Parliament

Parliament is set to reopen in July for more governing while the speculation on the ground is that the next general election will happen this September. So with that in mind, we think it’s time to take stock of the performance of Singapore’s Members of Parliament. Specifically, we’re looking at just attendance first. Based on records from Parliament, seven MPs …

It was reported that the top 3 absentee MPs from Parliamentary sittings for last year (2018) were from the People’s Action Party, with Mr Iswaran at the top. He missed 9 or 28% of the total 32 Parliamentary sittings last year. Prof Fatimah and Dr Ng Eng Hen came in joined 2nd, who both missed 8 or a quarter of …

TOC went through the Parliamentary Votes and Proceedings to examine the attendance records of MPs in Parliament for last year (2018). The Parliamentary Votes and Proceedings are the official minutes of the proceedings of Parliament, including the proceedings of the Committee of the whole Parliament. It contains a record of attendance of the Members, announcements by the Speaker, papers presented …

Contrary to arguments perpetuated by advocates of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill (POFMA), which has now been passed in Parliament, the judiciary remains the most suitable initial and final arbiter in deciding on matters involving alleged online falsehoods compared to Ministers and the Executive under POFMA, said Workers’ Party secretary-general Pritam Singh. Speaking in response to People’s …

In a speech in parliament during the debate on the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) hours before the bill was passed, Worker’s Party (WP) Non-Constituency MP Leon Perera said that while ridding falsehoods from public discussion is the right thing to do, the bill is ‘a cure worse than the disease’ and it requires a radical overhaul …

In Parliament yesterday (8 May), WP MP Png Eng Huat specifically tabled 2 questions to ask the new DPM and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat with regard to remuneration paid to key management of GIC and Temasek. Mr Png asked: (a) whether there is a remuneration cap for key management staff of Fifth Schedule companies like GIC and Temasek (b) …

The controversial Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill was passed in Parliament yesterday evening (8 May) after a fierce debate that stretched out over two days. 74 Members of Parliament (MPs) supported the Bill, nine MPs comprising those from Workers’ Party (WP) and Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) rejected it, and one Nominated MP (NMP) Lim Sun Sun abstained from voting …

Workers’ Party Chief and Member of Parliament Pritam Singh spoke in Parliament on Tuesday (7 May) about the decision to create an exemption for the Government such that it cannot be sued for perpetuating a falsehood, in regards to the Protection against Harassment Act (POHA), is a glaring omission and a lost opportunity at winning the trust of the public. …

The executive arm of Government, particularly Ministers, should not be given the “remarkable leeway” to determine what constitutes false statements of fact”, said Workers’ Party (WP) secretary-general Pritam Singh. Mr Singh told the House on Tue (May 7) during a debate on the controversial bill that consequently, on the above basis, WP rejects the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation …

Setting up an independent body or council to review corrective or take-down orders issued by Ministers under the Protection From Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill may lead to “unnecessary bureaucratic bloat”, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam in Parliament on Tue (May 7). Mr Shanmugam told the House during the Second Reading of the Bill that the current …