GE2025: PSP unveils manifesto focused on reducing cost of living, building new social compact
It will contest in West Coast-Jurong West and Chua Chu Kang GRCs
[SINGAPORE] Reducing the goods and services tax (GST) and imposing a levy on employment pass holders are among some of the policy proposals put forth by the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) in its party manifesto for the upcoming General Election (GE).
The opposition party also unveiled its campaign slogan “Progress for All” at a media event at its headquarters in Bukit Timah on Sunday (Apr 6).
PSP secretary-general Leong Mun Wai also confirmed that the party will contest in West Coast-Jurong West Group Representation Constituency (GRC), and Chua Chu Kang GRC. It will also field fewer candidates than the previous election in 2020, but the numbers have yet to be finalised, he added.
The election is due by November 2025 but observers expect it to occur as early as next month.
The PSP contested West Coast GRC in the 2020 GE, with the constituency seeing the closest fight then. West Coast GRC was recently renamed West Coast-Jurong West GRC following the latest change to Singapore’s electoral divisions. The GRC absorbed estates in Jurong West and Taman Jurong, and lost its Harbourfront and Sentosa polling districts.
The PSP also contested Chua Chu Kang GRC, Tanjong Pagar GRC and Nee Soon GRC in 2020.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Speaking at PSP’s headquarters in Bukit Timah on Sunday, party chairman Dr Tan Cheng Bock said that the manifesto is “a culmination of almost two years of work” by its Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai and Hazel Poa.
The manifesto contains more than 60 policy proposals. They cover six key areas: cost of living; housing; jobs and wages; social safety net; education; and governance.
One of its proposals include imposing a quota for employment pass (EP) holders, with smaller companies allowed to hire a larger proportion of EP holders.
SEE ALSO
The PSP said that the quota will “level the playing field” between Singapore’s small population and the larger global pool of skilled workers. It added that companies will still be able to hire qualified and skilled foreign workers even with quotas.
At the same time the party recognises that many small and medium-sized enterprises face difficulty in accessing skilled foreign manpower, and therefore the higher quota will help them to fulfil their needs.
It will also impose a monthly levy of S$1,200 to level the playing field between Singaporean and foreign professional, manager, executive and technician employees.
Noting that healthcare is one of the largest expenses for Singaporeans, the party proposed that the government pay for basic MediShield Life and CareShield Life premiums for all Singaporeans. This would relieve Singaporeans, particularly the elderly and middle class, of the anxiety of rising health insurance premiums.
It also called for the use of MediSave to be expanded to include basic preventive and non-aesthetic dental treatments that do not require surgery, such as root canal treatments and dentures.
The party also reiterated its call to reduce the GST from the current 9 per cent to 7 per cent, given Singapore’s “strong fiscal position”. It noted that the GST hike took place when Singapore was facing high inflation and recovering from the pandemic.
Leong said that the manifesto is “a work in progress”.
“We believe, in PSP, that any credible political party must have credible policies,” said Leong.
He noted that in their first four years in Parliament, PSP NCMPs had raised what they thought are the “most urgent problems” of Singaporeans – including jobs for citizens, as well as housing and cost of living.
Adding that financial prudence is part of its policy research, Leong said that the party is committed to putting together its own social compact to show Singaporeans in the next Parliament.
During Sunday’s press conference, the party also addressed questions on its stance on the tariffs imposed by the United States on Apr 2.
Singapore and many other key US partners face a 10 per cent tariff on most goods they export to the US. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had said on Apr 5 that a global trade war could erupt if other countries retaliate to the tariffs, and warned Singaporeans to brace themselves for more shocks ahead.
Leong said that the concerns over tariffs were “a little overblown” and that it would take time to understand its impact on various countries.
Pointing out that the government had overcome external challenges in the past, he added: “So as long as our society is united and strong, we can overcome any challenges that come our way.”
Dr Tan said that the government’s stance on the tariffs has been “partly to instil fear in the voter” and persuade them to vote for the incumbent.
For more election coverage, visit our GE2025 microsite
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
