UK, US? Give him a S'pore MP any day

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Apr 13, 2011
UK, US? Give him a S'pore MP any day
THE definition of a First World Parliament seems to refer to numbers rather than quality ('WP's goal: A First World Parliament'; Sunday).
In the United States, a deadlock last week nearly shut down the government. American institutions of democracy and a First World Parliament did not stop the US or Britain from fighting a disastrous war in Iraq. The recent British general election has perhaps put the country on the road to permanent minority governments, like those in continental Europe.

In Belgium, inter-party struggles have delayed the formation of a new government almost a year after its polls. A First World Parliament in Italy is now preventing the parties from abandoning a scandal-plagued prime minister.
First World Parliaments in Iceland, Portugal, Ireland and Greece have brought the nations to the brink. The Israeli Parliament, held to ransom by tiny extremist parties, has taken a radical approach to Middle East peace talks, making a settlement of the issue a near impossibility.
In Asia, Japan has twice, since the end of World War II, elected a non-Liberal Democratic Party government, but has the breakthrough changed Tokyo's politics? In fact, Japan has succeeded in spite of its politicians. In South Korea and Taiwan, fights break out regularly, including an infamous instance in Taiwan's august House when human faeces was thrown.
Some Singaporeans would like us to copy Britain's two-party (now three-party) system. With more parties in a government, there will be more compromises. While this may lead to claims of a check on the government, it can also create indecisive and weak policies of little or no conviction. Some would have us believe our policies are not subject to the required level of scrutiny. Yet, the quality of our debates matches those of the House of Commons or the US Congress. We do not deal in drama or rhetoric, which is what PM Question Time on Wednesdays in the British Parliament is mainly about. Our MPs do not plant questions. They generally do their homework. Some are not good speakers and read from prepared scripts, but this shows they do their homework. Even our Nominated MPs (NMPs) match the best in the West.
In fact, when it comes to scrutinising the Government, the government backbenchers and NMPs do a much more effective job than the opposition.
In my view, we already have a First World Parliament of MPs if we consider diligence, integrity, intellect and commitment to the constituency and country.
This is not to say we cannot improve. But give me a Singapore MP any day rather than one from the US Congress or the British House of Commons.
Eugene Tan
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_656023.html

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Responded to by:
15Apr2011: What First World Parliament means: Sylvia