Peoples Voice seeking a brighter 2024 amidst 2023’s challenges, says its time for change

In a sombre New Year’s message, Lim Tean, leader of People’s Voice (PV), reflects on the challenges of 2023, including escalating living costs and diminishing job security under the current PAP government.

He warns of the immediate financial burden from the increased 9% GST at the New Year and criticizes the government’s inadequate measures against the backdrop of global economic uncertainties.

Mr Lim urges Singaporeans to envision a change in governance for a better future, emphasizing the dire need for a more people-friendly government amidst increasing global turmoil and persistent local issues.

Below is PV’s statement in full

Singaporeans have had to endure a miserable 2023 with excruciating cost of living pressures, increasing unaffordability of property and increasing job security.

It gives us no pleasure to be prophets of gloom but Singapore under the PAP is headed for the same trajectory and probably worse in 2024.

At the stroke of the midnight hour, which should be a joyous moment as we welcome in the New Year, Singaporeans’ financial burden will immediately increase with the 9% GST coming into effect. Vouchers and coupons offered by the PAP will not ameliorate the financial burden for long.

This increased GST is a yoke that will be around Singaporeans’ neck until the PAP government is replaced and a more people friendly government is in place. Singaporeans must hope that a new government will significantly reduce the GST and that it will not be applied to essential items such as food and medicine,which is PV’s position.

A responsible government will ensure that it gives the maximum financial assistance to the citizens when facing the most serious cost of living crisis in generations. But every policy of the PAP in 2023 has exacerbated the inflationary pressures on Singaporeans instead of easing them. The only beneficiary of these policies has been the government itself.

The economic situation for Singapore in 2024 will be most challenging. China’s economy has serious problems and is presently deflationary. It is widely expected that the American economy will go into recession in 2024. Many countries in Europe are already in recession and there is no light at the end of the tunnel at the moment. We can expect these economic woes to increase because of geopolitical crisis which are bound to grip the world in the next 12 months. There will be new flash points besides Ukraine and the Middle-East.

A proper understanding of the global situation will lead one to conclude that the present policies of the PAP government can only bring more grief for Singaporeans in 2024.

If you want a better future for yourselves and your next generation, it behooves you to think of change. Not just voting in more opposition which is the general thinking but voting in a new government which can improve your lives.

The alternative of no change is that you will continue to labour under repressive economic conditions imposed by the PAP, living in the world’s most expensive city, and having an average income which is half of what a Swiss citizen earns.

Lim Tean
Leader, Peoples Voice
31 December 2023