'Glaring' phrase gets MPs heated

SINGAPORE - Politics is still politics, regardless of how it is described, said Worker's Party (WP) Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang.

It is the outcome of the political process that is important to him, he added.

This was the Aljunied GRC MP's view on constructive politics as mentioned in the President's Address.

DEBATE

He was one of the first speakers for the Debate on the President's Address yesterday, and his speech, which included criticisms of the Government, sparked off a heated debate.

CONSTRUCTIVE POLITICS

President Tony Tan Keng Yam had called for this form of politics that puts "the nation and people first" in his speech on May 16 when Parliament re-opened after its mid-term break.

In response, Mr Low said this phrase was "glaring" to him as it was an expression of the direction of the Government's priority and "unprecedented in President's Address since I entered Parliament in 1991".

He said the WP believes in constructive politics as a unifying force, which is why the WP recites the National Pledge - to "remind us that despite our differences, we are all Singaporeans".

INTEGRITY

Mr Low defended his views and clarified that he did not reject constructive politics, saying that the term was "merely rhetoric" of the Government but action was more important.

Taking a shot at the PAP for "harping on the town council matter," he sought to clarify the issue. He said: "It is not something that we signed under the table.

"So I think if you are talking of integrity, perhaps you may want to give us more details to prove that how is it that the Workers' Party lack integrity in awarding the contract."

CONDUCT

Mr Low listed three factors crucial to constructive politics - political values, political culture and impartial institutions trusted by the people to avoid political gridlocks in future.

He believes that democratic values would produce a more stable and mature democracy, and that the Government's differentiating measures in policies to punish opposition supporters breeds a culture of divisive politics.

He concluded by noting the progress in our political system - it is more competitive and the Government is more responsive to the people, which augurs well for the future of Singapore.

Heated debate over two words

The words “constructive politics” sparked off a heated debate in Parliament yesterday. Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang devoted his speech to the subject, which was mentioned by President Tony Tan Keng Yam in the President’s Address two weeks ago. Several PAP MPs responded, among them Senior Minister of State for Education and Law Indranee Rajah.

Other MPs on constructive politics

Ms Jessica Tan, PAP MP for East Coast GRC, said that good policies should be praised regardless of party affiliation. If policies were not well-received, effort needs to be put into listening to the ground and dialogues held so that policies can be refined, she added.

Mr Vikram Nair, PAP MP for Sembawang GRC, said it would be tragic if the focus was on politics and not policies that help people. Constructive politics is about working together and not bringing down people who are trying to solve the problem, he added.

Mrs Lina Chiam, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament, said a constructive opposition means speaking up for the real needs of the people to build a democratic society based on justice and equality.

From PM Lee Hsien Loong’s Facebook: Constructive politics is key to realising our dreams. The purpose of politics is to make a difference to people’s lives, to build a better Singapore. Politics purely for the sake of power, without any notion of what we want Singapore to become, will lead us to disaster.

This article was first published on May 27, 2014.
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