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Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
GE2025: SDP targets NTUC-PAP relationship in final rally
SDP chief Chee Soon Juan speaking at the rally in Evergreen Primary School on May 1. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) took aim at the relationship between the ruling party and the labour movement NTUC during the party's final rally on the last day of hustings on May 1. The SDP argued on Labour Day that the interests of local workers were not truly championed under the current labour union structure and that, if elected, it will advocate for better rights for employees and greater distancing between PAP and NTUC. The rally at Evergreen Primary School, part of Sembawang West where SDP chief Chee Soon Juan faces PAP's Poh Li San for the single-seat, saw 10 candidates, including Dr Chee and chairman Paul Tambyah, speaking in the final hours of the nine-day campaigning window ahead of polling day on May 3. In his speech, Sembawang GRC candidate Damanhuri Abas said NTUC's role as a labour movement is to ensure checks and balances between workers and employers, but he added that it was too closely aligned to the ruling party. 'The PAP has timed this election to end on Labour Day at the May Day Rally. The PAP leaders showcased the partnership that has served them, but have they served you?' Mr Damanhuri said, referring to the May Day Rally speech, which Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered earlier in the day. Fellow candidate James Gomez said the SDP will push for workers to have the freedom to form and lead their own unions without interference. 'We will seek to disentangle NTUC from the PAP. It should remain independent and clear on protecting the workers' interest,' said Dr Gomez. The night's penultimate speaker, Dr Tambyah, defended SDP's proposal for a single-payer healthcare system to replace current schemes like MediShield Life and CareShield Life. He said that consolidating the schemes into a comprehensive insurance scheme would free up funds, which can be used to support primary care more effectively. Dr Tambyah was responding to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who on April 26 challenged the SDP to elaborate on its proposal to reform the healthcare system. Mr Ong is running for re-election in Sembawang GRC. Dr Tambyah acknowledged that the SDP's plan will result in job losses for administrators who oversee the existing healthcare schemes, but said it will make room for more medical professionals and lower healthcare costs. A single-payer system would serve as the largest purchaser of medical services and be able to negotiate lower prices, pushing costs down, he said. Dr Tambyah drew comparisons to how pharmaceutical service providers today lower their prices to secure Government contracts, such as for vaccines and other tenders. 'I invite Mr Ong to read our healthcare paper in detail and perhaps debate us on it,' he added. Dr Chee, who was met with the loudest cheers of the night, wrapped up the rally by accusing the PAP of targeting him with 'poisonous rhetoric', which he said has exacted a heavy toll on him. He also criticised the GRC system , saying it had hindered his years-long push for a seat in Parliament – the latest being the removal of Bukit Batok SMC, where he had contested in the past. In his nearly 30-minute speech, Dr Chee detailed numerous examples of being shunned for being 'politically radioactive', such as his firing from the National University of Singapore and other jobs. SDP chief Chee Soon Juan and other SDP candidates at the end of the SDP rally in Evergreen Primary School on May 1. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO He blamed the 'vitriol and hateful rhetoric' from the ruling party, whose leaders had sued him in the past – forcing him into bankruptcy, which ruled him out in the 2006 and 2011 elections. Dr Chee said: 'They sack you, then they say you don't have a job. They sue you, then they say you are bankrupt. 'They take away your constituency, and then they say you abandoned it.' Reflecting on the current campaign, he said : 'I'm tired, but not defeated. This campaign has been long. 'It has been intense, but every step of the way I have tried to speak to your minds with reason, to appeal to your hearts with truth, and to stir your spirit with the hope of what can be.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
GE2025: SDP calls for nationalising mental health care, universal healthcare at Woodlands rally
SDP's deputy head of policy James Gomez put forth the party's proposals at the rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG SINGAPORE – The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is calling for mental health to be a critical component of the national healthcare system, in a bid to stem a 'deepening mental health crisis' in Singapore. Its deputy head of policy James Gomez put forth the opposition party's proposals at the SDP rally for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC at Woodlands Stadium on April 28. These include formal mental health leave, increasing financial support for caregivers, expanding green spaces, a nationwide mental health education campaign to encourage people to seek help early, and building community wellness centres. '(The) bulk of mental health services are mostly in the private sector, and are unaffordable for ordinary Singaporeans,' Dr Gomez said, pointing out that 22 ( out of Singapore's 26) polyclinics offer mental health services, while there are more than 100 private clinics addressing mental health. As a result, he said many Singaporeans have 'no option but to seek costly private options they simply cannot afford, or avoid mental health care altogether'. The SDP candidate for Sembawang GRC pointed out five root causes of mental health issues in Singapore – 'uncontrolled' immigration, fierce competition for jobs due to foreign labour, rising cost of living, cyber bullying, and the burden of caregiving placed on working adults. He added that SDP's policy proposals in these areas lay the groundwork for addressing the root causes of mental health issues. Also on the healthcare front, SDP chairman Paul Tambyah reiterated his call for universal healthcare, which the party detailed in its manifesto. SDP has proposed a 'single-payer system', leading Health Minister Ong Ye Kung to call on the party to clarify its policy. Mr Ong said on April 26 that such a system would either mean relying on government subsidies and abolishing national health insurance scheme MediShield Life, or relying purely on national health insurance and doing away with subsidies. Singapore's current framework for healthcare payments uses a combination of subsidies, MediShield Life, MediSave – a mandatory medical savings scheme – and MediFund, a financial assistance scheme. At the rally – the party's fifth in six days of hustings – Professor Tambyah said that subsidies would not be needed in a single-payer system, which would mean 'huge savings'. Based on the party's proposal, every citizen would have a national health insurance card and pay a fixed premium out of their Central Provident Fund savings, said Prof Tambyah, adding that programmes like the Community Health Assist Scheme and Pioneer Generation and Merderka Generation schemes would be merged to 'cut wasteful duplication'. Other speakers called on voters to cast their ballots for the SDP as a check on the ruling PAP. Referencing the scuppered Income-Allianz deal, which came under public scrutiny after questions were raised about Income Insurance's ability to continue its social mission after the sale to the German insurer, another SDP candidate for Sembawang GRC, Ms Surayah Akbar, said there was no transparency and consultation with stakeholders. 'Unchecked power is reckless. The PAP's idea of accountability is, 'don't worry, we supervise ourselves'. It's no different to students marking their own exams and rewarding themselves with F1 and Taylor Swift concert tickets,' said Ms Surayah. Multiple SDP candidates also sought to assure voters that estate and infrastructure upgrading works would not be affected should the opposition be voted in. Sembawang GRC candidate Damanhuri Abas referenced the manifestos and town plans that have been rolled out in various GRCs. He said: '(The PAP) gives you five-year town plans that are actually routine works of the URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) and HDB – non-partisan government agencies – timed perfectly for the election.' Inequality also emerged as a theme of the night, with multiple candidates making references to the 'privileged elite'. Party secretary-general Chee Soon Juan, who is contesting Sembawang West SMC, listed more than 10 foreigners who had purchased multimillion-dollar properties such as good class bungalows (GCBs) here, as well as PAP ministers who live in or who have sold their GCBs. SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan speaking at Woodlands Stadium during the party rally on April 28. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG 'When billionaires come in by the hundreds and snap up expensive properties in Singapore, they raise land prices. And when land prices go up, they drive up property prices and the cost of living for us,' he said. He added that while generational wealth can be accrued through the transfer of freehold properties, Housing Board flats must be returned to the HDB at the end of their 99-year lease. 'As the PAP keeps stoking the spectre of race and religion that will split our society, it is the widening inequality between the rich and the rest of us that will tear our society apart,' he said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
27-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
GE2025: PSP calls for affordable housing, more healthcare funding and caregiver support at rally
[SINGAPORE] – Affordable housing, as well as more healthcare funding and caregiver support, were among the proposals championed by the PSP during its rally at Bukit Gombak Stadium on April 26. The candidates also touched on issues such as the high cost of living and implementing a minimum wage. The party's secretary-general Leong Mun Wai said that Singaporeans should be required to cover only the construction cost when buying a Build-To-Order flat, instead of the cost of land. If this proposal is implemented, Singaporeans would have to pay only up to $150,000 for a flat, instead of $500,000, said Mr Leong, a candidate for West Coast-Jurong West GRC. He added that home owners would only be required to cover the land cost if they resell their flat for a profit. Earlier in the evening, Mr Sumarleki Amjah, 53, shared in both English and Malay another key proposal in the party manifesto – that MediShield Life be fully funded by the Government. MediShield Life is Singapore's national insurance scheme, providing basic protection against large medical bills. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The party estimated that these premiums would cost the Government an additional $2 billion to $3 billion a year, based on its manifesto, which Mr Sumarleki said would be 'money well spent'. Mr Sumarleki, who is also part of the West Coast-Jurong West slate, added that there should be more flexibility in the use of MediSave. For instance, citizens should be able to use the fund to pay for dental services such as root canal treatments and dentures. Bukit Gombak SMC candidate Harish Pillay, 65, proposed that caregivers of children aged seven and below be paid $1,250 monthly while Mr S. Nallakaruppan, 60, a candidate for Chua Chu Kang GRC, reiterated calls to lower the goods and services tax to 7 per cent. Ms Wendy Low, 48, said education policies needed a revamp and pupils should be offered a choice to bypass the Primary School Leaving Examination. This would allow pupils to be creative and innovate, and be ready to deal with disruptions posed by artificial intelligence, said Ms Low, a Chua Chu Kang GRC candidate. While the audience spent most of the evening listening to policy proposals and occasional jabs at the ruling party, it also caught glimpses of emotion. The stadium's atmosphere lightened when party chairman Tan Cheng Bock arrived midway through the rally, and the crowd wished him a happy birthday with a cheer. He turned 85 on April 26. Chua Chu Kang GRC candidate Lawrence Pek, 55, grew visibly emotional when speaking about his two children, who were in the audience. Joining an opposition party – which he described as a road less travelled – has led to many sacrifices, but his son and daughter have been steadfast with their support, said Mr Pek, who was the secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation from 2020 to 2023. He said in a rousing Hokkien speech: 'You have seen Mun Wai and Hazel, four years in Parliament, getting scolded and told off by people, right?' Dr Tan also acknowledged the trying time that Non-Constituency MPs Ms Hazel Poa and Mr Leong have had in Parliament, and said he was proud of their growth. Both Dr Tan and Ms Poa called for Singaporeans to vote for more checks and balances in the form of opposition candidates. Dr Tan, a former PAP MP, added that issues of competency, honesty, transparency and accountability were among the reasons he left the ruling party. Ms Poa said incidents such as the SimplyGo saga, Income-Allianz deal and former Keppel executives being let off with warnings after bribery allegations, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong moving to contest in Punggol GRC instead of Chua Chu Kang GRC at the last minute, have damaged trust in the ruling party. Ms Poa said: 'A stronger opposition will make (PAP) think through their policies more thoroughly before implementation, and make them dirty their hands to drill into the details so that they understand what you face. 'For if they do not, we would be there to point out their mistakes, and trust me, they don't like that.' THE STRAITS TIMES
CNA
24-04-2025
- Business
- CNA
GE2025: What the main political parties' manifestos say about addressing the rising cost of living
SINGAPORE: The rising cost of living is shaping up to be one of the defining issues of the 2025 General Election – and political parties are offering a range of policy ideas in response. As election campaigning ramps up, CNA takes a look at key proposals to ease Singaporeans' burden, offered by the five parties contesting the most seats that have also released their manifestos. The People's Alliance for Reform, which is contesting the joint-fourth-highest number of seats, has not released its manifesto. PEOPLE'S ACTION PARTY Households to receive CDC vouchers, cash payouts and utilities rebates. Schemes to support lower-income families and the elderly, such as ComCare and Silver Support, will be reinforced, lower-income families will be supported individually through ComLink+ and higher childcare subsidies for children from disadvantaged families, along with regular pre-school attendance. Lower preschool fees for parents and expanded parental leave with enhanced support for larger families. WORKERS' PARTY Alternative revenue channels to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), such as a net wealth tax on the assets of the country's top 1 per cent wealth holders, and a minimum corporate tax rate of 15 per cent. Essential items, like basic food items, to be exempt from GST to ease the effects of inflation for low-income and middle-income groups. A statutory and universal national minimum wage of S$1,600 (US$1,200) for full-time work and prorated for part-time work. Lift the cap on MediSave use for those above 60, so that they can use MediSave to pay for all medical expenses not already covered by other schemes at government polyclinics, public specialist outpatient clinics and Community Health Assist Scheme clinics. RED DOT UNITED An 'unconditional cash transfer' should be distributed as a 'citizen's dividend' to provide financial stability for Singaporeans. Shifting from GDP-focused policies to a 'well-being economy' that prioritises fair wages, job security with a 'citizens first' approach and sustainable growth for all. Access to MediFund support for all Singaporeans, capping out-of-pocket expenses and introducing fairer subsidies. Expand MediShield Life's coverage and redesign MediSave to be a supplementary fund rather than a primary way of paying for medical costs. PROGRESS SINGAPORE PARTY Reduce the GST from 9 per cent back to 7 per cent and exempt essential items like rice, water and milk formula from the tax. Set up guidelines on rent increases for commercial properties and phase out socially conscious enterprise hawker centres. Set hawker stall rentals at S$500 or 3 per cent of gross revenue, instead of the highest bid by tender. Phase out the social enterprise model for hawker centres that appears to have higher costs. Cover basic MediShield Life and CareShield Life premiums and centralise drug procurement to lower costs. New mothers should receive a cash gift to offset confinement expenses. SINGAPORE DEMOCRATIC PARTY Reduce GST from the current 9 per cent and eliminate it for essentials like food and medicine. The party previously asked for the GST to be lowered to '7 per cent or even 5 per cent'. Reduce rental costs. Address 'indirect taxes' like water and utilities that 'add to the burden' of small- and medium-sized enterprises and are often passed on to consumers. GE2025 People's Action Party Workers' Party
Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Forum: Financial advisers must adhere to high ethical standards and industry regulations
Forum: Financial advisers must adhere to high ethical standards and industry regulations We thank Dr Tan Yia Swam for her letter 'Insurance agents asking doctors to change codes to ensure claims go through' (April 17) and refer to the Ministry of Health's reply 'MOH will review MediShield Life coverage for prophylactic mastectomy' ( April 22). We would like to provide more context regarding Integrated Shield Plans (IPs), preventive treatments and ethical guidelines for financial adviser representatives. IPs offer coverage for hospitalisation, surgery and selected outpatient treatments on top of MediShield Life coverage. As IPs are today designed to cover medically necessary treatments, treatments and procedures that are preventive in nature are not claimable. IP insurers are constantly seeking ways to balance the scope of coverage with premium affordability and sustainability for policyholders. Benefits and coverages are reviewed from time to time, taking into consideration advancements in clinical practice and medical science. We note that the Ministry of Health is undertaking a review of the matter. IP insurers will review the scope of IP coverage accordingly. Financial adviser representatives play a key role in providing advice to their clients on insurance products, including IPs, and must adhere to high ethical standards and industry regulations. If consumers or healthcare practitioners encounter potential misconduct, including being pressured to misrepresent medical codes for claims, they should provide the details to the relevant insurers for further investigation and action. We recognise the complexity of the situation and good intentions of all parties involved. The life insurance industry is committed to working closely with all relevant stakeholders to best address the needs of policyholders equitably. Chan Wai Kit Executive Director Life Insurance Association, Singapore More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
