PSP focuses on cost of living, healthcare, retirement, and education as election nears

It appears that Singaporeans can expect the new Progress Singapore Party (PSP) to focus on hot button issues like the cost of living, education and the affordability of healthcare and retirement during the upcoming election campaign.

The PSP, which is led by veteran politician Dr Tan Cheng Bock, has been releasing some posters on its social media channels that could provide voters with a clue as to which areas the party will focus on as it prepares for the next General Election (GE).

In one poster, the party touches on education and states: “Let’s teach our children education is not which school they go to, it’s to give back to society and make a better Singapore.”

In another poster, the party calls for more affordable eldercare and states: “For the dignity of our elders, make healthcare and retirement affordable.” A third poster touches on the high costs of living in Singapore, it states: “We must help those who struggle with living in the world’s most expensive city.”

These posters are accompanied with messages like “leave no one behind” and “everyone’s included”, suggesting that the party’s campaign message may centre on unity and inclusivity for all Singaporeans.

Earlier, the PSP sought to understand the major concerns Singaporeans have and circulated an online survey asking Singaporeans to share their concerns with the party so that the party can better represent their needs.

The survey asked participants to rank how concerned they are about the following issues:

“GST Hike, Health Care Costs, Education, Costs of Utilities (Electricity & Gas), Public Transport, HDB Prices & Policies, Economy, Salary, CPF Funds, Retirement adequacy, Costs for looking after an elderly, Job Security, Costs for raising a child, Generation wealth transfer, Social Inequality, Political leadership, Costs of vehicle ownership, Meritocracy, Lack of Entrepreneurship”

The PSP’s election preparation efforts, including an islandwide walkabout covering all 29 wards in Singapore that took place late last month, are ongoing as the next GE nears.

The Government announced the first firm step towards the next election on 4 Sept, with the formation of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC). News that the EBRC was convened in August has led to fevered speculation on when the next GE will take place.

Political observers and members of the public seem to agree the next GE could be held as soon as November 2019 or timed to take place in the first quarter of 2020, after the next Budget. -/TISG