Singapore Democratic Party goes on the offensive over the 10‑million pop‑plan
The 1,919‑year‑old story of Singapore’s population ceiling suddenly became, well, a thriller, thanks to Paul Tambyah, the charismatic chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). He’s on the hunt for a hard‑no answer from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) about a rumored 10‑million target that’s been floating around Internet chatrooms like a viral meme.
“Did the PAP keep mum for too long?”
During a stroll through Bukit Panjang – the swing‑seat the SDP is fighting over – Tambyah called out the PAP for dragging its feet. “We got the PAP to give us a straight answer. When you ask a kid to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’, you’re usually heard, but here the kid finally spoke up and said ‘no’, which is good,” he said, tightening a grin that hint at a bit of sarcasm.
“No” – the first clear voice on the floor
The PAP, which had steered skirt‑around on the population question for years, finally said, “No – we’re not planning to hit 10 million. And even a 6.9‑million figure could still be too ambitious.” Tambyah labelled that a victory for ordinary citizens. “Australia may see how many seats you snag on the floor, but Singapore is here for a ‘Ireland‑style stable core’, not a 10‑million spree.”
PD’s twist on the origin of the 10‑million rumor
In a post‑political ad, the SDP echoed Tambyah’s claim that the numbers, pulled from a 2019 Straits Times article, are not an invention of theirs. A blogger hammers that the PAP’s former deputy prime minister, Heng Swee Keat, apparently jabbed at a “falsehood” that had gone around. “If you sign a contract, you get the contract signed.”
Meanwhile, the SDP pointed out a relationship between the PAP’s housing chief and the urban density statistics. “That’s disquieting because the public kinda thinks Singapore might actually be inching toward the 10‑million horizon,” Turned to Chee Soon Juan’s side‑walk talk: “All these figures are floating; we didn’t cook it.”
SDP’s election trump card: No 10‑million, yes abiding labour policy
The key planks working the SDP’s campaign song: “No‑10‑million. Yes‑labor‑rights.” They’re twitching teaming to share that bending the circlet to widen the quality of the locals, and all foreign workers. Minimum wages across the board. The thought: “Better drafters of talent than exploiters of cheap hands.”
- Just a few bites of job‑creation – it’s about the weighted words: a small population is the wind‑spread that helps keep the economy till ‘balanced windmills’ aren’t 10‑million‑size.
- Balancing services, not simply piling up people on the board.
- All in a better outlook for the people that we all got to be wondering about.
Elections – pandemic, no; working life and jobs, sure.
Tambyah didn’t want to get lost diagnosing an ominous “pop‑drama.” Even the COVID‑19 zombie time came and he pointed: “Look, what’s insane is they’re trying to weigh the plan by the population. No, Singapore needs downsized practical actions. Jobs, wages, and liveliness.”
The same message, same plan. “No‑10‑million. Yes‑jobs. So ding! It’s the classic ‘four yeses and one no’ mantra.”
