Dr Amy Khor, MP for Hong Kah GRC and Mayor of South West District, said: "Singaporeans may be concerned about competition and crowding out by foreigners. He has also highlighted that this is not about competition from within, but competition from without. And really, we do not need to fear competition because we have the mettle and the wherewithal to transcend these challenges, as we have shown." (Ref: Why foreigners are needed, Inflow of foreigners to slow)
The announcement of a $9,000 award for National Servicemen was also welcomed by many.
Mr Michael Palmer, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said: "You can use it towards housing, you can use it towards education. That's going to come in useful because that will benefit their children, their families as well."
Others took heart in changes announced to help students who do not fare so well in their studies, in particular, allowing Normal Academic students to go to polytechnics without taking the O-levels, if they do well for their N-level exams.
Mrs Josephine Teo, GPC Chair for Education and MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, said: "It's to really let these students who are in Normal Academic stream know that the system is there to support them, and it's not meant to put them behind permanently. So it's a real morale booster."
But some MPs felt that more could have been done to help the "sandwiched" middle-class buy a HDB flat. (Ref: HDB to raise income ceiling).
Mdm Halimah Yacob, MP for Jurong GRC, said: "It will not completely allay their concerns and their fears, because there are some who do not want to purchase a DBSS flat because it is more expensive than other types of HDB flats. But at least it acknowledges their problem."
NDR 2010 Video
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