Hot Debate Over Singapore’s Population Numbers
Yesterday’s live sit‑down between Vivian Balakrishnan (PAP) and Chee Soon Juan (SDP) turned the issue of Singapore’s future population into a full‑blown showdown. Here’s the scoop in plain English, with a dash of humor.
The Main Arguments
- Chee’s challenge: “Will you, Vivian, confirm that the PAP is not planning a 10‑million‑strong Singapore?” He pointed to SDP’s “Four Yes, One No” manifesto, which declares the party will “push to stop the PAP from raising our population to 10 million.”
- Balakrishnan’s rebuttal: He shot back that the PMO had just issued a statement urging people not to spread the 10‑million rumor: “We’re not targeting 10 million—let’s get the numbers straight.” He added that even a 6.9 million jump is unnecessary.
- Chee’s persistence: He vowed to cite a 2019 interview where Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat supposedly mentioned the 10‑million figure. He also referenced a 2019 NTU talk by Heng talking about Singapore’s density.
Key Numbers & Facts
- Current official population: about 5.7 million (June 2019).
- 2013 Population White Paper projected 6.5–6.9 million by 2030.
- Some old quotes hint at a 10‑million target, but the PMO says those claims are “untrue” and “not part of any plan.”
What the PMO Says
In a quick statement, the PMO flagged away the 10‑million myth: “We have no plan to increase Singapore’s population to 10 million. The claims circulating online are false.” This was a direct response to the flood of misinformation that had been spreading online.
Final Takeaway
Between the arguments, the debate ended with a clear up‑shot: the government currently does not have a population target, and any statements claiming otherwise are misinformation. The debate was spirited, but the facts are simple—Singapore stays at a sustainable size, nobody’s planning for a 10‑million boom.
For those who want the full debate reel, click here (the video link is embedded in the original post).
