Committee Against GST Profiteering

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CAP NEWS > Our Recent Events

CAP launched a series of public communications events recently to convey messages against GST profiteering.

Summary of Jurong East Walkabout (9 June 07):

CAP Chairman, Mr Lee Yi Shyan, led the first walkabout at Jurong East on 9 June 07. The walkabout involved a visit to the hawker centre and wet market at Blk 254, Jurong East St 24. MP Grace Fu also joined in the walkabout.

According to the Department of Statistics (DOS), hawker food prices have remained relatively stable since the GST increase was announced in November 2006. Between October 06 and April 07, hawker food and cooked food prices increased by 0.1% and 0.4% respectively.
CAP appreciates the support of business associations, such as the Blk 254 market and hawker association, to maintain price stability.
CAP received 33 feedback/complaints since the start of the year. 19 pertained to potential GST profiteering, all of which involved food-related businesses.

Summary of Bedok Central Walkabout (10 June 07):>

Mr Lee also led this walkabout at Bedok Town Central on 10 June 07. The walkabout covered three major supermarket chains (Shop N Save, Sheng Shiong, and NTUC FairPrice).

The Cold Storage and Shop N Save chains announced that they will absorb the GST increase for 500 essential household items under their housebrands for 6 months.
Sheng Shiong announced that it will not raise prices on all goods for a month.

NTUC FairPrice reiterated its initiative to absorb the GST increase on 400 essential items for 6 months.

Summary of Kovan Hub Walkabout (17 June 07):

CAP member, Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, led a walkabout to Kovan Hub on 17 June 07, visiting the retail and coffee shops there. MP Cynthia Phua also joined in the walkabout, as well as CAP members Mr Foo Jong Peng and Mr Chua Ser Keng.

Kheng Keow Coffee Merchants, Restaurants and Bar-Owners Association and Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchants Association (which represent almost half of the coffee shops in Singapore) pledged to keep prices steady after the GST increase.
Summary of Novena-Little India Walkabout (28 June 07):

Mr Lee led the fourth walkabout at Novena on 28 June 07. The walkabout covered retail shops and a restaurant in Novena Square, and some restaurants in Little India. MP Lui Tuck Yew , as well as CAP member Mr Shaik Aziz Shaik Mohideen, also joined in the walkabout.
- The Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) urged all member and non-member restaurants to maintain prices for at least three months after 1 July 07.
- The Indian Restaurants Association of Singapore strongly encouraged member restaurants to hold prices for as long as possible.
- Prime Supermarket announced their plan to maintain prices for all products for three months, starting from 1 July 07.
- CAP received 57 feedback/complaints since the start of the year. 38 pertained to potential GST profiteering. Apart from food-related cases, CAP was also starting to receive feedback on non-food-related cases such as clothing.
  
  Summary of Bedok Central Walkabout (14 July 07):
  
  This is the first walkabout CAP had after the implementation of GST on 1 July. Mr Lee led the walkabout at Bedok Town Central on 14 July 07. The walkabout covered two hawker centres and a wet market, after which there was a media wrap-up at the Bedok Town Council.
  - The DOS survey on hawker stalls showed that some hawker stalls have raised prices in the last two weeks. 4.8% of the stalls surveyed have raised prices since the start of the survey on 11 June. CAP hopes to work closely with the local associations to maintain price stability.
  - From 1 January to 12 July 2007, CAP has received 130 sources of feedback, of which 98 potentially pertains to GST profiteering. Since we started the CAP walkabouts in June to raise awareness of CAP and GST profiteering, we have observed an increase in the volume of cases received. We received 30 and 49 potential GST profiteering-related cases in June and July respectively, which amounts to 80% of such cases since the start of the year. Apart from food-related cases, we are also starting to see feedback relating to non-food-related businesses e.g. apparel.br>