‘Criticise first, copy later’: Chee Soon Juan responds to Ong Ye Kung’s criticism of SDP’s proposals – Mothership.SG
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan accused the People’s Action Party (PAP) of adopting a “criticise first, copy later” approach towards SDP’s policy proposals:
“During elections, the PAP will slam the opposition for its alternative proposals, for our ideas. But after elections, it will adopt our ideas, but it won’t give any credit.”
Chee, who is also SDP’s candidate for Sembawang West SMC, made the remarks at an SDP rally at the hard court and field next to Sun Plaza on Apr. 30 night.
He was responding to Minister for Health and PAP candidate for Sembawang GRC Ong Ye Kung’s criticism of SDP’s proposals, especially those on housing and healthcare, during a PAP rally in Sembawang on Apr. 28.
Cited examples
To support his claims, Chee also listed several SDP proposals as “examples”, including the Re-employment Scheme and Temporary Assistance for the Retrenched (RESTART) scheme.
He alleged the government’s SkillsFuture Job Seeker Support Scheme, which provides unemployed Singaporeans with temporary financial support, was adopted from the RESTART scheme, which he claimed was proposed by SDP in 2015.
However, during the 2016 by-election for Bukit Batok SMC, SDP was “slammed” and accused of “pushing for populist policies, whose ideas would be costly”, said Chee.
Chee added that while there were “many other” such examples, “the most important point in all this is that the SDP has been able to get these policies implemented while [it is] not in parliament”.
“Just imagine what we can do if we have SDP MPs (members of parliament),” he asked rhetorically.
SDP’s vision
Chee said: “We can expand social safety nets, provide universal healthcare, reform education to nurture critical thinkers, reduce inequality and open up policies to be more transparent and responsive”.
“That is the SDP’s vision. That is the path to a truly thriving Singapore, one where our people are secure and happy,” he added.
Describing SDP as offering an “incredible, visionary alternative” to what the PAP team could offer for voters in Sembawang, Chee sought their trust that Sembawang Town Council would be in good hands should his team be elected into parliament on Polling Day (May 3).
Referring to a town council management plan SDP published in 2015, Chee said:
“It outlines what we will do in our first 30 days, and then in the first 100 days of us taking over the town council, you can track our performance, because we believe in accountability.
We will set up robust financial systems, estate management protocols, procurement safeguards, community support systems, and an IT infrastructure. We aim not just to meet current standards, but to surpass them.”
To further boost voters’ confidence, Chee also invited the SDP slate for Sembawang GRC onstage and highlighted their credentials.
These included party vice-chairman Bryan Lim, who is an assistant director of a public hospital.
Chee urged Sembawang GRC voters to do the following:
“I ask you to compare not just slogans, but substance. Not just promises, but people.
And when you do compare it, compare them with a slate of PAP candidates, I believe that choice is clear.”
Top image via Mothership
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