‘It Is Time’: SPP announces manifesto with GST freeze, redistributing budget surplus as CDC vouchers, mental health leave – Mothership.SG

The Singapore People’s Party (SPP) released their manifesto for the upcoming GE2025, with the slogan “It Is Time”.

SPP, helmed by secretary-general Steve Chia, will be contesting Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Potong Pasir SMC, where they contested previously in GE2020 and GE2015.

Chia himself will be standing in Bishan-Toa Payoh.

Manifesto

The manifesto follows the principles of accountability, commitment and empathy, and aims to “foster a sustainable and equitable society for all generations.”

It builds upon SPP’s 2020 manifesto with updated insights to “meet Singaporeans’ evolving needs holistically”.

Economy and employment

On the economy, SPP is focused on tackling the rising costs of living for which it proposed a GST freeze as well as yearly distribution of government budget surpluses in the form of CDC vouchers.

The GST freeze lasts until the “cumulative budget deficit exceeds 3 per cent of government revenue for three consecutive years.”

They also proposed the implementation of a living wage policy to support lower-income Singaporeans in particular.

With regard to job insecurity, SPP proposes policy changes that prioritise locals for hiring and reassess the CECA agreement with India to “address labour inflow concerns.”

SPP also proposes abolishing the statutory retirement age of 63 and incentivising employers to hire seniors past their 70s who wish to continue working, and moving towards a high-skill economy with high-tech manufacturing and services.

Housing and family support

SPP proposes lowering the minimum age for singles to 30 years old to apply for BTO or resale HDB flats and expanding the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) to “preserve HDB asset value”.

They also wish to relax ethnic quotas in HDB estates to support minority flat owners in selling their homes at fair market value, aiming for a gradual phasing out of the existing Ethnic Integration Policy for housing..

To make parenthood “more attractive”, thus tackling Singapore’s declining birth rate, SPP proposes reframing having a second and/or third child as “an asset instead of being perceived as an economic liability”.

To achieve this, SPP proposes providing IVF subsidies as well as housing benefits for families with second and/or third children.

Education and youth well-being

On the education system, SPP proposes reduced classroom sizes for more personalised learning and a curriculum that focuses on A.I, more vocational options, and less emphasis on exams.

SPP wishes to expand mental health resources in schools and communities and make overseas tertiary education more accessible by allowing CPF usage to fund it.

Healthcare and transportation

On healthcare, SPP wants to alleviate high healthcare costs and the burden of mental health challenges.

They propose subsidising tele-consultations for the elderly and low-income groups and raising MediSave withdrawal limits to S$1,200 annually for preventive and mental health care.

On mental health specifically, SPP plans to implement five days of unpaid mental health leave as well as integrate mental health professionals into polyclinics and National Service institutions.

To tackle public transportation challenges, SPP wants to invest heavily in MRT maintenance to ensure reliability and “no major disruptions”.

They also want to expedite the complete electrification of public buses and provide greater travel subsidies for low-income families and Silver Support recipients.

Cover image via SPP.