More channels created for public to express views on Budget 2008

SINGAPORE: The next Budget sitting is not due till some four months later, but the Finance Ministry has started preparing for it.

It is launching the Budget 2008 Feedback Exercise and Essay, Video Competitions on Monday.

In a news release, Second Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said to get a sense of views all around as Singapore prepares for the next Budget, the Ministry has created more feedback channels to make it convenient for the public to contribute suggestions and ideas.

It is also partnering REACH to hold dialogue sessions with the community.

The public could send their feedback to this portal, www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/feedback.html, or they could SMS their views to 9-Speak-Up (9-77325-87).

Another goal of the exercise is to give more voice to youths and increase their awareness of issues involved in the Budget.

The topic for this year's Essay Competition is "Infinite Possibilities; Finite Resources".

And for the first time, the Finance Ministry is launching a Video Competition for those students who prefer to express their creativity through the visual medium, with the topic, "What the Budget means to me".

These two competitions will be held in tandem and students can choose to join one or both competitions.

More information will be available online at www.singaporebudget.gov.sg from 15 October.