Ex-NSP leader Lim Tean says new Peoples Voice party has been officially registered
Former National Solidarity Party leader Lim Tean announced the official registration of his new political party – dubbed the Peoples Voice (PV) – on Monday (29 October).
Lim, a 53-year-old lawyer, made the announcement in a Facebook video post in which he reiterated the party’s “most important promises”.
These include not having the Goods and Services Tax (GST) increased by 2 per cent and “calling for a Referendum to overturn the Elected Presidency and cast fresh votes for a new one”.
‘Very democratic’ party structure
In response to Yahoo News Singapore’s queries, Lim – who is PV’s Party Leader – said that the Registry of Societies informed him last week about the party’s official registration.
While he declined to provide details regarding other PV committee and party members, Lim said he would “inform Singaporeans how we have structured ourselves in a very democratic way different from other political parties” in due course.
He noted, however, that the party has done away with the “anachronistic role” of secretary-general – the traditional head of a political party.
Lim also declined to share the party’s membership numbers but said that “at least 600 people” have expressed their interest in joining either by writing in to him or other party members.
Lim added that the party intends to contest in the next general election, which must be held by 15 January 2021.
Looking to form the government
In his seven-minute video, Lim said that he did not form the party to act as a check-and-balance to the current ruling People’s Action Party, but to form the government.
As of Monday afternoon, the video had garnered over 1,300 reactions and over 900 shares since being posted that morning.
“It is evident the PAP are long past caring for our people and their lease on possession of their office must be brought to an end,” said Lim in the video.
“I want to assure you that there is not a single mess the PAP has made that we cannot undo,” he added.
No. 1 on the list of issues that Lim claimed he is looking to champion is ensuring that Singaporeans get full access to their CPF monies at the age of 55. This would give the older generation their much-needed income, he said.
Other causes include scrapping the impending 2 per cent GST hike and making basic necessities such as rice and diapers GST-free.
Lim added that he also intends to introduce a minimum wage and cut ministers’ salaries by 70 per cent.
Letting people have their say
In a previous exclusive with Yahoo News Singapore, Lim – who filed the application to form Peoples Voices on 24 April – said that he formed the party with intention of letting people who are fed up with government policies have their say.
Lim said then that he believed the opposition would be “in (a) position to form the government” within the next few election cycles.
Lim joined the NSP in 2011 and rose up the ranks to contest as the party’s secretary-general in the 2015 General Election. He resigned from the NSP in May last year due to disagreements with the party.
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Former National Solidarity Party chief has applied to form new political party
