SPP launches manifesto, proposes distributing government surpluses as CDC vouchers (2025)

SINGAPORE – The Singapore People’s Party (SPP) has launched its manifesto ahead of the general election on May 3.

The 16-page manifesto titled It Is Time was launched on April 19, as the party gears up to field five candidates to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Potong Pasir SMC.

The manifesto’s nine themes are wide-ranging and include proposals to promote economic stability and fairness, as well as plans for sustainable public transport.

To tackle inflation and the rising cost of living, the party proposes distributing government Budget surpluses annually as CDC vouchers, with more aid for lower-income Singaporeans.

It also proposes halting any goods and services tax (GST) increase until the cumulative Budget deficit exceeds 3 per cent of government revenue for three consecutive years.

At a media interview on its manifesto held next to the Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market & Hawker Centre on April 19,SPP secretary-general Steve Chia, 54, said: “We don’t want to have a balance of Budget every year that goes into the reserves, and we don’t know how deep is this reserve.

“So, a balanced Budget. If there’s a shortfall and continuous deficit for a few years, then we talk about raising (GST). We don’t put the cart before the horse.”

SPP also suggests having progressive taxation – for income tax to be increased for the top 2 per cent of earners, and the reintroduction of estate duty for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

To counter job insecurity and unemployment, SPP proposes a review of the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (Ceca), which it says will “address labour inflow concerns”.

Mr Chia said: “This Ceca policy allows foreign talent to come in, in huge quantities, to fight for jobs with our PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians).”

He added that “a lot of people, a lot of residents” have raised concerns about this.

SPP is also advocating for the gradual reduction of Special and Employment Pass quotas and dependency ratios in “automatable sectors”.

Its public transport proposals include investing “heavily” in MRT maintenance to ensure reliability and no major disruptions.

Mr Chia referenced the party’s “competitor”, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, who on April 18 was confirmed as the anchor minister for the PAP team in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC for the election following Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen’s retirement from politics.

Mr Chia said he was shocked when he read in the news recently that aplatform screen door had collapsed at Braddell MRT station, adding that a thorough maintenance schedule should be implemented.

When asked how the party plans to fund its proposals, Mr Chia said: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. If the issue is serious enough, money will be arranged and sought for. (When the economy grows), that is where the funding will come from.”

He noted that in 2004, while he was a Non-Constituency MP, he had highlighted that Singapore’s pioneer generation needs to be cared for. He suggested that PAP later launched the Pioneer Generation Package after losing a significant percentage of the vote in the 2011 General Election.

The Pioneer Generation Package was rolled out in 2014.

Mr Chia added that SPP’s proposals are not meant to be implemented today but to be taken to Parliament for discussion, and that the Budget allocation would takeplace amid economic growth.

In 2020, SPP released a 24-page manifesto and contested the same two constituencies.

That year, the SPP team, comprising Mr Chia, Mr Melvyn Chiu, Mr Williiamson Lee and Mr Osman Sulaiman, garnered 32.77 per cent of the vote in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

In Potong Pasir, then SPP chairman Jose Raymond won 39.33 per cent of the vote.

In the upcoming election, the party confirmed that Mr Chia, Mr Chiu, 46, who is the current chairman, and Mr Lee, 46, will once again be among its slate of potential candidates.

They are joined by operations executive Muhammad Norhakim, 31, and Mr Lim Rui Xian, 37, an operations manager who was previously a volunteer with the National Solidarity Party.

While Mr Chia confirmed he will be running in Bishan-Toa Payoh, he did not confirm where the rest of the candidates would stand.