http://forums.fuckwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=2553370
Monday, November 02, 2009
To PAP : You need better MPs...
The letter below did not make it to the Straits Times forum. It appeared briefly on Today's website.
A grieving father who lost his son in a naval accident one month earlier went to a meet-the-people to seek help from an MP to delay the enlistment of his 2nd son was shocked to hear these words from the MP:
“What traumatic? After two months, you won’t be traumatic.” - MP
With the next elections coming, you will begin to hear about PAP's new candidates. Typically they pick people with successful careers in the civil service, GLCs, SAF, universities and occasionally high flyers in the private sector. These are 'safe selections' who are part of the establishment and the best people to preserve the status quo. These are also very busy people with high positions in their corporations and little time for the MP role. If they get elected, they usually serve as part-time MPs. In a number of interviews with the media, PM Lee also said that these people are 'reluctant' and had to be persuaded to join politics. The MP allowance had to be raised to $20+K a month to make it worth their while. But I suspect many would rather not serve as MPs given their successful careers elsewhere and the financial rewards they get from their full time jobs. Is the ability to climb the corporate ladder a good measure of their ability to serve the people and bring about change and progress in Singapore? With the elections coming, many people that the PAP likes to select are keeping their fingers crossed that they won't be called up for those tea sessions. It is hard to say 'no' when they pick you and if you decide to go ahead, you'll have to squeeze the MP job into your busy schedule. Many of these MPs who have been parachuted into parliament via GRCs may feel little passion and energy for their MP job.
What makes a good MP? ...hmm...someone who really wants the job. Someone who really wants to serve - his MP role must be the number one priority in life not some big profitable contract at his corporation. I want to show you this clip of Low Thia Kiang speaking during the debate on the critical issue of CPF reform in Singapore.
I put up this clip not to show the standout performance of MP Low on the issue of CPF reform but the empty seats behind him. I don't know who those MPs are but they were too busy to turn up when such an important issue was discussed in parliament.
Lawrence Loh is right to point out that a good MP needs to be caring, have good EQ and interpersonal skills. Above all that he must be willing to put in the time and effort into his work - all that takes passion and requires an MP to prioritise his MP role above everything else. If the PAP can't find people with the right qualities and continues to give us part time MPs busy with their own careers, Singaporeans may have to consider voting for people from somewhere else ...to up the quality with competition.
Monday, November 02, 2009
To PAP : You need better MPs...
The letter below did not make it to the Straits Times forum. It appeared briefly on Today's website.
A grieving father who lost his son in a naval accident one month earlier went to a meet-the-people to seek help from an MP to delay the enlistment of his 2nd son was shocked to hear these words from the MP:
“What traumatic? After two months, you won’t be traumatic.” - MP
With the next elections coming, you will begin to hear about PAP's new candidates. Typically they pick people with successful careers in the civil service, GLCs, SAF, universities and occasionally high flyers in the private sector. These are 'safe selections' who are part of the establishment and the best people to preserve the status quo. These are also very busy people with high positions in their corporations and little time for the MP role. If they get elected, they usually serve as part-time MPs. In a number of interviews with the media, PM Lee also said that these people are 'reluctant' and had to be persuaded to join politics. The MP allowance had to be raised to $20+K a month to make it worth their while. But I suspect many would rather not serve as MPs given their successful careers elsewhere and the financial rewards they get from their full time jobs. Is the ability to climb the corporate ladder a good measure of their ability to serve the people and bring about change and progress in Singapore? With the elections coming, many people that the PAP likes to select are keeping their fingers crossed that they won't be called up for those tea sessions. It is hard to say 'no' when they pick you and if you decide to go ahead, you'll have to squeeze the MP job into your busy schedule. Many of these MPs who have been parachuted into parliament via GRCs may feel little passion and energy for their MP job.
What makes a good MP? ...hmm...someone who really wants the job. Someone who really wants to serve - his MP role must be the number one priority in life not some big profitable contract at his corporation. I want to show you this clip of Low Thia Kiang speaking during the debate on the critical issue of CPF reform in Singapore.
I put up this clip not to show the standout performance of MP Low on the issue of CPF reform but the empty seats behind him. I don't know who those MPs are but they were too busy to turn up when such an important issue was discussed in parliament.
Lawrence Loh is right to point out that a good MP needs to be caring, have good EQ and interpersonal skills. Above all that he must be willing to put in the time and effort into his work - all that takes passion and requires an MP to prioritise his MP role above everything else. If the PAP can't find people with the right qualities and continues to give us part time MPs busy with their own careers, Singaporeans may have to consider voting for people from somewhere else ...to up the quality with competition.
