Why do we need so many PAP strawberries MPs in Parliament?
March 17th, 2010 | 
Author: OPINION
The recent parliamentary “debates” showcased the utter stupidity, incompetence and impotence of the PAP MPs to the whole of Singapore such that even the spin doctors of the Straits Times are having a hard time trying to polish up their embattled public image.
When Singaporeans are fretting over increased competition from foreign workers, increased cost of living, sky-rocketing HDB flat prices, an uncertain future and dwindling CPF savings, PAP MPs are busy scratching the backs of one another in Parliament on hairdos, triumph bras, frog tales, food museums and more ways to make the foreigners happy in Singapore!
Some are caught sleeping on camera like the Minister in charge of productivity Teo Chee Hean and of all people, the Speaker of Parliament Mr Abdullah Tarmugi himself.
One reader who attended the parliamentary proceedings last week wrote:
“I attended the parliamentary proceedings last Tuesday. The speaker was too rigid in the time allocation for the various ministries and as a result limited the follow-up exchanges between the MPs and ministers. The Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi was very sleepy on that day.. and had to be woken up by the clerk after Hawazi Daipi (Parliamentary Secretary for MOH) finished his reply! He took some time to realise where he was and to choose the MPs for the follow-up questions.”
No wonder there are no more LIVE coverage of parliamentary “debates” and the speeches are all scripted and prepared beforehand. The MPs send their questions to the various ministers who will prepare the answers to be read out during parliament. Even secondary school students can do better than them.
Why not do away with the “wayang” and have the ministers replied directly to the MPs in writing then? That will save Singapore taxpayers quite alot of money.
For a small country of 5 million people or 3.6 million citizens, Singapore has an unusually large number of MPs or 1 MP per 42,857 citizens.
Do we really need so many MPs? Let us compare the size of our parliament with other Asian democracies:
1. Malaysia:
Number of elected MPs: 222 in Dewan Rakyat
Population (2009): 27 million.
MP to citizen ratio: 1 per 121,621
Monthly allowance of MP: S$2,500
2. Japan:
Number of MPs: 480 in House of Representatives
Population: 127 million.
MP to citizen ratio: 1 per 264,583
3. South Korea:
Number of MPs: 290 in National Assembly
Population: 49.5 million.
MP to citizen ratio: 1 per 170,689
4. Republic of China (Taiwan)
Number of MPs: 113 in Legislative Yuan
Population: 22.9 million.
MP to citizen ratio: 1 per 202,654
5. Thailand
Number of MPs: 480 in National Assembly
Population: 62 million
MP to citizen ratio: 1 per 129,167
6. Indonesia
Number of MPs: 690 in People’s Consultative Assembly
Population: 238 million
MP to citizen ratio: 1 per 344,928
[Source: Wikipedia]
As we can see from the above estimated figures, Singapore has the highest MP to citizen ratio among democratic states in Asia.
Why do we need so many MPs to govern a small island only 700 plus square kilometers in size with only 3.6 million citizens?
If we apply the MP to citizen ratio of Malaysia here, only 30 MPs are needed in Singapore.
Our MPs are doing less work than MPs of other countries and yet they are more highly paid. Are they less capable and efficient than their counterparts elsewhere?
PAP MPs are getting the best deal in the world for the following reasons:
1. They are paid $13,000 for a part-time job on top of their full-time jobs and multiple directorships on the boards of various companies. The monthly median salary of an average Singaporean is only $2,600 in 2009.
2. Other than the weekly Meet-the-People sessions which they frequently delegate to grassroots leaders to manage, PAP MPs do not have to travel very often or far to meet their constituents. Lim Kit Siang, the Malaysian MP for Ipoh has to deal with a population of nearly 100,000 on top of commuting frequently between Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Penang where he lives.
3. The ministers and MPs of other democracies are often grilled by the opposition lawmakers to the extent that fights even break out sometimes. There is literally no opposition in Parliament to challenge the PAP MPs who are so bored that they are often caught yawning or sleeping in Parliament after apple-polishing one another! It was reported that one former PAP MP Davinder Singh made less than 10 speeches during his 18 years in Parliament!
Since the PAP MPs keep exhorting Singaporeans to be “cheaper, faster and better”, why can’t they walk their talk and show us how to be “cheaper, faster and better” themselves first?
We propose that the number of seats in Parliament to be halved from the present 84 to 42 and the monthly allowance of MPs to be decreased by more than 75 percent to $3,000.
At present, the MP allowances cost Singaporeans $1,092,000 million dollars monthly.
Under our proposed scheme, it will cost only $126,000 which will save us $966,000 monthly or $11.6 million dollars a year.
The extra savings can then be channeled to the Public Assistance (PA) scheme to increase its monthly allowance and coverage to help more needy and destitute Singaporeans.
MPs are supposed to serve the interests of the people and to speak up for them in Parliament. They should not make a profit or living out of it, not when their allowances are funded by taxpayers’ monies.
The PAP needs to use such high pay to entice talented people to join them because few Singaporeans are interested to be involved in politics due to the repressive political climate in Singapore.
Under a completely open, fair and liberal political system, there will be no shortage of capable Singaporeans stepping forward to volunteer their services to the nation. No real talented person or leader will be keen to become a “yes-man” in service of the PAP regime.
Without any genuine debates in Parliament, the Singapore parliamentary system is becoming a farce and laughing stock to the rest of the world.
The major policy decisions are often made behind closed doors by senior leaders of the PAP after which they are put to a vote in Parliament which will always go through since PAP controls 82 out of 84 seats.
It is therefore apt to describe Singapore’s Parliament as a rubber-stamped Parliament which makes one wonder if we are living in a modern democracy or an one-party totalitarian state.
Singaporeans have been paying for this grand “wayang” for the last 50 years. Are you still willling to put up with it in the future?
Read also:
1. Why PAP MPs are no more but a “wayang” in Parliament
2. 10 most unforgettable quotes by PAP MPs in the recent parliamentary debates
3. PAP MPs complain that recent parliamentary “debates” are too fast
Posted in Opinion
Fair argument. The PAP is putting in place a “ring fence” to protect their existence with sheer numbers. There is no way this is going to be reversed. Much like the inflated prices in public housing, the parliament (and the government) keeps getting bigger and bigger overtime. This will be unsustainable without raising taxes and related cost of essentials. Our votes are needed to prick this bubble.
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we must always remember that our MPs that we have been funding with taxes all our lives are also there to serve the PRs who have joined our country only in the recent past, as well as fleeting foreigners who are just visiting and investing and taking home winnings, whether in the form of casino or property.
this is infrastructure. someone needs to hold the rifle at the gates to watch out for barbarians. someone needs to meet the people to hear the grouses of the grasses and the roots so that the high life does not get interfered with these mundane complaints. infrastructure is paid by the people in general, starting from the people who have been here for donkey years. infrastructure like your NS allowance that you think so little about, comes from the people.
without these guardians and these adequately-compensated MPs, we cannot give our foreign friends a life to enjoy.
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In Singapore, the government don’t look at these types of comparison. They only compare with things that suit them.
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As stated by LKY in the orchestra analogy “ITS THE DUMMIES STUPID”
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Tho our MP ratio is high, but we will never see our MPs other than on tv or when election coming…
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These MPs do not deserved the high allowances. Did they speak up for us or the foreigners?? You know!
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We are further handicapped by the GRC system where I can’t even vote out any incompetent MP who just piggyback on ministers/senior MPs. These “MPs” wayang through 2 terms and benefit from the pension scheme on top of multiple directorships. Because of the GRC system, we get arrogant raw MPs who think they are indispensable when they are anything but ordinary. For that matter, we shd also kick out old and lazy MPs who need spurs in their hide. Give me the chance to vote in cheaper, better and faster MPs.
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When my Chinese friends told me China is very much bigger than Singapore in size, I told them NO.
Singapore is bigger than China because we have 80+ Provinces compared to 30+ in China. Each of our Province Governor is drawing salary more than a State President….Uniquely Singapore!?
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- In Singapore, the government don’t look at these types of comparison. They only compare with things that suit them. -
nowadays reporters in all the newspapers have email addresses. you can email them, and ask them. don’t ask them whether ‘if there is an unfavorable comparison will it get published?’ instead ask them ‘does an unfavorable comparison have an equal chance of being published vs favorable ones, all other things like comparison standards being equal’. same question, different phrasing, but easier for them to NOT reply in the positive without getting scolded by their department heads.
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All fucking Lee family asslickers! There just to get their fat paychecks. VOTE THEM ALL OUT.
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Without them, Singaporeans will become so rich overnight that the government will have problem managing the country.
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So far our PAP MPs has been remained silent on the following issues :-
1) Not revealing the true cost of HDB flats
Use of the Police & ISD as political tools by PAP
2) Great influx of foreigners taking over Singaporean jobs
3) Great nos. of Chinese & Indian citizens as against Malays
4) Mandatory death sentence under mitigating circumstances
5) Too many Ministers eating snake in PM’s Office
6) Stupid & silly laws like arresting those in a “procession”
7) Opposition dissidents wrongly detained in the past
9) Exploiting foreign maids levies with no reciprocal benefits
10) Exploiting investing returns from CPF funds as own
11) Mercenary renumeration for Ministers
What exactly do we need the PAP MPs for ?
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Just Kick out all of them….jack ass
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Ha ha ha!
I called them talking birds.
What kind of speeches you people want from birds?
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By design, the increase in the gross number of seats means it’ll be more difficult for the opposition to get the 30% seats in parliament to veto/block any unfair or self-serving bills.
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Replying ……..Wee SK on Wed, 17th Mar 2010 10:03 am
As a Singaporean, throughout my entire life I wasn’t given the chance to vote at all.
Those MPs in parliament are not elected by you and me. They came in by default through the backdoor of the daft GRC system. They are installed at the will of those few in power.
Hence, these MPs are not the voice of the people. They don’t represent us. They are just the mouth piece of the ruling party. Got quality or no quality, it does not matter – as long as they are yes men, draw fat salary, they are ok.
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Now, talk about productivity!!! PAP damn bloody useless lah, next election I forecast they will get only 50% of votes AT MOST.
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indeed well said, PAP MPs are nothing but dogs. Dogs which wag and bark at their masters(ministers)
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“MPs are supposed to serve the interests of the people and to speak up for them in Parliament. They should not make a profit or living out of it, not when their allowances are funded by taxpayers’ monies.”
Precisely, I totally agreed with statement mentioned above, I share this sentiment. Those PAPpies especially the grand old man always have this silly “peanut – monkey” thoery, serving as an excuse to the citizens that they rightfully deserve to be highly paid. Why should we be held ransom by these Greedy Pigs in White?
Have they ever consider our well-being or welfare in the 1st place? Much will be they will do things that to their own benefits and pockets. These PAPpies never connect to the ground, show no empathy to those less privlleged group, only concern on their own well being and pockets…
Vote for PAPpies in the next GE? No Way and over my dead body…
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Initially I wanted to write that we need more MPs. More NMPs and NCMPs. People who will make well constructed, hard hitting and substantiated criticisms towards the PAP.
Then I remembered headlines like “NMP Siew Kum Hong stood as the LONE DISSENTER to the Films Act amendments being passed.”
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Why complain when you’re one of those who voted for them.
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I believe if Singaporeans are to concentrate more on the political climate rather than “smokescreens”, the opposition will have a better fighting chance.
Please be aware that issues like FTs, PRs, housing, inept politicians and IRs etc may not affect the livehood immediately or directly but in the end, they will affect all of us.
Can’t wait until kena than siam, right. Must preempt it and siam already lah. So exercise caution before voting NOW before it’s too late.
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it is a scheme to beef up the coffers of pap both financially and politically.
every mp get high pay.
how do we know how much they contribute to the various pap functions?
When they donate xxx amt to pap, which pap sets, it is in a way beefing up the financial resources of the pigs.
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THIS IS VERY BAD!!!
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wHAT DO YOU EXPECT? wHEN THIRTY OF THE WORLD’S HIGHEST PAD POLITICIANS GET TOGETHER ONE CAN EXPECT THEM TO COMPARE NOTES. MAYBE THEY NEED TO FIND WAYS TO SPEND HUGE SUMS OF MONEY THEY EARN ..SO TOADY BRAS, HAIRDOS, FROGS, FOODS…WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ABOUT AT TEH NEXT SITTING (OOPS SLEEP IN!)
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TO BE FAIR, NO RELATIVE OR FAMILY MEMBER OF MP SHOULD BE PART OF THE PARLIAMENT, NO MORE THAN 1 MEMBER OF FAMILEE IS ALLOWED
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THERE IS NOT ONE LEE BUT AN ENTIRE FXXXXG FAMILEE OF LEES CONTROLLING ALL OF SG MONEY, FROM IN-LAWS TO GRANDSON (SINGTEL, STARHUB, SBS, NTUC, SIA…THE LIST GOES ON)
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… and five mayors who will be given lifelong pensions after they retire or serve at least two terms.
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CASINO IS THE LAST CARD FOR SUCCESS OR FAILURE . ha ha ha ha
LOOKS LIKE FREAK ELECTION IS REALLY COMING
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Our govt enpenditure as a %tage of GDP are the 7th highest in the world. Our good friend Burma is No. 1.
http://www.creditloan.com/infographics/government-expenses-worldwide-by-gdp/
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The govt did contribute in the past in building Singapore
But now…
Increasing HDB prices, Choking buses and trains, etc
yet they arent addressing these issues that concern us directly.
what a bunch of fools
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whatever you do, you do whatever you like,
whatever you say, you say whatever you like,
whatever you see, you see selectively what you want to see,
whatever you hear, you only like to hear the praise.
82:2
so kiasu kiase, see opposition only must try to kill them off quickly, have papliament for what? have election for what?
might as well change it to lee dynasty. @#$%&^@!
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PAP members of Parliament, with the possible exception of Ong Ah Heng, do not empathize with the average Singaporean HDB heartlander. They are devoid of common sense. This is primarily due to the weak and ineffectual leadership of the PAP. Right-thinking citizens who have the capability to lead the country avoid the ruling party like a plague. They are now either waiting on the side-lines, or else they have migrated to other lands.
Singaporeans must stand up for their rights. Their members of Parliament are sleeping on their jobs. They are self-interested and hypocritical. Self before party, and party before country, is the creed of most parliamentarians. Instead of voicing municipal concerns, one joker proposed the establishment of a Food Museum.
Will Singaporeans elect MPs who will speak for them in the next general election? Or will they continue to be hoodwinked by the ruling elite?
Do they not feel alienated by their leaders? What a sad day this is for Singapore.
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To Takumi,
I quote, “Initially I wanted to write that we need more MPs”, unquote.
Why do we need more MPs and spend more tax-payers’ monies. What have the 82 PAP MPs done for the native Singaporean? Pretend to ‘wayang’ during parliament sessions and sleeping away like the Defence Minister. Do away with the party whip (wait long long), than I believe we will have critical arguments and dissenting voices…I would say spend more tax-payers’ monies and have more peoples representation.
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other countries have local seats within a state/province. if you add these seats to parliamentary seats, then do a comparison will be more apple-to-apple comparison
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I hate to agree but it is true our MP-citizen ration is lop-sided. Removing them would decrease the supply and lead to increase in demand by pitting more Oppositions against each other. How’s that for a change? The fireworks would be spontaneous. Maybe they can throw chairs at each other for a start in parliament.
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Wow… we are well covered by our lot of MPs.
if that is the case, the time taken to listen and help citizens should be shorter right? Then why the heck is there so many citizens plights still not been answered?
For those has watched the TCS Programme where Quan Yi Feng/Lee Ming Soon goes out to assist Singaporeans who’s life would be a bit better if there are more social help or funds. Imagine a primary school aged boy who’s glasses obviously is faded no longer suitable to him escaped the notice of his School teacher?! Imagine those school aged children left to fend for themselves when their parents need either medical or psychological help.
The money we are paying these MP could put to better use.
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I do hope the MPs read this blog…
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Hoping to keep those strawberries longer and pray that they ‘ll turn “WINE”.
But in reality, those present strawberries already sour like Vinegar.
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Whatever these MPs do is a reflection of the Emperor and his son, which is called Wayang. Whenever deep shits happen that call for accountability and responsibility in kangaroo parliament, you will have the emperor and his son excusing themselves into some other countries to leave it to their henchmen to give nonsensical remarks, so to save shame and face for Lee Family. If you will have top echelon behave as such, wouldn’t it be normal for their subordinates to behave likewise ? If the top echelon engaged in legalized corruption themselves, you too find that organization throughout will behave as likewise.
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US has changed 13 or 14 presidents in 45 years, we still have MM Lee sitting there like forever.
Looks more likely that MM will die in office.
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Too many hidden secrets.
Some strawberries are rotten and many turn vinegar.
Sealing it tightly so that smell wouldn’t escape. Maybe you could find magots in there too.
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These so called talents who make themselves a fool in Parliament are so expensive for the taxpayers.
Very Sim Tia, for I am paying taxes to see clowns acting
on a formal stage. Very Sim Tia.
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It is because of such costly 11.6mil allowances paid to sleepy MPs that there is not enough money left to help the charity. Singapore has been seeing a tremendous increase in donor seekers in every part of Singapore and even on TV. What has happened to this “first world” country or “swiss standard” of living. Will we even have a glimpse of “golden period”? We are daft to even believe such fantasy existing under PAP exploitations on the people.
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People of Singapore please understand,how hard your MP’s are working, thats’s whe we have the highest GDP,in this part of the world.BE PROUD , U paid for it.
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Let me try to balance the arguments:
1. Sleeping while in Parliament is not such a heinous crime after all. I, myself, have often fallen asleep during lectures and talks. But, most of the time it’s the fault of the speaker or lecturer who has a boring or sleep-inducing tone of voice. In such instances, you would not miss much even if you fall asleep.
2. Having a high MP:citizen ratio is in fact an advantage, if only the citizens know how to use that advantage.
3. Having alleged yes-men instead of true talents in Parliament is not the fault of the Govt because the 82-2 majority is created by the votes of the citizens. The PAP MPs cannot barge into Parliament without the assent of their constituents.
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Those good guys who has contributed so much of their lives building up the nation are eliminated one by one. Now one man saw the overflowing reserve and engineered the whole system to protect he and his familees in power by corupting all his dogs by paying them millions at the expense of the citizens, so he can continue dumping out all the $$$ which were then built up by those he eliminated earlier. The way he did it is no difference compared to saddam and his family. The only difference is that our reserve is 100 times more compared to those ex.dictators in other countries. This have to stop before the whole nation become bankrupt.
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It is time that we demand for FULL TIME MPs.
TR, you might want to write some articles advocating for FULL TIME MPs in Singapore.
The PAP is detemined not to let this happen cos if MPs needed to serve Full Time, the PAP will have more difficulties in their recruitment. These candidates if elected, will have to resign from their HIGH PAY job which will deter many potential PAP candidates.
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Unfortunately, this is the doing of Singaporean, what do you expect when people can do what is convenience and to their advantages. Do your boss report to you during works….I am sad whenever I heard people telling me that “there is no one else better lah”…in fact this could true but then don’t complain.
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$13000 to some is listening fees rather than talking fees, isn’t it?
Some even sleep on the job.
Not cheap.
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I think the govt is based on the swiss standard.. number of swiss mps or whatever it is called per person.
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hello this is all OUR fault
we have made a very big mistake when we voted the in
now we pay the price and they laugh at us.
ACTION …..next elections vote them out
inform all your friends ,neighbours be vigilant
IF NOT ALL THE NEW GENERATION WILL SUFFER …………..SPECIALLY YOUR KIDS
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Does the below remind you of the MIW and their cronies in anyway…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyakI9GeYRs
Be surprised.
Be shocked.
Be terrified!
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There are so many MPs from one PARTY in Spore because many
Sporeans are easily “bought” when the dictator and co. issued
“gifts” to get support (votes) during election-time :
* vote for me –get upgrading
* vote for me –get MRT
After election,these Sporeans complained– too late. But when
election comes will these people make more effort to reduce
the seats given to the dictator and co by voting for the
OPPOSITION. SAY YES AND DON’T ACCEPT WHATEVER “GIFTS”
that is offered.
Too much money is paid to the present party members in parliament. IF they want the average of the top four salaries paid IN PRIVATE SECTOR in Spore , they should show their abilities in the PRIVATE SECTOR. ITS SHAMEFUL TO PAID YOURSELF SUCH HIGH SALARIES IN PUBLIC SECTORS.
OF COURSE THESE PEOPLE HAVE VERY THICK SKIN AND WILL CONTINUE PAYING THEMSELVES HIGHEST SALARIES THAN ANY OTHER GOVT IN THE WORLD
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@ TR: Do we really need so many MPs?
ABSOLUTELY NO. There are too many MPs with nothing to do in Parliament except yawn and nap. There is no time in Parliament for MPs to speak, present citizen’s concerns, debate, debunk policies.
The present MPs are too occupied with their own professions, businesses, government jobs, sitting in many boardrooms and wearing many hats AND TRAVELLING A LOT. How can they have time to devote to constituency work and citizens’ concerns?
Look at the long long queue at Meet-the-People session. All the work are handled by grassroot helpers who don’t earn anything but eat grass and their MPs showed up for two hours or even never show up and get paid $13,000 per month.
That is why I think so many stupid people helped out at RCs, CCCs, PA just so that they can get PBM, BBM while their MPs can get a brand-new BMW ($13,000 x 12 = $156,000) every year.
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Every day passes, their true colors get clearer and clearer.
M&M chocolate uses the oldest political weapon to fortify his kingdom.
Lace your soldiers with food money and wine and they will not stray far from these offerings. Make the peasants pay for the costs!
Road to recovery?
Vote the traitors out.
Arrest them.
Prosecute them under the full constitution of the law for CRIMES against the people
Execute them; ok ok…Jail them long long
The End
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Honestly,if these chpas were not some kind of scholars and they have not been cajoled into it,they won’t even think of serving as MPs.
Politics should be a CALLING not a CAJOLING…that’s why our NEW GUARDS are no where compared to their less educated RETIRED OLD PEERS who were paid much less for doing a much better job!
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3. Having alleged yes-men instead of true talents in Parliament is not the fault of the Govt because the 82-2 majority is created by the votes of the citizens. The PAP MPs cannot barge into Parliament without the assent of their constituents.
@smallvoice585 : let me try to rebalance your third point. The majority of the 82 MPs were shooed in by the back door .. so how can that be the fault of us citizens who were not able to vote.
What I do blame are those voters who chose to vote for the PAP for their own personal interest – fear of not having their flats upgraded and all the other carrots dangled at them during the elections and who are now complaining about their current situation.
You get who you vote …
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Their time is almost up…..
It is action time soon……Vote PAP OUT once and for all !
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Utterly, horrifically disgusted..
So what are we planning to do about this?
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Frankly speaking, 66% of Singaporeans are just plain stupid and kiasi. Vote more opposition and PAP MPs will sit straight up and not fall asleep.
Wake up Singaporeans. Blame yourself why foreigh talents are here – because you really got no talent. America Got Talent, Singapore Where Got talent?
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basically PAP MPs are just incompetence pigs who are out to suck blood.
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Dear commentor, thru out the comment, everybody want to entirely vote out the PAPs and nail the famiLEE. In what way, During election times when opposition party call out for Polling Agent,Eveybody flock. The opposition need people to help guard after the ballot box. During my early days with SDP I myself had spotted civil servant helping those old & handicap voter to cast on PAP side. The opposition need Brave Singaporean to come out to help them, This is your country,This is your homeland, These are your children (Next Generation)& friend, To build a better future without the PAP.
To show the world we Singaporean is “Yes” we can. For a better check & Balance Society. Majullah Singapura.
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well balanced article!
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Political Salesman,
how can you prove that ‘everyone flock’?
we need to mobilise volunteers to help the opposition check things.
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Check this out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpVycRpa2L8
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Xtians dominate our parliament. This need to be corrected. WE need to have a true representation of the population. At present almost half of them are Xtians, whereas 88% are non believers, whom are at risk of being viewed with disdain and classified as satanic as we have witnessed in recent events.
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There are two key points to note:
You have forgotten the Nominated MP which they want to increase, so more MPs and NMPs, it is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Singaporeans including myself are timid, selfish, greedy, kiasi,kisu and compliant, very scared, no principle, want cash and Higher HDB prices
So the PAP will be return and return election after election even their MPs salaries are the top30 in the world. Majority of Singaporeans will vote for them and the GRC system is well designed to ensure opposition have no chance.
PAP are simply too good and the best in the world, so what is the problem when Singaporeans are endorsing them strongly for decades and this is going to be repeated.
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@TR: We propose that the number of seats in Parliament to be halved from the present 84 to 42 and the monthly allowance of MPs to be decreased by more than 75 percent to $3,000.
Former PAP MP Davinder Singh made less than 10 speeches during his 18 years in Parliament!
——————–
Fully agreed. PAP MPs have too many other commitments to be totally committed to citizens. Davinder Singh can make million$ as a lawyer, why does he wants to listen to your problem that your employer fired you because you’re pregnant?
The GRC is a ploy to win big. If one GRC has no opposition or contest, straightaway four or five PAP MPs get a free-ticket into parliament plus one BMW every year and pension for life if served more than 2 terms.
MP seats are also for those serving in NTUC and its affiliated unions. So the union chief of taxi-drivers gets an MP seat.
It is time to revert to single constituency. Singapore is not so big that you can carved more 40 constituencies. Half of Mandai is reservoir, cemetery and zoo. Ah Meng or a tiger should be the MP for Mandai constituency!
If MPs not happy with $3,000 per month for part-time work, they can quit!
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With 84 MPs, Singapore still got 5 mayors. That show there are many MPs or incompetent MPs or unproductive MPs or MPs letting the mayors do most of the work!
It is time to have full-time MPs whose performance like Town Councils have to be evaluated by the constituents. If the MPs are not productive or serving the constituents well, they should be fired!
How much is a mayor paid?
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If we can save that much by cutting Minister’s pay, then we won’t have charity show in every quarter.
Religious leaders are also paid too much (City Harvest pastor, Ren Ci Ming Yi, NKR TT Durai, etc), that’s why there is a big chance for them as well as any organization to abuse their powers.
Also, Australia & New Zealand are attracting Singaporeans to work, live and stay there. PAP baby bonus does not work, so importing Chinese, India, etc foreigners a quick but careless thoughts to fill the gap?
We must carefully think it over during the “cooling day” prior to the GE, otherwise, it is another 50 years our next generation suffer in disguise…
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Ah Haut:”More people, do things also faster mah”
Ah Beng:”More people can play mahjong also, you think we gangster go fighting ah? More people means eat more rice, also means I need more money to buy more rice
Ah Haut:”More people talk also louder, we can drown your voices”
Ah Beng:”More people means louder. You think this is Shouting match or Karoke Singing Contest? We need brainy people that can handle many many many people. Having less doing more.”
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//smallvoice585
it is the fault of the govt.
most of us didn’t get to vote bcoz of walk over and the grc
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“Without any genuine debates in Parliament, the Singapore parliamentary system is becoming a farce and laughing stock to the rest of the world.”
No, the MPs are laughing all the way to the bank.
After all these years, I don’t think PAP is bothered by anyone criticizing the way they govern Singapore. Talks don’t hurt their bank balance. The MPs know which side of their bread is buttered. Being a Yes-Man is a very lucrative thing. Every man has a price. There are no shortage of takers for MPs in Singapore.
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Rather than asking the PAPaya MPs and ministers to wake up their idea, we should all eligible citizens to wake up to the real world.
We put the PAP in parliament, we can surely throw them OUT! Lets start by voting in more opposition MPs!
I know the PAPayas are really kiasu type, so they will use any and all necessary means to disqualify the opposition candidates.
I want to ask the local newspapers, where is your conscience?!
你的道德与职业的良心是不是被熏黑了？一味的偏袒执政的人民行动党，你们已丧失了公正性和公信力！
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“1 MP per 42,857 citizens.”
I really hope that the Govt can lead by example on their talk on productivity. Also for goodness sake, do not sleep on the job.
The elderly Singaporean sweeper who was fired by the MP because of one complain for being not productive. What then should we do with MPs who sleep on the job and so many people complain? Nothing. Why nothing? Because they are not accountable to us. Their salaries and allowances come from the money trees and not from the taxpayers.
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At the rate thing are going…
We will see in the future maybe 1 MP = 20,000 citizens.
Much further in the future maybe 1 MP = 1000 citizens.
All paid using citizens hard earn monies.
Is this what we want in the future?
Anywsy once you see 1 MP = 20,000 citizens…the citizens will already be revolting! Or leaving singapore even faster with their feet.
And you see all these clown, frog, donkey, sheep or whatever MP agreeing to bring in more foreigners to replace citizens…the question is…who much till the whole island of singapore literally sink…and the best is in the end the “foreigners” will be “defending” all these idiot MPs…but these MPs are cunning…once Singapore reached that stage…they will just run road to ther overseas properties/land bought with the citizens and ex-citizens blood, sweat, sacrifice and tears.
Yeah…elite all right.
Oh well…karma will come knocking on their doors one day…if not their porgeny will get it.
Xianz.
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Citizen of Singapore … Vote out the sleepy MPs and show them that we are in control of our own future. No more ridiculous public price, no more high paying MPs, but only servant-leader MPs who speaks for our welfare and promote a healthy competition in Singapore. Currently, the PAP are sleeping on their bed and does nothing more than just mere and fruitless talks. And we are paying in the millions for such poor performance. I would have been fired if I am caught sleeping on my job.
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I’ve HATED THEM ALL OF MY LIFE… ‘Cause THEY are really So SO SOUR and CREEPY on the tongue lar!!! Ever heard of sweet strawberries???
AND… LKY needs so many Ministers and COMPLIANT MPs who can speak up NOT FOR Any Bill in Parliament BUT still HAVE to VOTE FOR it… SMACKS of Hypocrisy AND Elitism!!!…
AS… THAT MUST then MAKE LKY and his cronies… One HELL Of AN UNPRODUCTIVE LOT!!!… Doesn’t it or not!!!
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wow, the # would not lie… opportunity to increase efficiency by 50% if # of MP is cut to half the number
. To me, some MPs are good & value for $$ eg Inderji (?) & Ang Mok Sing(?), but many got it (reward??) by being a `good boy’ without questioning too much or at all… 
. By the way, be rational, dont blame Teo CH fall asleep as the session could be quite lengthy & most time boring (??) as most MPs are not questioning, or rather mild if they ever question.
Ministers are v comfortable with mostly `ya’ man (MP) around (remember all MPs say Yes last week in parliment when about to pass a bill or proposal, only realise & say no upon reminded by House of Speaker, ha ha. Too quick to say yes?? Most likely MPs have been `programmed’ or `condition’ to say Yes at all the time, ha ha). Well, collecting > $13k/month is not a small amount, why need to rock the boat too much??
So reduce the # of MP?? Your guess is as good as my guess
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The article question should also be posed to the Majority.
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is it fair to say that while the minority lament and disapprove the many policies and some even tak boleh tahan,
the Majority are the ones who continued to accept and support them?
so, complaining here got use meh when majority wins?
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Seriously, I don’t even know the name of my MP or how he/she looks like. Always see photographs around my neighbourhood but too confusing already.
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Next Elections Vote Them Out aasumming that there are enough Opposition Members in the Field and Well Prepared to take over from the PAP ! GCW Heng
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Would someone be kind to do a poll if we need so many MPs to govern us? And ministers, deputies, perm secs etc. A productivity check will be good and timely for Singapore.
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How many men does it take to change a light bulb in Parliament?
Answer: 84 strawberries.
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