SDP spreading fear, alarm with populist politics, says Tharman

SINGAPORE — Taking issue with the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) for “wilfully spreading fear and alarm” with its brand of politics, People’s Action Party (PAP) second assistant secretary-general Tharman Shanmugaratnam said he was “troubled” by the opposition party’s populist policy proposals.

In a 30-minute speech that rounded up the PAP’s final rally for the Bukit Batok by-election on Thursday (May 5), Mr Tharman, who is Deputy Prime Minister, also tore apart several policy proposals that the SDP spent much time defending during the General Election last September.

While stressing he is not against a “healthy opposition”, Mr Tharman said: “The way (the SDP) is going about what they call policy proposals is, in fact, the politics of spreading fear and alarm, and the politics of populism ... (It is) the wrong type of politics for Singapore, the wrong way to advance our democracy.”

The SDP pushes for populist policies, such as universal healthcare and unemployment insurance, without telling the electorate what these would cost, said Mr Tharman. A universal healthcare system modelled after France, for instance, would require an average individual to fork out 20 per cent of his or her income as taxes, he noted.

“So it’s not free. You must tell them it’s not free ... That’s how we have to discuss policies. Lay out benefits, lay out the costs. Be honest about it. Don’t bluff people,” he said.

As he refuted the SDP’s various claims against the Government, Mr Tharman had strong words for the party’s secretary-general Chee Soon Juan. Dr Chee’s claim during his rally on Tuesday that some S$800 billion from Central Provident Fund reserves have gone missing is “absolute rubbish”, said Mr Tharman. “Dr Chee himself says, ‘I don’t understand much of what I just said’ ... Then why do you spread fear?” he questioned. On Dr Chee’s claim during his rally on Tuesday that only 100 jobs were created for locals last year, Mr Tharman responded: “Crazy! Have a sense of reality.”

The Ministry of Manpower clarified that the figures Dr Chee referred to — local employment — did not refer to the total number of new jobs taken by locals. Local employment refers to the difference between total number of locals entering jobs and those leaving jobs, for example owing to retirement. It also pointed out that the difference was 700 last year, not 100.

Setting the record straight on Thursday night, Mr Tharman cited how the Employment and Employability Institute and Workforce Development Agency matched 17,000 people to jobs last year, while investments by the Economic Development Board generated about 20,000 jobs.

“Have a sense of reality. Either you don’t know, in which case, do the homework. Or you know, and you are wilfully spreading fear and alarm. Bad, bad politics,” he said.

Calling for political parties to pursue “politics of consensus”, Mr Tharman said: “Advancing our democracy is not about speaking as fearlessly or fiercely as you can. It’s about developing a consensus in society, pushing it forward so we build a more inclusive society.”

Singapore must not follow in the footsteps of the United States and countries in Western Europe, where “demagogues now have great sway in a way that never was before”, he added. “We must never get there. Never pursue politics of division. Always pursue the politics of developing consensus. You don’t need to agree with the PAP ... But discuss things openly, tell people the truth. These are the benefits, these are the costs. Let’s argue what’s best. Always go for a consensus and a better consensus. That is how we advance democracy,” he said.

Urging residents to vote for a credible candidate whom they can trust, Mr Tharman said Mr Murali Pillai is one such man.

“He dares, he delivers, he works out solutions. And you will always know he is doing it because of you, not him ... You can trust Murali to serve you because it’s you, not because you are part of his political journey,” he said.

In closing, Mr Tharman said he would congratulate Dr Chee should he get the residents’ mandate. Otherwise, he would advise Dr Chee to “reflect”.

He added: “Ask, ‘how can things improve?’ This is his fifth constituency. ‘What should change?’ That would be my advice for Dr Chee ... Don’t keep blaming the system, and try and change.”