Parties clash over what 'constructive politics' means

SINGAPORE - The call in last week's Presidential Address for "constructive politics" elicited an attempt by Workers' Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang to define it yesterday, a move that prompted a swift rebuttal from the People's Action Party (PAP) MPs and leaders.

Both sides crossed swords over the meaning of the term, which President Tony Tan Keng Yam has described as politics that puts people and the nation first while eschewing populist politics that could lead to gridlock and weaken Singapore.

Mr Low, who devoted his entire speech to the subject during the debate on the Presidential Address, made the first move, suggesting it was a reference to "compliant politics". He also suggested the PAP was engaging in rhetoric.

It drew a strong rebuttal from Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah, who questioned if the WP was capable of "constructive politics" which she said is real, not rhetoric, and requires integrity and responsibility.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also weighed in with a Facebook post last night, stating that the purpose of politics was to make a difference in people's lives and to build a better Singapore.

"Constructive politics is key to realising our dreams... Politics purely for the sake of power, without any notion of what we want Singapore to become, will lead us to disaster," he said.

But in Mr Low's view, constructive politics is about the outcome of the political process.

"It does not happen by the order of the Government. Nor does it happen through a national conversation or public consultation."

It requires inculcating political values in youth, building a political culture that is free from bullying, abuse of power or fear, and establishing institutions that are impartial and hence, trusted by the people, he said.

To this end, the veteran MP called for a review of the National Education syllabus so that young people understood their rights, obligations and values as citizens in a democratic society.

"I believe Singapore will be a more stable and mature democracy if Singaporeans are in possession of democratic values."

He also urged Singaporeans to decide through the ballot box the political culture they want.

"If the people continue to support the government party that uses high-handed tactics against its political opponents, we are endorsing a bullying political culture."

The Government, as a dominant player, has an even more significant role, he noted.

Therefore, if it uses "differentiating measures" to punish those who voted for the opposition, it would breed a culture of divisive politics, said Mr Low.

A political incumbent that uses "all legal means to remain in power" will also build a self-serving political culture, he cautioned.

Turning to the Elected President, Mr Low said it was a "weakness" that could potentially cause the gridlock Dr Tan feared.

He warned the President could exercise his "blocking power" if he disagrees with the Government, affecting its efficiency.

This scenario could be avoided by building institutions of state trusted by the public, he said.

Noting that Dr Tan's exhortation was "unprecedented", Mr Low expressed cynicism over what the Government meant by "constructive politics".

The recent extension of media licensing rules to online news sites smacks of "compliant politics", he charged.

Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang GRC) noted Mr Low had opened the WP's slate by speaking "almost entirely on one topic".

"It's actually a little bit tragic if the focus is going to be on politics and not on the policies that will help the people," he said.

Ms Indranee, in dismissing that constructive politics was just rhetoric, said: "It is real because what we say and we do in this Parliament makes a difference to Singaporeans."

To achieve constructive politics, political parties would have to put Singaporeans first, and offer practical alternatives that "ultimately result in better lives".

They would also have to act responsibly, by admitting the "trade-offs" of their policies, instead of pandering to public opinion and saying what is popular.

"Something like that is politically opportunistic, not constructive," she said.

It was also not constructive for political parties to flip-flop when convenient, she charged, alluding to the WP.

Citing an example about the WP's stance on the foreign worker issue, she said: "You don't ask for more foreign workers to be allowed in Singapore in 2012, and then in 2013 - after the White Paper (on Population) - say that there should be a complete freeze. And then a few months later, ask for more foreign workers again."

Constructive politics, said Ms Indranee, also requires integrity.

Alluding to the WP again in her example, she insinuated that this was in short supply in a political party that would give out contracts worth millions of dollars a year to its own supporters, without going through a tender.

The WP had appointed a firm, which the PAP said belonged to WP supporters, to run the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council after the 2011 polls. It had said it did not have time to call an open tender as the PAP-owned Action Information Management, which was managing the town council before the party took over, had terminated its contract.

Ms Indranee, who also spoke on education and other issues, questioned Mr Low's intentions in focusing on one topic when the President had laid out a string of plans, programmes and policies for the second half of the Government's term.

"Perhaps Mr Low feels that our politics is not working or Mr Low has no constructive alternatives into the challenges that we face, or with the recent woes of his town council, he wishes to create an impression that nothing is wrong and that the Government is out to fix them," she said.

This article was first published on May 27, 2014.
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