SINGAPORE — The Reform Party (RP) today (Sept 7) released its manifesto, which comprised almost 100 proposals that cover 13 areas, from governance and civil liberties to education and transport.

The party put up the most number of suggestions in the area of government and political reform. Among the 15 proposals is one calling for the setting up of an independent commission to examine ministerial salaries, so as to ensure that “pay is much more performance-oriented and that excessive rewards are not given for easily achievable targets” such as economic growth.

The RP also called for a referendum on the issue of increases in ministerial pay, saying it is “absurd” for political office holders here to be paid four to five times more than other world leaders “when (their) job is essentially one of city mayor”.

To increase the representation of women in politics, the party proposed legislation that would require political parties to field more women candidates in elections, with a target of “at least 40 per cent female representation at all levels”.

The Opposition party said its 12-page manifesto was premised on a belief that freedom and prosperity can go hand in hand.

“Singapore is not a corporation, and its people (are) not simply workers who are expendable or replaceable,” it said.

The party said its manifesto was built on three planks: Returning power to the people; building a more transparent, humane and fairer society; as well as “rescuing Singapore’s outdated economic system”.

To promote greater transparency and accountability, the RP said there should be greater scrutiny of the use of government funds, such as the National Productivity Fund and the National Research Fund, for example.

Calling for judicial and law reform, the party called for a moratorium on the death penalty, with an eye towards eventually replacing it with whole-life imprisonment. Laws should also be changed so that government departments cannot sue individuals for defamation, it said.

In the area of education, the RP proposed, among other things, compulsory and free education up to the secondary level. Free education should be provided from the pre-school level, it said.

On defence and homeland security, the party said the authorities should stop using national servicemen as “cheap labour for police and security duties, unless they are properly remunerated”.

On its manifesto, the RP said: “We aim to eventually lead and nurture Singapore to become a country with both economic and social victories.”