30 Aug - Key excerpts from PM's National Day rally speech

Some of the key announcements I've managed to catch from listening to about 40 minutes of the PM's National Day rally speech:

Measures to cool market

The gahmen is going to take steps to reduce private property prices in Singapore with immediate effect. From what I understand, need to own for 3 years before re-selling, as opposed to 1 year now.

S'pore to get 3rd med school

Tie-up venture between Imperial College (Britain) and NTU to create 3rd medical school in Singapore (with NUS medical and Duke-NUS being the other 2). Means less foreign imported doctors?

Endowment trust for varsities

Trust funds to be targeted as main source of income for NUS, NTU and SMU. Possibly also polys and ITEs. Gahmen to match new donations to Unis 3-to-1, old donations 1.5-to-1.

Award to recognise NSmen

NSmen to get $9000 in recognition award. To be dispatched in tranches into CPF and PSEA thought, not cash.

Be careful of wage rise

Key message from PM to Singaporeans - economy may be recovering, but don't expect wage rises

IP extends to 7 more schools

More schools to be involved in through-train project. Dual track programme for these schools - entrants either enter directly into IP, or enter the "normal" programme and later apply to be included as well.

Also, through-train for N(A) students after N-levels, bypassing O-levels.

Looks like the future = no more O levels.

HDB to raise income ceiling

Income ceiling for DBSS raised from 8k to 10k. Ceiling for BTO remains at 8k.

Hope this doesn't raise competition for DBSS/BTO too much..

New talent division in PMO

Immigration policies getting so complicated that new division required? New division to be handed to Minister Wong Kan Seng's portfolio.

Foreign worker levy to rise

Hmm.. and this change is coupled with the supposed influx of 45k Bangladeshi maids..

Leave gambling to foreigners

Kinda of make sense.. but I'm not entirely sure that saying this publicly (where international parties could also see/hear it) is exactly.. well, prudent.

$60b boost for MRT network

Apparently the trains network is going to be doubled with this investment. Also, trains to arrive every 100 seconds, as opposed to 120 seconds during peak hours..

However, looks like it's about time to get used to a complicated train network and changing trains at interchanges.