5 Facts About PM Lee’s Launch of PAP’s Manifesto Simplified for You

If you’re apolitical like BuffLord95, you’d think that “Manifesto” is one of X-Men’s nemeses, and PAP is now creating a task force to fight against evil mutants in Singapore, possibly helmed by Minister Lawrence Wong.

Thankfully, it isn’t: a manifesto, to put it simply, is like a goal set out for the country by a political party before election, and there’s usually a slogan with it.

The most popular one that you’d know is President Trump’s MAGA: Make America Great Again. It’s so popular, MAGA caps are selling like hotcakes.

And in the case of Donald Trump, one of his goals set up by his team is to build a wall around Yishun and America—that, as we’ve known five years later, didn’t occur. Suffice to say, setting a goal and achieving is are two very different things.

In Singapore, the manifestos set by various political parties are slightly more vague and aren’t presented in a SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound) manner, but more of…erm, things to do.

It’s hard to put it in words, but this year, we suddenly have an example.

Remember all the National Broadcasts made by various ministers?

Other than the one made by PM Lee, the rest sounds a little like a mini manifesto for each theme—what they’ve done, what they intend to do and what they’d be doing. The broadcasts are made for the plans to fight COVID-19 going ahead, but you get the gist.

PAP’s launch of their manifesto is usually being announced in a rally-like environment, but this year, it’d be different because you can’t expect PM Lee to speak to just five people. That’s way below his pay grade.

Instead, it’d be a virtual conference, whereby a visibly skinnier PM Lee took to the podium in his white shirt.

Here’s the video if you’re one who prefers to watch:

Still here because you like information with unfunny jokes?

Well, here are 5 facts you should know about:

Slogan of This Year’s Manifesto

No, it isn’t to “Make Singapore Great Again”.

Instead, it’s “Our Lives, Our Jobs, Our Future”.

The central theme of the manifesto is to work together to “overcome this crisis of a generation.”

Reader Bao: Wait, where have I heard of that before ah? Was it from Trump?

And in order to achieve the goals, the ruling party would need the full support of Singaporeans and a strong, steady and capable leadership team.

About 20 MPs will be Retiring

So far, you’d know that veteran politicians like former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and soon-to-be former Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan are retiring. These are high-profile politicians who have announced their retirement publicly.

However, according to PM Lee, about 20 MPs will be retiring, too. This includes incumbent Deputy Speaker of Parliament Charles Chong, another veteran politician who’s been an MP in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Joo Chiat SMC and finally, Punggol East SMC.

They’d of course be taken over by new faces like Ivan Lim.

Reader Bao: And who else?

I really can’t remember the rest. The first female General?

Reader Bao: Reading Goody Feed is really a waste of time.

Agreed. But you can read all the new faces below:

This Manifesto is Different From Previous Years

Unlike the usual manifestos, this year’s version is different because it’s not one to “keep Singapore going”, but to overcome a crisis. In fact, it’d be a crisis of a generation.

PM Lee said, “The central focus of this manifesto is how we will work together to overcome this crisis of a generation.”

Reader Bao: That phrase is getting overused.

IKR.

Leadership is Key to Overcome a Crisis of a Generation

Leadership is important and we know that. Voting Ooi Boon Ewe, Sherwin Eu and Han Hui Hui to Parliament and letting them form a Government might lead to the end of the COVID-19 crisis immediately, but they might not even be able to run, so it’s critical that we vote for wise leadership.

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And this leadership must be able to protect both lives and livelihoods—bubble tea must still be sold and bubble tea shops must still have employees.

PM Lee said, “Hardly ever before has Government been so crucial to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Singaporeans. This is why leadership is key, whom you choose to form the next Government – and the quality of that leadership – is absolutely critical.”

Running the Country is No Longer Routine

With COVID-19, running the country is no longer the same

Heck, running anything is no longer the same.

PM Lee said in the chim-est way ever, “We are in the middle of the most severe crisis the world has faced for many decades. The immediate business of running Singapore is anything but routine.

“Without a Herculean effort by us, we cannot be certain that what we have painstakingly built over decades will continue to stand, and not collapse in the storm.”

In other words, must overcome the crisis of a generation lah.

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