Dr Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), in his latest video, highlighted that the People’s Action Party (PAP) often criticizes policies proposed by the SDP, only to later adopt them.

He opened by recalling the 2016 Bukit Batok by-election, where then-Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam accused the SDP of pushing for populist policies such as universal healthcare and unemployment insurance.

Dr Chee pointed out that just nine years later, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a similar unemployment insurance scheme, the SkillsFuture JobSeeker Support Scheme, during his National Day Rally speech. Dr Chee noted that the PAP’s version closely mirrors the SDP’s 2015 proposal, known as the Restart scheme, which provided re-employment support and temporary assistance to retrenched workers.

He emphasized, however, that the PAP’s implementation falls short of the SDP’s original vision. While the SDP’s Restart scheme proposed paying retrenched workers 50% of their last drawn salary for up to 18 months, capped at the median wage, the PAP’s scheme only offers $1,000 a month for six months.

Dr Chee questioned how such a small sum could be sufficient for families dealing with financial burdens, stressing that if the PAP were serious about helping Singaporeans, it should implement more meaningful assistance instead of offering what he referred to as “cosmetic” proposals.

Dr Chee further illustrated the PAP’s pattern by citing examples from past elections. He recalled how in the 2011 General Election, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan labeled the SDP as the “most middle-class unfriendly opposition party” for advocating higher income taxes on the top 1% of earners. Yet, in 2015, the PAP raised income taxes on the top 5% of earners.

Dr Chee also pointed out that the PAP later echoed SDP’s stance on education reform. In 2014, the SDP called for the abolition of the Gifted Education Programme (GEP), arguing it exacerbates elitism in Singaporean schools. Fast forward to the present, Dr Chee highlighted how the GEP is being phased out under the PAP’s Forward Singapore initiative.

Dr Chee underscored that this trend of criticizing opposition ideas and then adopting them has been ongoing for decades.

He recounted how, in 1994, his book Dare to Change was criticized by the PAP’s leaders, particularly then-Minister for Education Lee Yock Suan, who dismissed his policy suggestions as rehashed Western liberal ideas. Yet, many of the issues Dr Chee raised in the book, such as the regressive nature of GST, CPF policies, and the negative effects of streaming in schools, are now areas the PAP is addressing, albeit belatedly.

While Dr Chee acknowledged that it is ultimately good for Singaporeans if the government implements policies that benefit them, he took issue with the PAP’s repeated attacks on the SDP while subsequently adopting its ideas.

He argued that the PAP constantly presents itself as the “A-Team” with exceptional leadership, while dismissing the opposition as “bumbling idiots,” as former PAP MP Lim Hwee Hua once said. This, he noted, is done with the support of state-controlled media outlets, which continue to downplay the contributions of the opposition while glorifying the ruling party.

Dr Chee urged Singaporeans to see through these tactics, particularly during the brief nine-day election campaign period, when the PAP’s attacks on the opposition typically intensify.

He reminded voters that after the elections, the PAP often ends up quietly adopting the very ideas it had criticized. He called on Singaporeans, especially the younger generation, to help spread the SDP’s message through social media, highlighting that in the past, before the rise of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the opposition was at the mercy of state-controlled media, which offered no recourse for rebutting the PAP’s personal attacks and character assassination.

Dr Chee concluded by encouraging Singaporeans to engage with the SDP and support its efforts.

He announced an upcoming book sale at Ang Mo Kio Hub as an opportunity to meet with supporters, listen to their concerns, and continue the conversation about Singapore’s future.

He ended the video with a call to action, urging citizens to help spread the truth and counter the PAP’s narrative by sharing SDP videos and content on social media.

In the upcoming parliamentary sitting on 9 September 2024, the Workers’ Party (WP) Members of Parliament will focus on key issues such as housing affordability, cybersecurity, national security, and public expenditure.

The topics raised reflect the party’s attention to areas affecting Singaporeans’ daily lives, public safety, and the management of government resources. (read PQs here)

Housing Affordability and Policies

Housing remains a priority, with multiple WP MPs addressing questions on the topic. Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis is seeking details from the Minister for National Development regarding HDB loan-to-value ratios and HDB resale price trends over the past five years​. This aims to provide insights into the challenges faced by first-time homebuyers.

Additionally, Ms Sylvia Lim will question why some Build-To-Order and Sale of Balance flat applicants are restricted from selecting flats in projects with later booking dates, seeking clarification on policies that may limit buyers’ choices.

Cybersecurity in the Education System

The recent breach of the Mobile Guardian app, which impacted 13,000 students, is another key focus. Mr Gerald Giam will question the Ministry of Education on how many students were affected, the extent of data loss, and recovery measures.

This follows a Reddit user’s claim that the vulnerability had been highlighted months before the breach. The Ministry confirmed receiving the tip-off but stated that the reported breach had been patched, although the informant refutes this in a subsequent Reddit post.

Ms He Ting Ru will also address the Ministry of Education, asking how it plans to involve parents more actively in managing their children’s devices following the security breach and the removal of the Mobile Guardian Device Management Application.

National Security and Extremism

Mr Pritam Singh is questioning the Minister for Home Affairs about the entry of Bangladeshi preacher Amir Hamza, who delivered a sermon in Singapore on 9 August 2024, asking if he is on any watchlist in the possession of Home Team security agencies.

Hamza was able to enter the country under a different name, raising concerns about the effectiveness of Singapore’s security measures.

He had publicly announced his intention to enter Singapore on his Facebook page with the date and location specified.

Transparency in Public Events

In another area, Mr Gerald Giam will question the Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth on the People’s Association’s criteria for inviting elected MPs to Resident Network-organized events, asking for details on how equal access is ensured for MPs from all parties​

Costs of the Founders’ Memorial

Public expenditure will also be under scrutiny, as Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asks for information on the development and annual operating costs of the Founders’ Memorial. The S$235.6 million project has sparked public debate over the use of taxpayer funds, with critics questioning whether such a large sum is justified for a national monument.