SINGAPORE — Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang today (Sept 5) continued to press his argument for sufficient Opposition presence in Parliament so that the People’s Action Party (PAP) Government will “think twice” before implementing policies that will affect Singaporeans’ lives post-General Election.

At the WP’s rally at Yishun Stadium on Friday, Mr Low brought up how the PAP had said it had not considered raising the Goods and Services Tax before the 2006 election but did so in July the following year, and the explanation by then Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong was that there was nothing wrong in implementing unpopular policies — that were good for Singapore in the long term — and this is all part of politics.

Elaborating today, Mr Low said that, based on past experience, the PAP is “always capable of doing something and revising policies that will affect the lives of people after a General Election”.

“That’s why I am cautioning Singaporeans to be careful when you’re voting on Sept 11, to make sure that the Parliament that is newly constituted will have sufficient number of Opposition members (and not) result in an unbalanced Parliament,” said Mr Low, who was speaking to reporters after a walkabout at Aljunied Avenue 2 in the MacPherson Single-Member Constituency.

Mr Low had previously set a target for the Opposition to win at least 20 seats to scrutinise the various government policies more effectively.

At the People’s Action Party rally on Friday that was held in Aljunied Group Representation Constituency — which the WP won in 2011 — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged residents to vote for the PAP team, as he detailed plans for the area, including the development of 800ha of land to be freed up when the Paya Lebar airbase moves to Changi. “Many more homes ... you want jobs here, the jobs will also be here, you want green fields and parks here, we will also have that in Aljunied. But you need the PAP to do that, please vote for the PAP government,” Mr Lee said.

In response, Mr Low pointed to the reception that he got from residents during today’s walkabout. Adding that residents asked about his health and wished the WP well, Mr Low said: “I am very grateful for their support, this is my answer to the Prime Minister.”

Mr Low also took issue with the Republic’s healthcare system. He pointed out that Hougang residents, for example, have given feedback on the long wait to see a specialist. Mr Low questioned whether the Pioneer Generation Package is adequate to address the elderly’s concerns over healthcare costs, given that not all medications are subsidised. The package provides subsidies for healthcare services for those who were born before 1950 and became citizens before 1987.

Mr Low said he was concerned for seniors who fall outside the age bracket but require support for their healthcare needs. The WP intends to look into this issue after the elections, he said.