Some observers have described it as “populist” and “politically driven”, others called it “pragmatic” and responding to the times. And while there were those who felt that the People’s Action Party (PAP) Government’s recent measures – which have a socialist slant – and various eye-catching suggestions by its Members of Parliament were a collective reaction to the results of the 2011 General Election, there is also a view that the party was simply honouring the social compact where the Government takes care of the people and responds to their needs. SMU Assistant Professor of Law and NMP Eugene Tan commented: “I would say that the primary driver really is the need for the party (to be) more acutely sensitive to the need to be popular and for their overall policy to continue to be seen as legitimate. So in the end, it’s very politically driven.”