\n<\/p>\n
Associate Professor Ho Kong Chong, emeritus professor of sociology and anthropology from the National University of Singapore, said that low-income families and the elderly will be hardest hit by the secondary impacts of the ongoing global crisis.<\/p>\n
“Small businesses (are already saying in the media that) they have to raise prices. We are talking about (an) increase in the electricity bill down the road,” he said.<\/p>\n
“You don’t have to drive a car to be impacted. What we see as part of Singapore has always been the worries about rising costs for the poor and for the elderly, (and) this energy shock just accelerates it.”<\/p>\n
He also added that the Middle East crisis might increase the number of rough sleepers in Singapore, as well as increase unemployment, as rising prices force more businesses to close.<\/p>\n
Acknowledging the government’s efforts to alleviate the cost-of-living pressures, Assoc Prof Ho added that people could look at other ways to reduce their spending \u2013 such as having more meals at home with extended family members.<\/p>\n
He explained that by doing so, families can benefit from buying ingredients in bulk while keeping their morale up during times of uncertainty brought about by the ongoing Middle East crisis, which fuels anxiety.<\/p>\n
Dr Broadstock added that the government could look at odd-even licence plate restrictions to alleviate traffic, reduce fuel use and encourage more public transport usage.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea is one of the latest countries to do so: Public-sector vehicles\u00a0<\/span>can only run every other day<\/span><\/a> depending on their number plate from Apr 8.<\/span><\/p>\n Mr Harris, the taxi driver, has heard first-hand from tourists he picks up at the airport on how other countries have taken dire measures to cope with volatile fuel prices.<\/p>\n “When I hear stories like that, (I realise) we are blessed that we have not reached that kind of panic or situation, and our government still has fuel.<\/p>\n “There are still things that will be normal at the moment, though costs will definitely go up,” he said.<\/p>\n