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Quitting party post doesn't clear the air
THE resignation of Hougang MP Yaw Shin Leong as Workers' Party (WP) treasurer will not quell the rumours about his extra-marital affair with a fellow party member ('MP Yaw quits WP leadership'; yesterday).
Such a rumour, followed by Mr Yaw's resignation from a crucial party position, will undoubtedly cause Singaporeans to revisit the party's stature as the dominant opposition party in Parliament and consider whether to vote for the WP in the next general election.
The incident can affect the public's confidence in the WP while it is still trying to build its reputation as a credible opposition party. How it manages such an incident will be closely watched by many.
Khoo Lih-Han
Let down by Workers' Party
AS A citizen who felt the Workers' Party (WP) was slowly turning into an alternative political voice, the party has been disappointing recently.
The first disappointment was the WP proposal on ministerial salaries which it wanted tied to the allowance of Members of Parliament ('WP proposals on pay 'not that different''; Jan 18).
If the WP proposal was adopted, some of us may conclude that in order for the salaries of the ministers and the prime minister to go up, the MPs' allowance needs to be increased. Was the WP's proposal basically meant to benefit the party's MPs?
I would have expected the WP to suggest pegging the salary increase to ministries' key performance indicators or service level agreements or even a salary basket that truly reflects the incomes of Singaporeans such as taxi drivers, dispatch riders, table cleaners and clerical staff.
The second issue concerns the still unresolved rumour about WP Member of Parliament Yaw Shin Leong's extra-marital affair; unresolved because Mr Yaw and the party have chosen to remain silent on the matter despite the public interest.
I had higher expectations of the party.
K. Selvan
Quitting party post without explanation doesn't improve WP's transparency
IT IS not enough for the Workers' Party (WP) to merely issue a statement that its Member of Parliament for Hougang, Mr Yaw Shin Leong, has quit his post as party treasurer ('MP Yaw quits WP leadership'; yesterday).
His quitting the post without explaining the reason to the public shows an absence of transparency from the party.
Maintaining a silence over rumours about Mr Yaw's alleged extra-marital affair with a fellow party member also deepens the perception of a lack of public transparency from the party.
How can the WP hope to form an alternative government and desire a First World Parliament when it demonstrates a complete lack of transparency?
How can Singaporeans trust the party? Integrity, honesty and trustworthiness should be the hallmarks of any political party or public figure.
Mr Yaw and the Workers' Party leadership must reveal the truth so that Mr Yaw can start the journey towards regaining public trust.
If Mr Yaw insists on maintaining his silence, he should step down as MP for Hougang.
Singapore cannot afford to have an MP who prevaricates. He has been voted in by the electorate and must therefore be accountable.
He should brace himself and face the consequences whether he likes it or not. There is no running away from the rumour to which he is linked.
Daniel Chia
THE resignation of Hougang MP Yaw Shin Leong as Workers' Party (WP) treasurer will not quell the rumours about his extra-marital affair with a fellow party member ('MP Yaw quits WP leadership'; yesterday).
Such a rumour, followed by Mr Yaw's resignation from a crucial party position, will undoubtedly cause Singaporeans to revisit the party's stature as the dominant opposition party in Parliament and consider whether to vote for the WP in the next general election.
The incident can affect the public's confidence in the WP while it is still trying to build its reputation as a credible opposition party. How it manages such an incident will be closely watched by many.
Khoo Lih-Han
Let down by Workers' Party
AS A citizen who felt the Workers' Party (WP) was slowly turning into an alternative political voice, the party has been disappointing recently.
The first disappointment was the WP proposal on ministerial salaries which it wanted tied to the allowance of Members of Parliament ('WP proposals on pay 'not that different''; Jan 18).
If the WP proposal was adopted, some of us may conclude that in order for the salaries of the ministers and the prime minister to go up, the MPs' allowance needs to be increased. Was the WP's proposal basically meant to benefit the party's MPs?
I would have expected the WP to suggest pegging the salary increase to ministries' key performance indicators or service level agreements or even a salary basket that truly reflects the incomes of Singaporeans such as taxi drivers, dispatch riders, table cleaners and clerical staff.
The second issue concerns the still unresolved rumour about WP Member of Parliament Yaw Shin Leong's extra-marital affair; unresolved because Mr Yaw and the party have chosen to remain silent on the matter despite the public interest.
I had higher expectations of the party.
K. Selvan
Quitting party post without explanation doesn't improve WP's transparency
IT IS not enough for the Workers' Party (WP) to merely issue a statement that its Member of Parliament for Hougang, Mr Yaw Shin Leong, has quit his post as party treasurer ('MP Yaw quits WP leadership'; yesterday).
His quitting the post without explaining the reason to the public shows an absence of transparency from the party.
Maintaining a silence over rumours about Mr Yaw's alleged extra-marital affair with a fellow party member also deepens the perception of a lack of public transparency from the party.
How can the WP hope to form an alternative government and desire a First World Parliament when it demonstrates a complete lack of transparency?
How can Singaporeans trust the party? Integrity, honesty and trustworthiness should be the hallmarks of any political party or public figure.
Mr Yaw and the Workers' Party leadership must reveal the truth so that Mr Yaw can start the journey towards regaining public trust.
If Mr Yaw insists on maintaining his silence, he should step down as MP for Hougang.
Singapore cannot afford to have an MP who prevaricates. He has been voted in by the electorate and must therefore be accountable.
He should brace himself and face the consequences whether he likes it or not. There is no running away from the rumour to which he is linked.
Daniel Chia
