Briefing Document: Singapore People's Party Manifesto 2025

Source: Excerpts from "https://singaporepeoplesparty.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Manifesto-GE2025.pdf"

Subject: Review of the Singapore People's Party (SPP) Manifesto for the 2025 General Election

Executive Summary:

The Singapore People's Party (SPP) 2025 Manifesto, titled "It Is Time," outlines their vision for Singapore, guided by "Accountability, Commitment, and Empathy (A.C.E)." The manifesto addresses nine key themes: Economic Stability & Fairness, Employment & Job Security, Housing and Retirement Security, Family Support and Birth Rates, Governance and Democratic Freedom, Education and Youth Well-Being, Healthcare and Mental Wellness, Sustainable Public Transport, and Social Cohesion and National Identity. The party, led by Secretary-General Steve Chia, advocates for significant policy changes across these areas, aiming to create a more sustainable, equitable, democratic, and inclusive society. Key proposals include addressing the rising cost of living, enhancing job security for Singaporeans, improving housing affordability and retirement adequacy, boosting birth rates, increasing political transparency and democratic participation, supporting youth and mental wellness, improving healthcare access and affordability, enhancing public transportation, and fostering social cohesion and reducing inequality. The manifesto explicitly calls for a shift in the balance of power in Parliament.

Main Themes and Key Ideas/Facts:

The SPP's manifesto is structured around nine core themes, each addressing perceived challenges facing Singaporeans and proposing specific solutions. The overarching message is a call to action and a belief that "It Is Time" for significant policy changes.

1. Economic Stability & Fairness:

Problem: Rising cost of living with stagnant wages, affecting various demographics from youth saving to seniors.
SPP Proposal:Yearly Balanced Budget: Distribute government budget surpluses annually as CDC vouchers, with more aid for lower-income Singaporeans.
GST Freeze: Halt GST increases until cumulative budget deficit exceeds 3% of government revenue for three consecutive years.
Living Wage Policy: Expand and implement a living wage policy to ensure low-income workers and families can meet basic needs.
Progressive Taxation: "Raise income tax on the top 2% of earners and reintroduce estate duty for ultra-high-net-worth individuals to fund equitable relief."

2. Employment & Job Security:

Problem: Job insecurity due to automation, retrenchment fears, under-employment, and foreign talent competition.
SPP Proposal:Local Hiring Incentives: Offer tax breaks to businesses prioritising Singaporean PMETs.
Higher Local Hiring Quotas: Enforce higher local hiring quotas with a raised Local Qualifying Salary.
Legal Protections: "Codify TAFEP guidelines into law, mandating fair hiring and retrenchment benefits."
Flexible Retirement: "Abolish the statutory retirement age of 63, offering tax incentives for companies hiring seniors past their 70s who choose to keep working."
Review CECA Agreement: Reassess the CECA agreement with India to address labor inflow concerns.
Quota Reduction: Gradually reduce Special/Employment Pass quotas and dependency ratios in automatable sectors.
Encourage Automation: Promote a shift toward a high-skill, high-value economy with high-tech manufacturing and services.

3. Housing and Retirement Security:

Problem: High private property prices and HDB lease decay, affecting buyers, owners, young singles, families, and seniors.
SPP Proposal:Singles Citizen HDB Scheme: Lower the minimum age for singles to apply for BTO or resale HDB flats to 30 years old.
Expanded SERS: Apply Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme to all estates nearing lease expiry to preserve HDB asset value.
Gradual Ethnic Quota Phase Out: "Launch a five-year pilot to relax ethnic quotas in HDB estates, aiding minority flat owners in selling at fair market value."

4. Family Support and Birth Rates:

Problem: Declining birth rates in Singapore.
SPP Proposal:Second-Child Housing Incentives: Help parents of a second child to upgrade to a larger HDB/BTO flat with additional housing grants.
Third-Child Benefit: "Permit families with a third child to purchase a private property without Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) or to upgrade HDB/BTO with a higher grant."
IVF Subsidies: Provide financial aid for couples needing IVF to start families. The manifesto states, "We must take bigger and bolder measures to make parenthood more attractive. Having a second and/or third child to become an asset instead of being perceived as an economic liability. Reward parenthood with big incentives."

5. Governance and Democratic Freedom:

Problem: Citizens seeking greater transparency, more accountability, and diverse voices.
SPP Proposal:Proportional Representation: Amend the Constitution to allow proportional representation for smaller parties in Parliament.
Freedom of Information: Enact a law for public data access to enhance transparency.
Open Discourse: Ease defamation laws to encourage open public discussion.
Reduce Waste: Implement a yearly 2% reduction in every Ministry’s budget to cut unnecessary spending.
Fixed Elections: Set fixed election years and dates for a level playing field.
Independent Elections Commission: "Remove the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) from the Prime Minister's office and establish an independent commission for free and fair elections."

6. Education and Youth Well-Being:

Problem: Education stress, mental health pressures, and the need for relevance in the future.
SPP Proposal:Personalised Learning: Reduce class sizes for tailored education.
Modern Curriculum: Shift to Artificial Intelligence mastery and skills-based reasoning, with less exam pressure and more vocational options.
Mental Health Support: Expand mental health resources in schools and communities.
Global Opportunities: Allow CPF use for overseas tertiary education with safeguards.
Youth Engagement: Lower the voting age to 18 to involve youth in governance.

7. Healthcare and Mental Wellness:

Problem: High healthcare costs, accessibility issues, and mental health challenges.
SPP Proposal:Telehealth Access: Subsidise tele-consultations for elderly and low-income groups.
Medisave Expansion: Raise withdrawal limits to $1,200 annually for preventive and mental health care.
Eldercare Support: Subsidise ageing-in-place services and cap out-of-pocket costs with a universal scheme.
Mental Health Integration: Integrate mental health professionals into polyclinics and National Service institutions.
Mental Health Leave: Offer five days of unpaid mental health leave.
Rehabilitation Focus: Ease Mandatory Treatment Orders for offenders with mental disorders.

8. Sustainable Public Transport:

Problem: High costs for lower-income households and train reliability issues.
SPP Proposal:Reliable MRT: "Invest heavily in MRT maintenance to ensure reliability and no major disruptions."
Subsidised Travel: Provide higher travel subsidies for low-income families and Silver Support recipients.
Green Transition: Expedite the full electrification of public service buses from 2040 to 2033.

9. Social Cohesion and National Identity:

Problem: Inequality, ageing needs, and National Service debates.
SPP Proposal:Minimum Wage: "Set a living wage (e.g., $1,500 monthly) to ensure dignity of living."
Wealth Redistribution: Increase tax reliefs for lower-income groups, raise top-tier income taxes, and boost CDC vouchers for low-income families.
Caregiver Support: Offer five days of paid parent-care leave, and subsidise elder-friendly housing and retirement villages.
NS Reform: Reduce National Service to 18 months and raise NS allowances to 80% of regular pay.

Historical Context of the SPP:

The manifesto also provides a brief history of the SPP, highlighting its registration in 1994 and the leadership of Mr. Chiam See Tong, who represented Potong Pasir. It mentions his move to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in 2011 and his wife's narrow loss in Potong Pasir, resulting in an NCMP position. The history notes the joining of Mr. Steve Chia and his election as Secretary-General in 2019. Chia's previous experience as an NCMP (2001-2006) and his focus on issues such as support for the elderly, HDB flats for singles, and public transport subsidies are mentioned. The SPP's performance in the 2020 General Elections is cited, emphasizing their continued presence in contesting constituencies despite losses. Steve Chia's "ultra trail running-inspired philosophy of pacing for the long haul" in politics is noted, along with his aim to "break the PAP's dominance in parliament, and demand greater accountability and transparency of government policies for all."

Overall Message:

The manifesto concludes with a strong call to action, reiterating the "It Is Time" theme and summarizing the key proposals under this banner. It emphasizes that the manifesto is a "call to dialogue" and reflects SPP's dedication to a "collaborative future." The final message is that by addressing these themes, the SPP proposes a "fairer, stronger Singapore where every voice counts, and every need is met." They urge citizens that their vote can "shift the balance of power in the parliament." The document also includes information on how to donate, volunteer, and follow the SPP online.

Key Facts Highlighted in the Manifesto:

The SPP is guided by Accountability, Commitment, and Empathy (A.C.E).
The manifesto builds on their 2020 vision with fresh insights.
The SPP proposes distributing government budget surpluses annually.
They advocate for a GST freeze until specific conditions are met.
A living wage policy is a key economic proposal.
Increased taxes on the top 2% and reintroduction of estate duty are proposed for equitable relief.
The SPP wants tax breaks for local hiring and higher local hiring quotas.
They aim to codify TAFEP guidelines into law.
Abolishing the statutory retirement age and providing tax incentives for hiring seniors are proposed.
Reviewing the CECA agreement with India is a stated goal.
Gradual reduction of Special/Employment Pass quotas is proposed.
The SPP wants to lower the minimum age for singles to apply for HDB flats to 30.
Expanded SERS to all estates nearing lease expiry is proposed.
A pilot program to relax ethnic quotas in HDB estates is suggested.
Housing incentives for having a second and third child are outlined.
Financial aid for IVF is proposed.
The SPP advocates for proportional representation in Parliament.
Enacting a Freedom of Information Act is a key proposal for transparency.
Easing defamation laws is proposed to encourage open discourse.
A yearly 2% budget reduction for Ministries is suggested.
Setting fixed election years and dates is advocated.
Establishing an independent Electoral Boundaries Review Committee is a significant democratic reform proposal.
Reducing class sizes and shifting the curriculum focus are education proposals.
Expanding mental health resources in schools and communities is a priority.
Allowing CPF use for overseas tertiary education is proposed.
Lowering the voting age to 18 is a youth engagement proposal.
Subsidising tele-consultations for vulnerable groups is a healthcare proposal.
Raising Medisave withdrawal limits for preventive and mental health care is suggested.
Subsidising ageing-in-place services and capping out-of-pocket costs with a universal scheme are eldercare proposals.
Integrating mental health professionals into polyclinics and NS institutions is proposed.
Offering five days of unpaid mental health leave is a mental wellness proposal.
Easing Mandatory Treatment Orders for offenders with mental disorders is proposed.
Investing heavily in MRT maintenance is a key transport priority.
Providing higher travel subsidies for low-income families and Silver Support recipients is proposed.
Expediting the full bus electrification schedule is a green initiative.
Setting a living wage (e.g., $1,500 monthly) is a proposal for social welfare.
Wealth redistribution through tax reliefs and CDC vouchers is proposed.
Paid parent-care leave and subsidised elder-friendly housing are caregiver support proposals.
Reducing NS to 18 months and increasing NS pay are proposals related to National Service.
The SPP's history includes Mr. Chiam See Tong's long tenure in Parliament and Steve Chia's previous role as an NCMP.
Steve Chia aims to "break the PAP's dominance in parliament."

This briefing document provides a comprehensive overview of the key themes and proposals presented in the Singapore People's Party's Manifesto 2025.

Timeline of Events

1984: Mr. Chiam See Tong begins representing Potong Pasir in Parliament, initially under the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).
November 21, 1994: The Singapore People's Party (SPP) is officially registered.
1997: Mr. Chiam See Tong continues to represent Potong Pasir in the General Elections, now under the banner of the SPP.
2001: Mr. Steve Chia enters Parliament as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) under the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), crediting Mr. Chiam See Tong as an inspiration.
2001-2006 (10th Parliament): Steve Chia serves as the youngest parliamentarian during this period, raising numerous issues in Parliament and publishing a book titled "Called to Serve" in 2006.
2006: Steve Chia publishes his book "Called to Serve," which details his parliamentary speeches and questions.
2011: Mr. Chiam See Tong contests in the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, while his wife, Mdm Lina Chiam, contests in Potong Pasir. Both lose their respective contests.
2011-2015: Mdm Lina Chiam is appointed as a Non-Constituency MP (NCMP), maintaining the SPP's presence in Parliament.
2019: Steve Chia is elected as the Secretary-General of the Singapore People's Party.
2020: Under Steve Chia's leadership, the SPP contests the General Elections in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Potong Pasir, securing 32.77% and 39.23% of the votes respectively, but not winning seats.
2025: The Singapore People's Party releases its Manifesto for the General Election, titled "IT IS TIME," outlining its proposals across nine key themes. The SPP prepares to contest the 2025 General Election.
2033 (Proposed): The SPP proposes expediting the full electrification of public service buses to this year.
2040 (Current Schedule): The SPP's manifesto references this year as the current schedule for full bus electrification, which they propose to move forward to 2033.

Cast of Characters

Mr. Chiam See Tong: A significant figure in Singapore's opposition politics. He represented Potong Pasir in Parliament from 1984 onwards, first with the SDP and then with the SPP from 1997. He is described as a "beacon" by Steve Chia.
Mdm Lina Chiam: Wife of Mr. Chiam See Tong. She contested in Potong Pasir in the 2011 General Election and was subsequently appointed as a Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) from 2011 to 2015, keeping the SPP's voice in Parliament.
Steve Chia: The current Secretary-General of the Singapore People's Party (SPP). He previously served as an NCMP from 2001 to 2006 under the SDA. He is the author of "Called to Serve" and led the SPP in the 2020 General Elections. He is presented as the leader of the SPP in their 2025 Manifesto and is actively involved in campaigning.

Singapore People's Party Manifesto 2025 Study Guide

Overview

This study guide covers the Singapore People's Party (SPP) Manifesto for the 2025 General Election. The manifesto outlines the party's vision for Singapore and proposes solutions to key issues facing the nation, categorized into nine main themes: Economic Stability & Fairness, Employment & Job Security, Housing and Retirement Security, Family Support and Birth Rates, Governance and Democratic Freedom, Education and Youth Well-Being, Healthcare and Mental Wellness, Sustainable Public Transport, and Social Cohesion and National Identity. The manifesto emphasizes accountability, commitment, and empathy (A.C.E) and calls for greater transparency, democracy, and social welfare. The historical context of the SPP and the leadership of Steve Chia are also presented.

Key Themes and Proposals

Economic Stability & Fairness: Addresses rising cost of living and stagnant wages through proposals like annual budget surplus distribution, GST freeze, living wage policy, and progressive taxation.
Employment & Job Security: Focuses on job insecurity due to automation and foreign competition, proposing local hiring incentives, legal protections for fair hiring, flexible retirement, review of CECA, and quota reductions.
Housing and Retirement Security: Aims to address housing affordability and HDB lease decay with proposals for singles' HDB access, expanded SERS, and gradual ethnic quota phase-out.
Family Support and Birth Rates: Tackles declining birth rates through incentives for second and third children and IVF subsidies.
Governance and Democratic Freedom: Seeks greater transparency and diverse voices via proportional representation, Freedom of Information Act, easing defamation laws, budget reduction, fixed elections, and an independent elections commission.
Education and Youth Well-Being: Addresses educational stress, mental health, and future readiness with proposals for personalized learning, modern curriculum, mental health support, CPF for overseas education, and lowering the voting age.
Healthcare and Mental Wellness: Focuses on high healthcare costs and mental health challenges, proposing telehealth subsidies, Medisave expansion, eldercare support, mental health integration and leave, and rehabilitation focus.
Sustainable Public Transport: Prioritizes affordability, accessibility, and efficiency through investment in MRT maintenance, subsidized travel, and expedited bus electrification.
Social Cohesion and National Identity: Addresses inequality, ageing needs, and NS debates with proposals for a living wage, wealth redistribution, caregiver support, and NS reform.

Historical Context

The SPP was founded in 1994, led by Mr. Chiam See Tong, who was a long-serving opposition MP. Steve Chia, a former NCMP, became the Secretary-General in 2019 and aims to increase accountability and transparency in government policies.

Quiz

What are the three guiding principles (A.C.E) of the Singapore People's Party as stated in their manifesto?
According to the SPP manifesto, what is one proposal to address the rising cost of living and stagnant wages?
What is the SPP's stance on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) increase?
How does the SPP propose to encourage local hiring and address foreign talent competition?
What is one proposed measure to address housing affordability for single citizens?
What specific incentive does the SPP propose for families having a third child?
What does the SPP manifesto propose to improve transparency and accountability in government?
What changes does the SPP suggest for the education system to address youth stress and prepare them for the future?
How does the SPP plan to address high healthcare costs and improve mental wellness?
What is one proposal from the SPP related to public transportation?

Quiz Answer Key

The three guiding principles of the Singapore People's Party are Accountability, Commitment, and Empathy (A.C.E).
One proposal is to distribute government budget surpluses annually as CDC vouchers, with more aid for lower-income Singaporeans. Another is to implement a living wage policy.
The SPP proposes a GST freeze until the cumulative budget deficit exceeds 3% of government revenue for three consecutive years.
The SPP proposes offering tax breaks to businesses prioritizing Singaporean PMETs, enforcing higher local hiring quotas, and reviewing the CECA agreement.
The SPP proposes lowering the minimum age for singles to apply for BTO or resale HDB flats to 30 years old.
For families with a third child, the SPP proposes permitting the purchase of a private property without Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) or upgrading HDB/BTO with a higher grant.
The SPP proposes enacting a Freedom of Information law for public data access and establishing an independent Elections Commission.
The SPP suggests reducing class sizes for personalized learning, shifting to AI mastery and skills-based reasoning, and expanding mental health resources in schools.
The SPP plans to address healthcare costs and mental wellness through subsidies for tele-consultations and ageing-in-place services, expanding Medisave limits, and integrating mental health professionals into polyclinics.
One proposal is to invest heavily in MRT maintenance to ensure reliability and no major disruptions. Another is to expedite the full electrification of public service buses to 2033.

Essay Format Questions

Analyze the SPP's approach to addressing economic inequality in Singapore as outlined in their manifesto. Discuss the proposed policies and their potential impact on different income groups.
Evaluate the SPP's proposals for reforming Singapore's political system, including proportional representation and establishing an independent Elections Commission. Discuss the potential benefits and challenges of these changes.
Examine the SPP's comprehensive approach to family support and birth rates. Discuss the various incentives and subsidies proposed and how they aim to make parenthood more attractive.
Discuss the SPP's strategy for enhancing employment and job security in Singapore, considering their proposals related to local hiring, foreign talent, and automation.
Analyze the SPP's proposals concerning healthcare and mental wellness, including their focus on accessibility and affordability. How do these proposals aim to address the burdens faced by different segments of the population?

Glossary of Key Terms

A.C.E.: An acronym representing the guiding principles of the Singapore People's Party: Accountability, Commitment, and Empathy.
Annual Balanced Budget: The SPP proposal to distribute government budget surpluses annually, primarily as CDC vouchers, with greater aid for lower-income individuals.
Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD): A tax imposed on property purchases in Singapore, which the SPP proposes to waive for families having a third child when purchasing private property.
BTO (Build-To-Order): A public housing scheme in Singapore for purchasing new HDB flats directly from the Housing and Development Board.
CDC Vouchers: Vouchers distributed by Community Development Councils in Singapore, which the SPP proposes to use for distributing budget surpluses.
CECA (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement): A free trade agreement between Singapore and India, which the SPP proposes to review regarding labor inflow concerns.
CPF (Central Provident Fund): Singapore's compulsory comprehensive savings and investment scheme, which the SPP proposes to allow for overseas tertiary education under certain safeguards.
Dependency Ratios: Limits on the proportion of foreign workers a company can hire in certain sectors in Singapore, which the SPP proposes to gradually reduce in automatable sectors.
EBRC (Electoral Boundaries Review Committee): The committee responsible for reviewing electoral boundaries in Singapore, which the SPP proposes to remove from the Prime Minister's office and replaced with an independent commission.
Employment Pass: A work pass for foreign professionals, managers, and executives in Singapore, which the SPP proposes to gradually reduce quotas for in automatable sectors.
Estate Duty: A tax on the total market value of a deceased person's assets, which the SPP proposes to reintroduce for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
Fixed Elections: The SPP proposal to set predetermined years and dates for general elections in Singapore.
Freedom of Information Act: A proposed law by the SPP that would grant the public access to government data to enhance transparency.
General Election (GE): The election in which citizens vote to elect Members of Parliament in Singapore. The manifesto is for the GE2025.
GRC (Group Representation Constituency): Electoral divisions in Singapore contested by teams of candidates, which the SPP has contested.
GST (Goods and Services Tax): A broad-based consumption tax in Singapore, which the SPP proposes to freeze increases on.
HDB (Housing and Development Board): Singapore's public housing authority, responsible for building and managing public housing estates.
IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation): A fertility treatment, for which the SPP proposes to provide financial aid to couples.
Living Wage Policy: A policy proposed by the SPP to ensure low-income workers and families earn enough to meet basic needs, potentially setting a minimum monthly wage.
Local Qualifying Salary: The minimum salary that companies must pay their local workers to count them towards their local hiring quota, which the SPP proposes to raise.
Mandatory Treatment Orders: Court orders requiring offenders with mental disorders to undergo treatment, which the SPP proposes to ease.
Medisave: A national medical savings scheme in Singapore, which the SPP proposes to raise withdrawal limits for preventive and mental health care.
MRT (Mass Rapid Transit): Singapore's rapid transit system, for which the SPP proposes heavy investment in maintenance.
National Service (NS): Compulsory military or civil defense service for male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents, which the SPP proposes to reduce the duration of and raise allowances for.
NCMP (Non-Constituency Member of Parliament): A scheme in Singapore that allows losing opposition candidates to be appointed to Parliament to ensure alternative voices are heard.
PAP (People's Action Party): The dominant political party in Singapore. The SPP manifesto challenges the PAP's dominance.
PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians): A category of workers in Singapore, which the SPP proposes to prioritize for local hiring incentives.
POFMA (Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act): A law in Singapore concerning online falsehoods, which the SPP proposes to ease the use of.
Proportional Representation: An electoral system where the number of seats a party gets in Parliament is proportional to the number of votes they receive, which the SPP proposes to implement for smaller parties.
Resale HDB flats: HDB flats that are sold on the open market after their minimum occupation period.
SDA (Singapore Democratic Alliance): A political alliance in Singapore, which Steve Chia was formerly a part of.
SDP (Singapore Democratic Party): A political party in Singapore, which Mr. Chiam See Tong was previously associated with.
SERS (Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme): A scheme for redeveloping older HDB estates in Singapore, which the SPP proposes to expand to all estates nearing lease expiry.
Silver Support: A government scheme providing cash payouts to eligible elderly Singaporeans with lower incomes, which the SPP proposes to include for higher travel subsidies.
Special Pass: A short-term pass for foreigners in Singapore for specific purposes, which the SPP proposes to gradually reduce quotas for in automatable sectors.
TAFEP (Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices): A tripartite initiative in Singapore promoting fair and progressive employment practices, whose guidelines the SPP proposes to codify into law.
Telehealth: The use of telecommunications technology to provide healthcare services remotely, which the SPP proposes to subsidize for elderly and low-income groups.
Ultra-high-net-worth individuals: Individuals with significant financial assets, on whom the SPP proposes to reintroduce estate duty.

What is the Singapore People's Party (SPP) advocating for in their 2025 Manifesto?

The SPP's 2025 Manifesto, titled "It Is Time," outlines their vision for a sustainable and equitable society in Singapore. Guided by Accountability, Commitment, and Empathy (A.C.E.), they propose solutions across various key areas to address evolving challenges faced by Singaporeans, including economic stability, employment, housing, family support, governance, education, healthcare, transportation, and social cohesion.

How does the SPP propose to address the rising cost of living?

The SPP proposes several measures to tackle the rising cost of living and inflation. These include distributing government budget surpluses annually as CDC vouchers with more aid for lower-income individuals, freezing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) increases until the cumulative budget deficit exceeds a certain threshold, expanding a living wage policy, and implementing progressive taxation by raising income tax on the top 2% of earners and reintroducing estate duty for the ultra-high-net-worth.

What are the SPP's proposals regarding employment and job security?

To improve employment and job security, the SPP suggests offering tax breaks to businesses that prioritize hiring Singaporean PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians), enforcing higher local hiring quotas with a raised Local Qualifying Salary, codifying TAFEP (Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices) guidelines into law for fair hiring and retrenchment benefits, and abolishing the statutory retirement age while offering tax incentives for companies hiring seniors. They also propose reviewing the CECA agreement with India and gradually reducing Special/Employment Pass quotas in automatable sectors to encourage a shift towards a high-skill, high-value economy.

How does the SPP plan to improve housing affordability and retirement security?

The SPP aims to address housing affordability and retirement security by lowering the minimum age for singles to apply for BTO or resale HDB flats to 30, expanding the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) to all estates nearing lease expiry, and launching a five-year pilot to relax ethnic quotas in HDB estates.

What initiatives does the SPP propose to support families and improve birth rates?

To encourage parenthood and improve birth rates, the SPP proposes several incentives. These include providing additional housing grants for parents of a second child to upgrade to a larger HDB/BTO flat, permitting families with a third child to purchase private property without Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) or upgrade HDB/BTO with a higher grant, and providing financial aid for couples needing IVF.

What changes does the SPP advocate for in governance and democratic freedom?

The SPP calls for greater transparency, accountability, and diverse voices in governance. Their proposals include amending the Constitution to allow proportional representation for smaller parties, enacting a Freedom of Information law, easing defamation laws, implementing a yearly 2% reduction in every Ministry's budget, setting fixed election years and dates, and establishing an independent Elections Commission to replace the current Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC).

What are the SPP's key proposals for healthcare and mental wellness?

The SPP's proposals for healthcare and mental wellness focus on accessibility and support. They suggest subsidizing tele-consultations for elderly and low-income groups, raising Medisave withdrawal limits for preventive and mental health care, subsidizing ageing-in-place services and capping out-of-pocket costs with a universal scheme, integrating mental health professionals into polyclinics and National Service institutions, offering five days of unpaid mental health leave, and easing Mandatory Treatment Orders for offenders with mental disorders.

What is the history of the Singapore People's Party?

The Singapore People's Party (SPP) was officially registered on November 21, 1994. It emerged as a significant opposition party under the leadership of Mr. Chiam See Tong, who had represented Potong Pasir since 1984, initially with the SDP before the SPP's formation. In 2011, Mr. Chiam and his wife, Mdm Lina Chiam, contested in different constituencies, with Mdm Chiam subsequently serving as a Non-Constituency MP (NCMP). Mr. Steve Chia, a former NCMP, joined the SPP and was elected Secretary-General in 2019. He has been noted for raising various issues in Parliament, including those related to the elderly, HDB flat purchases for singles, and public transport subsidies. Under Steve Chia's leadership, the SPP contested in the 2020 General Elections, focusing on challenging the ruling party's dominance and advocating for greater accountability and transparency.

Reference:

https://singaporepeoplesparty.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Manifesto-GE2025.pdf

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