How will WP's approach in the new Parliament be. With 8 MPs and NCMPs combined, it will be different from the 1-2 MPs they had at most in their history. Also the 8 makes for nearly all of the only 9 opposition representations in Parliament and there is no one save for SPP's Lina to steal their thunder so whatever they do is very glaring where opposition is concerned.
It seems that there will be 2 possible outcomes:
1) Things will be different as with 8 representations, they can do a lot more things now, file a lot more questions, debate a lot more, make a lot more speeches, even file motions (something they did not try to do) even if it still fails as 8 is still a small number. Who knows even interrupt, gate crash minister speeches etc. because they know if one is shot down, another 7 are there to support. The past engagement approach was due to the two conservative leaders LTK and Sylvia Lim both having about the same style, but they may turn a blind eye to each individual's approach (or the rest won't care what they think anyway).
2) They will be more focused on the kind of questions to ask collectively. If it happens it would predictably be the insistent directive of the 2 conservative leaders. Given that the 2 often did not max out their question time while expected to have put in the best effort to come up with credible ones (LTK at times did not file any questions), if the same happens, one or two people file the questions every sitting for the group. The average WP MP might speak very little than the last Parliament. In other words it is one party voice and not 8 WP voices. Sounds united but people may start to wonder if there is any difference putting 2 or 20 WP MPs in Parliament since whatever the number is will always speak with the volume of 2.
One thing is for sure - the PAP is anticipating and Singaporeans (including the non-WP opposition) are watching.
It seems that there will be 2 possible outcomes:
1) Things will be different as with 8 representations, they can do a lot more things now, file a lot more questions, debate a lot more, make a lot more speeches, even file motions (something they did not try to do) even if it still fails as 8 is still a small number. Who knows even interrupt, gate crash minister speeches etc. because they know if one is shot down, another 7 are there to support. The past engagement approach was due to the two conservative leaders LTK and Sylvia Lim both having about the same style, but they may turn a blind eye to each individual's approach (or the rest won't care what they think anyway).
2) They will be more focused on the kind of questions to ask collectively. If it happens it would predictably be the insistent directive of the 2 conservative leaders. Given that the 2 often did not max out their question time while expected to have put in the best effort to come up with credible ones (LTK at times did not file any questions), if the same happens, one or two people file the questions every sitting for the group. The average WP MP might speak very little than the last Parliament. In other words it is one party voice and not 8 WP voices. Sounds united but people may start to wonder if there is any difference putting 2 or 20 WP MPs in Parliament since whatever the number is will always speak with the volume of 2.
One thing is for sure - the PAP is anticipating and Singaporeans (including the non-WP opposition) are watching.
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