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| SDP Singapore |
Helmed by social worker Dr Vincent Wijeysingha, the others in the team are Mr Tan Jee Say, Dr Ang Yong Guan and Ms Michelle Lee. It is likely to be the party's 'A' team.
Mr Tan is the former principal private secretary to then Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Dr Ang is a former head of psychological medicine at SAF and Ms Lee, a former civil servant turned part-time educator.
Ms Lee was a schoolmate of new PAP candidate Sim Ann in Raffles Girls' School and attended the same church as Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports. She had also taught Dr Balakrishnan's daughter at the church's Sunday school.
The team rebutted many of PAP's recent salvos, including remarks against the SDP's proposal to do away with the manufacturing sector.
Mr Tan said: "The whole objective of my paper is to produce a plan, an economic plan, an alternative plan, which will create fulfilling jobs and creative enterprises of the future - not of the past. The Ministers are harking back to the past. We are more interested in the future."
Mr Tan also responded to labour chief Lim Swee Say's comments that he wanted to close down factories.
"I made no such suggestion. Existing factories can continue if they are viable but they should not be propped up with any new incentives. Existing incentives given to them can continue but don't give them new incentives, whether it's tax or enhanced foreign worker quota," said Mr Tan.
Dr Wijeysingha said: "From the 1980s, the PAP government has indicated that it wants to move us from manufacturing to a services-led industry. Suddenly when we have a highly credible paper arguing precisely for that point, they say, 'very bad idea, we should stick to manufacturing'."
The SDP also addressed PAP's concerns over a 'freak' election result.
Dr Wijeysingha said: "Their understanding of a 'freak' result is a result of candidates returned who will serve the people of Singapore - rather than serve the interests of the PAP."
Minister Balakrishnan had said there is a YouTube video online which raises questions about the SDP. But the party says it is not aware of such a video.
Dr Wijeysingha said: "I'm aware of several videos that have raised our party's agenda. One video looked at our shadow budget and we put out our entire party's agenda there. I'm not sure what is the video you are referring to. We've been a very open party and we're very clear."
Other issues raised included the minimum wage. "The PAP does believe in a minimum wage. It believes you cannot have a president (receiving) under S$4 million a year," said Dr Wijeysingha.
On Singapore's low fertility rate, the party said it is a paradox.
Separately, Mr Wijeysingha also responded to Dr Balakrishnan's comment about the SDP team being made up of "strange bedfellows".
"Strange bedfellows? I like that one. If we are so strange, so inept, so unintelligent about our policy options, you come to a table like this - you will trounce us in five minutes," he said.
Former Reform Party vice-chairman Alec Tok was also at the SDP news conference to introduce the new candidates on Sunday.
The SDP said he was there to support them and did not want to confirm if he was joining the party.
