GE2025: People’s Power Party rally for Ang Mo Kio GRC | Highlights

Key Concepts

• Face Value Voting
• Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)
• Trade of Services, Goods, and Capital Movement
• Singaporean Core
• Work Permit Holders vs. Singaporean Leave Entitlement
• Foreign Landlords and Rental Control
• Feudal System
• Values-Based Governance
• Vaccine Mandate and Individual Sacrifice

1. Voting and Leadership Transition

• The speaker acknowledges the historical tendency of Singaporeans to vote based on the perceived "face value" of the Prime Minister, specifically referencing Lee Hsien Loong.
• The speaker questions whether this tendency should persist now that Lee Hsien Loong is no longer the Prime Minister, suggesting a need to consider voting for change.

2. Concerns Regarding CECA (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement)

• The speaker criticizes Lee Hsien Loong's tenure, particularly highlighting the implementation of CECA with India in 2004.
• CECA is described as primarily a trade agreement, but the speaker emphasizes that trade encompasses services, goods, and capital movement (investment).
• The speaker expresses concern about the implications of CECA on investment, referencing the potential for foreign investment in Singaporean banks and vice versa.

3. Employment and the Singaporean Core

• The speaker advocates for prioritizing Singaporean citizens in employment, emphasizing the importance of hiring "born and bred" Singaporeans.
• The speaker distinguishes between citizens and those who become citizens "overnight," implying a difference in their connection to the country.
• The speaker criticizes the equal leave entitlement (7 days) for work permit holders and Singaporeans, questioning whether this disparity has been overlooked or ignored.
• The speaker highlights the issue of low starting salaries for Singaporean degree holders (e.g., $2,500), arguing that it is unreasonable given the cost of education and the fact that Malaysian security guards may earn more.

4. Foreign Landlords and Rental Issues

• The speaker expresses concern about the increasing prevalence of foreign landlords in Singapore, likening it to a return to a feudal system.
• Foreigners initially bought residential properties, then shifted to commercial properties due to stamp duties, and now rent them out to local hawkers.
• The speaker argues that the government should implement land control measures to cap or monitor rental increases to prevent high food and commercial prices.

5. Youth Engagement and Responsibility

• The speaker laments the feeling of helplessness among young Singaporeans regarding the country's situation.
• The speaker emphasizes the responsibility of young people to take ownership of Singapore's future, arguing that if they don't, others who are not from Singapore will.

6. Values-Based Governance and Policy

• The speaker concludes by stressing the importance of values and beliefs in governance.
• The speaker argues that all policies stem from the values held by the government.
• The speaker urges voters to consider their own values and the values of the people they are voting for.
• The speaker uses the vaccine mandate and the Infectious Diseases Act as examples of the PAP's (People's Action Party) attitude towards Singaporeans, suggesting a prioritization of the state over the individual.

7. Synthesis/Conclusion

The speaker raises concerns about the direction of Singapore, particularly regarding economic agreements like CECA, employment opportunities for Singaporeans, the rise of foreign landlords, and the government's approach to individual liberties. The speaker calls for a shift towards values-based governance and greater youth engagement in shaping the country's future. The speaker emphasizes the need for Singaporeans to actively participate in the political process and vote for representatives who align with their values.