WP MUST “JUSTIFY ITS STANDING”
As the sole opposition party in parliament, the WP must “justify its standing” by developing its own alternative vision, policies and pathways, Mr Ong said.
WP retained its 10 seats and gained two Non-Constituency MP seats in the election.
Singaporeans expect high standards of honesty and accountability from the government and the ruling party. These same standards must apply to opposition parties, particularly those that present themselves as a serious alternative, said Mr Ong.
From time to time, party members may act unethically or even illegally, he said. But how parties respond matters.
“We need to acknowledge the shortcomings, take decisive actions, take responsibility, reflect and do what is necessary to prevent future occurrences,” said Mr Ong.
“We have an overriding duty to preserve the integrity of our institutions and of the political system as a whole.”
PAP will strive to serve all Singaporeans, including those who did not vote for the party, he added.
Mr Ong echoed President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s call for unity, stressing that politics must not divide the nation or invite foreign interference.
“We must not exploit foreign controversies for domestic political advantage; nor allow foreigners to exploit our domestic politics to drive a wedge in our society,” he said.
“We must protect our common space. Reject populism. Never pit one group against another; nor sacrifice the common good for narrow interests or short-term political gains.
“Only then can politics truly serve the greater good of our country.”
MORE INTENSE CONTESTATION THE “RIGHT POLITICAL DIRECTION”: ONG
Mr Singh responded to Mr Ong’s comments on the need for WP to present a clear and consistent alternative vision for Singapore.
The leader of the opposition noted that countries like the UK and Germany have “deep” political systems, unlike Singapore’s one-party dominant landscape since independence.
“Our system is very different. We deal with significant asymmetries of information,” he said. “Unlike the government, we don’t have the capacity to conduct survey after survey to understand where the population is on certain issues, so the realities are quite different.”
Despite these constraints, he said the WP continues to offer voters an alternative, including a manifesto that outlines how its policies differ from those of the PAP.
In response, Mr Ong pointed to Singapore’s political history in 1963, when the opposition Barisan Sosialis held 13 seats in a much smaller parliament but still presented a different vision and disagreed with the PAP on major issues such as the merger with Malaysia, language policy and National Service.
He acknowledged the WP’s growing presence in parliament and said it was likely to be a tough opponent in the next General Election.
“When you have come this far, I do believe the people will demand … will need you to come up with alternate policies, as in the past, Barisan Sosialis did with a small number of seats,” Mr Ong said.
Mr Singh also asked if the PAP was prepared to embrace a more inclusive political culture, such as allowing opposition MPs to participate in citizenship ceremonies.
Mr Ong replied that such events are grassroots initiatives tied to the PAP’s efforts to engage the ground.
The reality is that if WP “rose to the occasion” and can contest against PAP the same way the Democrats and Republicans do in the US or the Tories and Labour in the UK, “life will be harder” for the ruling party, he said.
“Contests will be so much more intense, people will be so much more discerning with who they choose,” said Mr Ong. “But I think it is the right political direction for Singapore.”
