[h=1]PAP MPS TO COMMENT WHETHER THEY THINK ROY CAN BE NMP[/h]
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28 Jun 2014 - 8:21pm
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A committee has been formed to decide who gets to be a NMP. Roy Ngerng, the CPF blogger is among the 36 names submitted for consideration. The committee consists of Dr Ng Eng Hen, Ms Grace Fu, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Ms Ellen Lee, Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Masagos Zulkifli and Ms Sim Ann. The head of the committee is the Speaker of Parliament, Halimah Yacob (http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/committee-meets-july-consider-nmp-n...).
Despite having a committee that consists of nearly all PAP MPs, the decision is far too tough this time round. Thus, other MPs have been asked to give their views and comments on the candidates. Given that most of the MPs are from the PAP, wouldn't they prefer pro PAP candidates?
I had thought that they were finally going to listen to the voice of the people. Peoples' choice over party choice! Wouldn't it have been better to seek public opinion on the candidates nominated, i.e. on the Reach website? Thirty-six proposal forms for NMPs have been received, 22 of which were from the general public.
The 14 other forms were from seven groups representing organisations from areas such as business and industry; the professions; the labour movement; social service organisations; civic and people sector; tertiary education institutions; and media, arts and sports.
Roy's form is one of the 22 from the general public. He has since been sued by the Prime MInister for defamation and has been sacked from his job as well.
When the PM's lawyers demanded compensation but didn't say how much, Roy offered $5000 as compensation to the Prime Minister but was told that his offer was derisory (even though $5000 is a lot for the common Singaporean). After all, he had merely sought to invite discussion about the CPF issue. Roy did not give up however, and organized a protest at Hong Lim park which was attended by a large number of Singaporeans.
Yet his actions have raised public concern about the existing CPF system and prompted the PAP to organize forums about CPF. The recent forum at Thomson CC organized by MP Hri Kumar did not end pleasantly for the PAP as they failed to silence a 76 year old woman who demanded to have her CPF savings back (http://therealsingapore.com/content/76-year-old-lady-begs-hri-kumar-retu...).
Not only did the CPF forum give the residents a chance to question their PAP MP, it also showed the character of their grassroots leader Jean Ang Yee Mei Lin (http://therealsingapore.com/content/lady-white-who-calls-outspoken-aunty...). Are other PAP grassroots leaders caring and helpful or self-centred and unsympathetic like Jean Ang?
These are the questions that have surfaced as a result of the Ngerng wave.
Is it not obvious that Roy Ngerng has done more in a short span of time than all the other 35 NMP nominees? He has raised public awareness on the CPF issue on an unprecedented scale. Every household now knows about Roy Ngerng and his struggle for a transparent CPF system.
The other NMP nominees have done nothing to demonstrate their independence from the PAP.
NMP applicant Chia Yong Yong is the sister of PAP member Eunice Chia-Lim (http://therealsingapore.com/content/dear-trs-nmp-nominee-sister-active-p...). Another NMP applicant, Dr WIlliam Wan who is head of the Singapore Kindness Movement and a pastor, criticized Singaporeans for reacting angrily when foreigner Anton Casey insulted poor Singaporeans (http://therealsingapore.com/content/wah-lan-foreigners-getting-their-ver...).
Yet such applicants will probably become NMPs because of their mild stance on issues that concern Singaporeans. These are people of words and thoughts. Roy Ngerng is a man of action.
That said, it would be best for PAP to treat Roy Ngerng's application seriously. This is a person who is obviously an alternative voice. What is the point of having NMPs who have links to PAP or have no desire to challenge them? Parliament is already dull with several PAP MPs absent (http://therealsingapore.com/content/pap-mp-irene-ng-and-zaqy-mohamad-pai...). NMPs should be alternative voices and not yes-men. If the PAP is serious on reforming itself, it should tolerate dissenting voices like Roy's.
An average Singaporean
TRS Contributor
<!-- /.block --> <style>.node-article .field-name-ad-box-in-article {float: left;margin: 15px 15px 10px 0;}.node-article .field-tags{clear: both;}</style> Post date:
28 Jun 2014 - 8:21pm
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A committee has been formed to decide who gets to be a NMP. Roy Ngerng, the CPF blogger is among the 36 names submitted for consideration. The committee consists of Dr Ng Eng Hen, Ms Grace Fu, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Ms Ellen Lee, Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Masagos Zulkifli and Ms Sim Ann. The head of the committee is the Speaker of Parliament, Halimah Yacob (http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/committee-meets-july-consider-nmp-n...).
Despite having a committee that consists of nearly all PAP MPs, the decision is far too tough this time round. Thus, other MPs have been asked to give their views and comments on the candidates. Given that most of the MPs are from the PAP, wouldn't they prefer pro PAP candidates?
I had thought that they were finally going to listen to the voice of the people. Peoples' choice over party choice! Wouldn't it have been better to seek public opinion on the candidates nominated, i.e. on the Reach website? Thirty-six proposal forms for NMPs have been received, 22 of which were from the general public.
The 14 other forms were from seven groups representing organisations from areas such as business and industry; the professions; the labour movement; social service organisations; civic and people sector; tertiary education institutions; and media, arts and sports.
Roy's form is one of the 22 from the general public. He has since been sued by the Prime MInister for defamation and has been sacked from his job as well.
When the PM's lawyers demanded compensation but didn't say how much, Roy offered $5000 as compensation to the Prime Minister but was told that his offer was derisory (even though $5000 is a lot for the common Singaporean). After all, he had merely sought to invite discussion about the CPF issue. Roy did not give up however, and organized a protest at Hong Lim park which was attended by a large number of Singaporeans.
Yet his actions have raised public concern about the existing CPF system and prompted the PAP to organize forums about CPF. The recent forum at Thomson CC organized by MP Hri Kumar did not end pleasantly for the PAP as they failed to silence a 76 year old woman who demanded to have her CPF savings back (http://therealsingapore.com/content/76-year-old-lady-begs-hri-kumar-retu...).
Not only did the CPF forum give the residents a chance to question their PAP MP, it also showed the character of their grassroots leader Jean Ang Yee Mei Lin (http://therealsingapore.com/content/lady-white-who-calls-outspoken-aunty...). Are other PAP grassroots leaders caring and helpful or self-centred and unsympathetic like Jean Ang?
These are the questions that have surfaced as a result of the Ngerng wave.
Is it not obvious that Roy Ngerng has done more in a short span of time than all the other 35 NMP nominees? He has raised public awareness on the CPF issue on an unprecedented scale. Every household now knows about Roy Ngerng and his struggle for a transparent CPF system.
The other NMP nominees have done nothing to demonstrate their independence from the PAP.
NMP applicant Chia Yong Yong is the sister of PAP member Eunice Chia-Lim (http://therealsingapore.com/content/dear-trs-nmp-nominee-sister-active-p...). Another NMP applicant, Dr WIlliam Wan who is head of the Singapore Kindness Movement and a pastor, criticized Singaporeans for reacting angrily when foreigner Anton Casey insulted poor Singaporeans (http://therealsingapore.com/content/wah-lan-foreigners-getting-their-ver...).
Yet such applicants will probably become NMPs because of their mild stance on issues that concern Singaporeans. These are people of words and thoughts. Roy Ngerng is a man of action.
That said, it would be best for PAP to treat Roy Ngerng's application seriously. This is a person who is obviously an alternative voice. What is the point of having NMPs who have links to PAP or have no desire to challenge them? Parliament is already dull with several PAP MPs absent (http://therealsingapore.com/content/pap-mp-irene-ng-and-zaqy-mohamad-pai...). NMPs should be alternative voices and not yes-men. If the PAP is serious on reforming itself, it should tolerate dissenting voices like Roy's.
An average Singaporean
TRS Contributor
