The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has issued a firm rebuttal to remarks made by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung during the parliamentary motion to thank the President for his address on 23 September 2025.
Ong had criticised what he described as past populist tendencies within Singapore’s political discourse, specifically referencing the PSP’s position on the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) after the 2020 General Election.
He asserted that PSP’s allegations regarding CECA had “taken on an ugly racial tone” and warned that such narratives risk fuelling xenophobia and dividing society.
In response, the PSP released a public statement on 24 September, denying all allegations of populism and racism, and defending its immigration policy proposals as responsible, multi-racial, and aimed at safeguarding Singapore’s long-term interests.
Ong Ye Kung warns against rise of populism
During his speech, Ong said Singapore had largely avoided the wave of populism seen globally, citing cases from Argentina to Europe. However, he cautioned that populist tendencies were not absent from Singapore’s political scene.
He specifically pointed to PSP’s post-GE2020 criticism of CECA, stating: “There were allegations by the Progress Singapore Party that our Free Trade Agreement with India… allowed professionals from India ‘a free hand’ to come work in Singapore.”
Ong argued that this was a “seductive and simplistic argument” that ultimately stoked xenophobic sentiments. He said such framing was characteristic of populist politics, relying on emotional appeals and creating divisions by portraying elites or outsiders as threats.
He further claimed that public discourse around CECA had led to racially charged rhetoric online, necessitating ministerial clarification in Parliament.
PSP defends stance, calls for rational immigration debate
Responding via its official social media channels, the PSP expressed concern over being unable to reply directly in Parliament.
It stated: “We would like to reiterate that PSP does not advocate for a closed Singapore and we have never done so. We also reject any continued allegations of racism or allegations of populism.”
PSP underscored its commitment to multiracialism and reiterated that its platform for the 2025 General Election reflected those values.
The party also accused the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) of oversimplifying concerns about immigration and dismissing public sentiment as xenophobia.
“It is similarly ‘seductive and simplistic’ if the PAP Government dismisses national concerns on immigration as ‘xenophobia’, or paints those that raise such concerns as ‘racists’ or ‘populists’,” PSP stated.
Immigration proposals cited as rational and constructive
The PSP cited its 2021 proposal for diversity quotas in employment, aimed at preventing companies from over-reliance on a single foreign nationality, as an example of its policy depth.
It noted that the Ministry of Manpower’s COMPASS framework, introduced in 2023, incorporated a Diversity (C3) criterion, which PSP argued was aligned with its earlier recommendations.
“This shows our proposals were thoughtful and actionable,” PSP stated, arguing that they had helped shape policy in a constructive manner.
The party emphasised the need for open, data-driven discussions on immigration, asserting that such issues are “legitimate subjects for well-informed public discussion in any country.”
PSP’s absence from parliament
In the 2025 General Election, PSP fielded 13 candidates across six constituencies but failed to secure any seats, including the West Coast–Jurong West GRC, where it had been seen as a competitive challenger.
The redrawing of electoral boundaries, including changes in several hotly contested constituencies, did not result in the hoped-for electoral gains for the opposition party.
As a result, PSP also lost its two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats.
Despite the setback, the party asserted that it would continue to “ask difficult questions in the national interest” and would not be deterred by political labels.
“We will not be deterred by labels the Government tries to attach to us,” the party concluded.
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