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Singaporeans First

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Singaporeans First
LeaderTan Jee Say
Founded25 May 2014 (25 May 2014)
IdeologyCentrism
Political positionCentre
Parliament
0 / 99
Website
singfirst.org

Singaporeans First (SingFirst) is a political party of Singapore. It is one of the younger political parties.

History and political development

Tan Jee Say launched Singaporeans First (SingFirst) on 25 May 2014 with other founding members.[1] On 19 August 2014, it was officially registered.[2]

On 22 March 2015, SingFirst unveiled a new 12-member Central Executive Committee (CEC) with five new faces at its inaugural dinner. Three members of the previous 10-member CEC stepped down. They were director of an education company Loke Pak Hoe who was assistant secretary-general, architect Fatimah Akhthar who was assistant treasurer and communications professional Fahmi Rais.[3]

The party's logo is a stylized adaptation of the simple heart logo Tan Jee Say that used when campaigning as a Presidential candidate in the 2011 Presidential elections.

Objectives and policies

SingFirst aims to abolish Goods and Services Tax (GST) and increase social spending in Singapore.

In its manifesto for GE2015, the party states it will

- restructure the economy by making it much less dependent on cheap low-skilled foreign labour as it depresses wage levels, lowers overall productivity, sustains low skill industries and adds to over-crowding. It will review the need to give very favourable foreign worker quotas to certain industries that are highly dependent on foreign workers since this special treatment is unfair to other industries and distorts manpower policies. For example, shipyards employ 100,000 foreign workers out of a total workforce of 120,000.

- place high priority on developing local enterprises, for example, the small and medium enterprises into major regional or global firms. Grants for development capital will be provided to help them strike out into new areas especially in the high tech industry. The party has identified two sectors that are sustainable over the long term are education and healthcare. SMEs can develop their expertise in these areas. The party intends to deal with rising rental costs that have affected these businesses.

- encourage priority to the employment of Singaporeans across all sectors but particularly at PMET and senior management levels. Foreigners should only be hired where specialist skills are missing in Singaporeans. Government-linked companies should start the trend by enrolling more Singaporeans in the executive and management positions.

- review policies that put Singaporeans at a disadvantage compared to foreign personnel working in Singapore. On the national service obligation of Singapore men, the party will review the two-year national service period in light of technological progress and new organisational methods and training, so the military training period can be shortened meaningfully.

Tan Jee Say at a televised forum on 1 September 2015 said that his party did not want the government to issue 'S Passes' to foreigners.[4] Amongst the passes that the Ministry of Manpower (Singapore) issues, the S Pass allows mid-level skilled personnel to work in Singapore. Applicants need to earn at least S$2,200 a month and have the relevant qualifications and work experience.[5]

Organization and Structure

Central Executive Council

As of 22 March 2015:

  • Ang Yong Guan 洪永元, Chairman
  • Tan Peng Ann, Vice Chairman
  • Tan Jee Say 陈如斯, Secretary-General
  • Winston Lim, Assistant Secretary-General
  • David Foo Ming Jin, Treasurer
  • Michael Chia
  • David Tan
  • Mohamed Randy Ashmooni
  • Leow Pei Shan
  • Sukhdev Singh Gill
  • Patrick Heng
  • Wong Chee Wai

Leadership

The party is led by Tan Jee Say 陈如斯, the party's Secretary-General. He is a former civil servant, a former Presidential candidate and Harvard Fellow.

Electoral Performance

GE2015 is the first election for Singaporeans First. Singaporeans First (SingFirst) are fighting to defeat the incumbent People Action’s Party (PAP) in Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC), the former constituency of Lee Kuan Yew, in the general elections. SingFirst are also contesting Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

References

  1. ^ Spykerman, Kimberly (25 May 2014). "Tan Jee Say launches new political party". Channel NewsAsia. Singapore. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  2. ^ "Breaking News: SINGAPOREANS FIRST has been successfully registered as a society by the Registry of Societies".
  3. ^ "Singaporeans First unveils CEC".
  4. ^ Mediacorp Channel 5, Political forum GE2015, 8 pm, 1 September 2015
  5. ^ [1] Ministry of Manpower website

External links

Official Website of Singaporeans First

Official Facebook of Singaporean First

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