It is no secret that the costs of living are escalating. Food prices are increasing, as are fuel and energy prices. The knock-on effects of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the aftershocks of the Covid-19 pandemic plus other systemic bottlenecks have all contributed to rising inflation globally. Naturally, the average man or woman on the street is starting to feel the pinch and worry.
While some of these global factors are not the fault of the People’s Action Party (PAP) led Government in Singapore, it must be noted that it is in this climate of rising prices that incumbent leader, Lawrence Wong has announced that the Government will be pressing ahead with its planned GST hikes. The GST is set to rise from 7 per cent to 8 per cent in 2023, and to further increase to 9 per cent in 2024. Singaporeans are understandably concerned, and netizens have reacted with some outrage.
The fact that people have been raising concerns about GST hikes is not new, and the Government would certainly be aware of it. This issue has been raised a number of times by the Workers’ Party (WP), being the only opposition party that has elected seats in Parliament. The WP even took the effort to provide alternatives (such as corporate and wealth taxes) as to how the Government can raise revenue without increasing the GST. Unfortunately, it would seem that the PAP majority Government has paid no need for such suggestions.
Despite limited seats in Government, the WP is pressing ahead to fight for the common man, saying that it will “continue to argue against GST hikes“. However, with Parliament being so overwhelmingly PAP-dominated, it is safe to say that the WP’s efforts, however valiant, will have limited effects.
This is a clear example of why having more elected opposition politicians is important. It is not about replacing the PAP in Government, but it is about having an effective check and balance in Parliament – especially on issues that will have a genuine effect on the livelihoods of the general public. As WP member of parliament (MP) for Sengkang GRC, Jamus Lim’s now-famous words goes: “The truth is, in all likelihood, the PAP will have this mandate by the end of this election, and I think what we’re trying to deny them is not a mandate. What we’re trying to deny them is a blank cheque.
The PAP has always maintained that it listens to its citizens and that we do not want a two-party system. Yet, does the PAP really listen to its people? The PAP is surely aware that the general populace is deeply against a GST hike at this time. Yet, the Government insists on pressing ahead. This begs the question: without more elected opposition politicians in the house, will the Government really listen to the public?
If there were more WP MPs in Parliament, would the GST hikes still prevail at this time? Definitely food for thought.
At the same time, when the Government is not listening to the public’s fears for GST hikes, the Government is extremely sensitive to any hint of criticism, paying no attention to figures of speech or expressions, taking everything extremely literally.
Just recently, the PAP’s Tan Chuan Jin took to social media to criticise Singaporeans for pulling down Singapore. All this because Mr Tay Kheng Soon opined on social media that we had become too money-minded in comparison to Malaysia. While Mr Tan is entitled to his opinion, it seems a stark contrast that the PAP seems so sensitive to any perceived criticism when it doesn’t seem to listen to the fears of its people over GST hikes! Something that would affect the day-to-day lives of so many!
Another example of the literal approach taken by authorities when it comes to perceived criticism is that of a migrant worker, Zakir Hossain Khokan, who has worked in Singapore for almost 20 years and has been deported “with no clear reason and plenty of confusion”.
Hossain – a prize-winning poet who is also a former speaker at TEDx Singapore, community organizer, writer, freelance journalist, editor, and photographer – outlined in his Facebook post that after working in and contributing to Singapore for 19 years, he received a notice from his company’s Human Resource (HR) department that his work permit had expired and could not be renewed. The system reflected that he had “an adverse record with a government agency”.
According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), some of Hossain’s public posts on social media were “misleading, false or deliberately provocative.”
The MOM referenced a post on 16 Oct 2021 (under the profile of “Amrakajona Zakir”) where Hossain called migrant workers in Singapore “work slaves”, and our dormitories “work camps”. He also alleged that soldiers and armoured vehicles had surrounded a dormitory, Westlite Tukang.
According to the MOM, this was a false characterisation. Because of the situation at that time in the dormitory, police personnel were on standby nearby as a precautionary measure. They never surrounded the dormitory or engaged workers there. Rather, MOM officers and dormitory personnel engaged the workers to address their concerns. There were no soldiers, let alone armoured vehicles, around. Though Mr Zakir had signed off his post as from the “workers of Westlite Tukang”, he himself had never lived there.
It seems that the Government is being extremely literal, giving no consideration to how people express themselves on social media. While Hossain could have been more careful with his choice of words, most people with sense understand that this was a figure of speech! If the Government wants to be so literal and hardline, why is it not listening to the concerns of its citizens?
If you don’t allow people the right to express themselves, then perhaps authorities need to be more mindful and engage with ground sentiments?