Dear fellow Singaporeans, Happy National Day!
In my 2023 New Year Message, I said that the political agenda will accelerate this 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.
Events this year should have awakened Singaporeans to the need to relook at our political system. 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?
As Parliament is the apex of our political system, this is the first political institution that we need to strengthen. I think 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.
Dear fellow Singaporeans, you have the power to decide as important elections are coming your way.
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.
Singaporeans can do better.
For Country For People
Leong Mun Wai, Secretary General of Progress Singapore Party
