SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today (Sept 5) dismissed claims made by the Workers’ Party (WP) that a stronger mandate for the ruling party could see a reversal of certain policies.
“I think it’s a strange psychology to think that this is a Government that is only dying to do bad things to people ... Do we look like that? Here we are trying to do the best and needing support,” said Mr Lee, who was speaking at a press conference held at the People’s Action Party (PAP) headquarters this morning.
Instead, voters should be careful about giving the WP more votes as it will “become more arrogant and oppressive” over the rest of the parties, as they have already shown, added Mr Lee, who is also the party’s secretary-general.
The WP said yesterday that if the PAP gets a clear mandate, it could change its mind about certain policies. The party’s chief Low Thia Khiang said the ruling party had said that it did not consider raising the Goods and Services Tax (GST) before the 2006 General Election, but did so in July in the following year.
“We don’t adjust taxes, raise taxes just because we got a percentage at the elections — we’ll be mad to do that,” said Mr Lee today.
Adjusting taxes are “very big decisions” the Government considers carefully, discusses thoroughly about, and does it when it absolutely has to, he said. “What would make you need to raise GST? Profligate spending and irresponsible, unsustainable plans. That is what will hurt and require you to raise taxes, including the GST,” he added.
Mr Lee also pointed to how the Opposition manifestos have promised to give out money to Singaporeans, but “nowhere do they say you need to tax”.
“I think when you see a manifesto like that, that’s where you must ask, where is the money going to come from?” he said.
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