[CONSOLIDATED] Singapore General Election 2025 Discussion Thread

[charleslee1989]

wow impressive, take my vote pap!

eh?

 

[Medicated Oil]

how we going to fund it

We still have more than enough with the GST reduced.
Dun forget that we have a bloated population.
Just cancel some necessary spending like some stone.

 

[Shion]

will support anyone who is anti-foreigner pro-local

 

[charleslee1989]

how we going to fund it

have you seen the budget surpluses and the interest from the NIRC over the years?

 

[buttbERry]

brace for GE

 

[krikering]

In before populist comment

Personally feel that all these should be expected of a first-world country, if not then not much difference from a developing country's welfare for citizens.

 

[charleslee1989]

Back to 7% won't help to reduce price one.

Also, they support DEI ah? If hiring prioritize sinkie means hire not based on experience and skills but on diversity. So much for meritocracy.

Bto house already so cheap till ppl can flip for 3-4x profit. How much cheaper want to be sia.

Single why need wait till 28, earlier cannot meh

no gst for essentials means rich also earn leh, better to collect gst and give back to needy via gst cash.

I think you need to read thru' the manifesto about the zero rated GST for essentials...

 

[pohu]

how we going to fund it

That is what I think too ...

 

[testing_testing]

 

[helloicanseeu]

In before populist comment

too late, oredi posted above u

 

[s-ghost]

this is what i call a manifesto, not some beautiful pictures with motherhood statements

 

[chaiscool]

I think you need to read thru' the manifesto about the zero rated GST for essentials...

They only say less likely, doesn't mean rich can't be cheap too. Moi know ppl drive conti do so many stunt to avoid paying for parking, cheap out on servicing, go jb pump petrol etc.

Rich can be cheap too.

Easier to charge everyone gst and rebate those needy ppl.

 

[buttbERry]

only hear about her during election

 

[yperic]

GE2025: PSP to contest West Coast-Jurong West and Chua Chu Kang, says it will field fewer candidates​

?

The press conference was fronted by PSP chief Leong Mun Wai, the party’s first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa, and chairman Tan Cheng Bock. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

SINGAPORE – The opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP) on April 6 said it will be contesting West Coast-Jurong West and Chua Chu Kang GRCs, and that it will be fielding fewer candidates this general election.

Party chief Leong Mun Wai did not provide details on how many candidates the party will put forward this election season. The party fielded 24 candidates in GE2020.

Asked about the reason for this, Mr Leong said that contesting a general election was a “very complicated affair”, citing problems like having dedicated manpower to canvass the ground. “Our conclusion from the last election is that we need to focus a bit more,” he added.

He also said that PSP is still working out plans to contest other constituencies.

Mr Leong made this announcement at the launch event for PSP’s manifesto, which focuses on bread-and-butter issues such as cost of living and jobs.

The press conference was fronted by Mr Leong, the party’s first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa, and party chairman Tan Cheng Bock.

PSP chairman Tan Cheng Bock presenting the party’s manifesto and campaign slogan at the PSP headquarters on April 6. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

The launch event makes PSP one of the first political parties to launch a manifesto ahead of the 2025 General Election.

The manifesto sets out over 60 policy ideas centred on several themes: the cost of living, housing, jobs and wages, social safety nets, education and governance.

Mr Leong said: “Most of the policies have already been proposed in Parliament. Among the new policies, many are aimed at strengthening protections for workers to secure livelihoods and improve work-life balance for workers.”

Mr Leong and Ms Poa are Non-Constituency MPs who have raised some of these issues in Parliament, including the need to reduce statutory working hours to 40 hours a week, down from the current 44 hours, and increasing annual leave entitlement from 12 to 14 days.

New policies being proposed in the manifesto include expanding non-academic pathways to university admission, mandating environmental impact assessments before major development works, and having MPs declare their public assets, Mr Leong added.

Ultimately, the most pressing issue the manifesto wanted to address is cost of living, Mr Leong said.

Ultimately, the most pressing issue the manifesto wanted to address is cost of living, Mr Leong said.

He added that the party had collected feedback from the public in formulating these policy suggestions. He also hopes the manifesto will demonstrate to the public that the party is capable of offering constructive alternative solutions to enable every Singaporean to benefit from the country’s progress.

“We will work hard to earn the trust of Singaporeans at the ballot box, so that we can champion these ideas in the next Parliament,” he said.

The manifesto’s executive summary outlined four areas that the party stands for: building a fair society, living with dignity, more pathways to success in education, and strengthening democracy and political institutions.

It then detailed the proposals, organised by theme.

On cost of living, the manifesto said that there has been a “major escalation in the cost of living” in Singapore since the last general election in 2020.

The increase in goods and services tax from 7 per cent to 9 per cent, as well as rising prices of housing and transport, added to the burden of Singaporeans, it says. But wages have “barely kept pace”, it added.

To combat this, the party proposed lowering GST to back to 7 per cent and exempting basic essential goods from the tax.

The manifesto also tackled housing policy, proposing that Singaporeans aged 28 and above be allowed to purchase two- and three-room Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, and resale flats of all types, in all estates. Currently, singles can only purchase resale flats and two-room flexi BTO flats at the age of 35.

It also made other recommendations that it said would make housing more affordable, including a reiteration of its Affordable Housing Scheme previously presented as a motion in Parliament in 2023.

This entails exempting Singaporeans from the cost of the land their flats are built on, unless they later sell their flats.

On jobs and wages, the manifesto proposed a minimum living wage of $2,250 per month for all resident Singaporean workers,

PSP also proposed that on social policies, more support be given for mental health services, among other things.

The party also proposed a series of policies aimed at the education system, including introducing a 10-year through-train programme where taking the PSLE is optional, as well as reduced class sizes.

On governance, the party proposed cutting ministerial salaries, and a review of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, Singapore’s fake news law.

This is the party’s second manifesto following its maiden electoral outing in GE2020.

Its 2020 manifesto, which spanned 13 pages, had broadly outlined the party’s ideas for Singapore’s economic, social and political development, and was largely focused on helping the Republic emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic. Its campaign slogan then was ‘You deserve better’.

It also focused on the cost of living as the top issue for voters, and criticised the Government’s response to the pandemic’s economic fallout.

The latest manifesto, which has 78 pages, represents the “voices of the people”, said Mr Leong, adding that it is a work in progress.

“Compared to 2020, we have further enhanced our interaction with residents and we have gathered more feedback from them,” he added.

 

[Akky85]

how we going to fund it

Like how we always been funding for things in SG.

 

[lifeisinforashock]

I wonder pap manifesto hw many pages.

 

[michael_thm]

Actually all these is wrong. GST should remain at 10%. But every citizen household (by address)should be given $10K in cash per year. That way, the 1st $100K spending of every household will be GST waived. Poor no need pay GST, rich pay GST.

 

[Shawny88]

These few weekends like getting more and more exciting…the ikan bilis parties also walking the ground now

 

[yperic]

Ex-SAF Chief of Staff Goh Pei Ming seen at both Punggol & East Coast GRC events with PAP MPs​

Goh and Foo told reporters they started volunteering in Punggol a week ago.

Three new faces from the People's Action Faces (PAP) were spotted at a community event organised by DBS in Punggol on Sunday, Apr. 6.

They were former Singapore Armed Forces Chief of Staff - Joint Staff Goh Pei Ming, former Ministry of Transport Foo Cexiang, and Sembcorp's head of corporate affairs for Singapore and Southeast Asia Valerie Lee, as reported by CNA.

The three were seen with the current Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Members of Parliament (MPs) Teo Chee Hean, Janil Puthucheary, Desmond Tan, Sharael Taha and Yeo Wan Ling, as well as Punggol West SMC's Sun Xueling.

Goh was later seen at a Bedok event on the same day, in East Coast GRC.

Started volunteering a week ago​

Both Goh and Foo told reporters they started volunteering in Punggol a week ago, according to CNA.

Goh, who has been volunteering in Kampong Chai Chee since 2007, said that he has been following Puthucheary around to get to know the community in Punggol.

"It's really vibrant. I really like it here very much," Goh said, as quoted by The Straits Times (ST).

Goh said he had also followed Sun on the ground and intends to follow Yeo Wanling in the coming week.

Foo told reporters that he has been interacting with residents in Punggol to find out what they love about the area.

"It's been great interacting with them. Overall, I think we've had quite a positive response, and we've had good conversations with them on what they love about Punggol," he said, as quoted by ST.

When Goh and Foo were asked if they would be contesting in the newly created Punggol GRC, they said they could not comment on this.

Puthucheary said that PAP had not "settled on the slate" for the four-member Punggol GRC, according to CNA.

Punggol GRC​

Following the release and adoption of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee's (EBRC) report, the existing five-member Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC will be split into two four-member GRCs— Punggol GRC and Pasir Ris-Changi GRC.

Pasir Ris-Changi GRC will incorporate some Pasir Ris estates and some parts of the current East Coast GRC.

Punggol GRC will take up the Punggol estates from Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and add in Punggol West SMC, which Sun is the current MP for.

East Coast GRC​

The inaugural Caregiving Kampong @ East Coast festival on Apr. 6, 2025 was held at Heartbeat@Bedok.

The event was to bring together "corporates, community partners, and government agencies" to do more to support caregivers.

In the event, Grab Singapore pledged S$300,000 worth of vouchers for caretakers.

Every eligible caregiver will be provided with S$100 worth of vouchers.

East Coast GRC MPs Tan Kiat How, Cheryl Chan and Jessica Tan were at the event.

Goh Pei Ming was also present at this event, following the one at Punggol.

Goh is the chairman of the Kampong Chai Chee Community Club management committee.

Goh said that he was there in his capacity as the chairman of Kampong Chai Chee Community club management.

Goh also said he had been recently starting to do grassroots work in Punggol, while he had been doing grassroots work in Chai Chee since 2007.

He had been asked by then-East Coast GRC MP Lee Yi Shyan during a house visit whether he was keen to join him and "serve the community".

Top image via Janil Puthucheary and Valerie Lee 李乃怡/Facebook

 

[charleslee1989]

They only say less likely, doesn't mean rich can't be cheap too. Moi know ppl drive conti do so many stunt to avoid paying for parking, cheap out on servicing, go jb pump petrol etc.

Rich can be cheap too.

Easier to charge everyone gst and rebate those needy ppl.

From what I read is that they gave an example on the essential goods like rice.

So from what the PSP CEC is saying for cheaper rice like those thai rice that is under $2 per kg, it will be not GST charged as the poorer folks will largely aim for that. The wealthier one may choose for something more expensive.