BISHAN-Toa Payoh GRC MP Josephine Teo is troubled by what she sees as a growing trend here: the labelling of certain Singaporeans as part of an elite.
The elite include two groups: the rich and Singaporeans who have won government scholarships and work as policymakers in the civil service. But what she finds disturbing is the way the elite are portrayed.
They are depicted as people who do not understand the problems of ordinary folk, and are only keen to advance their own interests. Totally ignored is the fact that they may have come from humble backgrounds or worked hard to get where they are.
Such portrayals are 'highly divisive', Mrs Teo told PAP cadres yesterday. They foster the wrong perception 'that a certain class of citizens are more valued than others', she said, adding: 'This is clearly untrue, or we would not take pains to build an inclusive society.'
She saw this labelling as one expression of what she termed the 'politics of envy' - in which those who fare better or are seen to get more from the Government become objects of envy.
The PAP, she stressed, had to guard against this politics of envy, as it threatened social cohesion.
It could manifest itself in other ways, she said, such as neighbours feeling left out because they had to pay for lift upgrading, unlike those who had lifts serving their floors.
Such envy could also be felt when people compare the level of state spending on items like health care here with that in other countries, and conclude that the Government is not doing enough to help needy Singaporeans.
Comparisons like these could be used to get support to lobby the Government to do what is popular, but not necessarily in Singapore's long-term best interests, she said.
The challenge, therefore, is for the party to reach out to all groups and assure them the PAP will do its best for them. Otherwise, there will be dissatisfaction with the party, she said.
The party has also strengthened the social safety net, and must work to improve social mobility for the poor, she added.
Its activists must keep their ears close to the ground, help people understand the decisions behind unpopular policies and continue being 'a party that takes action' by helping residents.
Marine Parade GRC MP Fatimah Lateef also told cadres that compassion and empathy are two key words that will help the party weather challenges.
She said: 'For us to be good cadres, we must have a genuine concern for the people. But for us to be great, we must all inculcate that deep sense of empathy.'
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