{"id":73815,"date":"2026-08-03T08:47:04","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T00:47:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=73815"},"modified":"2026-08-03T08:47:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T00:47:04","slug":"wp-to-table-a-motion-setting-out-its-vision-for-singapores-economy-in-parliament-on-aug-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=73815","title":{"rendered":"WP to table a motion setting out its vision for Singapore&#8217;s economy in Parliament on Aug 4"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"article-description\">This marks the party\u2019s attempt to \u201cwrite its own economic playbook\u201d, says Aljunied GRC MP Kenneth Tiong<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-testid=\"article-body-container\">\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">[SINGAPORE] The Workers\u2019 Party will set out its vision for Singapore\u2019s economy and respond to the government\u2019s economic plans in a motion in Parliament on Tuesday (Aug 4).<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The majority of the opposition party\u2019s 12 Members of Parliament will speak on it, covering themes including innovation, the cost of doing business, jobs and helping Singapore\u2019s businesses to <a class=\"text-verticals-btblue underline hover:text-blue-500\" data-testid=\"article-annotation-link-component\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/singapore\/after-yeos-tiger-beer-why-some-singapore-fb-firms-leave-while-others-stay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">regionalise<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Aljunied GRC MP Kenneth Tiong, who filed the motion and Sengkang GRC MP Jamus Lim, who seconded it, laid out these plans at a press briefing on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The motion has two parts. The first will ask if the House believes in a more equal and inclusive economy: one with opportunities for entrepreneurs to experiment; for households and businesses to succeed; for workers to thrive; and for ideas and innovation to flourish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The second will ask if it believes in an economic engine driven by dynamic local companies, healthy domestic demand, and Singaporeans and Singaporean capital <a class=\"text-verticals-btblue underline hover:text-blue-500\" data-testid=\"article-annotation-link-component\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/international\/young-leaders-must-venture-abroad-play-global-role-jabils-may-yap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">venturing abroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Tiong, a first-term MP, said the motion is the WP\u2019s attempt to answer the pressing questions of the day and \u201cwrite its own economic playbook\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">He said Singapore\u2019s economy has historically been driven by investment from large multinational corporations (MNCs) \u2013 a plan which worked well but is now facing challenges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Companies are now setting up their regional headquarters elsewhere in Asia because manpower and rent cost less, he said, citing some recent examples such as Standard Chartered bank moving jobs to India.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Singapore therefore faces a new set of challenges and cannot rely on the same playbook to succeed, said Tiong, who works in tech.<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"component-container\" class=\"container px-0 no-print\">\n<div class=\"no-print mb-6 mt-8 border border-gray-175 p-6 md:-mx-8 md:mt-0 md:p-8\" data-testid=\"article-read-more-component\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-6 border-b border-gray-250 pb-4 font-poppins text-4xs font-medium tracking-10 text-gray-515\">SEE ALSO<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"section-related-stories\" class=\"overflow-hidden transition-all duration-300\" style=\"height:0\">\n<div class=\"mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-read-more-individual-card-component\">\n<div data-testid=\"basic-card-component\" data-cueid=\"9257268\" class=\"relative flex flex-wrap items-start gap-4\">\n<div class=\"relative w-[70px] lg:w-[90px] aspect-3x2 order-1 flex-shrink-0\">\n<div class=\"w-full overflow-hidden relative flex\" data-testid=\"article-thumbnail-component\"><a class=\"block h-full w-full\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/singapore\/singapore-releases-economic-strategy-review-final-report-more-detailed-proposals?ref=article-see-also\" data-discover=\"true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"relative z-10 h-full w-full object-cover\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/businesstimes\/cc04c87d2aa57b0e319858fde1f82985d39c646f6c4398da76115c4556c4bbe4?w=240&amp;dpr=1&amp;f=webp\" alt=\"From left: Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo meeting the media to deliver the midterm update on the Economic Strategy Review in January.\" width=\"6192\" height=\"4128\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-read-more-individual-card-component\">\n<div data-testid=\"basic-card-component\" data-cueid=\"7679350\" class=\"relative flex flex-wrap items-start gap-4\">\n<div class=\"relative w-[70px] lg:w-[90px] aspect-3x2 order-1 flex-shrink-0\">\n<div class=\"w-full overflow-hidden relative flex\" data-testid=\"article-thumbnail-component\"><a class=\"block h-full w-full\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/singapore\/smes-are-born-global-open-themselves-mnc-partnerships-mti?ref=article-see-also\" data-discover=\"true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"relative z-10 h-full w-full object-cover\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/businesstimes\/0adf50247a1fae703fef1d0e2da0e94438939371c3215af272454c03e10d7145?w=240&amp;dpr=1&amp;f=webp\" alt=\"Minister of State Alvin Tan (centre) at a fireside chat on MNC-SME collaborations at the Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific 2025. With him are some participants in the discussion: (from left) Chee Teck Lee of Moveon Technologies; SMF vice-president Melvin Tan; Don Teng of Omron Asia-Pacific; and Chua Ren Tsong from Clemvision.\" width=\"5392\" height=\"3592\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Lim noted that the government had launched\u00a0a <a class=\"text-verticals-btblue underline hover:text-blue-500\" data-testid=\"article-annotation-link-component\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/singapore\/singapore-releases-economic-strategy-review-final-report-more-detailed-proposals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">review of Singapore\u2019s economy<\/a> and released its plans\u00a0in June.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The committee behind the government\u2019s Economic Strategy Review then set out in a report 32 recommendations across eight focus areas to navigate global shifts like artificial intelligence and tariffs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The WP will, in the coming months, push the government about details in the report, but also wants to sketch out its own vision of how these details should be executed, said Lim.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">For example, the report talks about the <a class=\"text-verticals-btblue underline hover:text-blue-500\" data-testid=\"article-annotation-link-component\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/singapore\/dont-ditch-long-term-internationalisation-strategy-amid-global-uncertainty-dpm-gan-urges-singapore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">internationalisation of local firms<\/a> \u2013 which the WP is in favour of. But it does not talk enough about some of the pain points Singapore\u2019s businesses continue to face, he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Lim said he hopes the WP\u2019s ideas set out during the motion are not seen as a substitute but a complement to the government\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">\u201cWe think that there are still some gaps in that vision, and we provide both an alternative vision and a way forward that we think fills in many of these gaps,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Tiong said the WP filed the motion as part of its MPs\u2019 responsibilities as political representatives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Worries about how Singapore\u2019s economic model will continue to provide inclusive prosperity and more equal growth has been top of mind for many Singaporeans he has spoken to, he said. \u201cIt\u2019s our duty to come up with our answer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Tiong will open the motion and, as the first speaker, he will be allowed a 40-minute speech. He will also close the motion, with every other MP allowed 20 minutes to speak.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The last time the WP filed a motion in Parliament was in 2023, when party chief Pritam Singh tabled a debate on how to help Singaporeans with the cost of living.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6 inline-block\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The motion passed after a seven-hour debate, with amendments from the PAP. The WP eventually voted against the amended motion. <a class=\"text-verticals-btblue underline hover:text-blue-500\" data-testid=\"article-annotation-link-component\" href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/wp-to-table-a-motion-setting-out-its-vision-for-singapores-economy-in-parliament-on-aug-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">THE STRAITS TIMES<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/singapore\/wp-table-motion-setting-out-its-vision-singapores-economy-parliament-aug-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This marks the party\u2019s attempt to \u201cwrite its own economic playbook\u201d, says Aljunied GRC MP Kenneth Tiong [SINGAPORE] The Workers\u2019 Party will set out its&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=73815"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73815\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=73815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=73815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=73815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}