Meme depicting ship-big cost of living in SG compared with excavator-small worth GST voucher circulates online

It seems as though some Singaporeans are coping with the intensity of the financial situation in Singapore with some humour after an online page shared a meme depicting how some believe the government’s GST vouchers amidst the cost of living in Singapore is like “putting a band-aid on a gaping wound,” as one put it.

“Please enjoy the GST payout this December,” reads a post sharing a GST voucher vs cost of living in Singapore meme. In the photo, a large ship is labelled “Cost of living,” while a much smaller excavator is seen with its bucket between itself and the ship. The smaller vehicle is labelled, “GST voucher.”

In a recent report by The Independent Singapore, as part of the government’s plan to offset the upcoming GST hike and the rise in the cost of living, Singaporeans who are eligible will receive vouchers amounting to S$700 this December. The vouchers are set to be distributed in two parts within the first round of the measure–namely, the Assurance Package Vouchers and the Cost of Living (COL) vouchers.

However, in response to the meme that has been circulated online, some individuals said that they believe the vouchers are a small thing compared to the high cost of living in Singapore.

While a few called on others to be grateful, others disagreed. “If one chooses to have a cost of living, the size of an Evergreen container ship, no voucher is big enough to make you feel anything,” wrote one, while another said that the measure is like “Putting a band-aid on a gaping wound.”