PAP plans to build on last term’s work as it looks to the future: PM Lee

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday morning (Dec 6) outlined the party's future plans for Singapore, and listed the reasons for the party’s victory at this year’s General Election.

Speaking at the People’s Action Party (PAP) Convention attended by about 1,500 party members at the Singapore Expo, Mr Lee, who is also the party's secretary-general, said the election win was down to three factors: The hard work put in by Members of Parliament and activists; the PAP government's policy changes and plans for the future; and a stronger sense of Singaporean identity fostered by the SG50 – the country’s 50th year of independence.

PAP garnered 69.9 per cent of the vote in this year’s election. It also secured the single seat of Punggol East, previously held by the Workers’ Party.


The election results will assure Singaporeans of at least another decade of predictability, political stability and good governance, said Mr Lee. He also said that Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat is leading a formal post-mortem on the election result.

“Right now we are working out the programme for the coming term of government,” he said. “Our manifesto sets out the major ideas. We are building on last term’s work and going further.”

Mr Lee stressed that the PAP is already looking ahead to the SG100 milestone and achieving that through proactive policies and continued dialogue and consultation with Singaporeans. The PAP hopes to “get Singaporeans to participate actively, as we did in the Our Singapore Conversation last term and so that we can shape our direction for the future together,” he said.

Mr Lee cited long-term plans that are already in the pipeline, such as the SkillsFuture work-study programme, and also master plans for the ageing population, healthcare and sustainable living.

He also explained that some elements of the PAP’s agenda from the last term are still a work in progress, such as improvements to the public transport system, the implementation of MediShield Life and boosting healthcare infrastructure.

But Mr Lee warned that the next election will be a new fight and that Singaporeans will judge the PAP not only on its past achievements, but also on its future agenda.

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION

The PAP Government will be able to carry out a smooth leadership succession, transform the economy and society and transition to a new phase of Singapore’s development, Mr Lee added. “I have been able to gather a new team to reinforce my team. There is now time for them to gel and to take over the reins, well before the election after next,” he explained.

He urged the party to remain grounded, despite the election victory.

“All MPs and candidates must remember always to be sincere and to serve humbly - never forget that we are serving Singaporeans, never behave as if we are their masters, never turn up late for events, or take residents for granted,” he said. “Voters will not tolerate arrogant and complacent attitudes, whether in the PAP or opposition. They expect you to serve and do your duty and they will respect you for that.”

Mr Lee also lauded Members of Parliament Lim Swee Say, Maliki Osman, Lee Bee Wah and Christopher De Souza, saying that their work in their constituencies made a difference to residents’ lives. He noted that Members of Parliament Tin Pei Ling, Sitoh Yih Pin and PAP’s slate of candidates for Aljunied GRC had had “tougher fights than others” in the recent elections.