The People’s Action Party, which has ruled Singapore since independence in 1965, got a boost last month after former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam scored a landslide victory in the presidential election. It came after the government sustained a series of political scandals, including a graft probe involving a senior minister, that put its clean reputation to the test.
Singapore’s high living cost is by far the most important issue facing the city-state, according to a new survey of residents, signalling that pressure remains on the government to address key issues including wages and housing affordability.
In a poll of more than 1,500 residents ranking 25 community issues published by Blackbox Research, 59% selected cost of living as their first or second choice, with salaries taking the second spot overall at 17%. While 73% view current national economic conditions positively, most were dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the wealth gap, wages and the prices of homes and cars.
