Chee Hong Tat, Chairman of the PAP Policy Forum (PPF), urged Singaporeans to grant the People’s Action Party a strong mandate to govern. This is crucial to secure a stable and prosperous future for Singapore amidst the volatile and challenging external landscape.
“In an environment like this where there are a lot of ups and downs and uncertainties, you want to project stability, a sense of unity to our own people, [and] also to investors.” he told activists.
A strong mandate for the PAP is essential to ensuring a stable, secure future for Singaporeans and Singapore.
Mr Chee, who is also Transport Minister and Second Minister for Finance, was speaking at a post-budget dialogue organized by PPF on 16 March.
“We are a party that listens. We are a party that is responsive. We are a party that is accountable to you,” he said.
“Forward Singapore demonstrates this. The changes we implement for Singapore are not because the opposition tells us [to] change this or that. They are because Singaporeans share feedback with us as the government and the PAP. We then respond with what we think is good for Singapore and Singaporeans.”
Mr Chee reminded activists that they must convince Singaporeans, especially swing voters, of the PAP’s track record in enacting policies that put Singaporeans first.
“We are not going to take our strong majority for granted or to use it to benefit ourselves at the expense of Singapore and Singaporeans,” he said. “We will use our majority as a force for stability and good governance, enabling long-term planning.”
“We will implement good policies to address not only immediate challenges but also medium and long-term ones facing Singapore.”
Mr Chee also urged Singaporeans to work with the Party to propel Singapore forward.
He highlighted that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced policies aimed at benefitting Singaporeans during the National Day Rally, and this year’s Budget.
“PAP wants to work with you to bring Singapore forward, to do more for you. But we can only do so if you support us and return us to government.”
During the dialogue session, Mr Chee, Vice-Chairpersons Murali Pillai and Sun Xueling also answered attendees’ questions relating to cost-of-living concerns, housing affordability, fertility support and class sizes.
About 160 participants including activists, friends of PAP, and colleagues from the National Trades Union Congress, attended the dialogue.
