SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party (WP) has been “stress tested” when Singapore is in crisis and has proven to be a “force of good”, said party chief Pritam Singh.
Speaking during WP’s first rally of GE2025, Mr Singh brought up the example of the COVID-19 crisis where WP MPs supported the national effort, and were even recognised by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) for doing so.
In the lead up to this point, Mr Singh said that the world is changing and the US trade tariffs have led to an uncertain economic climate but even in such a climate, Singaporeans should still vote for the WP.
“A parliament with a more rational, respectable and responsive WP MP will not hamper Singapore,” said Mr Singh, at a field along Anchorvale Crescent on Thursday (Apr 24) night.
Mr Singh, who rounded up the speeches for the night said: “The Workers’ Party has proven itself to be a loyal opposition in Parliament, loyal not to the party, loyal to Singapore and the people of Singapore.
“We will do the same as Singapore navigates this long transition to a new world order.”
The candidates who spoke before him included the Punggol GRC candidates Harpreet Singh, Alia Mattar, Alexis Dang and Jackson Au; Sengkang GRC candidates He Ting Ru, Louis Chua, Associate Professor Jamus Lim and new candidate Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, along with East Coast GRC candidate Yee Jenn Jong, Aljunied GRC candidate Gerald Giam and Hougang SMC candidate Dennis Tan.
Mr Singh added that more than just supporting the Government if needed, WP MPs will provide “independent ideas to break through the groupthink of the party”.
He also reiterated the point that there was “no way” the WP could form the next Government as it was not even contesting one-third of the seats.
“The PAP will certainly govern for the next five years. So give Singapore a chance to build – to grow – a more balanced political system,” he said, adding that the WP is working towards a “balanced political system to check the PAP and prevent it from acting however it wishes”.
DISPELLING FEAR
Several WP candidates, who spoke earlier in the rally which started at 7.45pm, brought up points that ran along the same vein as Mr Singh, arguing against the fear of voting for the opposition party during uncertain times.
Hougang SMC candidate and former MP Dennis Tan in his speech said that the PAP uses fear tactics to scare people into not voting for the opposition, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.
He quoted then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s speech in 2020 that investors will scrutinise Singapore’s election results and act on their conclusion.
“Sengkang voters did not listen to his threats. They sent our Workers’ Party candidates into parliament. Did investors react negatively to your vote?” he asked the crowd.
“This is typical PAP flight-to-safety, politics of fear tactics which we must reject,” he said.
“In the next few days, Singaporeans may well hear very similar messages from the PAP asking for a strong mandate again. But do not … believe what they say.”
New candidate Jackson Au, who is standing in Punggol GRC, spoke about how the PAP is sending voters a “message of fear”.
“The PAP feels it has too much to lose, so it needs you to feel it too.”
He said the PAP also tells voters that these challenges are external and beyond control or structural.
“When it comes down to it, where does the buck stop?”
PUNGGOL GRC, JALAN KAYU SMC CANDIDATES TAKE TO THE STAGE
Senior counsel Harpreet Singh, who leads the WP’s Punggol GRC team and is a new face to the party, also took the stage emphasising on the need for change in Singapore.
“The world is changing. It is faster, more competitive, more unpredictable. And if we as a nation do not change, we risk…
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