[SINGAPORE] Losing three or four ministers would weaken both the government and the country, at an already challenging time, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (Apr 28).
A vote for the opposition is not a “free vote for more alternative voices”, but a vote to weaken the People’s Action Party (PAP) team, he said at the party’s lunchtime rally in the Central Business District.
The event, traditionally known as the Fullerton rally – despite now being held at the UOB Plaza promenade – is a highlight of the midpoint of the campaign.
Taking the stage after eight other speakers, PM Wong said that the PAP has walked with Singaporeans through crises and triumphs.
Now, the country is at a new crossroads, with businesses pulling back, markets becoming volatile, and investors becoming more cautious. “This is not a passing storm,” he warned.
While it is unclear how long this will last, one thing is certain, he added: “This storm will test us, and if we are not careful, we could lose everything that we have worked so hard to build here in Singapore.”
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PM Wong charged that the opposition has not spoken seriously about the challenges ahead, saying: “To them, this is the PAP’s burden to carry.”
Noting that the opposition is focusing on winning seats and seeking breakthroughs across the island, he reiterated that this will be a “tough” election.
If opposition parties win several Group Representation Constituencies, then even if the PAP is returned to government, “it would be with a severely weakened mandate”.
Losing three to four ministers will weaken the Cabinet team, the government, and Singapore, he said.
He highlighted key team members such as Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who leads the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce and oversees trade talks with the US.
The global order is changing, with big countries no longer hesitating to use coercion, said PM Wong. Foreign counterparts will assess the GE results and look to press every advantage they have.
“With a weakened mandate, you can be sure there will be people tempted to push us around,” he said. But with a clear mandate, “my team and I can speak up for Singapore confidently”.
This general election (GE) is not just about forming today’s government, but building tomorrow’s leadership, he added. He reiterated that the PAP has fielded the largest number of new candidates in recent history, with seven of them also speaking at Monday’s rally.
Some newcomers will “immediately strengthen” the PAP’s team, and will be future leaders. Yet, experienced ministers in hot seats this election “cannot be immediately replaced”.
Voting for the opposition will weaken “the team that is truly working for you”, he said. “It will weaken me and my team, and it will do so at a time when I have just taken over… when our country is facing real and serious challenges.”
Costs and wages
PM Wong also addressed opposition views on economic issues.
Although the opposition has blamed the goods and services tax hike for cost pressures, Singapore’s inflation is largely imported, due to supply chain disruptions and global conflict, said PM Wong.
The permanent GST voucher scheme means that, in effect, lower and middle-income households pay less than the headline 9 per cent rate, he noted. Only three groups pay the full rate, he added: foreigners, tourists and higher-income families.
If the GST hike had been delayed – as opposition parties proposed – then public finances would be weaker, and there would be a “funding gap” as Singapore enters an economic storm.
As for the minimum wage championed by opposition parties, PM Wong said that the PAP uplifts lower-wage workers through efforts such as the Progressive Wage Model.
Noting one opposition proposal of a monthly minimum wage of S$2,250, PM Wong said this would mean higher costs for companies, which would in turn raise prices for consumers. Companies may even cut back on hiring lower-wage workers, which could mean more unemployment.
He urged voters to think about whether opposition proposals would have negative outcomes, saying: “There is no such thing as a free lunch.”
Amid economic turbulence ahead, one bright spot is that Asia continues to see growth, said PM Wong. Many multinational companies want to reconfigure their supply chains with a trusted base in the region – and to tap this, Singapore “must keep our business and political environments stable”.
There may also be a need for a “major restructuring” of the economy, which will have to be carefully managed, he added.
PM Wong assured new graduates that the PAP will help them find jobs. Those in the workforce will receive a “fresh and substantial injection of skills” to secure better opportunities, and for those who are retrenched, the PAP will “be there to catch you and help you bounce back”.
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