PAP's Alex Yam Says Alternative Views 'Must Be Grounded in Reality'

While the opposition is free to offer counter narratives and alternative proposals to combat the rising cost of living, many parties do not address how future needs may be funded, PAP candidate for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC Alex Yam said in response to calls by opposition parties to roll back the goods and services tax hike.

- Lee Li Ying

Mr Yam was speaking to the media on April 25 after a two-hour walkabout with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in the vicinity of Yew Tee MRT station, where the duo visited nearby malls and a senior care centre.

At rallies on April 24, opposition parties had criticised the Government's decision to raise GST rates from 7 per cent to 9 per cent in two stages in 2023 and 2024, despite inflationary pressures.

The WP, PSP and Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) had said that the tax increase has impacted cost of living, with the PSP and SDP calling for a reduction in GST rates.

Mr Yam said that while the Government hears a lot of demands from the opposition, they do not hear enough of how much the alternative proposals would cost.

"Very often, even when they provide some sort of alternative, it does not come with actual numbers and calculations that make sense," said the North West District Mayor.

"The Government has always been prepared to listen to other views and take them on board, but they must be grounded in reality, not made purely as political statements."