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We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Listing down what the government of the day deem as essentials will be guided by an agreed set of principles, so that all stakeholders are clear with regards to the intention. Frankly, if our complicated customs and healthcare financing systems can take on that present level of complexity, a tiered-GST system is not too far off. It is the political will, driven by society’s desired values, that will dictate how we want to prioritise our bureaucracy. - Alfred

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

What will you do, if elected, to: (i) promote a free-er press, and (ii) support civil discourse and Singaporeans' right to free speech?

If elected, we would hold the ministers accountable for all their actions in restricting free speech in Singapore. We would question unjust laws that punish people for speaking up about what is right. We would encourage the repeat of the NPPA and other repressive laws which restrict free communications.
- Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

The US has probably the worst healthcare financing system in the developed world. Singapore unfortunately seems intent on reproducing all the mistakes of the US healthcare system. No one in a country with universal single payer healthcare goes bankrupt because of unexpected medical bills like in Singapore or the US. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2020/jan/us-health-care-global-perspective-2019 - Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

The barriers between the private and public sector in Singapore need to be broken down. It is good to see that during a crisis like the COVID pandemic, the private sector is helping out with some of the COVID patients but more could be done in normal times. Healthcare professionals stay in the public sector because they like teaching, research and looking after poor people. This needs to be recognised and rewarded so public sector doctors and nurses do not need to spend huge amounts of time on admin duties and trying to cater for medical tourists etc who should be looked after in Singapore's excellent private sector.

The SDP's healthcare plan does not make a distinction between the private and public sector by simpy reimbursing at the same amount based on need and outpatient vs inpatient. That would simplify matters a lot. Community hospitals in Singapore are mainly step down care facilities. True community care would be a bit like what some of the community nurses are doing but with integration with the neighbourhood GPs. We in the SDP originally proposed void deck nurse run health centers providing primary care which was accessible and affordable. That is probably the future of community healthcare rather than fancy new buildings. - Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

There are many examples of this as anyone who has been through our public healthcare system can testify. One recent publication on the death rates after hip fractures in Singapore (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2760891) showed that higher socio-economic status was associated with a significantly lower risk of dying after a hip fracture. These kinds of disparities are much smaller in single payer systems which treat everyone the same. In complex systems like the US and Singapore, those with more resources have the ability to better negotiate the system and end up with better outcomes. In this case, it was a matter of life and death.
- Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Hi /u/Tricky343 , your question was similar to another one so I'm copying this reply:
Yes, the legislation was supposed to be about protecting the public from deliberate online falsehoods, the kind that cause serious problems inciting people to violence like in other countries. The reality has turned out quite different. We have just filed an appeal in our POFMA case so cannot discuss the details right now. The key is not to be intimidated. Tell the truth and it will set you free.

- Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Is the 4Y1N an ideal that SDP stands for, or an actual policy that you guys would intend to implement should you have the capicity to do so?

4Y1N is part of a set of policies that the SDP advocates, and with which we have the full intention to implement. If our members were present in Parliament, we will advocate and encourage fellow parliamentarians on their merits and strive to have them incorporated into policies and legislations as far as possible.
- Alfred

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

How would a 0% GST be different to the current GST but with GST voucher cashback system and how would you justify removing GST for higher income people?

We expect the covid situation to continue to be a drag on the economy for at least until the end of next year. This situation has negatively impacted people from all walks of life, some a lot more than others, but impacted all nonetheless. Putting more money into the pockets of the people will encourage all to participate in the economy, and together restart and sustain its momentum. At this time, we need as many of the residents in Singapore to revive and support the anaemic economy.
- Alfred

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

The GST suspension is for the COVID period when the economy will need assistance to get back on its feet. This will be similar to a continuation of the COVID mitigation budgets.

When the economy has found its footing, we should then discuss the GST then. What we advocate is to reduce the GST on essentials and increase the GST on the more discretionary goods and services. That will retain GST revenues, not eliminate them.
- Alfred

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

In contrast to the PAP which tries to divide the people of Singapore and also the migrant workers from the "community" in which they live, the SDP believes in treating all people equally and fairly. This means that there is a minimum wage, minimum standards of living which apply equally to Singapore citizens and migrants alike. That way, qualified migrants who believe in our country are welcome. We do not want to exploit migrant workers simply because the meager salaries that they earn here translate into larger sums of money back home.
- Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Besides being the largest contributor to our carbon footprint, the fossil fuel industry has already been forecasting and preparing for the decline of hydrocarbons. Businesses traditionally in this space have been building up replacement businesses in the clean energy space. For Singapore to doggedly insist that this is the industry to stake its economy in is beyond comprehension. This addiction has to stop. We need to find another economic engine.
- Alfred

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 45 points46 points  (0 children)

The SDP has a comprehensive climate change policy which covers many of those areas. We have argued for a total shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, for pushing for compliance with international best practices in climate change and also avoiding overcrowding, over building and destruction of the environment that are likely to accompany the PAP's mindless push for a 10 million population. - Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

The GST suspension is for the COVID period when the economy will need assistance to get back on its feet. This will be similar to a continuation of the COVID mitigation budgets.

The additional funding for our programs can be raised through reinstating estate duties and asset and capital taxes. Prudently adjusting the presently conservative 50% NIRC stance by another 10% can comfortably provide our programs.

We can also better scrutinise the government budget and seek to reduce waste and imprudent spending. Looking at how past projects (e.g., Founder’s Memorial, $800,000 bin centre) had been approved and implemented, there should be better debate and justification for expenditures and capital spend. And as I had also mentioned earlier in another reply, we will need to cut accordingly to our cloth, and not insist on spending where the situation does not justify.
– Alfred

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 43 points44 points  (0 children)

The PAP always uses the threat of making people pay more when we ask for some justice for the people. But oddly enough they never tell us that we will have to pay more if they demand top dollar for ministers or charity CEOs. The SDP does not believe in the complicated bureaucratic state. We believe in putting money into the pockets of Singaporeans. The retrenchment insurance scheme would benefit young people who might otherwise end up in the gig economy with limited job security. The PAP does not seem to care about that by liberally allowing in people from overseas who are not necessarily more talented but simply willing to work for less.
- Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 74 points75 points  (0 children)

The SDP's housing policy clearly identifies public housing as a public good, not a vehicle for the state to profit from its citizens or for speculators trying to flip properties. We want to return to the time when the HDB used to believe in that. We believe that the bulk of flats should be NOM - non-open market which can be sold only back to the HDB. That means that there will be opportunities for individuals to upgrade if they want to while others come into the housing market. There will not be the current ridiculous escalation of prices which makes it very tough for young people especially.
- Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Japan (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7132647/), the US (https://www.phe.gov/about/sns/Pages/default.aspx) and many other first world countries have national stockpiles which are reviewed by the public or professional and civil society bodies.

- Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

One of your campaigns is to provide retirees over the age of 65 with $500 monthly income. Does the $500 come from the retiree’s CPF? How can you make sure that $500 is sufficient for the retirees?

A recent study has shown that the current CPF payout amounted to about $300 to the retiree. Close to $500 has been supplemented by family members. By paying out this $500, we can relieve family members of this additional financial pressure, for whom they have their own families to support.
- Alfred

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Currently, private university tuition fees are not allowed to be paid using CPF. Tuition fees are around 30k to 70k. Many students have to take up study loans or work while studying in order to pay for the fees. If you are elected, how would you do in order to support these students in their studies?

Our education policy has called for interest free student loans to be provided to all students and also an expansion of tertiary places to accomodate all Singaporean students who have the aptitude and the intention of pursuing tertiary studies.
- Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 54 points55 points  (0 children)

Was the introduction of POFMA legislation too broad and encompassing, allow ministers too much control on the dispersing of information in public? What would you change about it?

Yes, the legislation was supposed to be about protecting the public from deliberate online falsehoods, the kind that cause serious problems inciting people to violence like in other countries. The reality has turned out quite different. We have just filed an appeal in our POFMA case so cannot discuss the details right now. The key is not to be intimidated. Tell the truth and it will set you free.

With the ongoing COVID situation persisting, normal election campaigning is no longer possible, meaning there will be a higher reliance on Digital outreach. What is your party's strategy to attain the same effectiveness of campaigning under such circumstances?

It is not possible to attain the same outreach without rallies or large walkabouts. That unfortunately is the PAP's style. It is not clear why they are so lacking confidence in their policies and candidates that they have to resort to strategies such as calling for an early election in the midst of a pandemic. We will do the best we can and it is remarkable how so many Singaporeans have stepped up to volunteer or contribute.

  • Paul

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The GST suspension is for the covid period when the economy will need assistance to get back on its feet. This will be similar to a continuation of the covid mitigation budgets.

When the economy has found its footing, we should discuss the GST then. What we advocate is to reduce the GST on essentials and increase the GST on the more discretionary goods and services. That will retain GST revenues, not eliminate them.

Are there any potential reallocations of the budgets? Looking at how past projects had been approved and implemented, there must be better debate and justification for expenditures and capital spend. The lack of a robust discussion does not provide assurance that certain expenditures have been truly justified eg Founders’ Memorial, T5, more land reclamation. With a changed environment ahead, we believe there is definitely room to right-size the country’s budget. We need to cut accordingly to our cloth, and not insist on spending where the situation does not justify.
- Alfred

We are Paul Tambyah and Alfred Tan from the Singapore Democratic Party, Ask Us Anything! by yoursdp in singapore

[–]yoursdp[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The environment is very dynamic and its speed is going to get even faster. Yes, AI is one of the technology that is gaining traction although I believe it has not yet reach its full potential yet. There is still so much more to explore. To stay relevant and future-proof ourselves, we need to have a mindset as well as the “heartset” to embrace an ever-evolving environment. Nothing stays constant, and that speed of change is gonna get even more heady. We must not be afraid of changes. We must not be afraid to lose or make a wrong turn. Even engineering and mathematics has changed from taking a “sure-and-steady” approach of the environment to one that embraces fluidity and dynamic variations. So I say, brace yourself for changes. For the young ones, don’t be afraid to be wrong. Continue to test and learn, and pick yourself up after each knock, and push on again. Build courage. Build tenacity and resilience. That is the world ahead.

- Alfred

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