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SINGAPORE – More support will be rolled out to help Singaporeans cope with the impact of the Iran war if the situation worsens, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. <\/p>\n
The Government is tracking the Middle East situation<\/span><\/a> closely and is ready to do more, and it can do more, if things get worse, he said on April 18 at an awards presentation ceremony in Ang Mo Kio Primary School.<\/p>\n SM Lee said: \u201cHaving built up our resources and capabilities over the years, we have what it takes. And I think we are in a strong position to deal with the situation, and to help Singaporeans survive the crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n Asian countries have been among the worst hit by the Middle East crisis and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, he noted. Singapore has been affected too, but not as severely as neighbouring nations.<\/p>\n With Iran\u2019s closure of Hormuz, supplies of energy and other critical goods for the whole world have been disrupted. Now, halfway into a two-week ceasefire deal,<\/span><\/a> the United States and Iran are continuing peace talks, he said. <\/p>\n Even so, it is hard to tell exactly what is happening, and impossible to say how things will turn out, he added. <\/p>\n SM Lee said: \u201cBut what we do know is this \u2013 even if the war stops immediately, we cannot go back to where we were before the war started. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd even if we could, it would take months or even years to repair the damage and to restore the energy production and supply fully.\u201d<\/p>\n When the war broke out, the Government rolled out a support package worth nearly $1 billion<\/span><\/a> to help households and businesses cope with the economic fallout of the crisis. <\/p>\n For instance, CDC vouchers worth $500 for each household that were to be disbursed in January 2027 will be given out in June 2026. <\/p>\n The Cost-of-Living Special Payment will also go up by $200 for each person, bringing the total amount up to between $400 and $600 in cash for eligible Singaporeans.<\/p>\n The most affected sectors are also getting help. For instance, all active platform workers, private-hire drivers, and taxi drivers get $200 in April. School bus operators will get some temporary support, and businesses are getting enhanced corporate tax rebates. <\/p>\n These measures, SM Lee said, will not solve all problems, but they will help households and businesses cope with the immediate pressures wrought by the Middle East crisis.<\/span><\/a> <\/p>\n Singaporeans, for their part, can focus on what they can do to ease the impact of the external economic environment.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cAs the saying goes, keep calm and carry on. Focus on the practical things that each of us can do to respond to the situation and make ourselves more secure, and to help one another. <\/p>\n \u201cFor example, we should all do our part to conserve energy \u2013 turn off the lights you do not need. Do not waste energy; save a little bit. Energy costs have gone up, fuel is scarce, electricity is expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n