Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Chok Tong And The Making Of The Pioneer Generation Package

When MM Lee Kuan Yew and SM Goh Chok Tong stepped down from cabinet right after the general election in 2011, they issued a joint-reminder for the younger PAP Government to take good care of our pioneers.

  

"This generation who has contributed to Singapore must be well-looked after."                                                              

                                                                   - Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, May 2011         

It was a couple of years in the making before the Pioneer Generation Package was finalised.

On 9 Feb 2014 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced this package to honour our pioneers.

$8 billion has been set aside for this package, fully funded by budget surplus built up by the younger team in this term of government. This is the Government's commitment and assurance to the pioneers that no matter how the economy performs in the future and regardless of who will be in government, their promise to them will be honoured throughout their lives.

Did you know the term Pioneer Generation and the principle behind PG Package was first mentioned by former PAP MP Loh Meng See in 2001?

"Perhaps the Government can modify its attitude to recognise that we are having in our midst the pioneering generation of independent Singapore needing help. If we lighten the burden of these elderly citizens in their twilight years, we are helping their children at the same time. They would be relieved from the financial burden of taking care of their grandparents and parents and concentrate on taking good care of their young families." - Loh Meng See

And no, the Pioneer Generation Package has nothing to do with Ms Sylvia Lim or Workers' Party. It has got everything to do with our first two prime ministers.

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