Appeals Related to Pioneer Generation Package

Mr Seng Han Thong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) how many appeals on the Pioneer Generation package has the Ministry received as of December 2014; (b) how many of such appeals have been dealt with and what is the rate of success; (c) what are the main grounds of the unsuccessful appeals; and (d) what are the main grounds of the successful appeals.

Mrs Josephine Teo (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance): As of 31 December 2014, the Appeals Panel has received about 2,900 appeals, of which about 2,480 have been evaluated, comprising 85% of all appeals received.

As we explained in response to an earlier Parliamentary Question (PQ) and during the debate on the Pioneer Generation Fund Bill, the Panel recognised that the Government had already adopted a more inclusive approach by extending the Pioneer Generation Package to all those born in 1949 or earlier.

Whatever the age set, there will always be those who marginally fall short of it. It would, therefore, not be feasible or fair to let age-related appeals without extending the new age criterion to all Singaporeans.

Hence, as provided under the Pioneer Generation Fund Act, the Panel decided that it would only consider appeals relating to the citizenship criterion.

As part of the evaluation process, the Panel considers whether the person had obtained Singapore citizenship shortly after 1986 – the year set as the citizenship cut-off date for eligibility of the Pioneer Generation Package. In addition, it looks at factors such as whether he or she had been in Singapore since the early years of independence, contributed to our society, and had demonstrated clear efforts to sink roots in Singapore. To date, the Panel has approved 642 of such appeals.

Dr Lily Neo (Tanjong Pagar): Madam, may I ask the Senior Minister of State whether she will take into consideration the lack of means or poverty as one of the mitigating criteria in appeals for PG Package, so that we can be more flexible to applicants in such circumstances?

Mrs Josephine Teo: Madam, in response to Dr Neo, we are very mindful that there will always be member sof the Pioneer Generation who saw Singapore through the most difficult periods of our development and they themselves may still have difficulties today. The approach that we would like to take is to reach out to all the pioneers, as many as we can, and help them to benefit from the package. Now, it bears repeating that in setting the criteria, in terms of age as I explained earlier, we had already been more inclusive. In terms of the citizenship criterion, the cut-off was set at 1986 and, in fact, it is 21 years after independence.So, even in that criterion, I think that we have tried to be as generous as possible. So, for the members of our community, who are not in any way able to benefit from the Pioneer Generation Package, if they are Singapore citizens, there are other benefits that apply to them, including the Medisave top-ups that we have made available for five years, to all those aged 55 and above. For the subsidies, for the forthcoming implementation of MediShield Life, they would likely also be able to benefit from it. And with these other forms of support, there is still a need, I think we very much like to know who these individuals are, and find other ways to help them.

Mr Seng Han Thong: I noted that the large majority of the unsuccessful appeals is age related. However, there are cases of appeals linked to the ignorance of their parents or a twist of events, that rendered them stateless when Singapore suddently became independent in 1965, and many of them acquired their citizenship after 1986. And they feel to be part of the Pioneer Generation, not because of medical benefits. Will the case of this nature be given special consideration?

Mrs Josephine Teo: Madam, I would like to invite Mr Seng to let me know who these individuals are, and then we can reach out to them and see whether there is some way that we can help them.

Mr Seng Han Thong: They are pioneers but they did not receive this package, and we have sent in, but replies are pending.

Mrs Josephine Teo: We will take another look at it. Thank you.