PM: Prepare for a tough fight

Singapore’s stability depends on next GE, Lee warns party members

The next general election will decide if Singapore can sustain a good and stable government that can safeguard the lives and well-being of Singaporeans, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Addressing 2,500 People’s Action Party (PAP) activists at what could be the last major party gathering before the next general election yesterday, he told them to be prepared for a tough fight.

Lee, who is the PAP’s secretarygeneral, called on activists to continue working hard to convince Singaporeans to give the ruling party the mandate to lead the country again in the upcoming election, which will take place amid an uncertain global environment.

“We have done a lot. We have a lot more to do. But there is a lot we can lose too if politics turns unstable, or becomes dysfunctional,” he said.

“The next election is about the future of Singapore. You have been working the ground for more than four years now ... Soon it will be time for battle again.”

The general election must be called by April 2021, but is widely expected to be called next year.

The prime minister began his speech by summarising what the PAP government has done since the last general election to improve people’s lives, namely increasing pre-school and tertiary subsidies, creating better jobs for workers and improving the public transport network.

He then set out the challenging external environment Singapore has to navigate, to underscore that the country’s long-term future is at stake in the upcoming polls.

He also outlined what the party has to do to retain the electorate’s trust, from being upfront with Singaporeans, giving people hope for the future, and ensuring unity and social cohesion.

Externally, Singapore is likely to come under more pressure from the United States and China, as tensions between both powers grow, Lee noted.

Nearer to home, while relations with Malaysia and Indonesia are good, there remain difficult issues to resolve, he said. Lee stressed that aside from a capable government, strong domestic support is crucial in managing these external issues.

“The unity of Singaporeans is our first line of defence,” he said.

“Others will be watching us closely to see if the PAP wins a strong mandate, especially at a time of leadership transition.”

You have been working the ground for more than four years now ... Soon it will be time for battle again. Lee Hsien Loong