GE2020: Lee Hsien Loong unveils PAP's manifesto, with central focus on working together to overcome Covid-19 crisis

SINGAPORE - Keeping Singapore flying straight and level through the "most severe crisis" the world has faced in decades is the most challenging and urgent priority of the People's Action Party Government, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Launching the ruling party's campaign manifesto and slogan "Our Lives, Our Jobs, Our Future" on Saturday (June 27), PM Lee said the coming election was anything but normal, as he asked Singaporeans to support the PAP in the coming general election.

"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," he said.

"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."

PM Lee, who is the PAP's secretary-general, noted that in a normal election, the party's manifesto would focus on its long-term plans for Singapore.

But these are not normal times, and therefore, "the central focus of this manifesto is how we will work together to overcome this crisis of a generation", he said.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s42eJTmYopo[/embed]

Because the Covid-19 pandemic, the manifesto launch was done over Facebook Live instead of at an event attended by party activists.

"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," said PM Lee.

But he also said the team needed to work hard to convince Singaporeans that it deserved their support.

In 2015, the PAP's campaign slogan was "With you, for you, for Singapore".

With the manifesto launched, it is all systems go for the PAP, which completed introductions for its 27 new candidates on Friday.

In the days ahead, the party said it would announce its line-ups for various GRCs, and which MPs would be stepping aside to make way for new blood, before Nomination Day next Tuesday.

ALSO READ: Longest-serving PAP backbencher Charles Chong to retire

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.