by Foong Swee Fong
The people have heard it again and again — that the People’s Action Party (PAP) needs a solid mandate so that they can lead with confidence, execute effective policies even if unpopular, they will not be pushed around by foreign governments, etc.
But as people have given them solid mandates at the polling booths time after time — with always a supermajority in Parliament, what has happened after that?
PAP has introduced and increased the Goods & Service Tax (GST), signed free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) without seeking inputs or approval from the people, charged the people with market-priced land on which their HDB sits (albeit with subsidy), brought in loads of foreigners to “steal their lunch”, the list goes on.
When the first major recession struck in 1985, the PAP sacrificed the people by freezing their pay and cutting their Central Provident Funds (CPF) so that the ship would not sink.
That’s probably what it means for a strong mandate — that the people are willing to endure more unpopular measures from the PAP.
When will the people learn that the interest of the PAP is not of them, but of business, especially big businesses?
The PAP will look after the welfare of the people only up to the point of securing their votes at the General Elections, no more.
On the other hand, since businesses provide employment, and pay wages and taxes. They are the “National Interest”, therefore the people have to bend backwards for them.
And because the people have done so in the interest of the country, Singapore is now rich and has a strong currency.
Yet, if the people want the PAP to pay more attention to their welfare, ironically, is to give them a weak mandate, so that they will work for a strong one.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says such brinkmanship may unintentionally topple the PAP as government, but given the rising cost of living and the rising unhappiness of the lower to middle classes, it may become intentional.
This was first posted on Mr Foong’s Facebook page and republished with permission.
