical public facilities, or significant increases in taxes, all of which he deemed inherently unfair and contrary to the principles established in Singapore’s constitutional framework.

“That’s simply unfair, and something that our whole system of rules in the Constitution is set up to avoid,” he added.

He further explained that he and the Council of Presidential Advisers scrutinized the financial sustainability of the plans presented by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and the Finance Ministry (MOF).

“It is how we ensure that we never have to draw down our reserves, except when exceptional crises hit Singapore,” the President said.

“And that we remain fair, to today’s generation and to our grandchildren’s generation. And their grandchildren too.”

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Atleast he recognize the problem, now what the other yes men are doing?, ” nothing to see ,no problem”

If they can kelong a PE, kelong the Employment numbers, now kelong the NODX data, they can kelong ANYTHING, hor.

Just look at the HDB resales data – how many units are transacted before the 5-year MOP requirement? These are the newer units (obviously, right???) and everyone knows newer units (aka more lease-life remaining) are transacted much higher. These also make the bulk of units transacted in the million-dollar range.

Take away these kelong transactions and the HDB resales price is pretty flat.

Fooling all, or rather most of the people all of the time, … is the trademark of this nearly seven decade regime !!!

As long as this lot secures another majority, then, … their specious spin on SillyPore’s economy, employment and future will continue !!!

It’s always, … “business” as usual on the island !!!

Lets thank to those who successfully made this place the most expensive place
BY VOTING THEM OUT

Dear Kenneth. I don’t think the FULL Ridout Rd saga has played out yet. There may still be a juicy morsel left to uncover. Since you are so good at digging, perhaps you could find out if ANOTHER B&W bungalow had been selected and prepped for occupation by another minister but was quietly shelved as a result of the uproar over the disclosure of Shanmugam’s and Vivian’s “good deals”.

I’m thinking if it pans out, it might be for PinoTeo, the SM who green lighted Shanmugam’s rental.

In America they used a term, USEFUL IDIOTS.

This PAP Administration is one. Not so.

Just look at the INCOMPETENCE of CPIB to catch the real CRIMINALS behind Keppel giving BRIBES – they seems CANNOT zero in on who sign cheques, who did the accounts, who did the audits, and can’t find out the names of those who write out the cheque vouchers. Correct?

Face it…when the 3billions stop the flow of domestic spending by the rogues.. all’s game affected. Is not rocket science. Is matter of time…from 2019 and for a good 3 years, the spinning get bigger…now the roulette stop and the new way is ‘economic taxes’ … see the next GE and hopefully something bigger happening.

Good one. Agree with KJ. When there’s thunder lightning, it’s certainly wise to have an umbrella along. Tell ME, PAP Administration CONTROVERSIAL or CONTRADICTORY or Even PERJURY themselves, and WORST DISMANTLE Sheepish Singaporeans like their Chess Game pawns.

Simple comparison, where else do one read of any or what economy doing THAT Badly on this planet. Yeah maybe DICTATORS Myanmar.

PAP Administration has ALWAYS PAPER over cracks, problems all BECAUSE of a Ownself Monumental Ownself DECISION, NO Blame Culture which NO COUNTRY has this UNIQUE Culture. Only Highly Paid Millionaire Politicians OWNSELF JUSTIFY OWNSELF, OWNSELF DELUSIONED OWNSELF.

Theyre always telling us that cannot touch the reserves. ….yes we understand..its like an emergency savings account…but i hate the part when they keep saying must save it for the future generations and the unborn!
So irritating.
Theres a common saying : TAKE CARE OF THE TODAYS AND THE TOMORROWS WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF..
Is the national reserves still healthy?

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