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The Workers Party (WP) "seeks an evolution of Singapore's politics" and not a "revolution" that includes a change of government, at least for now, WP Secretary-General Pritam Singh proclaimed.

Speaking on the fifth day of the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address on Apr. 21, Singh explained that WP seeks a "permanent presence of elected opposition MPs" to "ensure sufficient balance in our political system".

"We do not seek a revolution that includes a change of government at this stage of Singapore's political development. Based on my reading, this view is consistent with the general public sentiment. "

The Leader of the Opposition added that the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) "should not rest on its laurels". "What if a rogue government sprang from the bosom of the PAP?" he asked rhetorically.

Debate on governance and opposition

The debate that had been going on from Apr. 17 to Apr. 21, 2023, saw multiple PAP leaders, 4G and otherwise, debate the President's Address in Parliament. Some members of the PAP used their time to address the opposition parties and offer their thoughts on politics in Singapore.

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong first raised the issue in his speech on Apr. 17, stating that the opposition should "provide concrete alternatives" and "not just opportunistic or populist ideas".

Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung reiterated the view on Apr. 20, saying the opposition should "do their homework" to present credible plans and take a stand on sensitive issues.

PSP's NCMP Leong Mun Wai and WP's MP Leon Perera responded to PAP's views on Apr. 20.

Leong said PSP proposes "alternative policies as a serious opposition party does", while Perera said WP offers "alternative policies that substantially differ" from PAP's ideas.

WP list of policies they claim Govt adopted

Singh said that much of the information found in the government's addenda to the President's Address had been made known before Parliament prorogued. Hence, WP MPs raised issues that "remain at the top of the public mind".

He covered the issues of foreign talent in Singapore, reiterated his call for English proficiency as a requirement for new PRs and citizens, and clarified WP's stance on the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

On the PAP's views of WP, Singh listed a "non-exhaustive listing of WP's alternative proposals" to "demolish this idea that the WP has not put forward serious alternatives."

Singh listed out eight policies he claimed were adopted by the government, in some form, after the WP proposed them:

1. Educational qualifications verification of Employment Pass applicants from Sep 2023, WP raised in their 2020 General Election (GE) manifesto
2. Parliament sittings live broadcasts available from Jan 2021 - WP suggested in their 2020 and 2015 GE manifestos.
3.  National hydrogen strategy to transition to net zero emissions - WP gave suggestions during the Budget 2020 debate.
4. Maternity leave for single mothers starting Nov 2016 - WP asked for it since their 2011 GE manifesto.
5. BTO first-timers who give up a chance to select flat losing priority status on Aug 2023 - WP made similar suggestions in their 2015 GE manifesto
6. Plastic bag charge from Jul 2023 - WP made proposals in their 2020 GE manifesto.
7. Healthier SG's one family physician for everyone - WP called for a family doctor pairing scheme in their 2015 GE manifesto.
8. Flexible work arrangements guidelines to be introduced by 2024 - WP asked for it in their 2015 GE manifesto.

S'poreans don't want opposition to fail: Singh

Singh said that "people will reject our brand of politics" if WP's agenda was "opportunism or populism", as suggested by Wong.

"But many Singaporeans do not want the cause of the opposition in Singapore to fail, and instinctively recognise the importance of a rational, responsible and respectable political opposition in this House."

He feels this is why public expectations of the outcomes in general elections are "not necessarily in synchrony" with Wong's point that "every election from now is about who forms the government".

"What the DPM says is true, in a theoretical sense, that elections are about who forms government. But as the PAP itself likes to tout, Singapore is unique."

Change in government? WP has a long way to go: Singh

Singh then asserted that the "political reality" of the real prospect for a change of government during elections was that "the advantage of the PAP incumbency" is "concealed".

Singh mentioned the "first past the post system", the "size and footprint of opposition parties", among others, claiming they are reasons for this advantage.

He said Wong had asked WP "to be honest" about their plans, policies and intentions of displacing the PAP and forming the government. "The reality is, the WP is a small party, and we have a long way to go," he said.

Constitutional affair

Singh explained why he felt that WP's goal of ensuring one-third of the seats in Parliament is important. Currently, the PAP has a super-majority of seats, and can amend the Constitution at will, as that requires a two-thirds majority.

While the WP does not intend to block all amendments to the Constitution, if they are in the interest of the people, they will be supported. But if the WP assesses they are detrimental to Singapore and Singaporeans, they will vote against it, Singh said.

"Voting against Constitutional amendments is not something that PAP MPs will be able to do, if their party whip is not lifted. They can talk all they like in this House and go to the ends of the Earth claiming to make a principled stand. But they cannot vote other than how the PAP leadership dictates."

Singh said the WP seeks an "evolution" of Singapore politics towards the permanent presence of elected opposition MPs, so as to ensure sufficient balance in the political system against an "extraordinarily dominant" PAP. Currently, it does not seek a "revolution" that includes a change in government.

However, this can change. Singh said the PAP should not "rest on its laurels", and asked what if a rogue government sprang from the PAP.

Singh said he thinks Wong has to appreciate that "public expectations of the WP in parliament" is different from the "PAP's expectations from WP".

"I hope the PAP can rise above political partisanship and acknowledge the political contribution of the Workers Party towards the betterment of Singapore and Singaporeans. "

Wong responds

In response, Wong said that he and Pritam agree that Singapore "need both serious government and serious opposition in our maturing democracy".

However, he said that their views on how they characterised some of the proposals made by the opposition differ, "I think we may well have to agree to disagree."

Lessons from other democracies

About the "evolution" of Singapore's democracy, he pointed to other developed democracies in the world, where societies have become divided, polarised and their systems stuck in gridlock.

While it does not mean those people have become disloyal to their countries, Wong asked why those countries have become so dysfunctional where politics is concerned, and warned that Singapore may not be immune.

Expects opposition to point out if govt fall short of standards

Wong said the lesson for Singapore is that these countries have been damaged by populism, which he defined as "politics that suppress the truth" and "pretends there are simple answers to complex issues".

"We reject all forms of populism, we make sure, and we uphold honesty and integrity in policymaking. If the government were ever to fall short of these standards, we expect the opposition to call us out and say something. Please do. You have to do it. We expect you to do it.

Conversely, if the opposition were to propose ideas and policies that we feel are populist, we likewise will highlight them and highlight our concerns, rightfully so."

Says governments can change hands suddenly

Wong believes that there is a role for the opposition to play in Singapore's politics, but reiterated that they should "offer serious alternatives to the government".

He explained that "things can happen very quickly" in politics and that the opposition should think about "sitting on this side of the aisle" in the future.

"What sort of agenda will you offer Singaporeans, and what would you do if you were to form the government?"

Wong emphasised that their stance is not to have "populism and political opportunism" to take root in Parliament but stand for a democracy that is maturing with "a serious government and a serious opposition".

Singh briefly responded by saying he understands Singapore is facing a future which is "not exactly smooth", and there will be a lot of unpredictable factors they have to contend with, so they will be going back and forth at each other's proposals and ideas.

"I accept DPM's concerns...of our democracy, and certainly the Workers Party, and I hope the opposition, in general, will be mindful going forward and work towards the betterment of Singapore and Singaporeans."

PSP's response

Leong Mun Wai, PSP's Secretary-General, also took the opportunity to give his thoughts on PAP's views on the opposition.

"I would like to say that PSP is also very in agreement and supportive that in the maturing democracy, we need both a responsive government and also an opposition that can put up alternative policies."

He said that he was absent for the past few days of the debate because of a family medical emergency.

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