Lim Swee Say: I Will Definitely Still Contest At East Coast Grc At Next GE

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Source: TR EMERITUS

LIM SWEE SAY: I WILL DEFINITELY STILL CONTEST AT EAST COAST GRC AT NEXT GE
Post date: 15 Dec 2014 - 2:49pm



Minister without portfolio Lim Swee Say said that he still wants to contest at the East Coast GRC at the next general election (GE). He also said that implementing a minimum wage is dangerous because workers might lose their jobs.

Mr Lim said this on the second episode of ‘Hear Me Out’, a talk show on Mediacorp's Channel 8.

Mr Lim said that politics in any country is not easy.

He also said that he would continue to contest at the East Coast GRC at the next GE. He said that this was because he had many unfinished business to do there.

When the hosts pointed out that the East Coast GRC received the second lowest votes for the PAP, Mr Lim admitted that the next round will be a "hard" fight.

Host Bryan Wong also pointed out that Mr Lim had said that in 2011, he would to quit politics at the next GE and asked why he has made the about turn.

Mr Lim explained that around the time of GE 2011, there is an age limit for the secretary-general of the NTUC, which he also is.

He said that if a successor could not be found by the next GE, it would be a problem and he would step down.

However, he added that the age limit has since been revised to 62, and since he is 60 this year, he will continue to contest in the next GE.

If you do not understand what he meant, don't worry, the hosts looked perplexed as well and quickly tried to change the topic.

Mr Lim was also asked why he agreed to move from Buona Vista to contest in the East Coast GRC at the last GE.

Mr Lim explained that even though he had formed strong connections with the residents at Buona Vista, he accepted the move to East Coast because wanted to serve Singaporeans.

He said that if one wants to serve Singaporeans, one would do so whether it is in the northern, southern, eastern or western part of Singapore and said that as long as he could serve Singaporeans, he would do so.

He also said that prior to moving to East Coast GRC, he was not informed of the expected move.

Finally, the hosts asked Mr Lim why he has not chosen to implement the minimum wage but instead has championed the progressive wage model.

However, Mr Lim claimed that a minimum wage is problematic. He claimed that if a minimum wage is set too low, it would not be enough for workers but if a minimum wage is set too high, workers might lose their jobs.

He claimed that a progressive wage model is better because it it a tiered system.

Finally, Mr Lim said that he wants a Singapore where each generation after the next will have a brighter future.

Mr Lim's notions on the minimum wage and progressive wage model, however, has been widely dispelled by Singaporeans who say that progressive wage model sets a base wage which is too low.

Under the model, cleaners would still only earn $1,000 and they would only be able to move up the tiers and earn higher wages if they are promoted. This would exclude many cleaners from earning higher wages.

Moreover, critics also slam the progressive wage model as being un-progressive, because the $1,000 is not insufficient and compared to the minimum wages in other developed countries, Singaporeans earn one of the lowest wages.

Estimates have put the minimum wage that Singaporeans should earn at the current cost of living at between $1,700 to $2,000.

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