THE General Election is fully upon us now, the gloves have come
off and candidates are being scrutinised.
The political parties have spent considerable time citing the
flaws of their rivals while praising their own policies.
Each manifesto purports to answer the needs of the people and
often involves promises of financial aid.
Included in each manifesto are new fiscal policies on health,
transport and housing, the linchpin concerns of a voting
Singaporean.
The plethora of proposals, counter-proposals and policies, or
even the financial carrots being offered, do not mean as much to
the average Singaporean as the end result.
For instance, how does each new bus or the millions the
Government says it has invested in public transport translate into
a commuter's travelling experience?
Will my journey be smoother and more comfortable?
With each train breakdown, it becomes more evident that there is
no spare capacity and only productivity-sapping delays.
We also read about arguments on both sides about housing. But
how do they translate into affordable housing for the average
Singaporean?
Increasing prices are a fact that cannot be denied or explained
away as asset appreciation, not when the cost of upgrading is high
and the cost of owning that home has increased the debt
duration.
We also read about new measures to improve medical care, and
having new hospitals and more doctors. But will these cut the cost
of consulting a doctor or allow me to see one within a shorter
time?
Ultimately, the policies must translate into tangible benefits
that can be measured easily: commuting time, housing cost in terms
of the years it takes to pay off a home loan and how cheaply and
quickly can one consult a doctor.
What I want is tangible results and improvements at ground zero
- from any party canvassing my vote.
Peter Loon
