Why Singapore needs to have elected opposition MPs in parliament and not token representation
December 14th, 2009 | 
Author: OPINION
The “reforms” introduced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to allow up to 18 non-PAP MPs in parliament as NMPs and NCMPs in the next general election is nothing more than a gimmick to satisfy rising demands from Singaporeans to have more alternative voices in the august chamber. It is akin to giving a child throwing tantrums a candy to shut him up.
Singaporeans should not be deceived again by such juvenile antics from the ruling party to entrench itself in power for token opposition without a grassroots base in parliament is no threat at all to its political hegemony.
In the first place, the PAP still retains its traditional two-thirds majority in parliament which enables it to ram down unpopular policies down our throats without consulting the people. (remember GST hike, salary hike for ministers, casinos and the large number of foreigers flooding our shores?)
In other words, while the non-PAP MPs are allowed to voice “alternative” views to the establishment in parliament, they are hugely ineffectual and will have minimal impact on the policy-making process.
Furthermore, it may hamper the opposition’s chances in the next election as it gives Singaporeans less incentives to vote for the opposition now that they are able to enter parliament as a “best loser” NCMP even if they lose the election.
What Singapore really need is genuine political competition on a level playing field which enables its citizens to toss out non-performing and unpopular ministers from office.
Though the PAP has done much good for Singapore, it is not entitled to govern forever. Under a democratic system, all political parties should have equal chances of winning power so long they have the support of the people.
The PAP will not feel threaten by having more non-PAP MPs in parliament since they still call the shots. The status quo will remain and nothing will ever change.
Some PAP apologists have been going around applauding Prime Minister Lee’s move to “open” the political space for debate by allowing more non-PAP MPs in parliament via the NMP and NCMP routes.
One YPAP member and new citizen from India Mr Fredric Fanthome claimed that this was “unheard of” anywhere in the world.
Yes, nowhere in the world do we have a country which is synonymous with the party which manipulates the system to suit its own partisan interests in flagrant disregard for the Constitution, a sham democracy when the opposition is so weak and divided that the ruling party has to “appoint” them into parliament because they are unable to win a seat on their own.
Without a constituency of their own, opposition MPs are deprived of a grassroots base to build up their party as well as to better understand the concerns of Singaporeans on the ground.
Unlike the PAP losing candidate for Potong Pasir Sitoh Yi Pin who is still able to conduct his own “Meet-the-People” sessions in the constituency, NCMPs are unable to do so.
During the dinner bash held last Saturday at Potong Pasir to commemorate Mr Chiam See Tong’s 25 MPs as a MP, he was swarmed by residents the moment he appeared with many clamoring to shake his hands.
Mr Chiam’s popularity and rapport with his residents is built up slowly over time. It would not be possible if he did not win his first five-year term as a MP. There are currently no other avenues for NCMPs and NMPs to reach out to the people.
Political parties in Singapore have to depend heavily on grassroots support for funds, manpower and other resources especially during election time.
Without first securing a base to begin with, it will be difficult if not impossible for the opposition to build up its strength and support thereby putting themselves forever at a disadvantage as compared to the ruling party which is able to mobilize the grassroots organizations to serve its interests.
The opposition will also be unable to prove their worth and capabilities which will further perpetuate the erroneous public impression that only the ruling party has the means and experience to run a Town Council well.
Only when there is a real threat of a government losing power will it be bothered to sit up and listen attentively to the concerns of the people and implement pro-citizen policies instead of unpopular ones.
Eighteen non-PAP MPs in parliament will never be able to exert the same amount of political pressure as half the number of opposition MPs.
Why is this so?
Because the NMPs are appointed on a two-yearly basis and the NCMPs do not have a base of their own to increase their ground support and national profile.
On the other hand, voting in nine opposition MPs will change the political landscape radically. They will be able to show the people both inside and outside the parliament what they are capable of and provide a alternative to the ruling party.
The government will have to think twice before talking down to Singaporeans or taking them for granted again because the nine opposition MPs can hold them accountable in parliament and if it is not careful, the number may increase in the next election which can even threaten their positions.
For example, the Malaysian government has become more attuned to the needs of the ethnic minorities only after losing its two-third majority during the 2008 elections.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in his inauguration speech that the era of ”government knows best” is gone and he would listen more to the people.
Recently, a minister called ex-premier Dr Mahathir the ”father of racism” for continuing to defend the controversial BTN course which many had decried as being racist.
These developments would be unimaginable before the 2008 political tsunami which changed the face of Malaysia politics forever. The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition is aware that if it is not careful enough, it will be booted out of office by the opposition in the next election.
In many first-world democracies, the opposition is merely a “government-in-waiting” and it provides the people a real choice as to whom they want to lead them.
Singaporeans need to lend more support to the opposition so that talented people will step forward to join them. With a credible opposition in place, we will not need laughable rules to “guarantee” 18 non-PAP MPs in parliament.
Copyright © The Temasek Review, 2009
Posted in Opinion
Like what I’ve mentioned in one of my previous comments that NCMP/NMP are powerless people in the house. This article would probably ‘educate’ people who thinks Papa would give more ’seats’ to opposition for ‘inaudible’ voices.
Govt always said, competition is good for singapore. I believe this applies to govt too. More opposition ensures the quality of each policy being passed. Policies would undergo numerous critics and debate before finally passing and hence better represent the ‘voices’ of singaporeans. NCMP/NMP are bystanders who doesn’t have the voting rights to pass policies.
Singaporeans must be politically mature enough to know that we need to have a two party system in order for a healthy democracy going.
Why do we need a two party system? Well, why do we need quality assurance in all manufactured goods and services?
Having a second party check on PAP whenever it comes up with laws and policies ensures that the new laws and policies are properly debated and check. NCMPs and NMPs cannot do this because they have no voting power.
Even if you think PAP is doing a good job, which they are not in the past few years, we still have to have a second party (or group of parties) which is independent of the PAP party whip.
Remember the case of casinos and high ministerial salaries where even PAP MPs who opposed the bills cannot vote against it. Only the opposition, which there are only two now, can vote against such an unwise acts by the government. We need to vote more opposition MPs in so they can be an effective force to check on the government. You would not want to do a 20-man job yourself, so why are we letting 2 opposition MPs doing a 40-man job?
For a true democracy to show what it can do for the people, we need opposition and not just opposition alone. We need alternative government. One that is ready to take over when the current one failed.
Irregardless of how good the PAP had been in the past or even now, we must know that some day in the unknown future someone who is evil to the people takes the rein and sell us to the wolves, who can we turn to.
It is only natural that PAP will take advantage of the weak opposition to level themselves up. Their interest in advancing their party is politically correct. In fact PAP is a good political party and I hope they remain eternally.
However my love is first for my own country and that is what must take precedent. It is true democracy with alternate government the way that all this should be. This will ensure we have a long and good future and stay relevant perpetually.
“Why Singapore needs to have elected opposition MPs in parliament and not token representation”
I beg to differ!
I would phrase it as :
Why SingaporeANS accept the situation where 33.3% votes went to the Opposition and yet only 2 got a seat?
Just recently, a NMP asked the government to relax the quota on foreign workers, claiming that locals do not want to take up jobs available.
If we don’t want any more WAYANG question and answer parliamentary session, then we must vote for opposition parties. PAP has cleverly uses GRC to control the growth of opposition parties i.e. each GRC that PAP won, there is at least one should go to opposition party. But the winner take all strategy deprive the opposition a parliamentary seat !!!!
Every registered company requires audit in their account books… Only Temasek doesnt… We dun even audit out own reserves…
How much reserves do we have? Even the late President Ong doesn’t know… even though he fought fearlessly to demand for a statement of what we have and only gotten a incomplete list. In the end what does he deserve? NOTHING! He was the only late President who was denied a State Funeral… But my respects go to him.
Something is obviously WRONG! Vote wisely…
“The Pope? How many divisions has he got?” Joseph Stalin
To paraphrase stalin,
“The opposition? How many seats have they got?” PAP govt
In PAP’ world where might is right, the only way to wake them up from their complacency is to vote in more opposition MPs.
if we remain trapped in a catch-22 situation asking for results from opposition, we will never break the duck. they can only prove their worth in larger numbers. if they don’t speak up after we voted them in numbers, then it is better to forget abt elections for singapore
MenInBlue on Mon, 14th Dec 2009 4:13 pm
I wonder too.
Why nobody has questioned the need for regressive tax increases during times of surplus is beyond me.
For all singapore’s wealth her people enjoy little of the security offered by such wealth.
The people paid for it, why shouldn’t they have an account of what they have?
My socks smell better.
My dear fellow countrymen,
The NMP and NCMP wayang must be buried once and for all, period!
A couple of corrections need to made:
1. Re: “The “reforms” introduced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to allow up to 18 non-PAP MPs in parliament as NMPs and NCMPs in the next general election is nothing more than a gimmick to satisfy rising demands from Singaporeans to have more alternative voices in the august chamber.”
My first comment has to do with the magic figure of 18.
Half of that 18 consists of NMPs who are appointed – and not elected – for a 2 1/2 year term renewable once. (The current batch of NMPs were appointed in the middle of this year.)Moreover, it has been pointed out many times that NMPs, with only a tiny handful of exceptions, are essentially very much of the PAP mould. Indeed one current NMP, Calvin Cheng was actually a YPAP member.
Thus, the characterization of NMPs as non-PAP is patently false; it’s, as the article acknowledges, a mere token representation, and then again only rarely.
I’m sure, as the article also acknowledges, that the PAP is fully aware that there is indeed a rising demand by Singaporeans for a larger number of opposition members in Parliament. That’s why they have only recently started pulling this magic figure of 18 from thin air.
I would prefer that TR not follow suit, because in people’s minds the number 18 SOUNDS larger and definitely and closer to the number of OPPOSITION members that Singaporeans want to see in Parliament. In reality, that is the furthest thing from the truth especially if you also elect people like Low Thia Khiang who joined 13 of his true colleagues from the PAP to condemn Viswa Sadasivan at his maiden speech.
If Singaporeans are constantly and falsely reminded that are there is a guarantee of 18 non-PAP MPs in the next Parliament, less effort will be spared to get more than 9 OPPOSITION MPs into Parliament; even the opposition parties could start slackening. (I’m writing this on the assumption that those who are more optimistic than I am are right; nine is just the the theoretical minimum number of opposition MPs who will be elected.)
2. Re: “…the PAP still retains its traditional two-thirds majority in parliament which enables it to ram down unpopular policies down our throats without consulting the people.”
The two-thirds majority is required only for constituional amendments. Still, it is supremely important to deny the PAP that two-thirds majority because they are found of making constitutional amendments as often as people change their underwear. One such amendment was the one that saw the introduction of the GRC feature in the electoral system. Many amendments are also actually incosistent with other constitutional articles and should therefore be voided.
However, for statutory laws and policies, a mere a simple majority – 50% plus one additional vote – suffices.
If S’poreans don’t want to vote in opposition parties…..they should STOP complaining about PAP doing this and that thing!!!
record speaks for itself:
none of the elected opposition had lost monies in investing town council funds.
none of the so called communist are really communist.
We must trust that people who receive a token in pay and in politics and are in politics for the good of the people.
vote for opposition and you will have a motivated pig@parliament.
How come Khaw and MBT didn’t annouce the changes earlier?
They are doing it now to save their hide.
Their 2nd and 3rd property are at stake.
Knowledge changes destiny.
The 1st step towards changing Singaporeans current position of constantly being push over by the Fts is to learn about this reality and the pigs’ deliberate policies that causing these pains.
The 2nd step is to act on this knowledge. We need to vote out enough pigs to send a message across.
The NMP scheme is a bogus scheme much like Madoff scheme.