GE: SDP released its manifesto with 10 promises - 09Apr2011

Dear viewers, I'll be uploading all the new videos to a new acc in the future: http://www.youtube.com/user/154media This is due to mediacorp reporting the video to youtube. ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺ SINGAPORE: The opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has released its manifesto ahead of the general election. The statement is crystallised from its shadow budget "It's About You" which outlines the party's alternative economic programme. The manifesto covers two parts - constituency specific targets and national issues. They include: contributing half of the MP's allowance to fund programmes for the needy, ensuring public funds are not used in risky investments, abolishing GST for essential goods and services, and abolishing the CPF Minimum Sum scheme - where citizens set aside some money for their pension fund. Dr Vincent Wijeysingha, Assistant Treasurer of the SDP, said: "We place the individual and the family and the context of their community at the heart and the centre of our values, our philosophies, our programmes." The party said its manifesto is culled from feedback received over the years. "This is not just hot air that we're spewing, we want them (voters) to track us. We want them to hold us responsible so that when we get into Parliament during the four or five years parliamentary life, we want them to tell us whether we've met their expectations or not. That is the main focus of the SDP Promise," said Dr Chee Soon Juan, Secretary-General of the SDP. Like the rest of the opposition parties in Singapore, the SDP is locked in three-cornered and possibly even four-cornered fights in at least one SMC it is contesting. The SDP said it is talking to other opposition parties to ensure three-corner fights do not materialise. All will need to be resolved by Nomination Day, when the final slate of candidates will emerge. One area the party said it will contest is Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, currently helmed by Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. Dr Chee said he would like to pit the SDP team in a public debate with Dr Balakrishnan and his team once the PAP's line up is confirmed. "Hopefully Dr Balakrishnan will oblige," said Dr Chee. The SMCs it has expressed interest in include Whampoa, Bukit Panjang and Yuhua. Yuhua SMC could see a four-cornered fight with both the Singapore Democratic Alliance and the Reform Party having expressed interest in the ward.