WP’s position seems to shift with ‘political winds’, PAP must take wider view: PM Wong

Later during the debate on population policy, amid concerns over the population projections of 6.9 million, the WP proposed zero growth in the foreign workforce, he said.

More recently, when small and medium-sized enterprises faced manpower shortages, the WP called for easing of foreign worker quotas, he added.

“You can see how their position seems to shift with the political winds. But foreign manpower policy cannot simply shift back and forth with the pressures of the moment,” he said.

Any change has wider consequences, and even relatively small adjustments to work permit and S Pass rules can lead to substantial increases in foreign worker numbers across the economy, he added.

It is easier to argue for a particular position when one does not have to reconcile all the competing demands, or take responsibility for the outcome, said PM Wong.

This is part of opposition politics. But as the governing party, the PAP must consider the wider picture, he said.

“We cannot simply tell everyone what they want to hear, or promise everyone what they hope to get.”

Governing is different, and the PAP cannot just offer what sounds attractive today, he added.

“We have to make difficult choices that will stand the test of time.”

The party must also guard against populism – the temptation to offer simplistic solutions instead of confronting difficult realities.

“Above all, we must never allow our politics to become so divided that we lose the ability to work together for the good of Singapore,” he said.

He pointed to global developments where traditional political parties have lost ground and the political centre has weakened, and protests have erupted on the streets.

There are no easy answers to these problems, yet there is always the temptation to offer quick fixes, he added, but these do not solve the underlying problems.

“So the frustrations persist. Trust in institutions weakens. Politics becomes more polarised,” he said.

Then it becomes harder to find common ground, build consensus and make the difficult decisions needed for the common good, PM Wong said.

Singaporeans also worry about their livelihoods and their children’s futures – and these are real concerns that the PAP must take seriously, he added.

The Government must keep opportunities open, address the pressures Singaporeans face, and sustain their confidence in the future.

Tackling politically difficult issues head on

Sometimes, the challenge is not about balancing competing interests, PM Wong said.

It is about confronting an issue that would be much easier, politically, to leave alone.

PM Wong raised the example of updating political salaries, which he announced in Parliament in September.

Then, he said political office-holders will get a one-off pay increase of up to 9%, as the Government had accepted the recommendations of a committee convened in December 2025 to review political salaries.

The PAP knew there would be strong reactions, PM Wong said.

The politically convenient option would have been to avoid the issue altogether.

But the PAP could not keep putting off a decision that matters for Singapore’s ability to build a strong political leadership team for the future, he said.

“So I decided to address the issue openly in Parliament, explain our decision, and take responsibility for it,” he said.

Summing up his points, PM Wong said housing, manpower and political salaries are very different issues.

But the PAP’s approach is guided by the same principles – it listens carefully, explains the trade-offs honestly, and makes the call, he said.

“And we take responsibility for the consequences,” he added.

The party cannot shy away from difficult decisions just because they are unpopular, nor tell people what they want to hear today, only to leave others to deal with the consequences tomorrow, he said.

Because postponing difficult decisions does not make the problems disappear.

“We simply pass them on to those who come after us – and we often leave them with harder choices later.

“So, comrades, we must always have the courage to act. Act not just for Singaporeans today, but also for our children and grandchildren who will inherit the Singapore we build.”