The Problem
Singapore is already the third most densely populated country in the world with 5.3 million people (of which 40% are foreigners). Overcrowding has contributed to a stressful society, has caused property prices to escalate and COE prices to skyrocket, and at least partly responsible for the MRT system’s frequent breakdowns.
The situation has led to Singaporeans questioning the meaning of our citizenship. And yet the PAP wants to increase the population to 7 million.
SDP’s Solution
The SDP has drawn up a plan whose steps will lower the number of foreigners in Singapore and create an environment where Singaporeans can enjoy a high quality of life:
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Enact the Singaporeans First Policy Foreign PMETs wishing to work in Singapore will be assessed via a point system. Only those with required qualifications, skills, and experience will be able to work here. Employers will be able to hire foreign professionals only if they have made every effort to employ a Singaporean first.
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Retain Singaporean talent Singaporeans are emigrating at an alarming rate. To stem this brain drain, we need to lower the cost of living (especially housing and health care) which is creating a highly stressful lifestyle for our people. Reducing the cost of living will encourage young couples to stay and have more children.
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Introduce the GPI The PAP increases population size to raise GDP figures. In truth, the GDP is not a good indicator of a country’s economic well-being. A better index is the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), which takes into account not only the GDP but also the costs incurred in building up the GDP (costs such as crime, pollution, family breakdown, psychological health, etc.).
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Strengthen the Singaporean Identity To strengthen our national identity, the Ethnic Integration Policy which determines the percentage of ethnic HDB dwellers in each estate should be abolished. The identification of “race” on our Identity Cards should also be removed.
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Revamp the ministerial pay formula Ministerial salaries are based on GDP growth. Ministers’ salaries should be pegged to the GPI instead. In this way, the happier Singaporeans are and the higher our quality of life, the better our ministers are rewarded.
The net effect of these proposals will considerably reduce the current number of foreign workers in Singapore while allowing entry only to real foreign talent that our economy needs.
Read the full paper Building A People: Sound Policies For A Secure Future here.
Read also:
SDP Unveils Six-Point Plan To Control Population
Govt’s Reasons For Population Expansion Not Justified
Confusion Over Population Target Continues