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TOWARDS A CARING SOCIETY
The Programme of
The Workers' Party Singapore
1976
In presenting this statement of policy of the Workers' Party we
think it only right to say something of the basic philosophy underlining
the Party's policy. The basic philosophy of the Party can be stated
simply as - the Workers' Party believes in people.
We believe:
- that human beings are endowed with certain qualities that distinguish
them from animals
- that for the full development of their personalities men and
women must have certain fundamental freedoms without which they
are less than human beings
- that these freedoms include freedom from want, hunger, insecurity
as well as freedom from arbitrary arrest, freedom of speech and
association
- that society should be ordered to allow for the fullest growth
of the human personality and that laws which deny to men and women
the exercise of the freedoms necessary for that growth are inimical
to the happiness of the members of the society
- that society should allow and encourage every adult member to
participate in formulating and attaining what is good for the
society
- that society should be ordered for the welfare and attainment
of the happiness of all its members as far as far as is possible
and not for the happiness of one particular class or section of
society
- that wealth should be distributed justly and that every citizen
is entitled to the same opportunities in his search for a happier
and fuller life, regardless of his wealth or status in the society
- that it is the duty and obligation of every agency entrusted
with powers to exercise those powers strictly in accordance with
the law and to be accountable for the exercise of those powers
We do not think that anything we have said of our beliefs is mere
cliche. We believe that these beliefs can be realised and that it
is the duty of the government and every citizen to work towards
the realisation of these beliefs or ends.
The Party is deeply perturbed that over the last 15 years the Government
has not been accountable to the people and that the citizens have
had no say in formulating decsions taken on their behalf. The Party
believes most strongly that the cornerstone of democratic socialism
is that power in all forms should be accountable. The Party is alarmed
at the growing tendency of the agencies of power to act outside
the limits of their power and at the helplessness of our citizens
at the hands of the agencies.
We believe that Government must be made accountable to the people
and that the phrase "Government of the people, for the people
and by the people" is not mere cliche but a necessity.
The philosophy of the Party grounded in the belief that people
matter and that all human endeavour is wasted if it does not promote
the happiness of all the people that comprise our society runs as
a constant theme through every programme of the Party.
We do not pretend that our ideals can be achieved easily and in
a short time but we do believe that every government should work
towards the attainment of these ideals. If you, after reading our
programme, think our ideals or ends of society are worth striving
for, we invite you to work with us in achieving these ends. We need
the conscious participation of every citizen as we strive towards
our goal for in the final analysis the choice of what type of society
we become rests on you. It is your right and your duty to decide
what type of society you would like to live in, not for an elite
300 or a few, however brilliant or supermen they may be, but for
you the ordinary citizen.
ECONOMIC PROGRAMME
The Party accepts that our economic growth is dependent on our
being able to sell our services and goods manufactured locally.
The Party accepts that this calls for a programme that will promote
industries in Singapore and this means providing the necessary climate
for the investment of foreign capital in Singapore and finding markets
for the goods produced in Singapore.
Any programme must, however, be designed to bring benefits to the
workers in our community and capital whether foreign or local must
accept restrictions and control for the attainment of this. There
is a great need for the improvement of the real standards of living
- personal, social and environmental - of our working population
and the Workers' Party wil ensure that capital, whether foreign
or local, is made more fully aware of the national need by stricter
control over investments. Multi-national companies have come to
stay and the Workers' Party whilst continuing to provide inducements
and sufficient safeguards for the investment of foreign capital
in Singapore will ensure that they do not make profits at the expense
of our workers. Multi-national companies must accept the national
objectives and work within the framework decided by the people and
allow greater local participation. The Party will seek to reach
an agreement on the gudelines for investment of foreign capital
with our neighbours and particularly Malaysia and for an agreement
on industries-sharing for the mutual benefit of both countries leading
to a common market for manufactured goods. The Party's keynote with
our neighbours will be economic co-operation and not economic competition.
The Party will strive to bring about a shift in the balance of
power and wealth in favour of the working class and to give the
workers a say in the management of industries and services. For
long the economic progress has been dictated by the capital owning
class and the Party will aim to redress this imbalance and to make
industrial and commercial power more fully accountable to the workers,
consumers and the nation.
LABOUR AND WAGES
The party is committed to improving the terms and conditions under
which labour is employed so as to provide security of employment
and better conditions of service. The Party will remove the restrictions
now placed on collective bargaining between trade unions and employers
and strengthen the rights of workers in collective bargaining.
The Party is committed to repealing the Employment Act and to replace
it with suitable legislation and to amend the Industrial Relations
Act. The Party will legislate to ensure:-
- that workers are protected against unfair dismissals
- Consultations by employers with unions where redundancies are
planned
- that workers are paid redundancy pay regardless of whether an
agreement exists betwen the union and the employer or not
- union representation on matters affecting the safety of the workers.
The Party will ensure that employees share in the financial expansion
of the country's economic growth and guide employers to work towards
a system of profit sharing and equity participation with employees.
The Party will implement a study of the wage structure now prevailing
and consider introducing legislation to provide for a minimum wage.
The Party is alarmed at the hazards to which our workers are exposed
at their places of work. There is today inadequate enforcement against
employers of the minimum safety requirements and the Party will
vigorously remedy this and ensure that work places are not only
safe but are also made comfortable for the workers with a minimum
standard laid down. The Party will give Trade Unions greater rights
to require compliance from employers of the minimum standards of
safety and comfort. The Party believes that Trade Unions can be
brought into the enforcement machinery and will enter into consultations
with Trade Unions to achieve this.
The Party will free the Trade Unions from control by the Government
or Government sponsored bodies.
DEFENCE
The Party is of the view that in the present day context of relations
between nations the present expenditure on defence is wasteful and
unnecessary.
The Party supports the concept of a neutral South East Asia advocated
and will work closely with our neighbours in efforts to bring this
about. The Party will examine our Defence requirements in the light
of this policy and eliminate any wasteful expenditure.
The Party advocates close collaboration on Defence matters with
Malaysia and will work towards a pact providing for non-agression
and joint defence of both countries to supplement the ANZUK pact.
The Party believes that this should be the first step towards other
regional defence arrangements within the frame work of ASEAN. The
Party is opposed to the stationing of troops or the military presence
or the granting of military facilities on our islands to any of
the great powers.
On national service, whilst the Party can and does see the advantages
of getting our youths together to make them conscious of their duties
to society and to build them into a cohesive whole, the Party believes
that the present system is wasteful of the one resource the country
has which is our young people. The Party believes that the system
can be altered to advantage by channelling the energies of our youth
into compulsory community service after the basic military training
to inculcate the quality of and need for discipline. A start has
already been made in getting our national service boys to do police
duties and the Party believes that there are other areas of community
service where they can be usefully employed.
The Party believes that the present call-up should be made more
flexible so as to allow our boys to complete their University studies
or other specialised training before undertaking community service.
The Party believes there is a case for shortening the present period
of national service.
The Party, however, sees the need for being ready at all times
to meet any threat to the society from within or without and the
Party believes that it will in the main be from within. The Party
therefore advocates the maintenance of an efficient regular army
service to meet any threat to our society and to help in the maintenance
of peace.
EDUCATION AND LANGUAGE
The Party believes that socialist democracy must be seen in action
in our education system. Equality of opportunity in education is
mere lipservice if a majority are unable to take full advantage
of the opportunities offered because ofother limitations on them.
For this reason, the Party believes that not only must education
in schools be absolutely free without a charge of any kind but also
that the working class must be helped to see that their children
are able to take the maximum advantage of the opportunities offered.
Too many children are going to school hungry in our "affluent"
society.
The Party believes that education must be concerned with the quality
of living and the quality of our democracy is an important element
in the quality of living. The Party will give immediate priority
to the content and quality of education that is being provided in
our schools and remove anything in the schools that hampers the
development of the qualities of respect, mutual tolerance and harmony
in our society.
The Party recognises that in a multi racial society like Singapore,
adequate recognition must be given to the mother tongues of the
major races that make up the multi racial society. The Party recognises
that whilst the present Government has paid lipservice to this,
it has not always implemented it. The Party therefore will to this
end raise the standard of vernacular Primary Schools to the same
level as that of English Primary Schools and give them parity of
treatment so that every parent may be encouraged to educate his
child in his mother tongue or vernacular language of his choice.
In secondary stream, the Party will ensure that each child is bi-lingual.
It is the intention of the Party that the University of Singapore
should continue to use English as the medium of instruction but
the Party will immediately expand the Department of Malay studies
and implement the setting up of a department of Tamil studies.
The medium of instruction in Nanyang University will continue to
be Chinese.
The Party will also arrange for a greater use of the vernacular
languages in correspondence emanating from departments of the Government.
The Party recognises the need for technical education and will
review the present policy both on content and training to suit the
needs of Singapore. The Party at the same time recognises that there
is a lack of adequate managerial skill in Singapore and will take
steps to provide a sufficieny in such skill.
The Party is pledged to remove the restrictions now placed on our
universities and students in them from making their contribution
to the development of our society. The Party believes that our universities
have a significant role to play in inculcating the qualities essential
for the full development of the human personality and the Party
will remove the strait jacket in which our universities have been
placed by this Government.
The Party will abolish Suitability Certificates.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Party is firmly convinced that our future lies in being a useful
member of the countries in this region and advancing along with
them. The Party believes that ASEAN can be developed to play a more
positive role than at present and that it should be expanded to
include the countries of Indo-China. The cornerstone of the Party's
thinking on foreign affairs is regional co-operation and it advocates
a common policy on foreign affairs in the region. The Party, as
has already been said in the paragraph on Defence, supports and
will continue to give active support to efforts to turn this region
into a zone of peace that will be guaranteed by the great powers.
The Party also supports the efforts being made to keep the Indian
Ocean free of super power rivalry.
The Party stands for the self-determination by peoples everywhere
for the kind of society they wish for themselves and is opposed
to military interference from outside in the internal affairs of
a country. The Party, however, will take its stand quite clearly
against countries that deny their people or communities within them
the fundamental freedoms contained in the U.N. Declaration on Human
Rights and other conventions.
We shall avoid being committed to any block or camp in world politics
outside the region and will strive to maintain peaceful relations
with all countries pursuing a policy of non-alignment.
GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
The first priority of the Party is to bring the Executive under
the law and to make it more fully accountable to the people who
have put it there. Parliamentary democracy does not consist only
of the electorate voting an Executive into power every five years.
We have had now for the last 16 years the spectacle of an elected
government quite oblivious of the views of the people and even contemptuous
of them and acting outside the law without being taken to task for
it. The Party is committed to changing this. Ways and means have
to be found for keeping the Executive in check and to see that it
does not step outside the powers given to it.
The Party will consider the setting up of an Elections Commission
to manage and supervise elections to Parliament.
One obvious place for reform is the provision now contained in
several Acts of Parliament which makes the Minister the final arbiter.
The Party is alarmed at the concentration of power in the hands
of single Ministers and the Executive without challenge or recourse
to an independent tribunal. The Party will implement legislation
to reduce the concentration of power and provide for appeal from
Executive decisions to an independent tribunal. The Party will also
consider ways and means to provide the individual with more effective
remedies against arbitrary exercise of power by the Executive.
The Party will reduce the heavy cost of government which it at
present entails. The Party will cut out all luxury spending by the
Government for prestige and will actively pursue a polciy of reducing
expenditure at all levels of Government. The P.A.P. government has
been cheeseparing in giving social benefits to our disabled and
needy whilst spending huge sums on projects to boost its image with
the outside world. The Workers' Party will channel funds thus saved
into helping our needy and disabled. The priority is self evident
and needs no argument.
The Party is concerned at the deterioration of morale in the civil
service arising out of the policy pursued by the Government of harassing
civil servants robbing them of all initiative and giving rise to
a general sense of insecurity.
The Party will examine the present disciplinary procedures for
the civil service and introduce necessary changes to give our civil
servants security in the service without which they cannot discharge
their duties properly.
The Party is aware of the need to provide the citizen with a quick
and cheap remedy where he feels that the civil servant has not acted
strictly in accordance with the power given to him by the law and
will consider the appointment of an Ombudsman.
LAW AND JUSTICE
Over the last few years there has been a growing disrespect for
the administration of the law. The Party believes that a significant
contributing factor is the conduct of the Executive under the P.A.P.
government in disregarding the law in its conduct of public affairs.
There have been several instances of the Executive and Government
agencies abusing their powers and acting outside them. This cannot
but be unhealthy for the development of a society based on respect
for law and order. An immediate priority of the Party will be to
restore confidence among our citizens for law and the administration
of it. No one can be above the law and the Executive must be manifestly
seen to abide by the Law.
The Party believes that it cannot be stated too strongly that the
first requirement for respect for the law and its administration
is a strong judiciary which is not only independent of the Executive
but is manifestly seen to be so. The Party will consider changes
to the present system whereby District Judges and Magistrates in
the Subordinate Courts and the Legal Officers of the Executive are
appointed from the same service. The Party will examine the case
for the formation of a separate Judicial Service for the Subordinate
Courts. The Party will repeal the provision in the Constitution
introduced by the P.A.P. government to enable the Prime Minister
to appoint a Judge of the Supreme Court for a fixed period.
The Party will re-introduce trial by jury for the most serious
crimes. The Party believes that not the least of the merits in the
jury system is the participation of citizens in the administration
of justice. The community as a whole must accept the responsibility
of doing justice to its members.
The Party will remove all brutal punishments in the administration
of the criminal law in keeping with civilized countries.
The Party will examine the procedure for criminal trials to ensure
that an accused person gets a fair trial. The Party will introduce
legislation to restore in appropriate cases a further appeal by
an accused person where his appeal from a conviction in the Subordinate
Courts is dismissed by the High Court.
PERSONAL LIBERTIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Ever since the P.A.P. government took office there has been a steady
erosion of personal liberties and our citizens have been reduced
to submissiveness by the threat of sanctions and discrimination
if their conduct and even their appearance is not acceptable to
the Executive.
The Party is aware that today in Singapore the individual enjoys
none of the fundamental freedoms whatsoever under the law. We are
committed to restoring to the individual what have been termed his
inalienable rights, the freedom to speak his mind and the freedom
of association, to exercise such rights within the framework of
the law as opposed to the present dictatorial and arbitrary policies
of the present Government. We do not think it is necessary to curtail
these freedoms in the supposed interests of the State.
We reiterate our belief in the concept of equality before the law
and the freedom of every indvidual to exercise the rights with which
he is endowed because he is a human being.
The Party will enact a new Constitution and entrench the basic
liberties of the individual to prevent the Executive from removing
the liberties without a referendum of the electorate.
Detention without trial
The Party recognises that detention of persons without trial is
an abrogation of the rule of law and can only be justified where
the whole fabric of society is threatened. The Party believes, however,
that the time has not come where we can do without giving the Executive
some power to detain persons without trial where the Executive is
satisfied that the persons constitute a threat to society. The power
must, however, be subject to stringent scrutiny to prevent it being
abused. Some "watch-dog" is necessary over the Executive's
exercise of this power. The Party is aware that the present laws
under which people are detained do not contain adequate safeguards
against the abuse of the powers granted under the laws. The Party
will amend the laws to provide safeguards against possible abuses
of this power. The Party sees no justification whatsoever for the
punitive conditions under which the detainees are being detained
by the present Government and will immediately remove all punitive
conditions. It will further review the case of every detainee who
has been detained by the present Government and if it is satisfied
that there has been an abuse of the power given to the authorities,
it will imediately order a release of the detainee.
There is a greater need for more vigilance in the exercise of the
powers, which are at present exercised by the Police, to detain
persons suspected of secret society activities. The Party, if satisfied,
that this power may still be necessary, will revise the present
machinery under which the decision is left substantially to the
Police.
Penal Reform
We have said in the paragraph on Law and Justice that we shall
repeal all laws in the administration of the criminal law which
provide for brutal and sadistic punishments which have no place
in a civilized society. We are equally concerned with the utter
neglect and inhuman treatment of our prisioners. The Party will
pursue seriously the question of providing more non-custodial sentences
so that persons are only sent to prison for the more serious crimes
and in others only where the non-custodial sentences have been tried
and found to have failed in reforming the prisoner.
The present system with its great emphasis on punishment is in
urgent need of reform and rehabilitation of the prisoner given greater
emphasis. Our prisoners are inadequately staffed and do not have
the trained men and women to undertake the work of rehabilitation
of the prisoners. The Party advocates paying the prisoner who is
able to work an economic wage for his job. Today they are paid slave
wages.
Immigration and Citizenship
The Party is opposed to the present policy of granting permanent
residence with a view to eventual citizenship to those who have
the necessary monies to lend the Government. This is a blatant example
of money buying a privilege denied to others and violates the essential
concept of a democratic state - that of equality before the law
regardless of wealth or position. The P.A.P. Government in considering
the grant of citizenship and entry rights into the country have
followed a policy of discrimination between the rich and the poor.
The Party will review the present policy on immigration and the
granting of citizenship which has rendered countless persons stateless
in Singapore and introduce a more humanitarian approach to the whole
question. It will repeal the provision in the Constitution which
empowers a Minister to deprive persons of citizenship and give the
power to a Tribunal.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Housing
Whilst the Party recognises the the great progress that has been
made in public housing, we are concerned at the high rentals and
charges of all kinds that are being made on the occupants. The Party
will institute an inquiry into the cost and the present plan for
recovering the cost from the tenant. The Party believes that the
recouping of the cost could well be spread over a longer period
than at present resulting in a lowering of the rents that are at
present charged.
In the sphere of private housing the Party will make it easier
for more of our citizens to buy their own homes. The Party will
reduce the stamp fee that is now payable on purchase of houses particularly
for houses within the range of middle class incomes and will extend
the use of deposits with the C.P.F. for purchase of houses from
the private sector.
The Party will ensure that in the field of public housing the
needs of the community are adequately catered for and their wishes
are taken into account in the planning, wherever this is possible,
so that our citizens are able to lead their lives without doing
violence to the cultural and social values in which they have been
grounded.
Transport
The Party believes that public transport cannot be operated with
a profit motive but is a public service to the community which must
be undertaken by the government. The Party will therefore nationalise
the whole of the public transport system in the Republic and provide
an efficient cheap and comfortable public transport subsidised with
public moneys if need be.
Health
The Party is committed to immediate repeal of the charges that
are now being levied at Government hospitals and clinics regardless
of the capacity to pay of those seeking treatment. The Party will
take active steps to introduce a free health service for all citizens
without any discrimination based on wealth. Today whilst our poor
cannot afford to pay for the basic medical treatment the rich flaunt
their wealth to get the best treatment available in the country.
The Party is committed to changing this.
The Party plans to take medical services to the people and to establish
hospitals and clinics in various parts of the island to avoid hardships
to our citizens in having to come all the way to hospitals in the
city. The Party is also concerned with the dis-satisfaction felt
by the doctors and medical staff in Government hospitals and will
take steps to remedy the conditions with which dis-satisfaction
is felt.
Taxation and Land Acquisition
The Party will revise the present structure of tax which favours
the wealthy. There is an immediate need for raising the minimum
chargeable income and for increasing the reliefs and allowances.
The Party will review the fees now payable for various services
rendered to the public with a view to reducing them.
On land acquisition the Party will ensure that persons dispossessed
from their land are paid reasonable compensation particularly those
like farmers who have made their living from the land.
The Handicapped
The neglect by the P.A.P. government of our citizens who have the
misfortune to be handicapped in one way or another is a national
scandal. The Party will ensure that they no longer have to beg for
private charity but have an equal, if not greater, claim on public
funds along with the rest of the community for their welfare.
Unemployment benefits and pension
The Party will embark on a study to provide a form of national
insurance for all citizens that will enable workers thrown out of
work to draw unemployment benefits and for payment of old age pensions
to all possessing capital below a fixed sum. The Party will consider
the extension of the present C.P.F. scheme to cover these needs.
GENERAL
The Workers' Party firmly believes in a society with equal opportunities
for every citizen, regardless of race, creed or religion. The raising
of social standards of the people will be one of its primary concerns.
It will at the same time guard zealously the sovereign status of
Singapore and the right of its citizens to be men and women with
dignity and pride.
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