Singaporean parliamentarians have been urged to maintain respectful proceedings in the House and to only make factually accurate statements in a speech by Nominated Member of Parliament Cheng Hsing Yao.
Speaking at the end of a nine-day debate on the Budget, Mr Cheng reminded his colleagues not to emulate foreign politicians whose antics make their parliamentary proceedings look like “reality TV.”
Mr Cheng, chief executive of listed property developer GuocoLand and a former civil servant, emphasized the importance of an effective and respected political arena in Parliament and proposed four principles to guide how issues should be brought up and debated: factual accuracy, highlighting both benefits and trade-offs, being constructive, and avoiding creating polarization.
Mr Cheng stressed that Singapore’s Parliament is where laws are passed and the country’s future is charted, and that the country’s heterogeneous society is still relatively cohesive.
He cautioned against creating fissures in Singapore’s society, pointing out that a dysfunctional Parliament tends to go hand in hand with a highly cynical society and distrusting of politicians and public institutions.
In response to Mr Cheng’s speech, Leader of the House Indranee Rajah thanked him for his remarks, stating that it served as a timely reminder of the importance of an effective Parliament in service of the nation.
Ms Indranee agreed with Cheng’s four principles but added one more – consistently endeavouring to do what is right and avoiding a descent into populism.
She emphasized the importance of an effective Parliament as the place where the Government is held accountable, issues of national importance are debated, and matters of public interest are explained.
Ms Indranee acknowledged that robust debate is necessary for scrutinizing policies and recommendations, but the quality and integrity of the debate also matter greatly. She stressed that Parliament’s deliberations should shape the public discourse and set the direction for the country.
Ms Indranee also took the opportunity to address the opposition, stating that Singapore must avoid gridlock, hamstrung, or hopelessly loggerheads.
She noted that when this occurs, it is the people who pay the price.
She emphasized the need for parliamentarians to be accountable to the people they represent and to listen to their concerns and aspirations.
Ms Indranee urged parliamentarians to exercise their judgment on issues and to speak up for what they believe in, even if it is contrary to the prevailing or most popular view, in order to persuade their fellow MPs and the public at large as to what is the best solution to a difficult problem or what is the most important issue before the country.
She, too, emphasized the need for factual accuracy, highlighting benefits and trade-offs, being constructive, avoiding polarization, and consistently doing what is right.
Ms Indranee stressed that these principles are necessary for ensuring that Parliament remains a beacon of democracy and a force for progress in the country.
“In conclusion, I believe that by upholding the principles of factual accuracy, highlighting benefits and trade-offs, being constructive, avoiding polarization, and consistently doing what is right, we can ensure that our Parliament remains a beacon of democracy and a force for progress in Singapore.”
