Facebook Post by Lim Tean

An Alliance Of Issues! 

Leong Mun Wai hosted lunch at Jun Low’s exquisite restaurant- The Black Society at Vivo City, for Sze Hian and myself yesterday. 

The event was to congratulate Sze Hian on his recent very successful crowdfunding campaign, which has brought about the most significant political transformation in our Nation in recent times. I am very happy that the transformation is now gathering pace with Roy Ngerng’s own crowdfunding campaign, which has collected over $45 000 in 2 days! It shows the incredible spirit of Singaporeans to protect the rights of their fellow men. 

We were joined for lunch by Paul Thambyah, Cheang Kok Ming and Jun herself. 

Three years ago, I was introduced to Mun Wai by Sze Hian. I found a kindred spirit in Mun Wai and and we share similar ideas on many political and social issues. I am very appreciative of Mun Wai’s work as an NCMP. In Parliament, he has spoken out fearlessly to protect the rights of Singaporean workers, protect our National identity and on a host of other issues. I rate him as one of the most effective Parliamentarians. 

Most recently, Mun Wai has attacked the PAP and Indranee Rajah’s inexcusable position on the government’s fiscal excess. It is an attack which PV supports enthusiastically. 

Our reserves stand at around $1.48 trillion. It is not a secret. Leong Sze Hian has done the math and come out with the figure which can be “discovered” from the government’s own statements and published figures. Even if you only get a 5 per cent return on the reserves each year, which any investment fund manager worth his salt would be able to achieve, that gives you well over $70 Billion a year of spending power without touching the principle. With that amount of money, the government can easily provide for universal healthcare and education and still have a lot of spare change. It is therefore absurd to suggest that we would sink without hiking GST by 2%. It is immoral to be increasing taxes and tariffs such as GST, ERP, petrol tax and utilities, when people are hurting very badly from the pandemic. It is even more ridiculous when you realise that 4 out of 10 working Singaporeans earn $3000 or less every month! The immorality of the PAP’s financial arguments stink to high heavens!

Those of us at lunch yesterday were agreed that the Opposition must do their utmost to oppose the proposed GST hike. GST is a most regressive form of taxation which hurts the middle class and lower income groups the hardest. A 2% GST hike will have a disproportionately harmful effect on the finances of these 2 groups when it will net the government no more than $3 Billion a year in revenue. The PAP should be more transparent on the returns on our reserves and cut the bloated bureaucracy they have created rather than burden our people with more taxes! 

I hope that going forward, the Opposition can work more closely on an “Alliance Of Issues”. Singaporeans expect no less, especially at this time when they have realised how bereft the PAP are of ideas and talent. They can’t even decide who is to lead them going forward. 

Mun Wai, Paul and the others, thank you once again for a very enjoyable lunch and the stimulating conversation!