Pensioners, B40 group want more aid

IN response to the prime minister’s call regarding 2018 Budget we, a group of government pensioners, have submitted our letter to the prime minister which lists ways to help the pensioners and the lower-income group, who are undergoing financial difficulties due to the increase in the cost of living and the Good and Services Tax (GST). Among the proposals are: (1) Monthly pension to be increased by 10 per cent; and,

(2) Annual increase of pension to go up from the current two per cent to five per cent.

The traders, restaurant owners and other business sectors have not only increased prices, but also charge GST.

Even pharmacies, which deals with medicine and supplements, and medicine shops which sell traditional medicine, which are a necessity to pensioners and senior citizens, have increased their prices and, on top of it, charge GST.

Thus, the pensioners suffer the most with their meagre monthly pension and find it hard to make ends meet.

The pensioners have given a good part of their working lives to the government and they should be treated fairly, when they are in difficulty.

We pray and hope our prime minister will consider our appeal sympathetically and approve the said increase.

The pensioners have given a good part of their working lives to the government...