GMS (NSP) - "MP's job is not really about taking care of the ward"... !

[Green Light]

“The MP's job is not really about taking care of the ward, it is about representation in Parliament.”

“Nobody can replace another person in terms of debate on policy. So is it fair for the residents to be short-changed?” – Goh Meng Seng, NSP Sec-Gen (ST Insight on Bt Batok).

GMS stated the above with respect to whether Bt Batok residents would be unhappy that a by-election was called after the death of Ong Chit Chung.

I wonder whether GMS knows what he is talking about when he says that residents will feel short-changed that they do not have Ong specifically to debate on policies in Parliament.

When people vote for a GRC team, they do not vote for any particular candidate. The vote is for the whole team.

Of course nobody can replace Ong or his parliamentary debating style. But if Bt Batok residents have any particular grievances they would like to raise in parliament, they can still do so with the rest of the Jurong GRC MPs who are standing in for Ong.

It is via the same arrangement that the other MPs are standing-in for the MPSs to cover the residents’ personal needs and ward matters.

Besides, there are 80-plus other MPs who do continue to debate on policies in parliament. Although Ong’s personal touch would be missed, I doubt that one or two lesser MPs would make any particular residents feel as short-changed as how GMS describes it. Anyway, it’s not as if all MPs do or can table questions at ALL parliamentary seatings.

But the more pertinent point is this: GMS says that “the MP's job is not really about taking care of the ward”.

This is a shock!

Perhaps it is a sign of where GMS’s priorities are SHOULD he be elected as an MP since he has openly declared that the MP’s job is not “really about” taking care of the ward.

But we can interpret the lower priority he gives to taking care of the ward two ways:

Perhaps he does not know how he can contribute to taking care of and improving the ward by championing for communal amenities or facilities, or initiating activities and programmes within the constituency to meet the residents needs.

Or, he would rather bask in the national limelight of parliamentary debates once elected, instead of focusing on ward matters.

We wonder if this particular Opposition politician knows what he is contesting the GE for..... or, is this just another case of bumbling ramblings of an inept Opposition politicians?


By Bryan Ti

 

[Maximilian Chua-Heng]

Surprise Surprise.... another GMS-related thread.

Time for a GMS-specific folder.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

‎@Bryan, tell me how many PAP MPs work full time in taking care of the Town Council?

Goh Meng Seng

 

[wikiphile]

‎@Bryan, tell me how many PAP MPs work full time in taking care of the Town Council?

Goh Meng Seng

And you expect the residents of Tampines to hand over their votes to you just so that you can enter parliament house as an elected MP without doing anything for them? I was right about you GMS, you have no political sense.

Quid pro quid is the name of the game, if you have nothing to offer, they have nothing to give.你等下辈子吧！！！！

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

No answer? That settles it.

Goh Meng Seng

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

@Wilson, nah. Bryan T cannot answer because his answers will contradict himself. That is very simple. If what he implied is MPs are to take care of the wards, then why aren't PAP MPs doing full time in taking care of the Town Councils? $15K or $17K per month and not doing full time taking care of the wards? What kings of logic is that?

Running of Town Councils and such are left to estate managers. Period. I was told among the 14 PAP Town Councils, 12 are subcontracted out to companies like EM Services. Who are the ones doing full time MP jobs to run Town Councils? Very FEW.

It will smack Bryan T's twisted logic here if he still insists I am wrong. The Town Council management is just a ploy of PAP to divert voters' attention to local issues and for them to apply pork barrel politics using HDB upgrading as the carrots. There is nothing else beside that.

The bigger picture is, MPs are first and foremost, legislative executives of this land. Whatever policies or laws they set in parliament, affect ALL Singaporeans. Which one has more impact? Running Town Councils, which they didn't really do themselves anyway, or law making?

Goh Meng Seng

 

[Ramseth]

An MP appoints and oversees the TC staff (professionals at running towns). Isn't that taking care of the ward? An MP holds weekly MPS to hear out and help solve residents' problems? Isn't that taking care of the ward? An MP has to have put in all these efforts to get the ground experiences in the ward in order to represent the ward in Parliament. An MP is elected by the ward and represents the ward, not oneself.

 

[Ilovelamb]

Oh mine, even Dr Chee don't say things like these..at least SDP fights for the poor on the ground and prioritize the needs of the people instead of just aiming to go into parliament for the fat salary. GMS YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE OPPOSITION PARTIES!:oIo:

 

[Leongsam]

And you expect the residents of Tampines to hand over their votes to you just so that you can enter parliament house as an elected MP without doing anything for them? I was right about you GMS, you have no political sense.

In the Westminster model which Singapore inherited from the British, the MP's job was primarily one of representation in Parliament. MPs didn't run town councils. That was the job of local body politicians headed by a Mayor or the equivalent.

LKY was the one who redefined the job description of an MP in an attempt to weed out those who were "all talk and no action". It was his way of trying to screw the opposition. The plan backfired when it was found that opposition wards were run just as well, if not better, than PAP wards.

Now that LKY is pretty much history, it would be appropriate to re visit the JD of an MP as the current system is by no means cast in stone.

 

[wikiphile]

In the Westminster model which Singapore inherited from the British, the MP's job was primarily one of representation in Parliament. MPs didn't run town councils. That was the job of local body politicians headed by a Mayor or the equivalent.

LKY was the one who redefined the job description of an MP in an attempt to weed out those who were "all talk and no action". It was his way of trying to screw the opposition. The plan backfired when it was found that opposition wards were run just as well, if not better, than PAP wards.

Now that LKY is pretty much history, it would be appropriate to re visit the JD of an MP as the current system is by no means cast in stone.

Since we are at this Sam, our political system has been tweaked to local practices and so long as the PAP is in power, it is already a system and not a political guideline or doctrine.

Until that day happens, this system still has its merits and of course the inevitable demerits. Unless the MP is also promoted to be a full time minister and whose decisions and policies affects the whole of Singapore, that is their function and full time job. If he/she is just an ordinary MP, they best do their job of looking after the people who voted him into office first and foremost.

 

[cooleo]

An MP appoints and oversees the TC staff (professionals at running towns). Isn't that taking care of the ward? An MP holds weekly MPS to hear out and help solve residents' problems? Isn't that taking care of the ward? An MP has to have put in all these efforts to get the ground experiences in the ward in order to represent the ward in Parliament. An MP is elected by the ward and represents the ward, not oneself.

If you marry your wife. You subcontract out to another person to take care of your wife. Is that the same as 'taking care'?

 

[Ramseth]

In the Westminster model which Singapore inherited from the British, the MP's job was primarily one of representation in Parliament. MPs didn't run town councils. That was the job of local body politicians headed by a Mayor or the equivalent.

The UK has separate local to elect town councillors and mayors.

LKY was the one who redefined the job description of an MP in an attempt to weed out those who were "all talk and no action". It was his way of trying to screw the opposition. The plan backfired when it was found that opposition wards were run just as well, if not better, than PAP wards.

A closer comparison would be Malaysia. An Malaysian constituency averages twice the size of a Singapore constituency. However in Malaysia, each constituency has a federal MP and a state assemblyman.

Now that LKY is pretty much history, it would be appropriate to re visit the JD of an MP as the current system is by no means cast in stone.

The town council system in Singapore is crap to begin with. All service and conservancy services should be centralised under HDB and depoliticised since 85% live in HDB flats. The condos and private estates have their own managements. The public facilities like roads, parks, drains etc. are under LTA, NEA, URA etc. anyway.

 

[Leongsam]

Since we are at this Sam, our political system has been tweaked to local practices and so long as the PAP is in power, it is already a system and not a political guideline or doctrine.

It can hardly be called a "system" for simple reason that hierarchy behind the workings of local body politics defies logic and common sense once RCs and PAP appointed mayors are added to the equation.

Being an MP shouldn't be a full time job. The Westminster system was crafted so that MPs outside of cabinet could remain as part of the community they represented. They aren't supposed to be VIPs. They're supposed to be ordinary folk who face the same trials and tribulations as the people they represent. That's what true representation is all about.

The PAP has tweaked the system beyond recognition purely for the purpose of perpetuating their reign. There is no reason why the rest of the country should accept the status quo.

 

[Airlib]

If GMS thinks he can really make an impact in parliament, then he is pretty shallow in thinking... How often do opp mbrs get to speak. Seems to me that GMS is more keen on being in the limelight than helping residents....

 

[po2wq]

in sg ... futbollers still have 2 play kampong futbol 1 la ... politicians still have 2 c longkang 1 la ...

 

[Ramseth]

If you marry your wife. You subcontract out to another person to take care of your wife. Is that the same as 'taking care'?

No, you marry a wife and buy a home, then hire a maid to take care of your home.

 

[cooleo]

No, you marry a wife and buy a home, then hire a maid to take care of your home.

You can afford maid first?

 

[cooleo]

If GMS thinks he can really make an impact in parliament, then he is pretty shallow in thinking... How often do opp mbrs get to speak. Seems to me that GMS is more keen on being in the limelight than helping residents....

Maybe he should join Singapore Idiot...oops IDOL instead.

 

[Ramseth]

You can afford maid first?

This is the system. The TC has the budget, it's called S&CC. The MP is not a contractor or town manager. S/he uses the budget to hire professionals to run the town. S/he makes the decision as to what to do and the professionals carry it out. To do this effectively and efficiently for the people, the MP has to understand the needs of the people and the grounds. That's taking care of the ward. Anyway, Cpt. Goh has moronically strayed off tangent and proverbially shot himself in his foot, no, make that his mouth.

 

[Kid278]

If GMS thinks he can really make an impact in parliament, then he is pretty shallow in thinking... How often do opp mbrs get to speak. Seems to me that GMS is more keen on being in the limelight than helping residents....

Whatever the case is, just like the brazilian clown's slogan says "It cant any worst" vote him in first. If he cant perform and dont take care of his ward, then boot him out the next election.