December 11, 2009 by admin
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PAP MP Christopher De Souza said during a two-hour dialogue –
“2010: How Can Our Youths Serve Singapore” organized by the Young
PAP that there is more robust debate from the PAP MPs than the
opposition MPs in parliament.
He was responding to a question by Project Engineer Alex Tan who
blamed the PAP’s dominance for the apathy of Singapore’s youth.
Mr de Souza extended an invitation to Mr Alex Tan to attend
Parliament to see how PAP MPs speak their mind.
“If you’d heard Denise Phua speak on, say special-needs
kids, you will think she is an opposition MP,” he said.
Mr Tan also said the PAP may feel it is helping the people but
the people feel disadvantaged by its policies, from foreign talent
to national service.
A fellow participant shot back at him:
“‘If you’re so disenchanted, why not leave
Singapore?”
The dialogue is part of the YPAP’s series on social and
political issues to better engage a younger, more outspoken
generation, with the aim of renewing the party’s ranks and
support.
The event was attended by 150 youths and 2 PAP MPs, Mr Sam Tan
and Mr Christopher De Souza.
In reply to Mr Alexa Tan, Mr Sam Tan said the fault does not lie
with the system, but that “it all boils down to individuals making
their own choices.”
“If people feel they want to exercise their will and choice
and want to serve, there are many ways they can do so. (The issue)
is not the system, it is us,” he added.
Mr Sam Tan also reminded young Singaporeans not to run down
Singapore when abroad or with foreigners:
“People will have less respect for us and our dignity will
be dented,” he said.
He quoted the example of opposition MP Mr Chiam See Tong during
a trip together to Kuala Lumpur who was asked by him “if he would
speak in a different language from the PAP MPs”.
Mr Chiam’s reply was:
“When I’m outside Singapore, I speak as a Singaporean
because Singapore is my country.”
Mr Tan agreed with Mr Chiam:
“‘Singapore is also my country. Let us speak in one united
voice.”
Mr Chiam is one of the only two elected opposition MPs in
parliament. The other is Hougang MP Low Thia Kiang.
While both men are considered veteran MPs, they seldom dare to
challenge the ruling party or take them to task in parliament.
Some PAP backbenchers like Indergit Singh and former NMPs like
Siew Kum Hong and Eunice Olsen are even more vocal than them
raising important, sensitive and difficult questions in parliament
which embarrassed the ruling party.
When asked point-blank by PM Lee during a parliamentary last
year if he felt DPM Wong Kan Seng should resign over the escape of
Mas Selamat Kasteri, Mr Low Thia Kiang was stunned into
silence.
Like many others, Mr Sam Tan appears to be confused over the
separate roles of the party and state.
Singapore is not the equivalent of the PAP and criticisms
towards the party should not be misconstrued as an attack on
Singapore.
While Singaporeans should stay united as one nation, there
should be ample room for differing political opinions to be
expressed in Singapore.
Due to the dominance of the PAP and its control of the mass
media, only its voice is heard and permitted in the public domain
which is unhealthy for the nation in the long run