LupSup Politics
Update 20 Sep 2023: Singapore population hits 5.92m
Singapore’s total population hit a record 5.92 million, a 5 per cent increase from a year ago. The population rebounded from declines during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since exceeded the 2019 population of 5.7 million.
"The total population of 5.92 million as at June 2023 is the highest recorded figure in Singapore’s history," said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The figures were published on Friday (Sep 29) in the annual Population in Brief report by the National Population and Talent Division, Prime Minister’s Office. Of the 5.92 million, there were 4.15 million residents and 1.77 million non-residents, which comprise the foreign workforce, dependants and international students.
Singapore citizens made up 3.61 million or 61 per cent of the total. This is a 1.6 per cent rise from last year. The permanent resident (PR) population increased by 3.7 per cent to 538,600 in June 2023. The report said that with the easing of travel restrictions related to COVID-19, more citizens and PRs living overseas returned to Singapore. This was the largest contributing factor to the increases in the citizen and PR populations.
Singapore 'Stop at Two' Policy
The two-child policy was a population control measure introduced by the Singapore government during the 1970s to encourage couples to have no more than two children. It was part of the second Five-Year National Family Planning Programme (1972–75) that was unveiled at the launch of the 1972 National Family Planning Campaign.
As part of the two-child policy, the government introduced a set of disincentives pertaining to childbirth fees, income tax, maternity leave and prioritisation of public housing allocation aimed at penalising couples who had more than two children from 1 August 1973 onwards. In addition, the government launched an array of family-planning events to garner public support for the policy.
Among the most notable activities were the publicity campaigns that carried messages such as “Small families, brighter future – Two is enough” and “The more you have, the less they get – Two is enough”.
DANCING AROUND 10 MILLION PEOPLE
The Singapore Democratic Party has updated its GE2020 campaign. (SCREENSHOTS: CNA's YouTube channel/SDP's Facebook page)
10,000,000 - That’s the figure Singapore is all agog over. The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) said that Deputy Prime Minister – and People’s Action Party’s (PAP) first assistant secretary-general – Heng Swee Keat said it. Heng said no. SDP said Straits Times (ST) reported it. ST said Heng didn’t say 10 million people. The PAP, thinking it has scored a hit, wants the SDP to apologise. The SDP, thinking it has scored a hit, claims victory.
We, the voters, are being led on a merry dance. I think the SDP was too quick to pull one phrase out of a newspaper report of a university dialogue to say that Heng was toying with the idea of raising the population number to 10 million. The confusion seems to have come about because the journalist did the needful thing called “backgrounding’’ in the report published in March last year. ST said: “On the projected population of 6.9 million by 2030, set out in the Government’s 2013 Population White Paper, Mr Heng said the number goes beyond how densely populated Singapore would be. The social space is as important. Singapore’s population density is not excessive, he said, noting that other cities are a lot more crowded in terms of liveable space. He cited former chief planner Liu Thai Ker, who said in 2014 that Singapore should plan for 10 million people for it to remain sustainable in the long term.”
Five months later, on 20 October, the SDP held a pre-election rally in Hong Lim Park where it formally introduced “No to 10 million population’’ as one of its planks. I reported this, and said I was puzzled that I seemed to have missed such a big story. That was when I found the earlier March article on Heng.
The conundrum of the 10 million population
This sensitive question had caused considerable consternation among Singaporeans when it was first brandished around some years ago but quite strangely it did not explode intensely and somehow became dormant to the peaceful mind of the PAP.
Then to their dismay at the political parties debate on 1 July Dr Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party suddenly posed this question of 10 million population for Singapore’s future to Dr Vivian Balakrishnan of the PAP and could have caught the latter by surprise.
This is where it shows the magnanimity or lack of it in the Minister in dealing with his opponent. Could it be so brazen to start by accusing Dr Chee of spreading falsehood about the Government targeting 10 million population for Singapore? Had it not occurred to the discerning Minister that multitude of Singaporeans had already heard of it and would it not be preposterous to suggest that Dr Chee started the rumour?
Instead of blustering against Dr Chee could not the Minister have shown more civility by simply clarifying the public misconception of the 10 million population in a more benign manner considering that it was already a public knowledge and not a rumour spread by Dr Chee?
He could have strongly emphasised that it was not the intention of the Government to target a 10 million population for Singapore and that certainly not from Heng Swee Keat. Otherwise this can easily spiral into something so titanic that it could be like a double-edged sword hanging over the PAP election campaign.
Dr Chee had been portrayed as a scoundrel for starting a rumour and I think it is a great disservice to him by the Government. He was only trying to perform his duty as a political opposition and should not be a subject of vilification. I am not a supporter of Dr Chee and it may be true that he may not be an angel but as human being he deserves some respect for his self-esteem. I undertake to come to his defence because of my righteousness to stand up for an underdog from imperious attack.
I am sorry Dr Vivian Balakhrishnan if my article hurts your feelings and I hope that there will not be any hard feelings.
Mr Yoong Siew Wah, was the Director of Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) from 1971 to 1974. He was Director of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in the 1960s, and had a distinguished career in the Singapore Special Branch in the 1950s. Mr Yoong, who is in his 90s, keeps a blog called Singapore Recalcitrant.
The 10-million population fiasco
At least there is some finality to the population debate
"Let me be clear. The government has never proposed or targeted for Singapore to increase the population to 10 million," said DPM Heng Swee Keat. That was not all. "And if we look at today's situation, our population is likely to be significantly below 6.9 million by 2030,'' he continued in a Facebook post. The 6.9 million figure was a key controversial point in a White Paper that generated a lot of hand wringing in 2013. As many of us know, this flew smack into a torrent of anger against Singapore's immigration policy.
The population issue was reignited when Singapore Democratic Party secretary-general Chee Soon Juan went eyeball to eyeball with People's Action Party's (PAP) Vivian Balakrishnan in a GE2020 live TV debate where the former raised the 10 million figure. Alas, only if the DPM was as crystal clear in his dialogue as he was at a televised debate with NTU students last year.
At that time Heng could have put the matter to rest. Instead, he was not very precise. In an answer to a question, he said that Singapore's density is not excessive and that other cities are a lot more crowded when it comes to liveable space. It would have been easy for one to take away from this that Singapore has enough space for a larger population. But where it gets tricky is when Heng made a reference to what former chief planner Liu Thai Ker said in 2014. And this is what Liu said: Singapore should plan for 10 million people for the country to remain sustainable.
’10 mil population’ debacle: SDP questions why former DPM Heng did not refute ST report at the time it was published
CORRECTION NOTICE: This article contains a false statement of fact. For the correct facts, click here: www.gov.sg/article/factually040720a
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) on Friday evening (3 July) questioned why former Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat did not raise issues with a report by The Straits Times, in which the latter was quoted as having cited a former master planner of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore on the prospect of a 10 million population in Singapore.
Speaking at a ministerial dialogue at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on 28 March last year, the People’s Action Party (PAP) First Assistant Secretary-General was reported by ST as having referred to Liu Thai Ker who mentioned in 2014 that Singapore should plan for 10 million people for it to remain sustainable in the long term.
This is in spite of Singapore’s population density not being as excessive as some other cities.
PAP Press Statement on comments made regarding the 10 million population falsehood
We issued a press statement earlier today questioning Dr Chee Soon Juan’s integrity over his false statement that the Government wants to increase Singapore’s population to 10 million people.
We are disappointed that Dr Chee and the SDP have dug their heels in, repeated their falsehoods, and refused to apologise to Singaporeans for misleading them. Disappointed but not surprised, for we knew Dr Chee has not changed, cannot change, and will never change.
A simple analogy will explain Dr Chee’s mendacity. Imagine this. Dr Chee claims you said you want to beat up your spouse. You deny it, and show proof that you neither said this nor have beaten your spouse. Instead of apologising, Dr Chee says: “Victory! I extracted a promise from you that you will never beat your spouse”.
Aware calls PAP out for using domestic violence analogy in dispute with Chee Soon Juan
As things heat up ahead of Polling Day, the People's Action Party (PAP) has been criticised for bringing domestic violence into an ongoing war of words with Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan.
A PAP press statement released yesterday (July 3) that compared Dr Chee's assertions about the party to allegations of beating up one's spouse was "regrettable" and "insensitive", the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) said today.
In its statement accusing Dr Chee of repeating the "false statement" that their party was targeting a population of 10 million, PAP wrote: "A simple analogy will explain Dr Chee's mendacity. "Imagine this. Dr Chee claims you said you want to beat up your spouse. You deny it, and show proof that you neither said this nor have beaten your spouse. "Instead of apologising, Dr Chee says: 'Victory! I extracted a promise from you that you will never beat your spouse.'"
AWARE Singapore 14 hrs
AWARE does not engage in partisan politics. However, as a gender equality organisation, we are concerned about statements made in the political domain that are harmful to survivors of gender-based violence. Many members of the public have reached out to us with their concerns about this PAP press release about Chee Soon Juan, which compares a statement of Chee's to an allegation that someone had beaten up their spouse.
This analogy is regrettable. It is insensitive to apply imagery of spousal violence to situations that have nothing to do with it. Domestic violence is a serious and devastating issue for many in Singapore, and millions more around the world. It is not something to be invoked lightly - especially not during the COVID-19 pandemic, when domestic violence has seen a sharp increase.
Domestic violence is under-reported and many suffer in silence. We worry that an authoritative public body equating allegations of domestic violence with erroneous or misinterpreted statements may have an unintended consequence: reinforcing the myth that false allegations of abuse are common. This myth is one of the barriers that deter survivors from coming forward about their experiences.
We call upon political candidates to be mindful and responsible in their communications throughout this election.
Hyflux claims government gave instructions for company to “prepare for 8 million population”
During the election campaigning in GE 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said he did not say that Singapore should plan to increase its population to 10 million, nor did he mention the figure. In fact, the Singapore population is likely to be significantly below 6.9 million by 2030, He said.
In a Facebook post on 2 Jul, Heng said, “Let me be clear: the Government has never proposed or targeted for Singapore to increase the population to 10 million. And if we look at today’s situation, our population is likely to be significantly below 6.9 million by 2030.”
Nevertheless, at the second round of town hall meetings held by Hyflux on 18 Jan last year with security holders, Hyflux CEO Olivia Lum seemed to claim that the PAP government had “given instructions” for her company to plan for 8 million population.
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That 10 million figure - When facts get in the way
Falsehoods repeated often enough can be perceived as the truth, and there is a risk this is happening in the general election.
The latest example is the slew of statements on social media platforms and online forums, echoed by several political parties, saying that the Government plans to increase the population to 10 million by bringing in more foreigners.
Some online commentators point to a Straits Times report of a dialogue Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had with around 700 students at Nanyang Technological University last year.
What immigration rate is Heng Swee Keat targeting for Singapore? Voters deserve to know
Last year Heng Swee Keat’s office got in touch because it objected to a published line of mine: “With Singapore’s prime-minister-in-waiting eager to again double the city’s population to ten million…”
I had based this comment off a Straits Times article that reported:
“Singapore’s population density is not excessive, he [HSK] said, noting that other cities are a lot more crowded in terms of liveable space. He cited former chief planner Liu Thai Ker, who said in 2014 that Singapore should plan for 10 million people for it to remain sustainable in the long term.”
This was my thinking. If you ask somebody a question, and they cite somebody else as an answer, a reasonable person would conclude that HSK concurs with Liu.
WP chief Pritam Singh says there is room for fair comment on population numbers
Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh on Friday (July 3) questioned if Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan's comment on population numbers should be labelled a falsehood.
He added that there should be room for fair comment on the population target that Singapore is aiming for, since ministers have alluded in the past to the possibility of a larger population size.
Mr Singh made the remarks during a morning walkabout in Punggol West with the party's candidate Tan Chen Chen, one day after the ruling People's Action Party said a key plank of the SDP's election campaign is based on a false claim that the Government plans to raise the country's population to 10 million.
Government should state position clearly, before election – WP's Pritam on '10 million' saga
The controversy over the “10 million population target” centres on the “nature of POFMA (Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act) and the nature of falsehoods”, said Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh.
While on a walkabout in Punggol on Friday morning (3 July), reporters asked him to comment on the televised debate between the People’s Action Party (PAP) and Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) over the latter’s assertion that the government was planning a population target of 10 million.
During the debate between PAP’s Vivian Balakrishnan and SDP’s secretary-general Chee Soon Juan on Wednesday (1 July), Dr Balakrishnan refuted Dr Chee’s claim that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat had toyed with the idea of having a population of 10 million people in Singapore. Dr Balakrishnan slammed Dr Chee for his “false statement”.
WP’s Pritam Singh Thinks 10 Million Population Issue Should’ve Come Out Before Election
Check out the “No” section at the bottom
We’re into the first few days of the election campaigning period. There’s already been a slew of hot issues that drew polarising views from both sides of the political divide.
One of them involves Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), on how they had formed an election campaign to oppose against Singapore’s purported plans to increase the nation’s population to 10 million.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has publicly denied this, with People’s Action Party (PAP) dismissing SDP’s campaign as one that was built on “falsehoods”.
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Tan Cheng Bock says 10 million population is “too much for this country”
In his comments, Dr Tan said: “If the data is not given to you, people will speculate. If you (let them) speculate, they will. Because they don’t know. You are not transparent with your data. Just tell us: we want 10 million, (and) why. We need it because of this (reason), we see it and we will tell you can or cannot.”
“And if the reasons are sound and logical, why not? But you’ve got to show us the data. Don’t give us in bits and pieces.” Dr Tan said: “The fundamental reason why people start to question is because of trust, they no longer trust you. Are you telling us the truth? So you got to win that trust back.
“We (the PSP) will go in (to Parliament) and try to tell you when and why it happened”, Dr Tan noted.
PAP says SDP’s Chee Soon Juan hasn’t changed, expected better of Paul Tambyah in dispute over ‘10m population’ claim
File photos of Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan (left) and party chairman Paul Tambyah. The People's Action Party is saying the two leaders are misleading the public with its campaign over Singapore's projected population size
The People’s Action Party (PAP) has expressed its disappointment at the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and its two leaders, Dr Chee Soon Juan and Dr Paul Tambyah, for misleading voters with a “mythical” 10 million projected population figure for Singapore and refusing to say sorry for that.
In a statement issued late Friday (July 3) night, PAP said: “We are disappointed that Dr Chee and the SDP have dug their heels in, repeated their falsehoods, and refused to apologise to Singaporeans for misleading them. Disappointed but not surprised, for we knew Dr Chee has not changed, cannot change, and will never change.” But it said it was “surprised” that Dr Tambyah, SDP’s chairman, would join in what it described as a “charade”. “We thought he was a better man,” the statement read.
PAP also criticised other opposition leaders who have jumped into the fray, singling out WP chief Pritam Singh.
Falsehood on 10m population renders SDP campaign pointless, says PAP
The claim that the Government is planning to raise Singapore's population to 10 million is a falsehood that undermines the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) own election campaign, the People’s Action Party (PAP) said on Thursday (Jul 2).
The SDP is using “4 Yes, 1 No” as the title of their campaign in this election, with the “1 No” referring to a 10 million population.
“The ‘1 No’ is a key plank in the SDP’s election campaign. Its falsehood renders the campaign pointless, and calls into question the integrity of the whole party,” said the PAP in a media statement late on Thursday.
PAP says Chee Soon Juan should admit SDP campaign is based on false claim
SDP chief Chee Soon Juan during a televised debate on July 1, 2020.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
The People's Action Party (PAP) on Thursday night (July 2) said the election campaign of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is pointless now that a key plank of its campaign has been proven false.
The "No to 10 million population", which is part of the SDP's Four Yes, One No campaign slogan for the general election, is based on a false claim that the Government plans to raise the country's population to 10 million, the PAP noted.
The ruling party said the honourable thing for SDP chief Chee Soon Juan to do would have been to admit that his party's campaign was based on a falsehood, withdraw it, and apologise to Singaporeans for misleading them.
related:
SDP claims it pressured PAP to assure Singaporeans about population target
Vivian Balakrishnan refutes Chee Soon Juan on SDP's 10m population claim
Heng Swee Keat: I did not say S'pore should plan to increase population to 10 million
No plans to increase population to 10 million: Government
Heng Swee Keat Spore staying open:We don't want a world where people build walls
Vivian calls on SDP to clarify position over 10m population claim
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SDP says it has extracted an assurance from PAP not to increase population to 6.9 or 10 million
The first live debate between four political parties contesting in GE2020 was held on July 1. One of the highlights of the debate was when Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) Chee Soon Juan challenged People's Action Party's Vivian Balakrishnan to state categorically whether or not the People's Action Party (PAP) wanted to raise the population to 10 million people. Vivian responded that before the debate on the same day, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement "advising people like [Chee] not to indulge in falsehoods". He said: "The government doesn't have a target for the population."
The day after the debate on July 2, the SDP issued a press release on its Facebook page that it has achieved one of the five calls in their campaign slogan "4 Yeses and 1 No". It said: "Within Day 1 of our campaign, we have already achieved victory on our call for the "no" to a 10-million population."
The post said that the Vivian's confirmation that the PAP will not raise the population to 10 million was a result of Chee's question in the debate. It also denied Vivian's claim that bringing up the 10 million population was a strawman argument.
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Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) 2 July at 4:13 PM
The SDP launched our GE campaign with its slogan of 4 Yeses and 1 No. Within Day 1 of our campaign, we have already achieved victory on our call for the "no" to a 10-million population. At yesterday night's televised debate, Dr Chee Soon Juan pressed PAP candidate Vivian Balakrishnan to categorically state that the government will not raise Singapore's population to 10 million.
Dr Balakrishnan confirmed that the PAP would not raise the population to 10 million, not even 6.9 million. But he said that the SDP had raised a strawman argument because the PAP had never said that it would increase the population to those numbers.
In addition, Mr Heng denied this morning that the government ever targeted a 10-million population.
But the Straits Times reported that: "[Mr Heng] cited former chief planner Liu Thai Ker, who said in 2014 that Singapore should plan for 10 million people for it to remain sustainable in the long term." (https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/sporeans-must-remain-open-to-foreigners-says-heng) The average person reading the report would conclude that Mr Heng was is, indeed, "toying with the idea" of a 10 million population as indicated by dr Chee.
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SDP claims it pressured PAP to assure Singaporeans about population target
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) said it pressured the PAP into declaring that it does not have a 10 million population target, claiming victory even amid accusations that it had mischaracterised the Government's position.
The SDP, in a statement on Thursday (July 2), said: "Within Day 1 of our campaign, we have already achieved victory on our call for the 'no' to a 10 million population."
This comes after an exchange between SDP chief Chee Soon Juan and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan during a televised debate on Wednesday night, in which Dr Balakrishan had called the SDP's claim a "strawman" and "falsehood".
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Vivian Balakrishnan Says Chee Soon Juan Is Indulging In Falsehoods
There were some fireworks between Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan during Singapore’s first political debate, named “Singapore Votes 2020: The political debate”. Dr Chee asked Dr Balakrishnan a pointed question, rephrased as: Is the Government planning to raise the population to 10 million? Empathically denying this, Dr Balakrishnan then accused Dr Chee of indulging in falsehoods.
In a segment where the candidates were supposed to ask each other questions, Dr Chee said Singapore had been beset by declining labour productivity and gross domestic product (GDP) growth, as well as rising unemployment, even before Covid-19 stuck. However, foreign PMETs, S-Pass holders and Employment Pass holders continue to come in, he added. Then, Dr Chee claimed that Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said during an interview that Singapore’s population should plan to increase to 10 million. This is something that Singaporeans are “deadly worried” about, he said. Thus, he asked Dr Balakrishnan whether he can “categorically tell Singaporeans” that his party has no intention to raise the population by bringing in foreigners to compete with Singaporeans for jobs.
To that, Dr Balakrishnan pointed out that on that same day, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued an advisory to “people like you” (referring to Dr Chee) not to indulge in falsehoods. Both men then talked over each other, with Dr Chee accusing Mr Heng of coming up with the idea of a 10 million population during an interview, and offering to send the interview to Dr Balakrishnan, who then replied, "That’s a cheap shot, Dr Chee".
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Vivian Balakrishnan slams Chee Soon Juan over ‘false statement’ of 10m population plan
Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday (1 July) rebuked Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan for his “false statement” that the government plans to increase the country’s population to 10 million during a televised debate.
Speaking during the debate in English between representatives of four political parties ahead of General Election (GE) 2020, Dr Balakrishnan was responding to Dr Chee’s question on whether the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) government has the intention to raise the population to such a level. “Let me state for the record, we will never have 10 million (people). We won't even have 6.9 million. The government doesn't have a target for the population,” Dr Balakrishnan said during the debate broadcast live on TV and online.
Calling Dr Chee’s comments a “false strawman”, Dr Balakrishnan added, “What we want is a Singapore core, that is demographically stable, able to reproduce ourselves, able to create opportunities and jobs for ourselves, and able to stay as a cohesive whole.”
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Chee Soon Juan 徐顺全 12 hrs
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said at the debate that my claim that Mr Heng Swee Keat was toying with the idea of a 10m population was a falsehood. Here's what ST reported on 29 Mar 2019:
"Singapore's population density is not excessive, he said, noting that other cities are a lot more crowded in terms of liveable space.
He cited former chief planner Liu Thai Ker, who said in 2014 that Singapore should plan for 10 million people for it to remain sustainable in the long term."
https://www.straitstimes.com/sporeans-must-remain-open-to-foreigners-says-heng
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Lam Keong Yeoh July 2 at 11:31 AM
I agree with Andrew Loh that it can reasonably be inferred from the ST article below that DPM Heng Swee Keat at his talk on March 2019 was at least open and sympathetic to an eventual 10 million population in Singapore.
As I wrote, this is not only poor economics, but also harmful for real wage growth, wealth and income inequality, citizen well being, productivity and social divisiveness.
To repeat, this is toying with a poorly thought through vision that could well make Singapore more like Dubai and less like the Switzerland of our now forgotten dreams.
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Heng Swee Keat on S’pore staying open: We don't want a world where people build walls
On the projected population of 6.9 million by 2030, set out in the Government's 2013 Population White Paper, Mr Heng said the number goes beyond how densely populated Singapore would be. The social space is as important.
Singapore's population density is not excessive, he said, noting that other cities are a lot more crowded in terms of liveable space.
He cited former chief planner Liu Thai Ker, who said in 2014 that Singapore should plan for 10 million people for it to remain sustainable in the long term.
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Not true that Government plans to increase Singapore population to 10 million: NPTD
It is not true that the Government is planning to increase the population in Singapore to 10 million, said the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) on Wednesday (July 1), adding that there have been statements circulating on various online platforms about the matter.
"The National Population and Talent Division (NPTD), Strategy Group, Prime Minister’s Office, would like to state categorically that these statements are untrue," it said in a media statement. "The Government has not proposed, planned nor targeted for Singapore to increase its population to 10 million."
The media statement pointed to a Factually article in March, which said that Singapore's population size is affected by many factors, including birth rates, life expectancy and global developments.
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I did not say Singapore should plan to increase its population to 10 million, says Heng Swee Keat
He did not say that Singapore should plan to increase its population to 10 million people, nor did he mention the figure. In fact, the Singapore population is likely to be significantly below 6.9 million by 2030, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.
In a Facebook post on Thursday (July 2), Mr Heng clarified that he was asked at a Nanyang Technological University (NTU) student union ministerial forum in 2019 about Singapore's Population White Paper.
"In my response, I mentioned that former chief planner Liu Thai Ker had publicly said that we should go for an even higher number," he said.
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Heng Swee Keat 23 hrs
As the Straits Times clarified this morning, I did not say that Singapore should plan to increase its population to 10 million people, nor did I mention the figure.
I was asked at the NTU Student Union Ministerial Forum in 2019 about the Population White Paper. In my response, I mentioned that former chief planner Liu Thai Ker had publicly said that we should go for an even higher number. Far from endorsing this, I had explained that our population size was not just about physical space, but also about social space and how we can preserve a sense of togetherness.
Let me be clear: The Government has never proposed or targeted for Singapore to increase its population to 10 million. And if we look at today’s situation, our population is likely to be significantly below 6.9 million by 2030.
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Does the Government have a population target, e.g. 10 million?
The Government has not proposed, planned nor targeted for Singapore to increase its population to 10 million. The Government has explained its population policies in an earlier article here.
We monitor our population trends closely, and regularly review our population policies along with infrastructure and social development needs. An update on our population outlook was provided in Parliament in March 2018. At that update, the Government said that given recent trends, Singapore’s total population is likely to be significantly below 6.9 million by 2030. This outlook remains valid today.
related:
What is the aim of Government population policies?
Why are Spore's official population statistics different from those by international organisations?
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The case for a 10 million population in Singapore
We recently came across an article on CNBC discussing ex-HDB chief Liu Thai Ker’s belief that Singapore needs to plan for a population of 10 million. It is easy to dismiss his comments as the usual propaganda, where the government tries to start prepping its citizens for an inevitable expansion of the population. We think it is worth looking at the merits and weaknesses in this argument for the planning of a population of 10 million.
Avoiding another population policy disaster - Singapore currently accommodates more than 5.3 million people as of 2013. In 2000, this number was at 4 million. That means an increased of about 1.3 million people over a span of 13 years, or 100,000 per annum.
The current government’s white paper describes its vision for a population of 6.9 million people. Hence, there is a significant way to go before we hit 10 million, assuming we do reach there. In addition, the government has restricted immigration over the past few years and appears committed to this restriction, as least for the time being.
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Singapore must plan for 10M population: Ex-HDB chief
Singapore must start planning for a population that could possibly hit 10 million, Liu Thai Ker, the man often credited as the architect of modern Singapore, told CNBC.
The bold number suggested by Liu, who served as the chief executive of the Housing Board from 1979-1989 and then as CEO and chief planner of the Urban Development Authority from 1989-1992, is nearly double the current 5.3 million population and significantly higher than the 6.9 million figure proposed by the Singapore government in its 2013 Population White Paper.
In the white paper, the government described its vision of raising the country's population by as much as 30 percent in the next two decades to ensure the economy remains dynamic. However, the move sparked strong objections amid rising discontent in the land-scarce nation over soaring housing costs and an influx of immigrants.
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Singapore should plan for population of 10m
The Republic should plan for a population of 10 million in the long term if it is to remain sustainable as a country, says the man known widely as the architect of modern Singapore. According to Liu Thai Ker, Singapore should not stop its population growth projection at the figure of 6.9 million listed in the 2013 White Paper on Population.
"That is an interim figure and projection and obviously Singapore is going to grow beyond that," he said yesterday at a seminar, "Building a Nation: Tomorrow, Challenges and Possibilities for a Liveable Singapore".
As architect-planner and CEO of the Housing Development Board from 1969 to 1989, Mr Liu oversaw the completion of over half a million public housing units, and as CEO and chief planner of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) from 1989 to 1992, he spearheaded the major revision of the Singapore Concept Plan and key direction for heritage conservation.
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Look ahead to 10 million people by 2100?
Singapore should look beyond 2030 and plan for a more distant future --- perhaps even one with 10 million people, former chief planner Liu Thai Ker said at a public forum on Saturday.
"The world doesn't end in 2030, and population growth doesn't end at 6.9 million," he said, referring to the planning parameter in the Government's White Paper on Population.
Singapore could do well to look ahead, perhaps to 2100 when it might have a population of 10 million, he suggested.
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Correction and clarifications regarding falsehoods on population target and HDB CEO’s remarks on living density
Falsehoods:
Several Facebook posts – Singapore Democratic Party, The Online Citizen Asia, Sin Rak Sin Party, Lim Tean of Peoples Voice (Facebook Live video), Louis Chng, and a website article (The Online Citizen Asia) have claimed that Dr Cheong Koon Hean, Chief Executive Officer of the Housing & Development Board, had confirmed that our population would go up to about 10 million by 2030. They cite a lecture by Dr Cheong at the IPS-Nathan Lectures in April 2018.
The Facebook Live video by Lim Tean of Peoples Voice also claims that the Government was planning, or had intentions, to move towards 10 million population by 2030, referencing the same lecture by Dr Cheong.
These allegations are false. Dr Cheong made no statement suggesting that our population would increase to 10 million by 2030. This is a continuation of falsehoods alleging that the Government has a population target of 10 million, which the Government has clarified.
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POFMA order issued to Facebook pages of SDP, PV and TOC over false 10m population statement
The POFMA Office has issued correction orders to the Facebook pages of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and Peoples Voice (PV) for a false statement that the CEO of the Housing & Development Board had suggested Singapore’s population will increase to 10 million by 2030.
The orders, on the instruction by the Alternate Authority for the Minister for National Development, were also issued to The Online Citizen Asia with respect to an article on its website and Facebook page, as well as the Facebook page of Sin Rak Sin Party.
“This is with regard to false statements of fact claiming that a statement made by Dr Cheong Koon Hean at the IPS-Nathan Lectures in 2018 suggested that our population would increase to 10 million by 2030. Dr Cheong made no statement suggesting that our population would increase to 10 million by 2030,” said the POFMA (Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act) Office.
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HDB disputes claims that CEO’s remarks could mean Singapore would have 10 million population by 2030
Housing Development Board has disputed claims that comments the group’s chief executive had made at a recent lecture could be taken to mean that Singapore would have a population size of about 10 million in 2030, contrary to the 6.9 million projected by the Government.
HDB’s response is directed at a letter writer who expressed alarm at the population figures presented by HDB CEO Dr Cheong Koon Hean. In her IPS-Nathan lecture, Dr Cheong said that Singapore’s population density would increase from 11,000 people per sq km to 13,700 people per sq km between now and 2030.
The letter writer, Cheang Peng Wah, pointed to Singapore’s land area which is 720 sq km and expressed his unease that the Singapore’s population size could go up to 9,864,000, or nearly 10 million, by 2030 given the chief executive’s projection.
related: Did HDB CEO suggest Singapore’s population may rise to 10 million instead of 6.9 million projected by White Paper?
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ALARMED BY POPULATION FIGURES
Housing Board chief executive Cheong Koon Hean, in her IPS-Nathan lecture on April 10 entitled "Anticipating Our Urban Future - Trends, Threats And Transformation", said that Singapore's population density would increase from 11,000 people per sq kmto 13,700 people per sq km between now and 2030.
This is alarming. As Singapore's land area is a mere 720 sq km, does this mean that our population size could go up to 9,864,000, or nearly 10 million, by 2030?
This figure is not the same as that projected in the Population White Paper of 2013 - 6.9 million by 2030.
I hope the authorities can explain this new figure on population density, and assure Singaporeans that everything is being planned to prepare for such an eventuality.
Cheang Peng Wah
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Higher population density will lead to property price escalation
Property price escalation is almost a given with higher population density. A letter writer to The Straits Times expressed alarm at the population figures presented by Housing & Development Board (HDB) chief executive Dr Cheong Koon Hean. In her IPS-Nathan lecture, Dr Cheong said that Singapore’s population density would increase from 11,000 people per sq km to 13,700 people per sq km between now and 2030.
The letter writer, Cheang Peng Wah, pointing to Singapore’s land area which is 720 sq km, expressed his unease that Singapore’s population size could go up to 9,864,000, or nearly 10 million, by 2030. He said that this was not the figure projected in the Population White Paper of 2013. The White Paper had projected a population of 6.9 million by 2030.
Cheang asked the authorities to explain this new figure on population density, and “assure Singaporeans that everything is being planned to prepare for such an eventuality.”
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Correction directions issued to three people, Facebook page for posting screenshot
The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) Office has been instructed to issue correction directions to several Facebook users and a Facebook page for communicating a falsehood related to a purported “10 million population” plan.
The Facebook users were identified as “Ryann Smith”, “Jafri Basron” and “Denise Fletcher”, while the Facebook page was identified to be the “Sin Rak Sin Party”.
They had posted screenshots of, or linked to, an article first published by The Online Citizen which contained a false statement that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has released a plan “to build underground infrastructure ready for 10 million population”.
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Did Nikkei Asian Review report that URA plans to build underground infrastructure
At first glance, you may think, wow, an independent foreign media outlet such as Nikkei Asian Review said that Singapore is planning for a 10 million population? So maybe it's true?
No, it's not. Only half the headline is true. Yes, the Government has plans to build an underground infrastructure to maximise space, as reported by Nikkei Asian Review.
But the Nikkei Asian Review report did not mention anything about a 10 million population at all.
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URA releases plan to build underground infrastructure
On Wednesday (3 Apr), the Nikkei Asian Review reported that Singapore has plans to build underground infrastructure below its existing land and buildings in order to maximise space. Singapore was compelled to do so, it noted, because of large population growth. Also, land reclamation is deemed to be impractical after Cambodia banned sand exports.
Taking reference from a master development plan released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on March 27, the Nikkei Asia Review noted that the new master plan now includes additional mention of underground infrastructure. Underground infrastructure was never mentioned in an earlier 2014 master plan.
“The plan comes as an expanding population shrugs off the country’s geographic constraints and with land reclamation becoming impractical,” Nikkei said.
related: New PM-in-waiting Heng SK supports GST increase to 9%
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No lack of space for 10 million population
“Land scarcity is a very real problem for Singapore, which explains the ever-increasing land costs and property prices which are driven by pent-up demand.”
Singaporeans have been brought up to accept statements like this as a gospel truth. Many do not even question the meaning of scarcity and without looking at the growth of the nation, do not realise that Singapore’s land size has increased by 100 square kilometers in the last 35 years. Add to that the advances in space planning, improved transport systems, enhanced construction capabilities leading to a much higher population density and “Voila!”, we have 5.54 million people today.
Traffic travels along the Tampines Expressway past public buildings in Punggol (right), while a man enters his home in Sengkang, where the number of flats under HDB management are projected to increase to 92,000 from the current 59,497.
The brief statistics are, in the 35-year period between 1980 and 2015, our population grew 129% from 2.41 million to 5.54 million, made possible by a 16% increase in land size from 617.9 sqkm to 719.1 sqkm and a 97% increase in population density from 3,907 people per sqkm to 7,697 people per sqkm.
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New towns, industries are being built, now what S’pore needs are new people - PM Lee
There are many new plans to build Singapore for the next generation, but the country first needs birth rates to rise so that the population can grow “a little bit”, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday (Oct 10).
“We have so many plans for Singapore, in terms of new industries, new businesses, new schools, new opportunities, new towns to live in, new parks — a new society to be built for the next generation. And what we need are new people — our children,” Mr Lee told Nikkei Asian Review editor-at-large Takehiko Koyanagi at a dialogue held at the National University of Singapore.
Laying out the state of Singapore’s demographic challenge today, Mr Lee said that the population is growing slightly. Each year, there are around 35,000 Singaporeans born and 35,000 new permanent residents — out of which about 20,000 become citizens.
related: Spore's total population grows to 5.7 million mainly due to more foreign workers
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The Population White Paper Conundrum
Never in the recent history of Singapore has there been such massive protests by Singaporeans against an ill-conceived Government measure as the White Paper on Population. Right from the start when the White Paper was introduced, there were unmistaken ominous signs that the Government would find the passage very rough if it tried to force this unpopular and undemocratic White Paper down the throats of the normally tranquil Singaporeans. In the face of such massive opposition, PM Lee Hsien Loong was gung ho in ignoring Singaporeans' wrath to push the White Paper through Parliament with the endorsement of the entire PAP MPs. Well almost entirely because there seemed to be the solitary conscientious PAP MP who voted with his feet in defiance of the PAP Whip.He showed outstanding courage as a PAP MP in criticising the White Paper and followed up with a no-show when it came to the crucial point when he was expected to cast his vote in support. It will be interesting to watch how PM Lee will deal with this so-called renegade.
The crux of the public protests is the projection in the White Paper of an inordinate increase of population of 6.9 million in the little red dot called Singapore in the year 2030 when the infrastructure even now when the population is 5.3 million is bursting at the seams. The Total Fertility Rate at 1.2 could not be expected to fulfill the target of 6.9 million and the Government will have to resort to immigration to make up the target with its attendant social problems.The loss of job opportunities to Foreign Talents is now the biggest bugbear among Singaporeans, especially the PMETs many of whom are still unemployed and the Government is hardly innovative in addressing their problem. The overwhelming population increase will exacerbate the perennial acute housing problem which will be a perpetual headache to any future housing minister. It is expected that many Singaporeans will be impoverished by the population increase while the millionaire PAP prime minister and ministers will continue to wallow in their wealth, thanks to taxpayers' money.
The Govenment is back-pedalling as a result of public anger and pressure and now portrays the 6.9 million population as the "worst case scenario" and not the target.But the pitch with which the Government had been pushing the 6.9 million population increase has left a pernicious impression on the public mind which cannot be erased easily. So even when it has now softened on the 6.9 million target, Singaporeans are hardly convinced of the Government's sincerity and will continue their vehement protests against the White Paper until they see tangible proof of the Government's sincerity in addressing this issue. The 4,000 strong protest meeitng at Hong Lim Park on Saturday 16 February is just one of the manifestations of continuing public wrath against the White Paper. There will no doubt be more protests of this nature. PM Lee and his Cabinet colleagues can continue to pooh-pooh this continuing groundswell of public dissent against the White Paper at their peril. If left unaddressed, it may come to a disastrous climax for the PAP one day.
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Why one party dominates Singapore politics
Singaporeans are expected to return the People's Action Party to power in a July 10 general election, extending its unbroken rule since the Southeast Asian island's independence in 1965.
In that time, Singapore has had only three prime ministers: independence leader Lee Kuan Yew, his cabinet colleague Goh Chok Tong and Lee's son, the present prime minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Having overseen rapid economic growth and prosperity, the PAP has become entrenched in power. But there are other factors that have kept rivals at bay:
- UNIQUE MODEL
- CONSTRAINTS
- DISPARATE GROUP
- LEGAL PROBLEMS
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Netizens said that elderly Woman distributing Flyers look familiar
A man took a video of an elderly woman distributing flyers at a public area, due to wearing of personal protective gear many are not able to identify who she is.
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Who is this distributing flyers?
A campaign rally, Will support turn to votes?
