I am not going into the reasons why the Westminster developed as it is and neither am I am going into the reason why the remuneration is called an allowance and not a salary. I leave forumers do their own research.
There are already 5 full=time PAP MPs. This traits only began after 2011 and I suspect that it was after supporters of Sylvia Lim spoke about her going full-time.
Of any political parties, the PAP is the only party that can bring in a wide range of professionals, business leaders, social advocates, artistes and essentially cover the spectrum of society and make them full-time MPs. They either made their fortune or are rich from family wealth or they will be given part-time positions such as directors of GLCs etc.
A PAP MP ability to retain his seat over multiple elections is many times more than an opposition MP as the PAP controls nearly everything. We already struggle to attract good quality opposition candidates in view of the uneven playing field. Our pool will be much much smaller if MP are to be full time. We will end up with retirees and those not capable of being employed and poor quality candidates.
There is no way to compete on this front.
I even doubt that Paul Thambyah will ever forgo his professorial tenure in NUS to go full-time.
The PAP purposely pushed Town Council Management to the MPs to burden and cripple the opposition knowing their the lack of resources and expertise. No other country has this rubbish as a core function of being a people's representative in Parliament. So instead of focusing on issue of national and local importance , they are occupied with tenders, procurement, estate inspections and financial management. Look at the continuous assault on the Workers Party on Town Council Management.
Chee has always been poor on strategy and tactics. Chee may also have realised that it may be his last opportunity, further bolstered by the candidate being a minority and thus went down this path.
An MP is the peoples' representative to Parliament. He is not voted in to manage the drains and the lifts of the estate. Parliament does not sit every day and it is not day job activity for MPs. We need the best minds in parliament and not town council managers. We would be short-sighted if we pushed this agenda.
We would have played into the hands of the PAP if they decide go it full-time. What if they reduce the MPs allowance to $3,000 a month as a tactical measure. It will be like Lee LiLian situation who knew that for her career and the uncertainty of politics it would not be a wise move. No gainfully employed individual with good qualification will stand for the opposition if he or she is expected to give up their day job.
There are already 5 full=time PAP MPs. This traits only began after 2011 and I suspect that it was after supporters of Sylvia Lim spoke about her going full-time.
Of any political parties, the PAP is the only party that can bring in a wide range of professionals, business leaders, social advocates, artistes and essentially cover the spectrum of society and make them full-time MPs. They either made their fortune or are rich from family wealth or they will be given part-time positions such as directors of GLCs etc.
A PAP MP ability to retain his seat over multiple elections is many times more than an opposition MP as the PAP controls nearly everything. We already struggle to attract good quality opposition candidates in view of the uneven playing field. Our pool will be much much smaller if MP are to be full time. We will end up with retirees and those not capable of being employed and poor quality candidates.
There is no way to compete on this front.
I even doubt that Paul Thambyah will ever forgo his professorial tenure in NUS to go full-time.
The PAP purposely pushed Town Council Management to the MPs to burden and cripple the opposition knowing their the lack of resources and expertise. No other country has this rubbish as a core function of being a people's representative in Parliament. So instead of focusing on issue of national and local importance , they are occupied with tenders, procurement, estate inspections and financial management. Look at the continuous assault on the Workers Party on Town Council Management.
Chee has always been poor on strategy and tactics. Chee may also have realised that it may be his last opportunity, further bolstered by the candidate being a minority and thus went down this path.
An MP is the peoples' representative to Parliament. He is not voted in to manage the drains and the lifts of the estate. Parliament does not sit every day and it is not day job activity for MPs. We need the best minds in parliament and not town council managers. We would be short-sighted if we pushed this agenda.
We would have played into the hands of the PAP if they decide go it full-time. What if they reduce the MPs allowance to $3,000 a month as a tactical measure. It will be like Lee LiLian situation who knew that for her career and the uncertainty of politics it would not be a wise move. No gainfully employed individual with good qualification will stand for the opposition if he or she is expected to give up their day job.
