Full attendance of 93 MPs on Feb 5 including Seng Han Thong!?
Is Lim Swee Say telling us that Parliament do not schedule lunch and breaks for Parliament!?
Typical of MIW who only wishes to put their points across rather than listen to others’ views. If you are present, how do you get to listen to your fellow parliamentarians’ points and engage in DEBATE?
So many MPs have “to attend urgent calls and meetings” – business collapsing vs “debating NATIONAL issues”? LOL
So even if MPs are in the toilet or cafeteria, they are in Parliament!?
To judge the effectiveness of PAP MPs by their participation in debates and the contents of their speeches, many are clear failures for not speaking up in the first place, much less “debating”. Also their speeches do not resonate with the masses.
Lastly, is Lim Swee Say writing in his capacity as government whip or as party whip, as he seeks to clarify only the actions of PAP MPs?

Duties taken seriously

I REFER to Miss Rhea Tan’s letter on Wednesday, ‘Why so many empty seats at Budget Debate?’
I would like to assure Miss Tan that PAP MPs take Parliament sittings seriously. They have to seek the Speaker’s permission in writing to be absent from a sitting. They also have to inform the Government Whip if they are unable to attend Parliament on time or have to leave early.

For the Budget Debate, Parliament sits from noon to 7pm. This year’s Budget Debate was attended by 90 elected and Nominated MPs on Feb 3; 86 MPs on Feb4; and there was full attendance of 93 MPs on Feb 5.

While PAP MPs are expected to be in Parliament, they are not able to stay in the Chamber for the whole seven hours. They need to leave the Chamber from time to time for lunch and breaks, to do research and revise their speeches in the library as the debate progresses, and to attend urgent calls and meetings which they are unable to reschedule. The Government Whip ensures there is sufficient quorum in the House at all times.

So even if MPs are not in the Chamber, it does not mean they are not in Parliament or not carrying out their duties as MPs. The effectiveness of PAP MPs should not be judged by the hours they remain seated in the Chamber but by their participation in debates, the contents of their speeches and how well they serve their constituents.

Lim Swee Say
Government Whip

To accept your suggestions, first you must work hard and do more to topple the PAP government through the ballot.

LKY & PAP think parliament and GE are a waste of time but they have to have it once in 5 years for show. Sessions are held quickily to pass urgent laws and the budget. Discussion and debates are a waste of their precious time. If they accept your idea, the PAP will find it harder to recruit more scholars and highly paid professionals to stand for election. Sadly, the Speaker answers to LKY and not to the people of SIN.

It used to be Duty, Honour …. but the Country is no more there – it is how many thousands of dollars I make a day – shame on all of you in Government from president to mps – shame on you.

Johore and Batam now awaits ordinary seniors and retirees – shame on all of you in Government again – you can take care only of all your attention seeking ex-diplomats – clowns still gainfully employed after their retirements clinging on to the state coffer for their salaries, and worst of all from president down, no one ever thought of letting go and giving others a chance, but to tell them to go to Johore or Batam.
Shame on all of you again for not daring to engage the people but get new kid ministers to be your spokemen.

That was a good joke by Please Makes Sense.

Anyway, LKY & PAP are not interested in Parliament or even GE. After the 2006 GE parliament did not sit for the next 6 months. It is another joke. A TOC reader had explained that the next GE is due not in 2011 but 2012, that is, 5 years from the date of the first opening of parliament!

LKY & PAP think parliament and GE are a waste of time but they have to have it once in 5 years for show. I believe Singapore holds the world record for the least numbers of days of parliament sittings. Sessions are held quickily to pass urgent laws and the budget. Discussion and debates are a waste of their precious time. The PM is paid $10,000 a day.

don’t know what you want to say with your comment.

Please Makes Sense.

Bring back the single-constituency seats so that MPs are deserving of their place in parliament through working the ground and are able to relate to the people.

One can only admire lawmakers of other countries where they debate issues passionately that sometimes end in fists fights!

Since MPs are paid a handsome allowance, parliamentary session should be broadcast life so that voters can see the worth of our MPs in terms of the questions asked, debating skills, etc.

Perhaps they should give our Parliament a more hip name like the Elites’ Club or the Immortals’ Lounge. Sounds more cool right, HipHopping 65s?