2024 Roundup (Nov-Dec): A promise to support Singaporeans and a new CEC to lead the Party

27/12/2024

PRIME MINISTER Lawrence Wong was announced as incoming PAP Secretary-General during our Party Awards and Conference this past month (24 Nov). 

PM Wong’s new role as Party leader comes after a 2024 where he unveiled a game-changing Forward Singapore Budget, refreshed the Party’s operations, and boosted skills and leave support for workers and families respectively

His role also begins during very trying global circumstances.  

Wars in Europe and the Middle East, deepening distrust between China and the United States, and worldwide climate change point to a challenging environment for Singaporeans for the foreseeable future. 

 “We’ve rolled out major packages over the last few years to support Singaporeans. And there’s more help on the way in the coming months,” said PM Wong on helping Singaporeans manage the cost of living against these global pressures. 

“Next month, in December, there will be some measures from the Assurance Package. And in January, another tranche of CDC [Community Development Council] vouchers is coming up,” added PM Wong.  

Source: Ministry of Finance / Facebook

The PAP government has set aside over $10 billion through the Assurance Package to help Singaporeans, with cash transfers from 2022 to 2026. 

The Assurance Package also includes MediSave top-ups, utility rebates and career-boosting SkillsFuture credits. The Assurance Package also includes special assistance for older Singaporeans, with most getting transfers of between $600-$900.  More information about the Assurance Package can be found here.    

PM Wong is also hard at work preparing Budget 2025, and consulting with Singaporeans on it. These on-the-ground Budget consultations will set out Singapore’s broad economic strategies and continue providing better jobs and incomes for everyone —  as well as additional cost-of-living support. 

“[It is about] how we can provide support for Singaporeans across different life stages, as they enter the workforce, as they start up families. And then for those who are older, especially for those who feel sandwiched between looking after elderly parents and their children,” said PM Wong earlier in the month (8 Nov).  

Meanwhile, he is also refreshing our Party.  

For example, the new Climate Action and Mental Health Groups are now hard at work solving the immediate and long-term concerns of Singaporeans. 

He is also making sure the PAP remains a diverse Party which represents the changing needs of Singaporeans. 

“As a Party, we will welcome a greater diversity of people, with different backgrounds, views and ideas, to join our party as our activists, our friends, and even as potential candidates,” said PM Wong. “We invite all Singaporeans to work with us and shape our shared future together.” 

Helping hawkers and fostering neighbourly ties 

November also saw our Party continue our fight for hawkers to make a fair livelihood — and for Singaporeans to enjoy affordable food.  

“Many of us have local schemes to help our residents better cope with the rising cost of living. In Nanyang division for example, blue CHAS card holders can apply for multiple $1 breakfast vouchers to exchange for a $3 breakfast set from two main coffee shops at Blk 815 and 959 Jurong West,” said MP Ang Wei Neng (West Coast GRC) to Parliament (14 Nov).  

“At Ayer Rajah-Gek Poh, low-income residents receive $50 WeCare vouchers monthly, donated by well-wishers, to spend at local shops, including hawker centres,” he added on these ground-up efforts.  

Meanwhile on the other side of the dining table, hawkers can employ Long Term Visit Pass holders from 1 Jan 2025, letting them serve up more plates during busy times.    

Controls on atypical rent bids are also coming to limit unsustainably high bids. It will now take two tenancy renewals to adjust tendered rent.  

This control is to deter prospective hawkers from overbidding for stalls at hawker centres run by the National Environment Agency (NEA). 

In addition, November saw our MPs working out solutions in Parliament to combat neighbour disputes.  

From next year, the enhanced Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) will be able to issue mandatory treatment orders and interim orders to these neighbours.  

A new Community Relations Unit (CRU) will be empowered to deal with hoarding and noise complaints. Officers in this unit will investigate and work to resolve neighbour disputes. 

“Fundamental in our philosophy,” said Minister for Community, Culture and Youth, Edwin Tong (12 Nov), “[is] that we do not lose sight of the fact that we want the community to continue to be engaged in resolving their own issues in a conciliatory and amicable way as far as possible.”    

The 38th CEC 

Our Party finalised its 38th Central Executive Committee earlier this month (4 Dec). 

Sec-Gen Wong leads this refreshed CEC, which includes experienced statesmen like Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. You can read more about the CEC members here

These leaders all have a track record of steering Singapore safely through difficult times like the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Going forward during this challenging global era, they will be a steady team for the Party — and Singaporeans!