GE2020: WP vs PAP’s Manifestos for a Post-COVID-19 World — Which Do You Prefer?

Amidst the election drama on social media, let’s not forget the solemnity of the General Elections and the ethical imperative our votes carry.

Rather than letting the hype and social sentiments on the candidates get the better of us, a more logical option is to have a read on the manifestos proposed by the contesting parties on various issues.

Over the last few days, both the Workers’ Party (WP) and People Action Party (PAP) painted a post-COVID Singapore for us through the launch of their manifestos “Make Your Vote Count” and “Our Lives, Our Jobs, Our Future” respectively—each documenting their 5-year plan on the six issues.

1. Public Healthcare

WP:

• Set up an independent medical advisory board to “pre-empt any possible blind spots” for future health crises or pandemic
• Provide free COVID-19 vaccines for all Singapore residents, vulnerable first, when it is available

PAP:

• Provide excellent healthcare for all—free in-patient treatment at public hospitals, increasing COVID-19 testing, and investing in COVID-19 treatments and vaccines
• Allocate S$20billion to MOH to reduce public transmission—equipped people with protective gear, establish safe distancing norms, and increasing efforts to attain higher public hygiene standards
• Build foreign worker housing with new operating models and standards

2. Economic / Businesses

WP:

• Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme made automatic for all self-employed adults
• Oppose to the GST hike to 9%

PAP:

• National Job Council to create 100,000 employment opportunities
• Pass rental relief laws and provides extra support to sectors, which are badly affected eg. Tourism, aviation, and retail
• Promote the adoption of digital technology
• Promote the growth of sectors like cybersecurity and healthcare

3. Environment

WP:

• Mitigate climate change by curbing plastic use and banning styrofoam
• Increase use in renewable sources of energy to at least 10% by 2025

PAP:

• Produce clean energy, reduce greenhouse emissions, planting one million trees, and new mangrove areas
• Rejuvenate heartlands with home improvement to promote sustainable living
• Add 200ha nature parks, 140ha city parks, and gardens in the next 5 years
• Make green corridors and park connectors accessible to every household (within a 10-minute walk)

4. Education

WP:

• Reduce class sizes in schools

PAP:

• Make special education more affordable, open new special education schools to cater to different needs, and increases work and care options for special education needs beyond 18 years old.

5. Social

WP:

• Add social safety nets such as redundancy or unemployment insurance
• Lower the voting age to 18 years old
• Waive HDB rent until all forms of lockdown restrictions are lifted
• Central Provident Fund (CPF):
  • Lower CPF Payout eligibility to 60 with “special dividend” to boost retirement income
  • Greater transparency from GIC in terms of the performance of the money

PAP:

• Enhance housing grants for buying HDB flats, transport vouchers, and healthcare subsidies

6. International

PAP:

• “Green lane” travel arrangements
• Expand the country’s trade network and seek new markets
• Diversify food and essential supplies