On Friday, SMU Assistant Professor of Law and NMP Eugene Tan abstained from voting on the motion to approve the White Paper on Population. Explaining why he abstained from voting, he expressed his disappointment at the White Paper and said that it appeared to offer no alternatives. He said that the focus of the paper should be the welfare of Singaporeans and not economic growth. Assistant Prof Tan also commented that Singaporeans would accept the policies if it is proven that they would benefit from it.