Pritam Singh: Calling the Workers' Party 'PAP-lite' is PAP's electoral strategy

This was in response to Vivian Balakrishnan's comment during the July 1 political debate.

Sulaiman Daud | July 02, 2020, 01:20 PM

Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh has a response to Vivian Balakrishnan's comment that the WP's manifesto could have been written by someone from the PAP.

Answering a question from the media during a doorstop on July 2, Pritam said that it is an "electoral strategy" of the PAP to try and make that point.

He also added that he hopes the PAP will take their manifesto points and introduce it into their party agenda.

"Well I mean this is expected. The PAP, it's an electoral strategy of theirs to try and make that point. But as far as we're concerned, I think Dr Balakrishnan also said that the manifesto could have been written by someone from the PAP, something to that effect.

Well if that was the case I hope the PAP takes up all our manifesto points and introduce them into their agenda. Because I think that would really change the shape of Singapore, and we'll have a more caring and compassionate society."

PAP-like? PAP-lite?

A day ago in the evening of July 2, a political debate was held between Vivian of the People's Action Party (PAP), Jamus Lim of WP, Francis Yuen of the Progress Singapore Party, and Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party.

During the debate, Vivian said:

"You know Dr. Lim, I've read your manifesto, and actually to be honest with you, we could have written the same manifesto.

And that's why people have called the Workers' Party PAP-lite, or PAP-like. Whatever line or stand PAP has taken, you basically use that as your reference point, and take a half step to the left."

Lim replied that the parties fundamentally differed on where trade-offs would occur, and said that the PAP tended to side with capital.

Look at WP's record: Pritam

Responding to a question from the media on whether voters hoping for an alternative would find the WP too similar, Pritam answered:

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Did the PAP raise, or did any PAP MP file a question on (the) Keppel Marine scandal? I think voters should think about that...Did any of them step up to consider the other perspective to bills like POFMA? I think these are relevant questions Singaporeans need to ask.

I think more generally, my experience in the party at least, over many years, has been Singaporeans want an opposition. They want an opposition to scrutinise the PAP. But they also want, they're very discerning as to the type of opposition they want. And we've tried very hard to take their perspective on board.

And we have created that sort of culture within the party of an opposition that is credible, not just locally, but internationally as well. And we are proud to stand as Singaporeans in spite of being in the opposition."

During the POFMA debate in 2019, all WP Members of Parliament and Non-Constituency Members of Parliament voted against the Bill.

Pritam himself filed several questions during the Parliamentary debate over the Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. (KOM) corruption case in 2018.

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Top image by Syahindah Ishak.