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Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai reiterated in Parliament that he and fellow Progress Singapore Party (PSP) NCMP Hazel Poa had "demonstrated what PSP as a responsible opposition party will do to allow the voices of Singaporeans (to) be heard".

Leong, recently appointed as PSP's Secretary-General, said in his response to the President's Address that they had "proposed alternative policies as a serious opposition party does" and claimed that "the Government does not generally seem to be prepared to seriously consider" their proposals.

Says government policy changes "were inadequate"

This came after Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's speech in Parliament on Apr. 17, as he called on the opposition to "provide concrete alternatives to raise revenue" and "not just opportunistic or populist ideas".

Leong highlighted that PSP was committed to working with the government and all political parties to refresh the social compact outlined in President Halimah Yacob’s Presidential Address on Apr. 10.

However, he stated that policy changes advanced by the government "were inadequate to address present problems", such as Singaporeans’ job security and surging HDB prices.

Claim Singaporeans anxious about jobs security & foreign talent

Leong pointed out that he had raised the issue of economic growth and the workforce in Parliament, claiming that Singaporeans experienced “widespread anxiety” concerning their jobs and livelihood.

"Many Singaporeans are very concerned that the benefits of job growth and economic growth are mainly accruing to the foreign workforce in Singapore, rather than Singaporean workers, even though our workers are well-educated, well-skilled, and hardworking."

Denies xenophobic allegations

He said that while his party attempted to address “substantial issues”, he claimed the Government instead “tried to paint the PSP as a xenophobic, nativist, and even racist political party.”

“We categorically reject such allegations,” Leong said. He clarified that his party understands that Singapore always need the right foreign talent to complement the Singaporean core for economic success, adding that PSP "welcome(s) the right foreign talent."

However, he added, "When the quality, number and concentration of work pass holders affect the job security of Singaporeans, we must speak out."

“Singapore is a global city-state. Unlike the Americans in New York or the Chinese in Shanghai, our countrymen have nowhere else to go if they cannot afford the cost of living or are displaced from their PMET jobs. There is no hinterland for these Singaporeans to retreat to. They will have to leave Singapore and go to another country. We must treasure our citizens and cannot let this happen.”

Says he asked "many questions" over the past three years

He said that this is why he had, over the past three years, "continued to ask so many questions" and "focused so many" of his speeches on foreign manpower policy, wages and employment of Singaporeans and workplace discrimination.

Leong then restated his party’s stance of having a S$1,200 monthly levy on employment pass (EP) holders and implementing diversity quotas in terms of nationality for a company’s workforce.

He claimed they were "rational and constructive policy alternatives to level the playing field for our Singaporeans."

"They are not meant to close our doors to foreign talents or targeted at any nationality or race. We have merely sought to advance the interests of our Singaporean workers and to give voice to their persistent anxieties and concerns over our immigration policy and their livelihoods. It is dangerous for the Government to misconstrue our concerns as being motivated by nativism, xenophobia, and racism."

Claims there needs to be "policies with hard targets"

Moving on, he pointed to the various policy initiatives introduced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), such as the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) and an increase in minimum qualifying salaries for EP holders.

He said the “many exemptions granted undermine the effectiveness of these policies as the MOM is given large discretion” on their enforcement.

He believed there was a need for “policies with hard targets like the ones PSP has proposed,” once again raising his proposal of having a minimum living wage for locals.

"We hope that the Government will continue to strengthen support for unemployed and underemployed workers," he explained.

"We also look forward to contributing to the debate on the new workplace fairness law next year," he said.

Claims PSP's housing proposals are "rational alternatives"

Leong highlighted that PSP had pushed for improvement in the financial security of Singaporeans by debating on the affordability and accessibility of public housing.

"We had a substantive debate on this issue for some 12 hours this February, initiated by Hazel Poa and me," he claimed that this is "yet another example that shows the value of having Opposition Members" in Parliament, by reflecting an issue that many Singaporeans are "deeply concerned about".

He added that despite PSP's "limited resources", they put out two key housing policy proposals: the Affordable Homes Scheme and the Millennial Apartments Scheme.

Describing these as “rational alternatives” they have "researched and thought through", Leong welcomed the government to provide statistics that "substantiate" the rhetoric that these alternative policies "will cause a crash in the housing market".

Believes alternative policies "in the interests of all S'poreans"

He then remarked that his party will continue to scrutinise the Government's housing policies, such as why it has not announced further details for VERS or other solutions for the lease decay problem.

Leong said PSP will continue to put up alternative housing policies that they "believe will be in the interests of all Singaporeans".

But Leong urged the government not to brush them off as “raiding the reserves” or “crashing the housing market” just because they "do not fit into the Government's framework for the reserves or finances".

"I hope that the Government can refrain from such posturing so that we can have a more productive debate in this House. Like I mentioned earlier, a fair arena for one and all."

Claims many Singaporeans feel like “second-class citizens”

Leong then delved into Singaporean identity in his speech, noting that it should be "grounded in the rights and privileges of citizenship."

He stated that PSP "welcomes foreigners to complement the Singaporean core" but observed that many Singaporeans now feel as if they were “second-class citizens” struggling to “stay afloat”, instead of "being empowered to swim towards a better life".

Leong claimed Singaporeans "feel resentment when they see an influx of wealthy new immigrants setting up family offices and driving up property and COE prices."

“During my walkabouts, many Singaporeans have expressed to me that they are aggrieved that many naturalised Singapore citizens who arrived in Singapore comparatively recently enjoy most of the benefits of citizenship, and can gain from the resources that past generations of Singaporeans have accumulated, without having to serve National Service or even volunteer service in the SAF Volunteer Corp.”

Calls for lowered voting age as young S'poreans "make immense contributions"

He highlighted that 18-year-old Singaporeans "make immense contributions" "by serving National Service".

Therefore, his party supported the lowering of voting age to 18 years old in recognition of young Singaporeans.

Leong called for the increased prioritisation of Singaporean citizens and their interests, "redistribute the economic gains" to "empower those Singaporeans who feel like second-class citizens today".

He concluded his speech by reiterating the “urgent need for a refresh of our social compact”, and that PSP believes that Singapore "need to have a new set of alternative policies" that will "serve (Singapore) better going forward".

"As Members of a responsible Opposition party, Hazel Poa and I will continue to propose more alternative policies for the rest of our terms as NCMPs."

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Top image via YouTube/MCI