Originally posted by timothytsgsg:
And when I watch the British Parliament sessions- especially after
the London bombings, Iraq briefings etc, its always very crowded,
very noisy and the speeches by both Tony Blair and the opposition
members loud, chrismatic and strong.
Now that's real debating and real politics.
When the previous WP Sec-Gen J P Jeyaratnam was a Member of
Parliament, he provided some electrifying moments in Parliament,
confronting LKY - who was always livid and impatient with the
subjects brought up by Jeya.
From some of the news articles of the 1950s and 1960s, reported in
the press, this was the similar situation of Parliamentary
proceedings of those days, when the Ruling Party had to respond to
the serious challenges from the Opposition led by ex-PAP members in
the Barisan Sosialis Party, as well as the Workers Party.
Parliamentary sessions were always alive and not merely
entertaining (as always used as an excuse for NOT having an
Opposition in Parliament), but for the fact that cutting issues are
always brought up that expose the weaknesses and failings of the
Ruling Party.
Unfortunately, as the Ruling Party became more entrenched, and the
Ruling Elite became more omnipotent, with the aura of themselves
being larger then or equal to the success story of Singapore, they
become more impatient and less tolerant of criticism and exposure
of failings and weaknesses brought up by the Opposition.
Parliamentary Committees have been formed - (with all members being
from the Ruling Party) - to prosecute any Opposition MPs, who dare
to raise any sensitive issues that embarrass the Ruling Party, and
who will then be accused to have breached or abuse Parliamentary
Proceedings.
Lawsuits to bankrupt the Opposition is also another tool to silence
all legitimate criticism, with the artful twist in presenting the
situation as personal slander.
This is "FIRST WORLD Politics" a la Singapore Style.
