PAP wants to uplift lower-wage workers: PM Wong at GE2025 Fullerton rally , Singapore News
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong appealed to the voters to give him a strong mandate, even as he addressed other major issues facing Singaporeans.
Speaking at PAP's first Fullerton rally in 10 years at the the promenade next to UOB Plaza on Monday (April 28), PM Wong told the lunchtime crowd that this election is all about Singaporeans' future.
"This election is about your future, our future. Not just for today but for our children and grandchildren," he said.
Addressing cost of living concerns, PM Wong acknowledged calls for a universal minimum wage model in Singapore.
"We want to uplift lower-wage workers, the PAP wants to do it, don't get me wrong," he said, citing the Progressive Wage Model, implemented by the ruling party, as evidence.
But he cautioned against opposition parties' proposals, such as setting a minimum wage at $2,250 across the board, questioning if these options are realistic and sustainable.
"It sounds good on paper," the Prime Minister said, warning that it could actually have an opposite effect and drive up costs and worsen the situation for Singaporeans.
"If some things sound too good to be true, they probably are too good to be true. There is no such thing as a free lunch," he added.
In response to criticism on the government's decision to raise the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate, PM Wong said: "Think about it. What if we had delayed the GST increase?"
He suggested that had a GST hike not been implemented, it would have lead to "insufficient resources" to support an ageing population.
"We made a tough and responsible decision earlier to ensure that we have sound public finances, and that's why today we can confront the challenges ahead with confidence," he said.
The permanent GST vouchers ensure that lower- and middle-income Singaporeans pay less than the headline GST rate, PM Wong said.
"Who pays the full rate? Three groups: foreigners, tourists and higher-income families.
"The opposition wants these three groups to pay a lower rate. Would you? I wouldn't."
The GST was raised in 2023 and 2024, and the hike has been criticised by most opposition parties during the campaigning for the May 3 General Election.
Some parties such as the Workers' Party and Progress Singapore Party among others have called for the GST to be rolled back from nine per cent to seven per cent.
During his roughly 30-minute speech, PM Wong also cautioned that a Parliament with more opposition presence would lead to a "severely weakened mandate", and that it is not solely a matter of potentially losing one minister.
"Losing three to four ministers will weaken the Cabinet team, will weaken the government, will weaken Singapore," he said.
He urged voters to consider that a vote for the opposition "is not a free vote for more alternative voices" in Parliament.
Instead, it is a vote to "weaken the PAP team".
He added: "It will weaken me and my team, and it will do so at a time when I have just taken over.
"I'm trying to build up a team to serve you better. It will weaken us at a time when our country is facing real and serious challenges."
PM Wong is leading a four-member slate — which includes Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, Mayor of North West District Alex Yam and Hany Soh — against a Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) team for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.
Other speakers at the rally included fellow PAP candidates Berdanette Giam, David Hoe, David Neo, Goh Hanyan, Hazlina Abdul Halim, Jagathishwaran Rajo and Syed Harun Alhabsyi. SDA candidate at rally
Singapore Democratic Alliance's Chia Yun Kai, who is part of the Pasir Ris-Changi GRC team, was spotted in the crowd waving an SDA flag and wearing party merchandise.
Apart from mingling with fellow event-goers, Chia was seen chatting with PAP's Jalan Besar GRC candidate Shawn Loh.
[[nid:717317]]
For our GE2025 microsite, visit here
amierul@asiaone.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Forum: What about a safety net for local students wanting a place in university?
I was heartened to learn that our Government is extending support to the 151 Singaporean students at Harvard (S'porean undergrads at Harvard can continue studies in universities here, June 6). I am sure the Government will similarly extend support to Singaporean students at other elite US universities if the situation deteriorates there. I sympathise with the Singaporeans studying at Harvard, but I wonder if the message is that our local universities do in fact have the capacity to take in more local students. Or is it that our local universities will reduce the number of places available to local students, to accommodate the returning US students? Many local students do not have the financial resources to seek an overseas education, and universities at home are their only option. But due to limited capacity, not every eligible applicant is accepted. So, I was surprised to learn that local universities are able to accommodate the affected Singapore students at Harvard. Wouldn't this be at the expense of eligible local applicants? Finally, these Ivy League students no doubt have the ability and resources to study in the US. They took the decision to study abroad willingly. In the face of adversity, is our Government expected to offer a safety net back home? What about a safety net for local students? Roy Tan Choon Kang More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
Singaporeans living in Los Angeles take extra precautions amid immigration protests
Some Singaporeans living in Los Angeles say they are taking extra precautions, like avoiding downtown LA, as US immigration protests enter the fourth day. They tell CNA that the Singapore embassy has also not issued any warnings or advisory notes, as the bulk of the Singaporean community who are still there feel relatively safe.
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business Times
Arina East Residences sells 10 out of 107 units at average price of S$3,000 psf as booking opens
[SINGAPORE] Freehold development Arina East Residences sold about 9 per cent of its 107 units on Saturday (Jun 7), at an average price of about S$3,000 per square foot (psf). According to PropNex, seven units of the two-bedroom apartment, a three-bedroom, and two four-bedroom units were moved, with the transacted unit prices of these 10 apartments ranging from about S$2,880 to S$3,250 per square foot. The majority of the buyers of the Tanjong Rhu Road project by ZACD LV Development are believed to be Singaporeans, the real estate agency said in a media statement on Saturday. Chief executive officer of PropNex, Ismail Gafoor, said: 'Typically, we have observed that smaller projects with around 100 units in the development tend to see a more measured take-up rate at first, unlike the bigger projects with more units for buyers to choose from… Similar to many other smaller projects, we expect sales will likely move at a gradual pace over the coming months.' ERA, one of the joint marketing agents for the project, noted that the development only had a one-week preview before opening for sales bookings during school holidays, and that Saturday was a public holiday. CEO of ERA Singapore, Marcus Chu, pointed out that it was the first project launched in the area in a decade, and buyers recognised the project's strong potential for capital appreciation. 'The future BTO (Build-to-order) supply in the vicinity is projected to support investor exit strategies, providing a ready pool of upgraders in the long term.' While some agencies called the average price 'competitive', Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at property search portal said that it is higher than its competitors, and that most homebuyers appear to be more price sensitive, especially in the current uncertain economic climate. 'Real estate developers have held back their project launches since April 2025 as the uncertain economic outlook hammers sentiments in the property market. Arina East Residences is the first major residential project to test the water since April. It appears that the market sentiment is still not favourable for project launches,' he said. Arina East Residences is built on the site of the former La Ville, a 40-unit property that was acquired by ZACD Group in December 2021 for S$152 million.
