http://thehearttruths.com/2013/07/10/the-truth-about-the-parliamentary-debate-on-the-cleaning-of-hawker-centres/
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This was what really happened at the parliamentary debate
between Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian
Balakrishnan, Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol-East Town Council (AHPETC)
Chairperson Sylvia Lim and Worker’s Party chief Low Thia Kiang.
Vivian started off trying to shorten the given names of
others.
He said that he didn’t want to impose on the
public but this debate would go on for the next 35 minutes, with
him giving some of the longest speeches and reading out long
emails.
He said that this is a matter of integrity.
He said that Sylvia and Pritam were
untruthful.
Sylvia reaffirmed that the AHPETC had not asked
the hawkers to pay extra for the cleaning of the high areas of
hawker centres.
She reminded Vivian not to confuse the issue of
area cleaning with the cleaning of high areas.
Vivian looked uneasy.
He looked down nervously.
Sylvia reminded Vivian that the issue started with Vivian’s own
ministry.
Vivian said that this is about integrity (for
the second time), and tried to pin the blame on Mr Tai, the
property manager of FM Solutions and Services Pte Ltd, the
contractor for the cleaning services. Vivian read out some emails
which he claimed that Mr Tai had asked the hawkers to pay
extra.
Sylvia said that Vivian had distorted the facts
of the emails and that Mr Tai had not asked the hawkers to pay
extra.
Vivian went back to his point again – and asked
if Mr Tai had asked for extra money to clean high areas.
Sylvia said no.
Vivian brought out a stack of information which
he claimed is evidence. Sylvia asked him to point out where in the
stack it had said that Mr Tai had asked the hawkers to pay
extra.
This was what Vivian then said. Nothing about
the hawkers needing to pay extra.
And again, he asked if Mr Tai had asked the
hawkers to pay extra.
Sylvia said no again.
Sylvia then went on and asked why Vivian had
evaded answering the questions that she had posed.
Vivian brushed all her questions off.
Sylvia looked on flabbergasted.
Yet, Vivian asked again if Mr Tai had asked for
more money. This man just doesn’t know how to take no for an
answer.
And again. He simply cannot handle
rejection.
Now, this is getting really painful.
Vivian said that Sylvia is untruthful, yet
again. And wants her to answer his questions, but doesn’t want to
answer her questions.
Sylvia said no again – Mr Tai did not ask for
extra money.
Mr Low brings the question back and said that the issue arose
from a difference in understanding between annual cleaning and
spring cleaning.
He has a full audience.
Mr Low reiterated that AHPETC had never asked
for extra money.
Finally, Mr Low came out with a solution.
Vivian jumps onto the bandwagon.
He said something out of the blue.
Mr Low gives up trying to make sense to
him.
Sylvia wonders why logic doesn’t work on
him.
Vivian asked whether Mr Tai asked for extra
money again. This man has major problems understanding, “No”.
Vivian gives a lesson on clean politics.
Mr Low is unamused. He doesn’t hide it.
