Wanted: MPs with courage and ability to speak out
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INSIGHT DOWN SOUTH
BY SEAH CHIANG NEE
Singapore's Parliament sessions are tame, polite affairs with prepared questions and answers and MPs sounding more like government cheerleaders. MPs recently even spoke in favour of the increase in the unpopular Goods and Services Tax. All this self-praise is turning off young Singaporeans.
NEEDED in 21st Century Singapore: A new breed of articulate Members of Parliament who can match the likes of Lee Kuan Yew, S. Rajaratnam and David Marshall.
With few exceptions, today’s lot – whether in government or opposition – lacks that sharp tongue and fire in the belly that marked the previous generation of politicians.
As the Old Guards left one after another, they were replaced by young, co-opted technocrat-MPs, who were good problem solvers, but who lacked the passion and ability to motivate Singaporeans.
Neither are they good at debates or explaining policies in the pull-no-punches way that Minister Mentor Lee and his peers could do with ease.
The lack is fine as long as the PAP continues to enjoy the complete trust of voters the way that Lee had.
But his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, is dealing with – and has to win over – better educated, more cynical citizens with very high expectations.
That requires the party to govern with more than top scholars and good policies; it also needs people with the power of persuasion.
After demolishing all strong opposition one way or another, Minister Mentor Lee has admitted that many young MPs lack the opportunities to learn the thrusts of political debate.
For its own survival, the PAP has to allow its MPs to speak frankly and openly on issues of the day, even if it is galling to the party.
It has another reason to do this. It has rejected the opposition playing a checks-and-balance role in the government, saying it can do it by itself. For this to be credible, observers say, it has to be seen doing it.
Most Parliament sessions here – unlike in Kuala Lumpur – have been tame, polite affairs involving prepared questions and answers, after which the MP would sit down to make way for another.
This was evident during the recent Parliament budget session that was to give important tax changes (GST up 2%) and rising poverty a proper airing.
Most government MPs spoke in favour of a rise in the unpopular Goods and Services Tax – no GST can be popular anywhere in the world – from 5% to 7%. Yet they made it sound like it’s the long-awaited salvation.
(The budget also provided offsetting payments, with the poor and older people getting a larger share, which will help to mitigate – for five years – the impact on the lower class).
Singaporeans are generally opposed to the GST increase, which is the centrepiece of the budget, and several government MPs pitched for more aid to the poor.
But the majority of backbenchers praised the budget, some in exuberant terms that are opposed to public sentiment.
Despite the leadersÂ’ exhortations to MPs to speak their minds, not many had done so.
A sample of backbenchers’ exuberant praises included – “generous and forward looking”, “good intentioned” and “made in heaven”, “a landmark budget”, “wonderful”, “innovative” and “pragmatic.”
The generosity of the budget is possible under the stewardship of the ruling PeopleÂ’s Action Party, said one MP, sounding like a Pyongyang news headline.
Another remarked: “Nowhere else in the world can you get a budget which includes love and compassion in abundance as this one.”
Some young Singaporeans say they were turned off by these flowery but useless descriptions.
Even a commentator of the pro-government Straits Times, Chua Mui Hoong, was moved to call on the PAP MPs to go beyond “cheerleading”.
“Too much self-praise by the PAP is off-putting,” she wrote.
“An MP's role should include critiquing policies, voicing independent points of view and scrutinising the executive's decisions,” she said, adding that some did so, but they were a minority.
Former PAP MP Hwang Soo Jin, 71, related how a doctor had surprised him by asking why Parliament had bothered to debate the budget when the government had already decided to implement it.
Hwang wrote in the Chinese Lianhe Zaobao that there was a 'chasm' between Parliament and the people.
After Lee Kuan Yew stepped down as Prime Minister in 1990, his successor, Goh Chok Tong had steadily eased up on control of peopleÂ’sÂ’ lives.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who took over from Goh, has pledged to continue the process.
Some feel Parliament could do with the return of several strong-minded ex-PAP backbenchers, who had the moral courage and skills to take on ministers.
They included former Speaker Tan Soo Khoon, Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Dr Wang Kai Yuen, who have left behind an outspokenly biting legacy.
Soo Khoon once hit out at government wastage, targeting seven gr-and ministerial building projects, labelling them sarcastically as the “Seven Wonders of Singapore.”
He likened some of these gleaming new buildings to five-star hotels, which led him to wonder if the ministries were competing to see which of them could “be better than the Four Seasons Hotel.”
“(People) complain because they realise that if you spend so much money, then we will be taxed more. That's why people are unhappy,” he added.
Parliament is a stepping-stone for tomorrowÂ’s leaders, which explains why MPs should be encouraged to use their flair.
Some analysts, however, believe that sustained periods of affluence and stability are not ideal to producing brilliant leaders; only chaos or wars can.
It was chaotic Singapore in the 50s and 60s that threw up leaders like Lee and his contemporaries – and that just can’t be re-created. -
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i am wondering...
do we really wish to see some action in our parliament?
like those in taiwan? shoes flying all over the place...MPs jumping from one table to another just trying to get the other MP across the other side? -
Ok, I guess you are one of the few who like to see the GST increase to 50% without any opposition in Parliament.Originally posted by Mospeada:i am wondering...
do we really wish to see some action in our parliament?
like those in taiwan? shoes flying all over the place...MPs jumping from one table to another just trying to get the other MP across the other side? -
the "selection" committee ensures that only cheerleaders enter parliament...
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i guess having speakers like Speaker Tan Soo Khoon who speaks his mind on behalf on Singaporeans would lead to fighting like Taiwan and then the eventual collapse of the country.Originally posted by Mospeada:i am wondering...
do we really wish to see some action in our parliament?
like those in taiwan? shoes flying all over the place...MPs jumping from one table to another just trying to get the other MP across the other side? -
people have the freedom to speak up in communist China.
we do not have that freedom. -
hey...what to do....Originally posted by charlize:Ok, I guess you are one of the few who like to see the GST increase to 50% without any opposition in Parliament.
u tell me...
it is all decided...u think objection from minority will be of much help? -
Do u know they r wyyang as the ways our hip-hop MPs did !!!! just want attention for the next election!!!!Originally posted by Mospeada:i am wondering...
do we really wish to see some action in our parliament?
like those in taiwan? shoes flying all over the place...MPs jumping from one table to another just trying to get the other MP across the other side? -
Please lah, can we stop fearing the extreme?Originally posted by Mospeada:i am wondering...
do we really wish to see some action in our parliament?
like those in taiwan? shoes flying all over the place...MPs jumping from one table to another just trying to get the other MP across the other side?
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Actually, these current batch of MPs have a tough job.
They have to keep coming up with synonyms for "good" and "excellent" in order to praise the people at the top constantly.
With almost 80 MPs, sometimes it can get quite tough. -
By creating fear of welfarism, our government goes to the other extreme resulting in our present high costs of living.
By creating fear of instability, and parliament bashing seen in Taiwan, our government is producing a compliant technocrat system where all MPs and Ministers are doing the bidding of the supreme leaders who no matter how dedicated or talented do not have consistency, the time or the energy to keep track and solve problems. -
hahahaha.. yeah i agree its a tough one... not easy to come up with a unique one.. like if other MPs used the same "praise" then when its their turn they gotta think of new ones...Originally posted by charlize:Actually, these current batch of MPs have a tough job.
They have to keep coming up with synonyms for "good" and "excellent" in order to praise the people at the top constantly.
With almost 80 MPs, sometimes it can get quite tough. -
So, speaking up and stating your own opinions == shoes flying all over the place?Originally posted by Mospeada:i am wondering...
do we really wish to see some action in our parliament?
like those in taiwan? shoes flying all over the place...MPs jumping from one table to another just trying to get the other MP across the other side?
Please lah... there's a difference between having the balls to speak up and having the idiocy to get all violent and rowdy.
Or maybe we should all start taking off our footwear and tossing them at each other in this forum.
*me takes off sandals* -
"loving and compassionate budget"...what a new low.Originally posted by kilua:hahahaha.. yeah i agree its a tough one... not easy to come up with a unique one.. like if other MPs used the same "praise" then when its their turn they gotta think of new ones... -
Since it was a malaysian MP came up with that line, I close one eye, flush the toilet and laugh to my heart's content.Originally posted by LazerLordz:"loving and compassionate budget"...what a new low. -
This quote equals the "get out of my elite uncaring face" definitely.Originally posted by LazerLordz:"loving and compassionate budget"...what a new low. -
I guess if LKY actually declared himself the eternal emperor even in death and parliament votes with resounding applause, you would also accept?Originally posted by Mospeada:hey...what to do....
u tell me...
it is all decided...u think objection from minority will be of much help?
A rubber stamp parliament merely promotes the abuse of power. -
Speaking up does not equate to violence. Humans actually have the ability to express their opinions without getting themselves into brainless fights, you know.Originally posted by Mospeada:i am wondering...
do we really wish to see some action in our parliament?
like those in taiwan? shoes flying all over the place...MPs jumping from one table to another just trying to get the other MP across the other side?
It's better than inaction. Besides, what those MPs said are kinda like rubbing salt onto wounds.Originally posted by Mospeada:hey...what to do....
u tell me...
it is all decided...u think objection from minority will be of much help? -
*aims and throws my pairs of wooden clogs at fudgesterOriginally posted by fudgester:So, speaking up and stating your own opinions == shoes flying all over the place?
Please lah... there's a difference between having the balls to speak up and having the idiocy to get all violent and rowdy.
Or maybe we should all start taking off our footwear and tossing them at each other in this forum.
*me takes off sandals* 
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"they who seek power, does not deserve to be in power"
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Being a 'Yes' man and bootlicker will enable them to rise faster up the ranks ma than a sharp-tongued dissident nowadays......... Sigh!
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Ministers keep comparing their pay with the private sector's. This is not the correct motivation for ministers leh. If they desire the pay they would get in the private sector, they should not be serving as ministers but go join the private sector!All the talk about high pay being necessary to fight corruption blah blah is akin to blackmailing the country! Who are these ministers loyal to - the country or money?Time to recruit foreign talent to be our ministers!
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frankly some can never see this type of pay if they hadn't become a poddle
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in the same way as some fear GST will go up to 50%Originally posted by LazerLordz:Please lah, can we stop fearing the extreme?