BB BE: Tharman’s last word

by Bertha Henson

YOU have to hand it to the man. When Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Tharman Shanmugaratnam spoke for the People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate Murali Pillai – “he’s got heart, he’s got guts’’ – you don’t feel your skin crawling. When he spoke about the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) “politics of fear and populism’’, you don’t think it’s just another pot shot.

So representing the PAP, on the last night of the hustings, Mr Tharman set out the facts and put the SDP’s proposals in context. He came across as befuddled, even disappointed, at the way the SDP was conducting its campaign. He called it the “politics of spreading fear and alarm and the politics of populism’’. Twice, he said: “I am troubled.’’

But not before he reminded people that he had never been against a healthy opposition and had said as much the day after last year’s general election. “So don’t misjudge me.’’

Mr Tharman, who is the anchor minister in the neighbouring Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC), took on the SDP’s policy proposals and questions on issues such as healthcare and retrenchment insurance “because they think it is their key strength”.

He said: “Policies are not about research papers but about the type of politics that surrounds the policies”. He then gave examples of how the SDP was pushing its proposals by resorting to scaring the population or telling them only the “good things’’ and not the costs.

Here are some choice words from him:

“Absolute rubbish’’ was how he described Dr Chee’s claim that $800 billion had gone missing from the reserves. The Finance ministry had explained the figures several times, and Dr Chee should have checked. Noting that Dr Chee himself had said that he wasn’t able to understand much of it, Mr Tharman asked: “Then why do you spread fear? If you don’t understand, then do your homework”.

“Crazy’’ was how he described Dr Chee’s assertion that only 100 jobs were created last year. “Have a sense of reality,’’ said Mr Tharman. Thousands are created by agencies such as the EDB. (The Manpower ministry had clarified that the figure should be 700 and refers to net jobs created not total jobs. Last night, Dr Chee said that 700 was nothing to shout about either. It’s still “rotten meat,” he said adding that the G should stop “spinning’’ it)

“Where has he been?’’ was his response to Dr Chee’s insistence that the G was neglecting the elderly. Mr Tharman took issue with how Dr Chee used the emotional issue of elderly suicides to castigate the G as heartless and uncaring. Dr Chee did not seem aware of the programmes rolled out for the elderly such as the Pioneer Generation Package and Medisave top ups. Mr Tharman added that spending on the elderly was the largest increase in the G’s Budget.

Mr Tharman gave two examples of the SDP telling people only the good things about its proposals, such as how its proposal to provide universal healthcare would be costly, as evidenced by its example, France. The French spend 20 per cent of the income on tax for healthcare.

As for its proposal for retrenchment insurance, he said it is “not such a crazy idea’’ except that Dr Chee only pointed out the benefits that the retrenched workers will get, but not the cost of setting it up.

Mr Tharman was the undisputed star on the PAP side tonight. He didn’t have to talk about character or go back 20 years. Instead he used the SDP’s own public statements and proposals as an indication of the type of politics it practises. Politics, he said, is not about fearless and fierce speeches.

Advancing democracy must mean building a more inclusive society. On the other hand, the politics of division which will result in a fragmented society as is the case in the United States and Europe where “demagogues now have great sway”.

“You don’t need to agree with the PAP, but discuss things openly and tell the truth. That’s how we advance democracy.’’

Speaker after speaker at the PAP rally pointed to Mr Murali’s record of community service, undertaken modestly and without publicity. The theme was: This is a man you can trust.

Mr Tharman’s killer line is this: “He serves you because it is you. You are not part of a political journey.’’

 

Featured Image by Natassya Diana.

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The post BB BE: Tharman’s last word appeared first on The Middle Ground.

- Bertha Henson