Soon-to-be-PM’s assertion that there will always be opposition in Parliament raises eyebrows

SINGAPORE: Soon-to-be-Singapore PM Lawrence Wong asserted that there will always be representatives of the opposition parties in Parliament, in an interview with British publication The Economist, ahead of the official leadership handover next week.

In the 2006 speech, delivered when Low Thia Khiang, Chiam See Tong and Steve Chia were the only opposition politicians in Parliament, PM Lee urged the people to refrain from voting in more opposition lest he is forced to focus on how to “fix them” instead of focusing on the nation’s challenges. He In the elections that came, the PAP continued losing more seats to the opposition with the 2020 general election culminating in the loss of ten seats to the Workers’ Party.PM Lee’s promise to “fix” the opposition did not sit well with a large segment of Singaporeans and Mr Wong’s assurances seem to point to a different style when it comes to working with the opposition.

Veteran opposition politician J. B. Jeyaratnam once questioned whether the NCMP scheme was “a trick or a ploy” designed to maintain the ruling party’s dominance in Parliament, highlighting concerns about the scheme’s effectiveness in providing a robust opposition voice. Similarly, WP chair Sylvia Lim, who once served as an NCMP before she was elected proper, remarked that the scheme had no official capacity to represent the people or write letters on their behalf. She also noted that NCMPs lack a physical base to organize activities or hold dialogues with the public.S'poreans:"The budget already been cast into stone...

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

We are pro-Singapore: DPM Lawrence Wong on standing between the US and ChinaCountries, including Singapore, have to navigate an unpredictable world that could be messy for a decade or longer, said DPM Wong.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Citizens will not become the minority in Singapore: DPM Lawrence WongSingapore will continue to welcome foreign professionals, but maintain a level of control, said DPM Wong.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

We are 'pro-Singapore': DPM Lawrence Wong on standing between the US and ChinaSINGAPORE — As the United States and China seek out a new equilibrium in their relationship, Singapore must brace itself for possibly a decade or more of unpredictability, and hopefully help steer global events towards peace, rather than war, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Source: asiaonecom - 🏆 10. / 59 Read more »

Identity politics, US-China tensions, leadership 'iron': 5 highlights of Lawrence Wong's Economist interviewSINGAPORE — Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has given a broad-ranging interview to The Economist as he prepares to become prime minister, covering topics such as his leadership style as well as global and regional geopolitics.
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

SICCI head: Ties between Singapore and India will continue to flourish under Lawrence Wong'... we are confident that the ties between Singapore and India will continue to flourish.' — Neil Parekh, SICCI chairman
Source: IndependentSG - 🏆 9. / 63 Read more »

S’pore to consider additional safeguards around excessive screen time for children: DPM WongHe said there has been an increase in mental health concerns amongst youngsters worldwide.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »