PAP will remain strongest party: MM Lee
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says the People's Action Party will remain the strongest party in Singapore.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, MM Lee said there may be a few seats for the opposition either as constituency or non-constituency members.
"We have introduced new rules so that up to nine of the best losers from the opposition will be in Parliament, so the opposition's voice is heard."
MM Lee also shared that the cost of living and the cost of housing for young couples will be the main issues for voters in the coming elections.
"We are building many new HDB homes but they cost more because they are better designed and more elegant.
"But Singaporeans do not like waiting. They blame the immigrants for pushing up prices of the homes. The immigrants who are not citizens cannot buy new flats directly from the government, but they can buy off the open market from owners who want to sell their HDB flats," he said.
MM Lee noted that there is some discomfort on this issue. He said, "We have got new permanent residents who have entered the market. But our birthrate or fertility rate is 1.16.
"We need 2.1 to replace the existing population. 1.16 means we are halving our population. If we do not accept migrants, we will be an ageing and a declining population. It is a trade-off."
"But our people feel discomforted seeing about one million foreign workers in our total population of 5.1 million. But most of these are people on two-year work permits, that can be extended but they have to go home eventually. They do the construction and the heavy work," he added.
MM Lee also stressed that Singapore's economy is doing well and the government have raised living standards, employment prospects, education for their children; schools, institutions and tertiary institutions.
"We have catered for both the top end and the lower end for those not academically inclined."
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