Lim against SDP candidate's call to ease out manufacturing
TRADE and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang on Saturday said he is against a proposal by an opposition candidate to phase out the manufacturing sector and urged Singaporeans to study it carefully.
Speaking to reporters after the official opening of the Clementi Public Library at The Clementi Mall, he said he strongly disagreed with the call from Singapore Democratic Party's new candidate, Mr Tan Jee Say, 57, a former MTI official.
Mr Tan, who was unveiled by the SDP on Friday, had said Singapore should restructure its economy to rely less on manufacturing and shift to becoming a services hub. This would lessen the country's dependence on cheap foreign labour and also reduce economic volatility, since the fortunes of many manufacturing sectors rise and fall with the global economy.
Minister Lim also took issue with Mr Tan's criticism that the casino and gaming sector was the 'wrong type of services to go into', compared to sectors such as education and healthcare.
He cautioned against exaggerating the impact of the Integrated Resorts, saying that it is but a small component of overall GDP and the government is closely monitoring the social effects.
Mr Lim urged Singaporeans not to get 'over emotional', saying that Mr Tan's suggestion that the two IRs here are promoting prostitution and drugs was 'going too far'.
http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_660248.html
Congratulations with 1 statement, the joker Tan just loss votes from the manufacturing and gaming industry and shoved them into the arms of PAP
Am I the only one who finds him dubious? Former Principal Private Secretary to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong Mr Tan Jee Say. His official reason for leaving PAP was that they didn't accept his economic proposal and the 2 IRs opening. How convenient
SDP is officailly the PAP mole party. First there was Chee, then came James Gomez, finally the addition of Tan completes the unholy trinity