SINGAPORE: Opposition parties often urge voters to support them in the name of bringing alternative voices into parliament – but they rarely acknowledge that such voices are already “guaranteed”, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah on Monday (Apr 28).
“The opposition’s narrative is: Vote for them, because we need alternative voices in parliament. They make it seem as if it is a binary choice, as if voting PAP means that there won’t be opposition voices in parliament,” she said.
“But that’s not true. What the opposition never mentions is that having alternative voices in parliament is guaranteed, and it was the PAP (People’s Action Party) that made sure of that.”
Ms Indranee – the first of nine speakers at the PAP’s lunchtime rally in Raffles Place – was referring to the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme, introduced just before the 1984 General Election to ensure a minimum number of opposition members in parliament.
If fewer than 12 opposition members are voted in after an election, the “best losers” from among the opposition candidates are declared elected as NCMPs to bring the total opposition figure in parliament to 12.
An NCMP, who does not represent any constituency, is entitled to vote on all matters except supply Bills, money Bills, constitutional amendments, motions of no-confidence in the government and motions to remove the president from office.
“We amended the constitution so that no matter what, there will always be at least 12 opposition members in parliament, and the opposition has not hesitated to take full advantage of this provision to their benefit,” Ms Indranee said.
“But they never tell you that. At the end of the day, you – all of you Singaporeans – you are the ones who get to decide who gets into parliament and who does not. You are the ones who will decide who are constituency MPs and who are non-constituency MPs.
“But it is important for you to know that it is never a case that there will be no alternative voices in parliament. It is not a binary choice. But what is really even more important than opposition providing an alternative voice, is your voice.”
COST PRESSURES “EXTERNALLY DRIVEN”
Ms Indranee acknowledged that many have voiced concerns about cost of living, saying that the PAP government would continue to provide support as long as necessary.
“The cost pressures we are feeling now are mainly externally driven. We will continue to provide support to shield Singaporeans from the full impact of this,” she said, citing Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers, goods and services tax (GST) vouchers, cash payouts and utilities rebates.
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While she did not specify the external factors driving up costs, Ms Indranee said the government has explained the need to raise the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to fund healthcare costs for an ageing population.
“The opposition has sought to make an issue of GST,” she said, adding that the government has “buffered” Singaporeans from the GST hike with the Assurance Package, delaying its impact for 10 years for the lower-income and five years for the middle-income.
“The bulk of GST is collected from high earners, tourists and foreigners, and this revenue collected is used for Singaporeans.”
Ms Indranee, who leads the PAP’s four-member team contesting Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, said the PAP government has also lowered…
