SDP to campaign on cost-of-living issues

SINGAPORE — The cost of living, manpower issues such as foreign workers, as well as the Central Provident Fund Minimum Sum will feature heavily in the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) campaign for the coming General Election (GE).

“Up front on everybody’s mind right now would be the cost of living. It’s been getting worse through the years,” party chief Chee Soon Juan said yesterday at an exhibition and panel discussion to mark the SDP’s 35th anniversary.

“That’s going to be something we’re going to move forward on ... tell them what we can do to lower the cost of living for them.”

While he remained coy about the new faces in his team, the following members have been spotted on the ground lately: Entrepreneur Jaslyn Go, medical professor Paul Tambyah and doctors Tan Lip Hong and Leong Yan Hoi.

One important quality a candidate should possess, Dr Chee said, is the ability to “believe in something when it’s not fashionable”.

“When you get into Parliament, do you then have the heart to stand (up) and say, ‘This is what we need’, and then be able to engage in a debate?” he said.

“And when these Bills come down the pipe, are you able to analyse them, debate them and, if necessary, propose amendments and also be able to propose Bills of (your) own?”

Blogger Alex Au, a panellist at the SDP event, remarked that Singaporeans are seemingly jaded by the roll-out of star candidates during election time.

“Singapore has seen enough of nice, shiny, brass-plated candidates who are said to be ... brilliant commanders of military. Even opposition parties have their share of (pushing) out very well-qualified people and I think the performance has been a little disappointing,” said Mr Au.

“Singaporeans have begun to look beyond the superficial and say, ‘Let’s see what the character of the person is. Let’s see whether this person is a person of the people.’”

When asked how the SDP would differentiate itself from other opposition parties, Dr Chee said only that his party would focus on setting itself apart from the incumbent People’s Action Party.

Tackling feedback from panellists that the SDP’s economic plan — presented as a 105-page paper — was too dense for readers, Dr Chee explained the need for such content and said he would find ways to make it more accessible.

“I really hate it when someone comes up to me and say, ‘You guys are just empty vessels. You make a lot of noise, but do you have things to back you up?’ So without having done the research, it’s very hard for us to say we know these issues,” he said.

Social media would be one platform for such content, he added. During the next GE, which must be held by January 2017, the party will take a two-pronged approach to woo the masses.

“(For the online community), it’s really a matter of trying to work out some of the key points that we have and communicating them effectively to our voters,” said Dr Chee.

“Then, you also have the (section) of the electorate that is not online and that’s where our real challenge is. Getting to them would require more human resources.”

Mr Au urged the SDP to “start talking” about economic democracy. “(The thinking class) is still waiting to be convinced that you’re equally well-versed in the issues of political economy. That’s where you need to ... reimagine a whole new Singapore.”

Also on the panel was filmmaker Martyn See, who spoke about the impact of the Films Act on civil activism.

Social worker Jolovan Wham discussed the dichotomy between activism and politics in Singapore. About 50 SDP members and members of the public were present.