SDP, NSP respond to National Day Rally

Singapore — Two more Opposition parties today (Aug 22) responded to the National Day Rally by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Calling it “a step in the right direction”, Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), Chee Soon Juan, said the party was still concerned as “these changes are piecemeal and they don’t address the root cause of our problems.”

Dr Chee said that they welcomed the attempt to make the healthcare system universal but were concerned that the Government would still make Singaporeans pay the bulk of the healthcare expenses, which would be a financial burden for the elderly and those who face chronic and catastrophic illnesses.

As for housing, Dr Chee said that the Government has proposed changes that do not address the real problem which is “the unaffordability of HDB flats and whose prices are causing a dangerous housing bubble that when burst will wreak havoc on our economy.”

He also reiterated previous SDP proposals that addressed housing and the intake of foreigners and said that the party remains committed to offering alternative solutions.

Dr Chee also pointed out that Mr Lee had “conspicuously” not touched on the White Paper on Population in his speech and proposed an alternative point-based system for foreign workers.

“(Mr Lee) said nothing about curtailing the excessively liberal intake of foreigners which is causing our island to be overcrowded and the unfair competition for our jobs,” pointed out Dr Chee.

Meanwhile, the National Solidarity Party (NSP), in a statement, said it is “deeply heartened by the strategic shift presented by the Government” during the National Day Rally.

In the area of healthcare, the party called for the focus to be drawn to the sandwiched class, “specifically, Singaporeans who face the burden of supporting both their children and parents”.

Apart from the Comprehensive Medical Insurance scheme the NSP suggested in the 2011 General Election, the party also urged the Government to consider implementing an “inflation-indexed retirement allowance” for the pioneer generation.

Singapore could learn from Hong Kong’s Old Age Living Allowance scheme, and the Economic Society of Singapore also supports having a targeted, basic, inflation-indexed retirement allowance, the NSP pointed out.

In education, the NSP noted that the expansion of the Direct School Admissions scheme could cause additional pressure for students to build extra-curricular portfolios.

“We also highlight the need for a streamlining of the operational procedures of the way schools are currently run,” said the party. Citing anecdotal evidence of how teachers suffer burnout and the high turnover rates, the NSP called on the Education Ministry to “consider a fundamental shift in the professional scope of teachers”.

When contacted, the Reform Party said that they were still working on their proposal, which would be ready soon, while the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) was not contactable.