Starting May 13, all Singaporean citizen households can receive S$500 (approximately RM1660) in Community Development Council (CDC) neighbourhood vouchers. Half of this amount can be used at hawker centres and neighbourhood shops, while the remaining S$250 can be spent in supermarkets.
According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao, since the launch of the digital neighbourhood vouchers in December 2021, the total consumption amount has exceeded S$1.92 billion (approximately RM6.371 billion). Of this, S$1.06 billion has gone to hawkers and neighbourhood shops, and over S$857 million has been used for supermarket purchases.
Lawrence Wong: Prices are still high
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong attended the neighbourhood voucher launch event on the morning of the 13th, stating that Singapore’s inflation rate has been falling faster than in most countries. However, prices are still high, and people are feeling the impact.
“We are committed to helping Singaporeans cope with these challenges. That's why I am launching another round of S$500 neighbourhood vouchers today.”
When announcing the new financial budget in February, Lawrence Wong stated that the government will distribute a total of S$800 in neighbourhood vouchers to each citizen household in two tranches during this fiscal year. The first S$500 in vouchers will be distributed on May 13, with the remaining S$300 to be distributed in January next year. This is part of the Assurance and Assistance Package, benefiting about 1.3 million households.
Lawrence Wong reiterated: “Rest assured, this is not a one-time measure. We will continue to provide help whenever needed.”