Budget debate 2024: Murali Pillai on preventing populism in Singapore
There is no guarantee that populism will not take root in Singapore, warned MP Murali Pillai in Parliament on Monday (Feb 26). Not the “weak” sort of populism in the form of grandstanding and posturing which can be recognised and rejected, but rather, what he called “strong” populism. He described this as rhetoric which is not so easily seen for what it is, coupled with a policy approach of “fool’s gold” - the promise of easy money, soft compromises and zero tradeoffs. Mr Murali said Singapore must develop the capability to recognise and emphatically reject “this insidious and seductive form of divisive politics”, or face severe consequences. The country instead has a “duty” to make hard choices, he said - being accountable to its people by way of political and practical solutions to its social imperatives. This should be done by scrutinising policy proposals and outcomes without histrionics and performative politics, and with both sides recognising that details matter. He noted that Singapore has reached a point in its development where solutions to most things are complex and sometimes finely balanced. Mr Murali cited the debate on the national reserves during the previous session of Parliament. He said NCMP Leong Mun Wai had listed “social ills” that had to be addressed, including cost of living, social inequality, mental health and the declining fertility rate. To these, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh had added healthcare costs and intergenerational equity, he noted. Mr Murali said he did not see those issues as “ills”, but as imperatives that have to be addressed, not by “hand-wringing or profligate spending”. He said the duty of politicians is to be accountable in formulating and explaining policies, being aware of the parameters of hard choices and rejecting a “fool’s gold” approach.
There is no guarantee that populism will not take root in Singapore, warned MP Murali Pillai in Parliament on Monday (Feb 26). Not the “weak” sort of populism in the form of grandstanding and posturing which can be recognised and rejected, but rather, what he called “strong” populism. He described this as rhetoric which is not so easily seen for what it is, coupled with a policy approach of “fool’s gold” - the promise of easy money, soft compromises and zero tradeoffs. Mr Murali said Singapore must develop the capability to recognise and emphatically reject “this insidious and seductive form of divisive politics”, or face severe consequences. The country instead has a “duty” to make hard choices, he said - being accountable to its people by way of political and practical solutions to its social imperatives. This should be done by scrutinising policy proposals and outcomes without histrionics and performative politics, and with both sides recognising that details matter. He noted that Singapore has reached a point in its development where solutions to most things are complex and sometimes finely balanced. Mr Murali cited the debate on the national reserves during the previous session of Parliament. He said NCMP Leong Mun Wai had listed “social ills” that had to be addressed, including cost of living, social inequality, mental health and the declining fertility rate. To these, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh had added healthcare costs and intergenerational equity, he noted. Mr Murali said he did not see those issues as “ills”, but as imperatives that have to be addressed, not by “hand-wringing or profligate spending”. He said the duty of politicians is to be accountable in formulating and explaining policies, being aware of the parameters of hard choices and rejecting a “fool’s gold” approach.
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