Leong Mun Wai urges strengthening of Singapore’s political landscape on 58th National Day

SINGAPORE: On the occasion of Singapore’s 58th National Day, Leong Mun Wai, the Secretary General of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), has underscored the imperative for a robust Opposition presence in the country’s political sphere.

Emphasizing the significance of maintaining checks and balances, he called upon citizens to ensure that an effective Opposition occupies at least one-third of the seats in the Parliament, thus preventing the ruling party from making unilateral changes to the Constitution.

“If you dare to make the right decision at the right time, we can be confident that the best is yet to be for Singapore, and Singapore will continue to be a success story for our grandchildren and many more future generations.”

Leong Mun Wai’s address, delivered on Wednesday (9 Aug) resonated with the pressing need to establish a resilient political foundation.

In the backdrop of a politically eventful year, Leong Mun Wai, who is also a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament, referred to his 2023 New Year Message, wherein he predicted an acceleration of the political agenda.

This prediction has certainly materialized, given the whirlwind of events that unfolded throughout the year.

“It has indeed proven to be a fast-paced year politically judging from the breathtaking pace that events have unfolded this year, from the conclusion of the Keppel Offshore & Marine investigation, SPH Ltd’s false circulation numbers scandal and the Ridout Road investigation to the arrest of Minister lswaran and the resignation of Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin.”

Leong Mun Wai contends that these events should serve as a wake-up call for Singaporeans, urging a reevaluation of the nation’s political framework.

“Do we want to rely solely on the “good leaders” of one dominant ruling party or do we want to strengthen our political institutions to have stronger checks and balances in case the “good leaders” fail one day?”

Recognizing the paramount role of Parliament as the apex of Singapore’s political system, Leong Mun Wai highlighted the urgent need to bolster this institution.

He said it is long overdue for Singapore to have a strong check and balance mechanism in Parliament.

“To do this, we need to have an effective Opposition that controls at least one-third of the seats in Parliament, so that we can prevent the ruling party from amending the Constitution at will.”