• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
  • Volunteer
    • Internship with The Online Citizen
  • Donation
  • Subscription
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
  • zh-hans 简体中文
  • en English
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

What do Singaporeans have to lose by sending Dr Tan Cheng Bock to Parliament?

by Augustine Low
25/04/2020
in Politics
Reading Time: 3min read
34

Dr Tan Cheng Bock turns 80 on Sunday, 26 April. Instead of sailing off into the sunset, he has chosen to brave the storm.
There’s no doubting the courage of the first former People’s Action Party (PAP) parliamentarian to form an opposition party.
The coming general election is the last chance saloon for Dr Tan to turn the tables on the PAP.
Singaporeans have to dig deep and ask themselves: What have I got to lose? If not now, then when?
To begin with, Dr Tan is not a fly-by-night politician. He served for 26 years as a PAP Member of Parliament for Ayer Rajah Single Member Constituency from 23 December 1980 to 6 May 2006.
Dr Tan was beloved by his constituents. In his last election as a PAP candidate in 2001, he notched the highest margin of victory among all MPs, garnering 88 per cent of the votes.
Dr Tan’s popular touch comes from his innate ability to relate to people from all walks of life. For decades, he was known as the Ama Keng doctor, his clinic located off Lim Chu Kang. More than just a doctor, he became the go-to-guy for mediation in family feuds and land disputes.
We have to look back at Dr Tan’s record as a PAP MP. He repeatedly urged the government to put Singaporeans’ interests first, instead of turning the spotlight on attracting foreign talents. In the process, he even earned a rebuke from Lee Kuan Yew.
Dr Tan also protested vehemently against the Nominated Member of Parliament scheme on the grounds that MPs have to be elected by the people. He was the only PAP MP to vote against it – twice.
So if Dr Tan wasn’t a nodding dog as a PAP MP, what can we expect from him as an opposition MP?
He would be a combative but constructive critic. He would vociferously press for greater accountability and transparency. He would be an assertive check and balance against the undermining of good governance.
As Dr Tan put it: “I believe the processes of good governance have gone astray. I worry because I see the foundations of good governance eroding.”
He said he would also probe into the reserves, Temasek and CPF: “Now these things, we all can shout till the cows come home (but it’s) no use, if you’re not in the House.”
Doesn’t it appear that Singaporeans have nothing to lose by sending Dr Tan to Parliament as a Progress Singapore Party MP?
Still, we have to accept that there are plenty among us who would say they don’t need more questions asked in Parliament, they don’t want greater transparency and accountability and better governance, they don’t wish to know more about Temasek, our CPF and our reserves.
For whom ignorance is bliss, there is nothing more to be said.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
34 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Recent Posts

  • Vietnam reports first virus outbreak in nearly two months
  • Epic battle over GameStop as ‘nerds’ take on Wall Street
  • MHA owes the public an explanation as to why it chose to flout the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child
  • RDU expresses grave concerns over three individuals arrested for peaceful protest against anti-LGBT discrimination outside MOE building
  • WHO team to start Wuhan virus probe under global glare
  • MOH preliminarily confirms 34 new cases of COVID-19 infection; Total tally at 59,425

Trending posts

Vietnam reports first virus outbreak in nearly two months

Public member complains prices at FairPrice too high and questions its mission to serve working-class SGs

Sheng Siong being compared to NTUC FairPrice after rewarding staff with up to 16 month’s bonuses

Netizens call for “full transparency” by MOH after reports of adverse events from Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination recorded in S’pore

Chan Chun Sing says not meaningful to track growth of Singaporean core in companies

Students petition MOE to stop using device management application on students’ laptops due to privacy and security concerns

Load More
April 2020
MTWTFSS
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930 
« Mar   May »
  • About Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donation
  • Subscription
  • Letter submission
  • Contact Us

© 2006 - 2021 The Online Citizen

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2006 - 2021 The Online Citizen

wpDiscuz
34
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply