Criticisms of Desmond Lee on housing issues 'not a personal attack': PSP's Leong Mun Wai

With less than 24 hours to Cooling-off Day, Progress Singapore Party (PSP) secretary-general Leong Mun Wai has doubled down on his claim that Minister for National Development Desmond Lee has "not responded concretely" to PSP's invitation for a national policy debate.

When asked if his recent criticisms directed at Lee on housing issues could be constituted as "personal attacks" such as those decried by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Leong said:

"PSP has never adopted such a strategy or [said] such things. But I think when we sometimes discuss certain policies, and for example, my comments about minister Desmond Lee, it is targeted at the fact that he has not responded concretely to some of the policy debates we are trying to have with him. So it is not a personal attack."

Leong, who was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a walkabout at Boon Lay Place Market, went on to list several public housing issues that Singaporeans face: High prices, long waiting times for BTO flats, and lease decay

"Don't you think the government should commit to a solution for Singaporeans during this election campaign?"

The back-and-forth

To date, Lee, who helms the PAP slate for West Coast-Jurong West GRC, has not agreed to PSP's invitation for a policy debate.

The invitation was extended by Leong and party vice-chairperson Hazel Poa on Nomination Day (Apr. 23).

Leong and Poa, in addition to PSP founder Tan Cheng Bock, and newcomers Sani Ismail and Sumarleki Amjah, make up the PSP team that is contesting against Lee's team in West Coast-Jurong West GRC.

Lee responded on Apr. 24, saying that "there are platforms during GE" for parties to debate policies; parties may, for example, publish their policies in their manifestos. The anchor minister also invited PSP to publish their local plans for residents to study, noting that the PAP team had already done so.

Leong then claimed on Apr. 30 that the Minister for National Development had remained silent over a range of housing issues during the GE campaign.

Desmond Lee responds with statement

Lee responded with a statement on the same day, pointing out that he had "addressed national housing issues on multiple occasions over the course of the campaign", such as:

1. The launch of the GRC manifesto on Apr. 23
2. A press doorstop on Apr. 25
3. A rally speech on Apr. 27
4. Another rally speech on Apr. 30

In his Apr. 30 rally speech, the national development minister assured Singaporeans that he recognised their concerns about housing, particularly higher housing prices which were brought about by the "worst construction crisis in decades" triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now that all the delayed housing projects have been completed and the supply of new housing is being ramped up, Lee shared that the market will stabilise, leading to more affordable housing.

In his statement, Lee pointed out that he covered other housing topics on the campaign trail, including estate upgrading and measures to help seniors age in place.

Further, the topic of housing has been "extensively debated" in Parliament, said the minister.

"We are clear about our commitment to keeping housing affordable and accessible for Singaporeans, through the ramping up of supply and cooling measures where necessary."

"It is indeed a matter of concern when the PSP makes assertions with little regard for facts. I would like to urge the public to consider the facts and concrete plans that each side has presented when making their choice during this General Election."

Tan Cheng Bock: 'We fight to win'

PSP first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa told the media on May 1 that the party had invited all their opponents across all constituencies they are contesting to have a policy debate.

"But invariably, all have been declined," she said.

"So we do wish that there are more debates on policy matters in this election, but unfortunately, it is not just up to us."

On whether he thinks PSP will improve on their showing from GE2020, where they lost West Coast GRC with a 48.32 per cent of the vote, PSP chairman Tan Cheng Bock said:

"Of course, we fight to win. That's our style, but we fight to win properly. We fight to convince Singaporeans that the PSP is a party that you should consider the first choice when they go to the polls...that is the benchmark I have set for my party."

@mothershipsg During a doorstop at Boon Lay Place Market on May 1, Dr Tan Cheng Bock shared some thoughts about his party's chances of winning for #GE2025. Things are COOKING. Follow #MothershipGE2025 ♬ original sound - Mothership

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