SINGAPORE: The People’s Action Party (PAP) must highlight the differences between its policies and those of the opposition, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday (Nov 5).
Speaking at this year’s PAP convention, Mr Wong said the party believes actions speak louder than words.
“But if we only focus on actions and we fail to get our messages across effectively, I think we will have a big problem,” added Mr Wong, who is the party’s deputy secretary-general.
The PAP must improve how it communicates – not just rely on government communications – making it clear what it stands for and its long-term plans.
“We need to highlight the differences between the policies of the PAP and the policies of the opposition,” said Mr Wong, adding that in most areas the opposition’s proposed policies are “shades of the PAP’s policies”.
“But in some areas, the positions are fundamentally different, and we must explain why our approach is better for Singapore and Singaporeans.”
Policies do not happen in a vacuum and are driven by politics, said Mr Wong, adding that long-term policies require “political durability and consistency” to follow through.
“Imagine if a political party is hanging on to office by its fingernails, do you think its leaders will be thinking and planning long term?”
Singapore has avoided such a fate because it has a strong PAP government, said Mr Wong. But the people’s support is not a given, he stressed.
“I’ve said this before and I will say it again. I do not assume that the PAP will win the next General Election convincingly, or even win it outright,” he said.
A growing number of Singaporeans want more opposition, and more checks and balances, he added.
This means that every election from now will not be about how many seats the opposition gains, but whether the PAP will form the government and whether it will be strong, said Mr Wong.
STRENGTHENING PAP’S ORGANISATION
The deputy secretary-general announced that he and other fourth-generation leaders will engage PAP activists in the coming months, focusing on three areas – broadening the party’s outreach, sharpening its messages and reviewing and strengthening the party’s organisation.
At the convention, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he will hand over the leadership to Mr Wong before the next General Election.
Mr Wong said: “I may be the incoming leader, but this is not about me. It’s not just my aspiration, but our aspirations. It’s not just my perspective, but our perspectives.”
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The Deputy Prime Minister added that he has benefited from learning from those around him.
“I don’t start with the assumption that I know everything or have the answers to all problems because I certainly don’t,” he said.
“Instead, I’d prefer to start by listening, hearing a diverse range of perspectives and views and staying open to different ideas. In the end, I will have to decide.
“As leader, I will have to judge the balance, and do what I assess to be in the best interest of all Singaporeans. Whichever way I decide, there will always be some who disagree with me, or who will not be satisfied. And I know I will also have to make tough but necessary decisions from time to time.
“I’ve been in government long enough to know that I cannot please everyone.”
Mr Wong intends to approach leadership by finding common ground, instead of accentuating differences.
“That is how I intend to take Singapore forward. It means ensuring the benefits of progress are shared by all, not some. It means uplifting all Singaporeans, not just the few.”
In closing, Mr Wong declared that he was ready for his next assignment.
“I will not be in this alone,” he continued, adding that the team of 4G leaders is ready to lead.
Senior members of the PAP have been excellent mentors and role models, and will continue to support the 4G leaders, he said.