SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party (PAP) launched their manifesto today (Aug 29), an 88-page document highlighting what the party and Singaporeans have achieved and are doing together, the future challenges and the party’s plans.

Titled “With you, for you, for Singapore”, it embodies the spirit of the party, said PAP secretary-general Lee Hsien Loong.

Speaking at the launch held at Infinity Studios, which was attended by more than 1,000 PAP activists, Mr Lee, who is also the Prime Minister, called for Singaporeans to give him and his team a clear mandate to allow them to realise their plans and bring Singapore forward.

Before he spoke, new candidates such as former chief of defence force Ng Chee Meng, lawyer K Muralihadran and sitting Members of Parliament Tin Pei Ling and Charles Chong also spoke about their vision for Singapore, the challenges it faces, and what they feel is needed for Singapore’s future.

Reiterating what he feels this election is about, Mr Lee said the people are choosing the government of Singapore, a leadership team to work with them, and the future direction of the country. He urged Singaporeans to take this election seriously.

The opposition says they do not wish to form the Government, “that is a pose”, said Mr Lee. But they still hope that people will vote for them, he added. If they win a constituency, they will run the town council, he pointed out. “And if they run it like AHPETC (Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council), I don’t know where your S&CC (service and conservancy charges) money will go.”

He urged people to be careful “not to live dangerously”, to want one party to be the Government but to vote for another party instead.

The Opposition ask to be given chances to prove themselves, but the one place where they were given responsibility and the chance to prove themselves, they have failed their voters. Do we really want to give them more responsibility? Entrust them with more of your hard-earned money?” Mr Lee said. “At the very least, if you vote for the opposition and they win in your constituency, your constituency is in their hands. But if you vote for the Opposition and they win many constituencies combined, enough to run the Government, then I think Singapore is sunk.”

On new leadership, Mr Lee said his team is growing old, and he has a responsibility to prepare a team to take over from them. Most likely the next Prime Minister will come from the MPs elected into the next Parliament, he said.

S’PORE AT TURNING POINT: PM LEE

Mr Lee said the nation is now “at a turning point”, with society changing and the pioneer generation fading away. Majority of voters are born after independence with different life experiences and higher expectations. He also highlighted challenges, such as security threats and terrorism in the region, and political troubles in Bangkok and Malaysia.

The world economy is “unsettled”, with financial markets volatile and Singapore’s own economy dragged down by the global economic environment, Mr Lee said.

But some things have not changed, he said. A good Government is still needed, and the people have to stay united, he said. “We still must keep faith between the Government and the voters,” he said, adding that Singapore still needs outstanding leaders. PAP bears a heavy responsibility in making this happen - it has provided leadership for Singapore and will have to continue to provide good leadership because no other party is in a position to do so, he said.

Describing the need for good leaders as an “urgent problem”, Mr Lee said he needs Singaporeans’ help to put together the team and develop them.

Mr Lee noted that the PAP Government has built 100,000 flats in the past four years, created MediShield Life to give Singaporeans peace of mind for healthcare expenses, and other social safety nets such as ComCare, Silver Support and Fresh Start Housing Scheme. It slowed down the influx of foreign workers and made sure Singaporeans are treated fairly at work, he said. Young people, who are worried about their future, will have opportunities, said Mr Lee, pointing out that the government has rolled out the SkillsFuture initiative, injected more university and tertiary spaces, and created more jobs, among other initiatives.

“For the last decade I’ve been your Prime Minister...the Government has been listening to your needs, working with you, and achieving together with you,” he said. “Doing better, gradually, step by step. But we are far from done. There is...much more we can do together.”

He added that PAP will fight to win every vote as the future of Singapore is at stake. “I will not shirk my own responsibility, neither will the party shirk ours, We will fight to earn your trust and your support, so that we can work with you, work for you, and for Singapore.”

PAP SEEKING STRONG MANDATE: ANALYSTS

Political analysts noted that Mr Lee was seeking to counter the "by-election effect", with voters thinking they could vote for the opposition without worrying about a change in government.

With the Workers' Party (WP) — which is the strongest opposition party here — contesting only 28 out of the 89 seats, the PAP might also be concerned about a perception among voters that they could vote for the WP, without worrying that the opposition party could deny the PAP a two-thirds majority in Parliament which is needed to make amendments to the Constitution. 

Institute of Policy Studies senior research fellow Gillian Koh pointed out that voters may assume that there would always be a PAP government even if they do not vote for the party.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan added: “(Mr Lee was) trying to remind voters that if they want a PAP government, they have to unequivocal about it and vote the PAP… The elections are not an appropriate occasion to try and configure a political arrangement where you would like a PAP government and yet vote the opposition.”

He noted that Mr Lee's message also reflects the PAP’s aim of securing a strong mandate. “It’s not just about winning, but to a large extent, the margin of victory is also important given the massive effort put in to address the hot-button issues,” he said.

On the PAP’s manifesto, Associate Professor Tan felt that it was different from the previous manifestos in trying to remind voters of the party’s "crucial role" in Singapore’s history over the last 50 years. For instance, Assoc Prof Tan pointed out that photos of the Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and other founding fathers were used in the 88-page document. It also had the feel of a "report book", reflecting the achievements of the ruling party over the past decades, as well as showing how the party has responded to voters’ needs since the 2011 GE, said Assoc Prof Tan.

The full manifesto can be read here.