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Grace Fu: ‘We Take a Chicken Wing, But We Give a Whole Chicken'

 




At a rally held at Jurong East Stadium on April 28, 2025, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu mounted a strong defence of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike and hit back at opposition proposals to reduce the GST, saying they lack financial credibility.

Addressing a crowd as the anchor minister of the PAP team contesting Jurong East–Bukit Batok GRC, Fu targeted Red Dot United (RDU), whose chief Ravi Philemon had called for the GST to be cut from 9% to 7% during a televised roundtable on April 27. Fu characterised such proposals as “lovely ideas” that are “easy to say but hard to pay for,” and questioned who in the opposition would “sign the cheques” for these costly pledges.

She warned that ultimately it is not the government, but Singaporeans today and in the future who would foot the bill. “The Government is only the custodian for Singapore. Ultimately, it is Singaporeans who will pay,” she said.

Fu reiterated that while the GST increase from 7% to 9% over 2023–2024 was difficult, it was necessary. She emphasised that GST allows Singapore to tax not only locals but also tourists and foreign spenders. Acknowledging the burden on lower-income groups, she pointed to the Government’s permanent support measures, including the GST Voucher scheme and targeted rebates.

“We may be taking a chicken wing from you, but we are giving you a whole chicken,” she quipped, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.

Opposition parties such as the Workers’ Party, Progress Singapore Party, and Singapore Democratic Party have also campaigned on rolling back the GST to ease cost-of-living pressures, a key issue dominating the election. RDU’s rally speeches have similarly focused on affordability, housing, and rising daily expenses.

However, Fu argued that more voices and debates in Parliament do not automatically lead to better governance. “We see countries with flowery debates... Do they give you better policies? They give you policies that lead nowhere,” she said, warning against political fragmentation and populism.

Fu highlighted various initiatives launched in her former ward Yuhua—now part of the larger GRC—to show the PAP’s grassroots approach. These included food rescue programmes, financial aid, and job-matching efforts. She also shared plans to create micro-jobs like sewing for stay-at-home residents, and job fairs for mid-career workers.

She described Jurong East–Bukit Batok and Jurong Central as a “kampung” where neighbours support one another, and reminded residents that the PAP had guided Singapore through the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to safeguard economic stability.

Joining her on stage were her teammates: Minister of State for Law and Transport Murali Pillai, Minister of State for Health and Digital Development Rahayu Mahzam, former educator and newcomer David Hoe, and PAP veteran Lee Hong Chuang. Mr Xie Yao Quan, PAP’s candidate for Jurong Central SMC, also addressed residents at the rally.

The PAP team will face off against a five-member RDU team consisting of returning candidates Liyana Dhamirah and Osman Sulaiman, alongside artist Benjamin Puah, marketer Marcus Neo, and engineer Harish Mohanadas.

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