TR EMERITUS

Written by Our Correspondent In the parliaments of other modern democratic states, ministers are often grilled for hours by lawmakers on their policies where they are expected to provide answers immediately on the spot. Any lapse of concentration of display of incompetence will spell the end of their political careers as their speeches and replies are telecast live to the entire nation. There are no live telecasts of the parliamentary "debates" in Singapore. The media selects only certain "presentable" segments to be screened and even then, it is unable to hide the many empty seats or the embarrasing sight of MPs caught napping away on camera. The parliamentary sessions in Singapore are all scripted from the beginning to the end. MPs prepare in advance their speeches which are sent to the relevant ministries for detailed replies to be drafed so that ministers respond to their points in prior prepare texts. There are no impromptu questions or answers. Despite being the highest paid MPs and ministers in the world, Singapore lawmakers seem to be lacking in proper oratory skills to engage in meaningful debate with one another in Parliament, not that they are required to anyway since the PAP controls 82 out of 84 seats in Parliament. Aware of the amount of brickbats being hurled at the non-performing PAP MPs in recent days by netizens, PAP spin doctor and Straits Times Senior Correspondent Chua Mui Hoong is quick to write an article to defend her political masters. In a lengthy editorial today titled "No wayang - MPs serve as early warning system", Ms Chua "testify" that as a political writer who has been covering the Budget "debates" for 19 years, "Parliament is not just a wayng, scripted texts not withstanding." "MPs play a valuable role in the political process, often as an early warning system on issues simmering on the ground but not yet on the national radar," she added. The key role of MPs is to discuss, debate and decide on national policies and not just to provide feedback to the policy makers. Unfortunately, the political process in Singapore is tightly controlled by a few senior leaders within the PAP such that Parliament is fast becoming a farce, if it is not already one. For example, MPs usually spend a few weeks if not months debating on the National Budget in other countries before the Finance Minister finalize the details and announce it. It is the other way round in Singapore. Finance Minister Tharman had already announced the Budget for 2010 two weeks ago after which the MPs start "debating" on it  - If this is not a "wayang" to show the public that there is a functioning parliament, then what is it MPs, especially those from the ruling party, can never serve as an "early warning system" due to inherent partisan interests as well as being constrained by the Party Whip. An open, accountable and robust political system is the best safeguard against possible abuse of power by the government. Unfortunately, Ms Chua appears unable to appreciate this basic in spite of her many years of experience as a political writer.  Read More →

By Chua Mui Hoong from Straits Times MP after MP stand up and read from scripts. After a dozen or so have spoken, up steps a minister and proceeds to reply to their questions - from a script. Repeat for nine days. The above might be how a casual observer would sum up what takes place during the debate on the Budget which ends today. About 80 per cent of the debate is scripted, in that MPs prepare in advance their speeches, and ministers respond to their points with prepared texts. One Parliament newbie was impressed at ministers' comprehensive and quick responses, but was disabused of her admiration when I said the speeches on the ministries' budgets were prepared in advance and made known to the ministry so they can prepare detailed replies. With so much that is prepared, the cynical citizen is often left wondering: Is Parliament just a wayang? Just as half of Singapore today is wondering: Was that faint by Mrs Jack Neo five minutes into their press conference yesterday about his extramarital affair(s) just a show? I can't swear to the latter, not being present at that press conference, but I don't doubt the poor woman's suffering was genuine. But on the former, I can say as a political writer who covered her first Budget debate 19 years ago that no, Parliament is not just a wayang, scripted texts notwithstanding. The exchanges that take place towards the end of debate on a particular ministry's budget is unscripted. Here, MPs ask for further clarifications, and the minister has to deal with them off-the-cuff. Read rest of article here  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent The Singapore Constitution will be amended again yet by the ruling PAP. Three bills have been tabled to amend the Constitution as well as the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Acts to usher in "changes" to the political landscape. As the PAP holds a two-third majority in Parliament with 82 out of 84 seats, it is able to amend the Constitution as and when it wishes to without any opposition. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong proposed last year to decrease the size of the Group Representatio Constituency (GRC) and increase the number of Non-Constituency (NC) MPs in Parliament to "reflect the aspirations of Singaporeans, and to provide for more diverse views in Parliament." Critics claim that the cosmetic changes will only perpetuate the PAP's hegemony further as voters will be less inclined to vote for the opposition as they are now guaranteed more places in Parliament as NCMPs. Without denying the PAP its two-thirds majority in Parliament, the NCMPs will be powerless to stop the PAP from tabling bills and forcing unpopular policies down the throats of Singaporeans. Furthermore, being deprived of a grassroots support base, the NCMPs will not be able to grow their strength and influence. The Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Acts will also be changed to allow for a "cooling-off" day on the eve of polling day, where no form of campaigning is permitted for all political parties except for their political broadcasts. The mainstream media will not be hindered by this rule and can continue to report on the election news. This new rule will no doubt disadvantage the opposition as the Singapore media is flagrantly biased against them, being controlled indirectly by the PAP via SPH whose Chairman is a former PAP Minister Dr Tony Tan. It is not stated explicitly if the rule will extend to cyberspace though PM Lee had said he hope that bloggers will adhere to it. The next election will be a watershed in the political history of Singapore. With public sentiments against the PAP at an all-time high due to unhappiness over its liberal immigration, pro-foreigner and discriminatory housing policies, the opposition stands a good chance of winning more seats in Parliament. Singaporeans should take heed from the Malaysian political tsunami in 2008 which saw the opposition denied the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition its traditional two-third majority in Parliament. With its wings being clipped, Barisan Nasional can longer amend the Constitution at its wimps and fancies and as a result, it has to change its style of governance to listen more to the people. Unless the PAP is denied its two-third majority in the next general election, it will continue to ride roughshod over Singaporeans who will forever be hapless "sheep" under its mercy.  Read More →