SINGAPORE: Workers’ Party (WP) Secretary-General Pritam Singh made a spirited appeal to voters at the party’s first rally on Thursday night (24 April), urging Singaporeans to support WP candidates as a means of safeguarding Singapore’s democratic values and building a more balanced political system.
Singh, who is also defending Aljunied GRC in the upcoming election, was the final speaker of the night.
He took the opportunity to remind Singaporeans of the stakes in this election, especially in the face of global economic uncertainty.
Responding to US Tariffs and Economic Shifts
Addressing the crowd, Singh began by acknowledging the changing global landscape.
He recalled how he had responded in Parliament following Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s recent remarks on the imposition of US tariffs, noting that the world has been shifting towards “de-risking” and “decoupling” due to rising US-China tensions.
“The US government has accelerated these forces through a trade war against China,” Singh said.
“Fortunately, despite the economic aggressiveness and unpredictability of the US, the rest of the world still believes in free trade.”
He warned, however, that Singapore must carefully navigate its position, as trade flows amount to three times the country’s GDP.
The WP’s position, Singh explained, is that while the international order is undergoing far-reaching changes, opportunities remain—but Singapore must actively seek them.
“Being a little red dot has its advantages,” he said. “We are smaller, and we can move faster.”
Why Singapore Still Needs Opposition MPs
Singh went on to address a common question: Should Singaporeans vote WP into Parliament during such uncertain times?
“Certainly, yes,” he declared. “Let me offer a few reasons.”
He said a rational, respectable, and responsive WP presence in Parliament would not hamper Singapore.
Instead, he argued that the party has already proven itself to be a force for good during national crises such as COVID-19.
“When Singapore was fighting COVID-19, the PAP described it as the crisis of a generation. WP MPs laid out what we did in Parliament—and even the PAP acknowledged that we supported the national effort,” he noted.
Singh positioned WP as a “loyal opposition”—loyal not to the PAP, but to Singapore and its people.
He promised that WP MPs would continue to offer independent ideas to break through the “groupthink” that has become characteristic of PAP governance.
He pointed to structural opportunities to improve Singapore’s economy in the coming years, including reducing dependence on foreign workers and creating better jobs with higher wages for Singaporeans—whether the work involves “hands, hearts or heads.”
Singh emphasised WP’s commitment to protecting workers from retrenchment and improving livelihoods across the board.
He made a direct appeal to voters in Sengkang, Punggol, and Jalan Kayu, explaining that opposition voices in Parliament serve as a powerful instrument of accountability.
“When you have opposition in Parliament, your alternative voice is heard by the government. There is pressure—real pressure—on the PAP to act, especially if the views advanced by WP are widely shared,” he said.
In contrast, Singh warned that without opposition MPs, the PAP could impose its whip to force party MPs to vote along government lines, even if they privately disagreed.
“This could be a real problem for all of us and our future generations. we cannot be passive citizens. We must be active participants in our democracy,” Singh stated.
Lessons from Hougang: Political Resilience and Dignity
Drawing from history, Singh cited the voters of Hougang as an example of political resilience.
He recalled how a PAP candidate had recently referred to Hougang voters as “fighters”—but Singh challenged the motivation behind that claim.
“He wanted to borrow their glory,” Singh said.
“But he forgot to ask how Hougang voters became fighters. They did not become fighters by choice—they became fighters because they had the iron in their spine to vote for the opposition.”
He detailed how Hougang residents continued to support WP even after facing punitive measures from the government, including losing access to wet markets, bus routes, and being last in line for lift upgrading.
“The PAP treated Hougang voters like a political football with taxpayer dollars,” he said.
Singh added that this shows how easily the PAP can take away the dignity and self-respect of all Singaporeans.
“But they said no—we have pride, and we believe in our democracy.”
Warning Against One-Party Dominance
Singh warned that if Parliament ends up filled only with Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) from the opposition, the PAP could claim a strong mandate and proceed without public accountability.
He cited the recent GST hike as an example of poor judgement.
“You do not hike GST when inflation is surging. Your people suffer more,” Singh said.
“But the PAP dominates our political scene. They can make serious errors in judgement, then give out teddy bears, ice cream, and toothbrushes.”
A Call to Action: Vote for Change
Singh concluded his speech by urging voters to take decisive action at the ballot box.
“What can you do about it? How do you show that you disagree with the PAP’s poor judgement?” he asked.
He emphasized that a vote for the Workers’ Party would serve as an instrument of change.
“The more vote share the WP gains, the more responsive the PAP will have to be to your concerns,” he added.
Singh reiterated that the Workers’ Party is not contesting even one-third of the seats and is not seeking to form the next government.
“The PAP will govern for the next five years—but give Singapore a chance to grow a more balanced political system. It is the best insurance for the future, for ourselves, and for our families.”
He closed his rally speech by outlining why voters could confidently support the Workers’ Party even in turbulent times.
He pointed to the party’s track record during national crises like COVID-19, its willingness to challenge groupthink with alternative ideas, its realistic manifesto, its commitment to voicing public concerns in Parliament, and its goal of building a more balanced political system to check the ruling party’s power.
“We are all invested in Singapore’s success. We promise to play our part in building a proud and successful Singapore for all of you—for all our people.”
“Vote for the Workers’ Party—working for Singapore,” Singh concluded.
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