The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has revised Singapore's economic growth forecast for the year. It previously estimated that the economy will grow between 1.5 to 3.5%. This has been revised downwards to 1.5 to 2.5%.
This revision is also made against the backdrop of uncertainties in the global arena as characterised by US-China tensions and Brexit.
The question on everyone's minds is if this revised forecast will force the PAP into deferring any plans to call for the general elections this year.
PAP has always believed that a hungry man is an angry man. Hence, its focus on bread-and-butter issues.
A slower economic growth may result in Singaporeans losing their jobs because of structural unemployment as businesses, particularly the SMEs, grapple with the loss of businesses.
People without jobs and are struggling to feed the family will lay the blame on the government, to PAP's disadvantage. With all the pressure that it has faced this year, the PAP may not be able to take any more of these setbacks. From its point of view, it would be more beneficial to defer the elections to 2020 so that any they can take credit for any turnaround in the economy.
Whatever PAP chooses to do, the opposition must not lose focus and must continue preparing for the elections. They must continue to work the ground and engage the residents.
