PAP must unambiguously say it will stop 6.5 m pop. plan

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Thursday, 09 September 2010

Singapore Democrats

The Straits Times seems to be walking back the PAP's plan to jack up the population figure in Singapore to 6.5 million. A report written by Ms Rachel Lin pointed out that Dr Chee Soon Juan had raised this issue in the SDP's video response to PM Lee Hsien Loong's National Day rally speech.

If the viewership is an indication of how concerned Singaporeans are over the matter - the video has registered a record-breaking 15,000 views in just one week - then the PAP had better sit up and listen very carefully: Singaporeans are already feeling the stresses of having 5.1 million people on this island and they are appalled that the number will go up to 6.5 million.

In her report, Ms Lin played down the controversy writing that the 6.5 million mark was not a target: "Mr Mah (Bow Tan) had stressed that the 6.5 million number is not a target that the Government feels Singapore’s population should reach. Instead, he characterised it as a ‘planning parameter’ – to guide future development blueprints in the URA’s Concept Plan.”

When you cannot convince, confuse.

Not a target but a planning parameter? And the parameter was to guide future development blueprints? What on earth is she talking about? Why have an infrastructutral blueprint for 6.5 million if you're target is not 6.5 million?

The National Development Minister himself was very clear that 6.5 million was the target. Mr Mah posted an editorial on the PAP's website and unambiguously entitled it "Why we need 6.5 million people". It was not "Why we need 6.5 million people as a planning parameter".

In the post, he asks: "How many more people can we accommodate?"

And then answers: "A recent review of our long-term land use and transportation plan concluded that we have enough land to cater to a population of 6.5 million, if we are creative and careful in using our limited land, if we plan for such growth now and if we invest in the necessary infrastructure." (emphasis added)

Is this not clear enough?

If it is indeed not the Government's plan to have the population reach 6.5 million then Mr Mah must, like his cabinet colleague Mr Ng Eng Hen who apologised and withdrew his statement about the weighting of Chinese language in school results, renounce his own statement.

Clearly, the PAP is sensing the backlash of this dangerous and highly contentious move and it is trying to contain the issue. Singaporeans are already feeling the stress of having nearly 2 million foreigners working and living in Singapore. Adding another 1.5 million people to this island without proper consultation and study is stunningly reckless.

The Singapore Democrats call on the Government to do the following:

One, state categorically and unambiguously - without mumbo-jumbo about "planning paramenters" and what not - that it will not increase Singapore's population to 6.5 million.

Two, conduct transparent and open public hearings to solicit views from Singaporeans about the impact of current immigration levels on their lives and to reduce the 5.1 million figure if necessary.

Three, conduct comprehensive and sound research of the population sustainability level of Singapore.

If the PAP fails to do the above, one can only conclude that the party has every intention to inflate the population to 6.5 million. The SDP will continue to warn Singaporeans of the danger and the people will have their say at the coming elections.

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Comments (11)

Thu 09 Sep 2010 12:21 PM | orange

excellent analysis of the ST article. their tactics to confuse singaporeans cannot work any longer in this internet age.

Thu 09 Sep 2010 12:59 PM | claude - PAP must unambiguously say it will stop 6.5 m pop.

The only language the PAP knows and understand is when the voters kick oot a couple of ministers - Mah and Khaw for a start at this election.

Thu 09 Sep 2010 5:41 PM | johntoh

It is definately not enough to just kick out a couple of PAP ministers.

We need to deny PAP from getting a two third majority in parliament. We need to stop PAP from making policies without consulting us S'poreans. We need to make PAP transparent and accountable for all their decisions.

To have that kind of a representation, we need to have about 34 opposition MPs into parliament. PAP then cannot bulldoze all their policies onto the people of S'pore.

For the sake of our future generation, let us all unite and work toward that goal. Deny PAP two third majority in parliament!!

DON'T BE FOOLED ANYMORE BY THE EXPECTED GOODIES AND HANDOUTS FROM PAP BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ELECTION DATES.

Say "not anymore this time" to their empty rhetorics.

Thu 09 Sep 2010 9:46 PM | Robox

Re: "When you cannot convince, confuse."

Indeed!

The PAP, with its mouthpiece rag, the Straits Times' backing, should stop trying to distract Singaporeans in this debate which is of paramount national importance.

At issue is the projected population figure of 6.5m.

Not "targets" or "planning parameters".

I recall an article in this website in which a cabinet minister was quoted as saying that Singapore cannot accept refugees because of the island's space constraints; Singapore cannot sign up to the UN Convention for Refugeees. (It would be hypocritical, anyway, seeing that Singapore is a net contributor to the number of political refugees in the world.)

I also recall that many years ago, the same space constraints was the excuse touted by the PAP frauds as to why singles cannot own their own HDB home.

I know that the PAP likes to delude themselves about how super-exceptionally talented they are, but how did they suddenly find the space to more than double the population?

Fri 10 Sep 2010 9:17 AM | claude

Yes, the singles will be one group the opposition should target of winning over since the discriminating policies by the HDB is a big issue with most.

2/3 opposition in parliament is possible if the opposition unite but the reality is we have too many “Red Indian Chiefs” but few soldiers!

Fri 10 Sep 2010 10:54 AM | johntoh

There is no such thing as a perfect group of political parties or independents anywhere in the world.

Don't doubt whether we can have 34 opposition MPs into parliament. Believe that it can be done, it must be done, pass on the message, do our part and we will be on our way.

34 oppositon MPs or bust!!!!

Fri 10 Sep 2010 11:13 AM | Calm28

I can bet with you that the population will cross 6.5 mil. Do you believe? People say humans are never contented.

From the way Singaporeans vote, the PAP may still be in power 50 years later. You know me, I know you.

Sat 11 Sep 2010 4:15 PM | Clear eyed

The population will be increased to 10 million and not just 6.5 million if we allow the PAP to continue to dominate our Parliament. We must do all we can to convince PAP supporters that the Party they trust and swear by is not good anymore, it is not working for the good of the people and the country and is only interested in enriching themselves. We must rouse the apathetic from their apathy and pool the wool away from the eyes of the deceived.

Sun 12 Sep 2010 2:31 AM | Robox

I hope the fascist elements within the opposition camp will be happily deluded by the ST report of Sep 10, 2010 titled "Singapore Girls may finally get maternity benefit".

In it was mentioned that, "The Straits Times understands that in response to union and staff feedback, SIA will introduce a new scheme for its cabin crew: Singapore citizens will receive the full four months' pay as an ex gratia payment, while permanent residents and foreigners will get half that amount."

The fascists have been clamouring bloodthirstily for on-the-job discrimination of all manner against foreigners and this represents a victory for them. With SIA having caved in to those demands, it has set a precedent for other companies and organizations to act similarly: on-the-job discrimination fuelled by popular, but ill-intentioned, sentioments can now form the basis for any and all manner of discrimination at the workplace. And they can even get away with this in Singapore despite the same thing being considered unlawful in countries that have a human rights commissions.

I have argued vigourously agaisnt this by asking how that would solve the PAP's reckless flooding of Singapore with more and more people, but to no avail.

I now want to know from all who believe that this type of discrimination is a solution to the problem. Does this mean that SIA will now employ more Singaporeans? Less foreigners? Will the PAP now curb or reverse the influx of non-Singaporeans to Singapore.

I can tell you the answer: It is flat "no".

The influx of foreigners will continue, discriminatory practises notwithstanding. The fascists have, as I have always said, been barking up the wrong tree.

Sun 12 Sep 2010 2:44 AM | Robox

An additional but all-important point to the above post is that it has now become cheaper for SIA to employ PRs and foreigners over Singaporeans as cabin crew. I'm sure this move by SIA is its contribution to helping the PAP get reelected in numbers deemed respectable to the PAP but what is to stop them from discriminating against Singaporean women at the job applications stage?

Mon 13 Sep 2010 1:07 AM | Calm28

10 million people in Singapore? Too crowded for PAP? No problem! They can migrate to big countries. Their wealth can last a few generations.

In June '08, the population increased by 240,000 from June '07, most of them were foreigners. Then, suddenly,in '09, prices of public housing started to skyrocket. The public transport started to become inadequate.

Unlike politicians in other countries, PAP members never apologised or offered to resign for their mistakes.

The PAP has always said that it plans ahead. Why this time it couldn't plan ahead???

The PAP brought in the new citizens in large numbers to strengthen its votes during the next election.

In the past, they had election before the recession so that people would vote for it. One year later, the public housing will be solved so it may be a good time to hold an election. Ha . . . . . . . .