Wijeysingha outlines SDP's Shadow Budget

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Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Singapore Democrats

Dr Vincent Wijeysingha spelled out the Singapore Democrats' spending priorities for Singapore for FY2011. He was speaking at a press conference today to launch the SDP's alternative budget to the Government's.

Titled Shadow Budget 2011: Empowering the Nation, the 26-page document outlines the party's programmes for Singapore. It rivals the PAP's Budget which Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam will present in Parliament this Friday.

Dr Wijeysingha called for the cost of living in Singapore to be lowered by abolishing the GST for basic foodstuffs and medicines as well as reducing the utility rates and public transport fares.

The Shadow Budget also calls for 'third sector' industries to be encouraged to create jobs for Singaporeans. These include the alternative energy fields including bio-fuels, solar and wind power. Also, social enterprises such as international and regional NGOs should be encouraged to set up offices in Singapore as these would yield plentiful and meaningful jobs for Singaporeans.

Likewise, the media industry here should be opened up to international news organisations and this would further create thousands of jobs for Singaporeans.

John Tan speaking to a reporter

“Together, these measures would not only create quality jobs for Singaporeans but also propel our economy into a genuinely industrialised one,” Dr Wijeysingha said.

But all this necessitates the judicious control of foreign workers into the country. Dr Wijeysingha said that the Shadow Budget includes funding to establish a commission to implement the Singaporeans First Policy where businesses will required to demonstrate that the skills they want to hire are not available among Singaporeans before they are allowed to employ non-Singaporeans.

Another programme proposed in the SDP's Budget is the revamp of our education system. It proposes reducing teacher : student ratio to 1 : 20, introducing school psychologists and counselors for all schools, developing programmes to nurture creativity among our students, abolishing tuition grants for foreign students, and reducing fees for our local students at the tertiary level.

On medical care, the Singapore Democrats also called for a 25 percent increase in the number of hospital beds to meet the needs of the populace.

Shadow Budget 2011 also increases funding to improve social services for the poor and the elderly to ensure that the weakest of our weak are not left to the ravages of poverty.

At the same time, redundant ministerial posts will be eliminated and ministerial salaries will be reduced. This will produce a cost savings of $30 million that will be allocated to other sectors for more productive use.

Chee Soon Juan with Tan and Wijeysingha

On defence spending, the Shadow Budget recommends a minumum wage of $1,200 a month as basic allowance for full-time NSmen as they should not be exploited as cheap labour. In this day and age where the Government thinks nothing of paying top dollar for talent, it is unconscionable to exploit these servicemen by not paying them a fair and living wage.

SDP Assistant Secretary-General John Tan pointed out that the programmes proposed in the Shadow Budget did not need huge additional funding. While Government's 2010 Budget was $45 billion, total expenditure for the SDP's proposal was $46 billion.

“We did not even have to factor in the 4.6 percent inflation in our budget,” Mr Tan said, “all we did was to re-allocate the funding areas.

“Our re-prioritized spending is to benefit the people rather than the PAP.”

SDP Shadow Budget 2011: Empowering the Nation will be available soon.

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Comments (18)

Thu 17 Feb 2011 12:31 AM | freedomT

Wow!!!! I am voting for SDP for this coming election. This is great. Everything are for Singaporean. Yup, tuition grant should not be given to international students but SDP had forgotten to mention the bonds that these international students are getting from the PAP in return that these international students got instant jobs at the expense of us locals. And also most of them got our government scholarships at the expense of us locals. I want these to be abolish totaly. No scholarship and no free bonds for them at all. No more free education for them totaly. Do what other countries did and that is to offer them loans instead not free education. And no more 70% international students to us 30% locals students at the local Unis and polys qouta. Turn it around to 90% us locals to 10% international students ratio. Hope these SDP will consider too.

Thu 17 Feb 2011 12:45 AM | Buwakasha

" While Government's 2010 Budget was $45 billion, total expenditure for the SDP's proposal was $46 billion."

Is $46 billion the correct number? Where's the extra $1 billion going to come from?

Thu 17 Feb 2011 2:09 AM | Robox

If there is a single event in the SDP's own evolution as well as in the evolution of politics, especially opposition politics, in Singapore that marks a real turning point, the unveiling of this shadow budget is it.

While I have yet to post my own views on it anywhere, I have read some of the comments anticipating this press conference as well as after this momentous event: netizens are now focussing on the issues that have been raised, adding items from their own wishlist, discussing the validity of the SDP's proposals, etc.

Everything BUT discussing personalities! And the usual putdowns centering on events involving the SDP from an obscure past, a past that they cannot yet see has led directly into the present.

I thought that the two rallies at HLP was the tough act to beat, but this is truly the best move so far.

Kudos, SDP. Now THAT'S what real opposition parties do.

Thu 17 Feb 2011 2:36 AM | Robox

"The Shadow Budget also calls for 'third sector' industries to be encouraged to create jobs for Singaporeans. These include the alternative energy fields including bio-fuels, solar and wind power."

Very recently, to understand better the economic impact on countries globally - including Singapore - of India's and China's economic ascendencies, I had started reading books on the topic.

One of the things - solutions for the two economic giants - that stood out in my mind on reading those books was exactly what the SDP is proposing: green technology. Even though the mature economies are already ahead in this regard, it appears that they have some reservations over exporting their cleaner power technologies to India and China so that the countries can more easily practise responsible growth. (Or thare some very real obstacles arising from within the Indian and Chinese economies and political systems that prevent this from happening.)

I had wondered whether Singapore was in any way equipped to be part of the technologically innovative industries instead of perenially being an importer (and user) of technology created elsewhere. Currently, it seems that the high cost of these new technologies only serve as a deterrent to both India and China importing them; the availability and affordability of the technology could also prompt an earlier ratification of international treaties on the environment by the two countries.

What else could mark our entry into the ranks of "mature economy" better?

I think that this proposal is definitely worth exploring.

Thu 17 Feb 2011 6:43 AM | workingtoohard - Details?

will we get a chance to view the details of this budget?

Thu 17 Feb 2011 9:22 AM | Cheers

Buwakasha " While Government's 2010 Budget was $45 billion, total expenditure for the SDP's proposal was $46 billion."

Is $46 billion the correct number? Where's the extra $1 billion going to come from?

That was Govt 2010 Budget.
PAP has yet to reveal their 2011 Budget which is and can be more than 1 billion. Should question PAP if their 2011 Budget is more than 46 billion.

By tomorrow you would know the PAP Budget for 2011.

Thu 17 Feb 2011 9:33 AM | quantum - Green technology

I know that this is currently in the research programs of NUS and in the polytechnic courses.

Thu 17 Feb 2011 11:14 AM | maxchew

I attended the presentation yesterday and consider myself to be very privileged to be given a copy of SDP's shadow budget for 2011....a superb fair and egalitarian budget so different from the PAP's which not only mainly protects their elitist interests but gives short shrift to the poor and disadvantaged. How can anyone impose the same 7% GST on essentials like food and medicine?

Dr Wiseysingha has the potential to be a future Finance Minister in a non-PAP Govt. He's only 40 and has a bright future in politics.

To workingtoohard....Dr CSJ menitioned that the full shadow budget will be posted in this website soon.

Thu 17 Feb 2011 12:44 PM | middriff77 - new hope

Dr vincent's alternative budget seems just
what is need in singapore today. it seems
totally relevant and i am impressed.
its time for a change and i am ready for it!!!
a new hope. a new day.

Thu 17 Feb 2011 1:15 PM | freedomT

I hope SDP will start to present other policies as well such as education policies, medical policies and others that is fair and equal to all races. No more SAP Chinese mission schools for the Rich Chinese and no more government scholarships and helps banned from the Malays. Lets have equal treatment of all races. No more CDAC for the Chinese, Mendaki for the Malays and Sinda for the Indians. What happened to mix childern of mixed parantage of Chinese/Malays or Indians/Malays or Chinese/Indians? So there must be a single help group that cater to all races in Singapore.

Thu 17 Feb 2011 2:09 PM | Robox

This too is worth further discussion.

Putting together statements from two different articles to form a more coherent whole:

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_635570.html

[Quote]

The SDP reasons, in its budget paper, that enhancing relationships with neighbours would reduce the need for expenditure on military capabilities.

[Endquote]

http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4470-sdp-proposes-alternative-ns-policy-

[Quote]

We must embark on an enlightened foreign policy approach where we work with our ASEAN neighbours instead of treating them with disdain. Instead of practising one-upmanship, a new approach must be adopted. This should include signing treatises and conducting military exercises with the ultimate aim of forming a regional defence force.

[Endquote]

This is the part from the same article just above that everyone knows but no one else has dared voice prior to this:

[Quote]

Such a move will also address the problem of discrimination against Singaporeans who are Muslims. Building up trust and confidence with our Malay-Muslim neighbours in areas of military defence will eliminate this problem as we work towards a peaceful and friendly co-existence instead of the suspicious and hostile atmosphere that currently exists.

[Endquote]

Thu 17 Feb 2011 2:16 PM | Robox

"...redundant ministerial posts will be eliminated and ministerial salaries will be reduced. This will produce a cost savings of $30 million that will be allocated to other sectors for more productive use."

Now, now, SDP. This is no time to be coy.

The elimination of the positions for underemployed welfare bums in the PMO will not result in your very conservative estimate of a savings of $30m.

Not too long ago, ST ran an article that revealed that the cost of SR Nathan's staff themselves were more than the cost of a presidency that is beholden to the PAP.

What more the cost of staff of the redundant members of the PMO?

Thu 17 Feb 2011 3:24 PM | King Cobra

Surely now SDP is becoming more relevent, credible, realistic, dependable, justifiable, tollerable, efficable, feasible, transparent etc................party, who are now ready to overthrow this incumbent, authoritative, notorious, cunning, shrewd, snoppish pap government anytime soon. CHEERS!

Thu 17 Feb 2011 4:49 PM | orange

It is most heartening to see SDP coming out to challenge the PAP directly in policies. I agree with the remover of sweeteners, i.e. ang pows for Singaporeans.

I would rather NOT have the $200 when they've raised out GST from 3 to 7% in a short span of four years. Will be eagerly anticipating the full budget report from the PAP to make a side by side comparison.

But I don't anticipate PAP's Budget to be vastly different from the past years, except that this year elections is probably going to be held and there is going to be ang pows again. In that case, also expect our GST to go up to 10% after the elections.

Thu 17 Feb 2011 5:15 PM | Neutral

Hi SDP,You should also give your details suggestion how to increase the Spore population.At present S'pore need a lot of foreigners one reason is due to S'pore birth rate is low.

Thu 17 Feb 2011 10:27 PM | crashburnt - Deeper and Wider

Not a bad shot but the thought process could go deeper and wider. I wonder if SDP knows if we have sufficient qualified Singapore citizens in the short to medium term to fill the positions school psychologists and counselors as well as the specialist jobs that will be generated by “third sector” industries. If not, how does SDP intend to go about training or re-training Singapore citizens to fill these jobs and how long will this take? There will be serious implications for our educational institutions in the long run as they need to tailor their courses to meet the new demands. I assume SDP will not allow foreigners to fill the new jobs created as it will mean an influx of more foreigners.

Thu 17 Feb 2011 11:28 PM | yupgiguy79

Any translation to Chinese and other languages for the shadow budget download?

Fri 18 Feb 2011 6:00 AM | Cheers

crashburnt

We have many young overseas graduates who cannot find jobs in Singapore forced to migrate to Australia, US apply for PR to complete their Masters Degree.

These graduates would choose to be in Australia because they can move easily from one state to another, better employment prospect. Whereas in Singapore you are stuck with MOE and MOE has a fetish to employ foreigners.