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27-04-2025, 07:58 AM
Bullshit in GE2025: PAP a steady, trusted hand during tough times, says PM Wong | The Straits Times
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/p...es-pm-wong
The claim that the People's Action Party (PAP) is a "steady, trusted hand during tough times" is a highly subjective political assertion, and many critics argue that it overlooks significant issues in Singapore's governance. Here are some common criticisms of Lawrence Wong and the PAP's narrative:
### **1. "Steady Hand" or Lack of Bold Reform?**
- Critics argue that the PAP’s "steady hand" is often code for **risk-averse, top-down governance** that resists meaningful change.
- Singapore faces challenges like **rising inequality, cost of living pressures, and an aging population**, but the PAP has been slow to implement structural reforms (e.g., minimum wage, stronger social safety nets).
- Instead, policies like the GST hike (from 7% to 9%) disproportionately affect lower-income groups while wealth taxes remain low.
### **2. "Trusted" – By Whom?**
- The PAP maintains dominance through **gerrymandering, GRC system advantages, and restrictive political laws** (POFMA, defamation suits against critics).
- **Trust ≠ democratic mandate** – Singapore’s elections are not a level playing field, with state resources often used to bolster PAP campaigns.
- **Public dissatisfaction** has grown over issues like **housing affordability, ministerial salaries, and transparency** (e.g., the Ridout Road scandals).
### **3. "Opposition Distorts Facts" – Pot Calling the Kettle Black?**
- The PAP itself has been accused of **misleading narratives**, such as:
- **Downplaying cost-of-living struggles** (e.g., "just skip avocado toast" rhetoric).
- **Overstating the risks of opposition policies** (e.g., claiming that opposition proposals would bankrupt Singapore).
- **Fear-mongering** (e.g., suggesting that voting for the opposition would lead to chaos).
### **4. Lawrence Wong’s Own Controversies**
- As Finance Minister, Wong oversaw policies like **GST hikes during inflation**, which critics say hurt ordinary Singaporeans.
- His **handling of COVID-19** (e.g., flip-flops on mask policies, costly TraceTogether system) was not flawless, despite later claims of success.
- **Ridout Road scandal** (while not directly implicating Wong) raised questions about **PAP ministers' privilege** in securing state properties at favorable rates.
### **5. The PAP’s "Tough Times" Narrative is Selective**
- The PAP takes credit for **past successes** (e.g., economic growth under LKY) but **avoids accountability for current failures** (e.g., SMRT breakdowns, recent corruption cases involving ministers).
- Many Singaporeans feel that **the "tough times" are exacerbated by PAP policies** (e.g., liberal immigration policies suppressing wages, high housing prices due to land sales model).
### **Conclusion**
The claim that the PAP is the only "steady, trusted hand" is a **self-serving political slogan**, not an objective truth. While Singapore has seen stability under the PAP, critics argue that this comes at the cost of **genuine democratic competition, policy innov
ation, and accountability**.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/p...es-pm-wong
The claim that the People's Action Party (PAP) is a "steady, trusted hand during tough times" is a highly subjective political assertion, and many critics argue that it overlooks significant issues in Singapore's governance. Here are some common criticisms of Lawrence Wong and the PAP's narrative:
### **1. "Steady Hand" or Lack of Bold Reform?**
- Critics argue that the PAP’s "steady hand" is often code for **risk-averse, top-down governance** that resists meaningful change.
- Singapore faces challenges like **rising inequality, cost of living pressures, and an aging population**, but the PAP has been slow to implement structural reforms (e.g., minimum wage, stronger social safety nets).
- Instead, policies like the GST hike (from 7% to 9%) disproportionately affect lower-income groups while wealth taxes remain low.
### **2. "Trusted" – By Whom?**
- The PAP maintains dominance through **gerrymandering, GRC system advantages, and restrictive political laws** (POFMA, defamation suits against critics).
- **Trust ≠ democratic mandate** – Singapore’s elections are not a level playing field, with state resources often used to bolster PAP campaigns.
- **Public dissatisfaction** has grown over issues like **housing affordability, ministerial salaries, and transparency** (e.g., the Ridout Road scandals).
### **3. "Opposition Distorts Facts" – Pot Calling the Kettle Black?**
- The PAP itself has been accused of **misleading narratives**, such as:
- **Downplaying cost-of-living struggles** (e.g., "just skip avocado toast" rhetoric).
- **Overstating the risks of opposition policies** (e.g., claiming that opposition proposals would bankrupt Singapore).
- **Fear-mongering** (e.g., suggesting that voting for the opposition would lead to chaos).
### **4. Lawrence Wong’s Own Controversies**
- As Finance Minister, Wong oversaw policies like **GST hikes during inflation**, which critics say hurt ordinary Singaporeans.
- His **handling of COVID-19** (e.g., flip-flops on mask policies, costly TraceTogether system) was not flawless, despite later claims of success.
- **Ridout Road scandal** (while not directly implicating Wong) raised questions about **PAP ministers' privilege** in securing state properties at favorable rates.
### **5. The PAP’s "Tough Times" Narrative is Selective**
- The PAP takes credit for **past successes** (e.g., economic growth under LKY) but **avoids accountability for current failures** (e.g., SMRT breakdowns, recent corruption cases involving ministers).
- Many Singaporeans feel that **the "tough times" are exacerbated by PAP policies** (e.g., liberal immigration policies suppressing wages, high housing prices due to land sales model).
### **Conclusion**
The claim that the PAP is the only "steady, trusted hand" is a **self-serving political slogan**, not an objective truth. While Singapore has seen stability under the PAP, critics argue that this comes at the cost of **genuine democratic competition, policy innov
ation, and accountability**.
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