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The opposition should provide concrete alternatives to raise revenue and “not just opportunistic or populist ideas” to erode trust in the government, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said during the parliamentary debate on April 17, in a fresh salvo.

Wong's speech in the debate over President Halimah Yacob’s address at the opening of the second session of parliament in mid-April also mentioned that his role as next prime minister and the tenure of People’s Action Party (PAP) as the government of the day are givens.

Opposition agrees with govt direction

Laying out what an opposition ought to do, he said he believes the Workers’ Party (WP) in particular and the opposition in general "broadly agrees" with and supports the government's policy directions, even if they may want more to be done by the state.

The difference, Wong said, is that the PAP government “will always tell you plainly how we propose to raise revenues and ensure that our Budget remains balanced over the medium term” when it plans to spend more.

Proposed sums don't add up

Wong added that none of these alternatives that WP has put forth will make up for the shortfall, and that “their sums do not add up”, even though the opposition have provided some revenue alternatives.

“Where the opposition have good ideas, or where they can make a contribution to the ideas for improving our country, we welcome them," he said.

“But we ask that you be upfront about the realities and trade-offs we face as a nation, and be honest about your plans, policies and intentions," Wong added, given that Singapore is developing into a mature democracy with a serious government and opposition.

The Goods and Services Tax, GST, in particular, has been an issue the WP has disagreed with, even though it helps to fund initiatives, according to Wong.

He said: “We don’t need to go through the detailed arguments again. But without the GST, which the WP still does not support – and I’m not even talking about the increase in GST but the entire GST, which the Workers' Party still does not support – we will face a huge funding gap.”

"In this debate, and over the course of the remaining term of government, I look forward to hearing concrete alternatives from the opposition – not just opportunistic or populist ideas to chip away, bit by bit, at trust in government, but a serious alternative agenda for an alternative government," he added.

Not a given he will be PM, PAP will be govt

Wong added, as he had said previously, he does not assume that the PAP will win the next general election, nor is it inevitable that he will take over as prime minister.

Every general election from now on will be about who forms the government, not just what percentage of the votes the PAP receives, and how many seats the opposition wins.

As Singapore develops into a mature democracy, Singapore must not only have a "serious" government, but also a serious opposition that thinks carefully about what they would do as the government.

Top photo via MCI