GE2015: Workers' Party launches its manifesto
The Workers’ Party has unveiled its election manifesto, calling for a broad range of reforms in areas such as Singapore’s economy, the wage model and system of government.
Based on its campaign slogan “Empower Your Future”, the party said it was time “to move beyond short-term fixes for long-standing problems”, and called for “compassionate and equitable growth” at a media conference to launch the manifesto on Saturday (Aug 29).
The conference is notable for the absence of WP’s top two leaders Low Thia Khiang and Sylvia Lim, with Gerald Giam fronting the panel of younger party members, several of whom have been unveiled earlier as candidates. Giam, who was a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament previously, said the move was deliberate as WP’s leaders wanted to empower the younger generation of party members.
The WP members said the manifesto is targeted at improving the lives of Singaporeans of all levels. “Our manifesto is directed to all communities in Singapore. We have taken an approach putting Singaporeans first,” Giam said. Party member Mohamed Fairoz Shariff added that the proposals listed in the manifesto focused on national issues that affect all Singaporeans including the Malay community.
In the manifesto, WP said it is time for Singapore to steer away from “blind economic growth”. “We are tired of the myth of Singaporeans needing to bite the bullet in the hope that wealth generated at the top will trickle down eventually. This myth has resulted in severe inequality and discouraged enterprise in the past decade,” it said.
Echoing this theme, new candidate Daniel Foo said, “It’s not that we reject being a global city, but we must be a ‘home city’.”
In line with its proposed revamp of Singapore’s economic model, WP has called for the introduction of a National Minimum Wage. Pointing to the stagnating productivity growth of recent years, Giam said low-wage workers will be at risk if the trend continues.
He added that the party has studied and debated extensively about the issue. “We have not come to the decision to propose the NMW lightly. We won’t just throw out numbers without having done research,” he said. Party member Leon Perera said WP is proposing pegging the NMW to the average household expenditure on basic needs, and gradually increasing it over time.
Other bread and butter issues like transport and housing were also raised at the conference. Party member Kenneth Foo reiterated the party’s call for a creation of a not-for-profit National Transport Corporation that will own all public transport assets.
The party also said the time has come for a diversified system of government that can accommodate “different political voices”, with adequate checks and balances in place. Instead of a Parliament monopolised by one party, it should include “MPs from a rational, responsible and respectable opposition party (that) compels the government to listen to the collective wisdom of the people”.
New candidate He Ting Ru said, “We seek a robust system with accountable democracy.” She also called for the abolition of the Group Representation Constituency system and the setting up of an independent Election Commission and Electoral Boundaries Review Committee.
Earlier in the day, the ruling People’s Action Party unveiled its manifesto with the slogan “With You, For You, For Singapore”. Its secretary-general and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned Singaporeans that if the opposition wins more constituencies at the upcoming election, “Singapore will be sunk”.
In response to Lee’s comment, Giam said, “I don’t buy the argument that the PAP is so indispensable that no one can ever replace them. The PAP does not have all the answers.”
