Beyond economic growth or policies, Singapore needs ‘the right politics’: Ong Ye Kung

[SINGAPORE] Political development is as critical as economic or social development, with “the right politics” being essential to preserve the social order and allow individuals and communities to flourish, said Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Ong Ye Kung in Parliament on Tuesday (Sep 23).

“Without the right politics, our society will be broken, and no amount of economic growth or government programmes will be able to put things right,” said Ong, who is also minister for health.

He added that Singapore’s political development will be influenced by how political parties play their respective roles.

In the debate on the President’s Address, he laid out lessons from the 2025 General Election.

First, Singaporeans value a stable and effective government that will safeguard their well-being, he said, noting that they “undoubtedly” voted with the uncertain global and economic environment in mind.

They thus chose a government with a track record of steering the country through crises, including the global financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Given the global circumstances, I believe Singaporeans also want a government that not just takes care of domestic concerns, but also defends Singapore’s interests on the global stage, ensuring that Singapore stands tall among the community of nations.”

Second, Singapore’s political system is still evolving, he said. People are “judiciously balancing” between a decisive People’s Action Party (PAP) government and an opposition that provides an alternative voice and a check on the government. 

He noted that following the 2025 General Election, the previous term’s parliamentary composition was maintained.

SEE ALSO

NTUC calls for local qualifying salary to be raised, to support lower-wage workers

“I believe voters are saying to us: ‘Make this composition work for Singapore once again.’ Any future shift from this current composition will no doubt be carefully weighed by Singaporeans.”

The third lesson, he said, is that Singaporeans remain moderate and pragmatic, and they expect the same of the nation’s politics and politicians, with no “surge in populism”. 

The minister denounced populists for being divisive and offering simplistic solutions to complex problems.

But he acknowledged that populism often arises from “genuine, understandable concerns”, such as social inequality or excessive competition for jobs and space from foreigners.

The PAP government must therefore be keenly aware of Singaporeans’ concerns, address them early, openly, and sensibly, and not let them feed populism, he said.

The final lesson is that Singaporeans are holding political parties to higher standards, and wanting “a contest of good ideas”, he said.

He called on political parties to make their different policy stances clear.

The Workers’ Party (WP) has done so “from time to time”, he noted. It has called for zero growth in foreign workers, while the PAP wants a controlled inflow.

The WP also prefers other direct taxes instead of the broad-based goods and services tax, and wants to spend more of the income from reserves on current Singaporeans, instead of dividing them equally between current and future generations.

But he called on the WP to “present a principled, consistent, and coherent approach to the main challenges facing Singapore”.

He concluded that political contests need not lead to an “all-out struggle” that entrenches division.

“The true test of a good system of governance lies in its ability to hold a diverse society together despite disagreements, thereby strengthening unity and cohesion,” he said. “To do this, society must get its politics right.”

Singaporeans should continue to be discerning, while parliamentarians should address local needs, play their roles as legislators, and act with integrity and honour.

Both sides of the House should come together for the “long-term endeavour to forge a strong system of governance”, he added.

External threats

Earlier in the debate, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann warned against the risk of foreign interference sowing discord in society.

In the contested global landscape, foreign interference and hybrid threats are increasingly prominent, warned Sim, who is also senior minister of state for foreign affairs.

While such threats are not new, the ubiquitous digital environment and development of advanced tools have “supercharged” foreign actors’ ability to mount hostile information campaigns to advance their interests, she said.

Singapore is not immune to this, and such tactics will evolve and grow in sophistication, she added. “They touch on our everyday lives – through what we see, hear and read in an increasingly permeable infospace. Our defences must therefore grow stronger, too.”

The government would like Singaporeans to stay interested in and knowledgeable about global affairs – but also remain alert to the risk that external actors may try to influence Singapore’s policy by shaping citizens’ views.

She illustrated scenarios where vigilance is particularly useful. First, in discussions that have grown emotional, as inflamed sentiments can create rifts, especially if race and religion are involved.

Second, in discussions about which countries Singapore should be closer to, or take a cue from. This does not reflect how Singapore conducts foreign policy, which is based on national interests, she said.

Third, when leaders of local institutions or those with a following comment publicly on international developments, it would be “useful to consider the content carefully beforehand”.

“Check if it can be construed to mean anything other than the view of a Singaporean well-versed in our national interests,” she added.

Support for Singapore’s foreign policy does not mean unconditional agreement with all decisions, but a shared commitment to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and long-term interests, she concluded.

Despite geopolitical shifts, Singaporeans can expect more continuity than change in the country’s foreign policy. “While there will be some adjustments to our diplomacy, these are not abrupt shifts.”

“We have never taken favourable global and regional conditions for granted,” she said, noting that the Republic has a diversified diplomatic strategy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invested as much effort and energy into contributing at multilateral forums and regional groupings, as it has in maintaining bilateral ties, which together constitute a “broad geographical spread”.