New Paper on Sunday: Unbelievable news?

Not if Worker's Party has its way

COMMENT
Clarence Chang
clarence@sph.com.sg



YOU wake up, open the morning paper and the front page headline says: Parliament, not the people, to vote for a new President.

Under it, a smaller headline: Latest electoral reform change to further empower the House, says new PM.

Wah, you think, just last month, this guy abolished GRCs, set up an independent election commission and threw out the Internal Security Act. His party is certainly true to its manifesto.

Just then, your wife hollers from the kitchen that she's almost out of bread, milk and sugar for breakfast.

No problem lah, you reply. Cheaper now - no more 5 per cent GST on basic necessities, as promised by the party.

Don't forget Ah Girl's check-up at the polyclinic tomorrow, says the wifey.

Cheaper too, you think. The Government's now putting more of taxpayers' money into healthcare.

Hmm, a thought just struck me: If we're collecting less money without GST, how are we paying the billion-dollar health bills?

Ah, never mind.

Just think of me, me and me. If warded, no problem. I've got more money in my Medisave account since the new CPF contribution rate is now 35 per cent, up from 33.

Papa's little darling then strolls in and says: "No problem, no problem. What if you lose your job, Pa? That happened to my friend's daddy, you know."

No probl... I mean, no worries, girl. Pa is now contributing to this new thing called unemployment insurance. If retrenched, I just take money from it.

"Not enough, how? Must sell flat?" Ah Girl is beginning to get a bit too precocious.

Of course not, girl. Now, Pa can buy a second flat from HDB at subsidised prices.

So we can downgrade without paying what we used to call a resale levy.

"No resale levy? So are people making money by buying and selling HDB flats, Pa?"

You don't worry about that, just prepare for your exams, okay?

Ah Girl retorts: "Pa, now no more streaming leh. And no more year-end exams."

Hmm, I'm not sure if she's preparing well for work life.

No time to think about that as I get on the MRT for work.

The logo on the doors of the train reads: National Transport Corporation.

Ah, yes. No more SBS Transit, SMRT, or even the Public Transport Council. Just the new NTC - a giant all-in-one mass provider. Cheaper fares and more routes.

But what if it goes bankrupt when it starts losing billions? Who cares, better enjoy it while it lasts... while it lasts... while it...

Then you get a jolt. "Wake up, Pa."

I fell asleep reading the papers. Now, what was I reading before I dozed off?

Ah, yes. It was about the Workers' Party's Manifesto 2006, which the party unveiled yesterday.

Timely because its secretary-general, Mr Low Thia Khiang, said "election is coming".

Denying that the document is a rehash of the party's 1994 manifesto under then-WP chief JB Jeyaretnam, he added: "We're not saying we have the best ideas."

The 52-page booklet covers 14 policy areas like civil liberties, education, national security, the economy, healthcare, the media and even sports.

"It shows the Workers' Party is serious about politics. We take the trouble to look at issues, and we're prepared to defend what we've put up today," said Mr Low.

Although the manifesto doesn't explain how the intended goodies are to be paid for, Mr Low did say: "At least we offer policy options."

While the 1994 manifesto was taglined "Power To The People", the 2006 motto is simply "You Have A Choice".

But Mr Low added that the party is "not aiming to be an alternative government" after the next GE.

"We recognise we don't have the ability to do that at this point in time... Let's face facts. We can't field as many candidates as we like."

Money, manpower and logistical resources are always problems, he explained, revealing that WP has only some 200 active members.

That's why opposition parties have often resorted to the so-called by-election effect - telling Singaporeans to vote for more opposition candidates because the PAP is already returned to power even before polls open.

TAKE ON THE PM

This time round, Mr Low stressed, that's not WP's strategy. If resources permit, he said it's even prepared to contest Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's stronghold of Ang Mo Kio GRC.

"I'm not saying we'll win Ang Mo Kio. Just go there and participate so people will have a choice. People in Ang Mo Ko will like that!" he said with a grin.

"If (Senior Minister) Goh Chok Tong is welcoming a contest, how can the PM not welcome a contest? You want a mandate from the people?"

What about opinions by some observers that the WP is "THE opposition party to watch" at the next GE?

Flanked by five other WP executive committee members, including party chairman Sylvia Lim and assistant secretaries-general Poh Lee Guan and James Gomez, Mr Low answered cheekily: "Don't watch too much. It's better to watch the PAP to see what they'll do. That's my advice."

Okay, I'll be watching for more media reports and doubt I'll nod off when election fever takes hold.

Sunday Times: Spat over deal to avoid 3-cornered fights

A TINY spat has broken out between two opposition parties, with one accusing the other of going back on an agreement to contest a ward together.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday chided the Workers' Party (WP) for working the ground in East Coast GRC behind its back.

In a terse press statement, it said it would now go ahead and contest in East Coast GRC and MacPherson on its own, since "WP has failed to abide by the agreement".

It added: "As far as the DPP is concerned, the door of communication is now closed... We are now ready to face three-cornered fights."

But WP chief Low Thia Khiang explained that it was a "confusion". A Chinese-language newspaper had misinterpreted WP's visits in Bedok as signs that it would contest East Coast GRC, which the DPP took as breaking an earlier agreement.

Said Mr Low: "There are always these problems of communication. But if the DPP insists on contesting in East Coast, maybe the WP will not go there."

He stressed that his party wanted to avoid three-cornered fights and would remain "flexible" on deciding which wards it would contest. He added he would speak to DPP's leaders to resolve the misunderstanding.

DPP chairman Mansur Rahman told The Sunday Times he would hear Mr Low out, saying: "We will see what the WP has to say."

But he expressed unhappiness that the WP had not discussed the Bedok visit with DPP. East Coast GRC is held by a six-man People's Action Party team helmed by Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar.

T. Rajan

Sunday Times: Workers' Party unveils party manifesto

Opposition party's first policy paper since 1994, it is released now as elections are coming, says WP chief

T. Rajan


WORKERS' PARTY executive council members (from left) Mr James Gomez, Dr Poh Lee Guan, secretary-general Low Thia Khiang, chairman Sylvia Lim, Mr Mohammed Rahizan Yaacob and Mr Tan Wui-Hua took turns to read the new party manifesto to the media.
PHOTO: EDWIN KOO

THE Workers' Party (WP) yesterday unveiled its new party manifesto, which among other things, called on the Government to keep the basic cost of living down.

In a sign of the opposition moving into high gear for the next general election, the party presented its proposals on various national policies such as education, health and housing.

Party chief Low Thia Khiang said the WP had launched its manifesto to update its stand and proposals on policy issues. The MP for Hougang added: "We are releasing it now as it is time for a review of our position, and also because elections are coming."

The 52-page manifesto, titled You Have A Choice, is the first to come out of the party since 1994. It lists out a raft of proposals on almost every area of Singapore's policy infrastructure, from the civil service and judiciary to defence and the environment.

Asked to comment on the People's Action Party (PAP) Government's latest workfare package to help low-wage workers, Mr Low said the Government should have acted earlier.

But he added: "I do not want to belittle the workfare package by saying it is an election gimmick. It is a policy initiative to help the low-income and elderly group, and I welcome that."

Yesterday, Mr Low and five other executive council members presented the manifesto to the media at WP headquarters in Syed Alwi Road.

Party chairman Sylvia Lim, 40, focused on labour policies and legal matters. She floated proposals such as barring ministers from holding office in trade unions, and having a minimum wage. "These are fundamental things we believe in," she said.

Dr Poh Lee Guan called for transport, health care and housing costs to be kept low. The Government, he suggested, could set up a basic hospitalisation insurance scheme to supplement existing schemes like MediShield.

Mr James Gomez, Mr Tan Wui-Hua and Mr Mohammed Rahizan Yaacob spelt out the party's stand on areas such as education, arts, economic policy, environment, national security and sports.

For example, they pushed for the workload of teachers to be reduced, and the goods and services tax on basic necessities to be abolished.

Mr Low said the manifesto showed that the WP was serious about these issues, but stressed that he remained realistic. "We are not aiming to be the alternative government...but we do provide a choice, a credible option."

With one MP established in Parliament, the WP is seen by observers as one of the biggest contenders in the coming polls. Ministers and PAP MPs recently acknowledged that the opposition appears more prepared this time round.

PAP MP Ong Seh Hong (Aljunied GRC) said he welcomed "worthy opponents" in the polls. "If they take the elections seriously, then I think it's good for us, good for them and also good for Singaporeans."

Additional reporting by Peh Shing Huei

trajan@sph.com.sg