SDP accuses PAP of copying its policy ideas while denying credit, ahead of May 3 polls

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan on 30 April accused the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) of adopting opposition policies after initially dismissing them, without acknowledging their origin. Speaking at a rally near Sun Plaza, Sembawang, he claimed the PAP routinely discredits the SDP’s ideas during elections but implements similar policies afterwards. Dr Chee made these remarks just days ahead of the General Election on 3 May, as he contested in Sembawang West SMC. He cited three key policy areas where the SDP was “first to propose”, yet received no credit. One such policy was the unemployment insurance scheme. Dr Chee referenced his 2016 proposal, which would provide retrenched workers with a staggered payout based on their last-drawn salaries, but then-Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam criticised it as a populist policy. In 2024, a comparable SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme was introduced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. It offers up to S$6,000 (US$4,500) over six months for involuntarily unemployed individuals who complete job-seeking tasks. Dr Chee also pointed to the SDP’s long-standing call for higher income tax rates for top earners. He noted that this was proposed as a means to reduce GST on essentials. While the idea was once rejected, in 2015, the Government raised taxes on the top 5% of earners. The third policy he cited was the minimum wage, which the SDP advocated as early as 2001. Although it was criticised by then-Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say, a form of it emerged in the Progressive Wage Model introduced in 2012, establishing minimum salaries for certain sectors. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who leads the PAP team contesting Sembawang GRC, had earlier dismissed the SDP’s proposals as unrealistic. At a PAP rally on 28 April, he said, “When something sounds so good, it is usually fake.” Dr Chee responded, “First they criticise, then they copy.”

SDP candidates for Sembawang GRC — Bryan Lim, Surayah Akbar, James Gomez, Damanhuri Abas, and Alfred Tan — also took aim at Mr Ong. They defended their housing policy proposal, especially the Non-Open Market (NOM) flat scheme, claiming it was developed independently and predates similar proposals by the Progress Singapore Party (PSP). Ms Surayah rebutted Mr Ong’s allegation that the SDP copied the PSP, asserting that the NOM concept had been part of SDP’s platform since 2019. The scheme would exclude land cost from Housing Board flat prices and require resale only to HDB, keeping public housing affordable for working- and middle-class Singaporeans. Mr Damanhuri said prices under the NOM scheme could range from S$90,000 for two-room flats to S$270,000 for five-room units. He also explained that unlike PSP’s Affordable Homes Scheme — proposed in 2023 — SDP’s idea does not defer land cost payments but eliminates them entirely from pricing. Alfred Tan questioned how SDP could have copied a party founded only in 2019, stating their NOM concept had long been established. He said, “It befuddles me how Mr Ong could publicly accuse the SDP of taking this idea from the PSP when the PSP had not even been born.” The SDP also highlighted its broader vision for Singapore, including nationalised healthcare, a mandatory national health insurance scheme, universal mental health support, and the abolition of the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). Party chairman Paul Tambyah framed the proposals as forming a sustainable social safety net from childhood through adulthood. He told the rally crowd that while the vision may sound utopian, it is “eminently achievable.” On the ground in Sembawang, the SDP team also unveiled their “people-first” Sembawang town plan. It includes lifts at all overhead bridges, wellness centres for various age groups, and co-working spaces for residents. Dr Gomez said the plan is based on consultation with residents and would be supported by regular town halls if elected. He criticised PAP Sembawang West candidate Poh Li San’s dismissal of town halls as “political theatre”, calling it proof of the ruling party’s detachment from participatory democracy. Dr Chee closed the rally by reaffirming the SDP’s readiness to serve, presenting his team as one with “knowledge, heart and experience”. He pledged personal leadership of the Sembawang West constituency and reiterated the SDP’s commitment to bold but pragmatic reform. The SDP has fielded 11 candidates across four constituencies in this election: Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC, Sembawang GRC, Bukit Panjang SMC, and Sembawang West SMC. The party remains the only one to have held nightly rallies since the campaign period began on 24 April.