PSP stresses need for independent eyes in Parliament to check spending of reserve dollars

PROGRESS Singapore Party's Tan Cheng Bock has called on voters to vote PSP into Parliament to "ask the questions no PAP (People's Action Party) MP will dare to ask in Parliament".

"This will be very important going forward because the PAP will spend billions of your reserve dollars earmarked for Covid-recovery measures. This is the biggest government budget in history. So it is vital for Singapore to put independent eyes in Parliament to check that our money is spent wisely," said the PSP secretary-general in the final political party broadcast on the eve of Polling Day.

In his Facebook post on Wednesday night, he had called on Singaporeans to watch this speech, calling it "perhaps my most important speech to Singapore in my political career".   

Dr Tan stressed that the measures put in place to tackle Covid-19 should not just focus on jobs. The strategy must also aim to protect lives as well as livelihoods. 

Protecting lives means re-shaping national policies from a community healthcare angle and bringing the virus spread under total control, he said. This is imperative, because, unless the country manages to reduce infection rates, foreign investors and tourists will not come to Singapore.

"That is why virus control must be our top, top priority," he said. "Sadly, this campaign, we have heard little from the PAP on their virus-control plans. They took their eyes off the virus."

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He also stressed that their party would do "what we must do" to put local businesses and workers first.  

PSP's manifesto calls for, among other things, a reduction in dependence on foreign labour, more support for local businesses, and a stronger safety net for vulnerable groups. 

On the economic front, its candidates have said they want to reduce the number of foreign work-permit and S-Pass holders companies can hire, as well as introduce a quota for Employment Passes.

Dr Tan said: "As borders take time to re-open, we will make sure the government spends our reserves to nurture strong local businesses. To grow local supply chains. And to encourage innovation. This is important because local businesses will be Singapore's growth catalyst in our post-Covid economy."

For more of our Singapore GE2020 coverage, go to bt.sg/ge2020