SINGAPORE: The Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) will not
contest the single wards of Radin Mas and Sengkang West.
The party's Secretary General Desmond Lim confirmed this as he
introduced his team's line-up for Pasir Ris Punggol GRC on Monday
night.
The party also officially unveiled its manifesto.
The six-member SDA team will contest Pasir Ris Punggol GRC,
currently helmed by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
The SDA team includes three new candidates - 54-year-old Sidney
Soon who is self-employed, 65-year-old Patrick Lee - an image
consultant, and 39-year old motivational trainer Haminder Pal
Singh.
They will be joined by three others recently introduced - Goh
Kim Seng, Tony Tan and Mohd Shafni.
The party is focusing on issues like the increased cost of
living and affordability of HDB flats in its manifesto - "A Heart
For The People - Singaporeans First".
The SDA says the manifesto is for the middle income
Singaporeans. The party says while the country has done well under
the PAP in past years, there has been some social costs, like the
increasing gap between the haves and the have-nots.
It is proposing for salaries of the lower- and middle-income
groups to be raised by 20 percent, with the public sector taking
the lead.
It also wants a scheme where neighbourhood merchants can buy
daily necessities in bulk, so that Singaporeans can benefit from
costs savings.
Haminder Pal Singh said: "Number one, the merchants have more
business from people living in that area. Number two, residents
themselves, they have someone to go back to and earn extra benefits
and most importantly, number three, costs will go down as we get
savings going up."
The SDA also wants to boost the financial literacy of
Singaporeans.
The party is also asking for transparency in the demand and
supply data of HDB flats, and for young couples to be able to rent
their flats for the first five years.
The total sum paid to date should then be considered when the
couples are ready to purchase the flat.
Goh Kim Seng said: "Those who have been living it up, or even
splurge on a car, may not have enough despite the CPF contributions
to put down deposit for their first home."
Separately, some SDA members, including Assistant
Secretary-General Nazem Suki expressed disappointment at not being
able to contest in Tanjong Pagar GRC.
In a statement, the team cited shortage of funds as one
reason.
SDA says it is unaware of such a statement.
Abdul Mutalib, Second Vice President of Singapore Malay National
Organisation, said: "The press release was made on an individual
capacity, it was not a press release made under PKMS, neither SDA
platform."
The party said the matter will be settled internally.
- CNA/de