Tan Cheng Bock: Jobs debate “important reminder on significance of having alternative voice in parliament”

Singapore — In a video posted on Instagram on Sunday (Sept 19), Dr Tan Cheng Bock kept the discussion from last week in Parliament alive.

Commenting on the lengthy debate on jobs and foreign workers policies that went on until past midnight on Sept 14, he said that it was “an important reminder to Singaporeans on the significance of having an alternative voice in Parliament.”

The former longtime PAP parliamentarian and chairman of the Progress Singapore Party commended PSP Non-Constituency Members of Parliament  Mun Wai and Hazel Poa for how they had performed at the debate, noting that they “fought hard,” despite “relentless attacks and even disrespectful insults from PAP MPs.”

“Yet with great courage and tenacity, they persevered – and I am very proud of them,” he added.

Dr Tan, who spent over 20 years in Parliament, acknowledged that Mr Leong and Ms Poa learnt much from the session, adding “this will be one of many occasions where they will need to stand firm and hold their ground in the face of overwhelming odds.” 

The words Dr Tan spoke in his video were almost identical to those in a Facebook post from Sept 15, to which a translation in Chinese was later added.

Again he emphasised that “now the public knows more than it ever did before,” as “government policies were carefully examined and scrutinised.”

And perhaps even more importantly, he reiterated a point Mr Leong made over and over again in Parliament last week, that the motion he had filed is about Singaporeans’ jobs and livelihood, amidst accusations of racism and xenophobia from several ministers, including Finance Minister Lawrence Wong.

“And I trust that the public will be able to tell that the issue at stake is not race or racism, but Singaporean jobs, Singaporean lives and Singaporean livelihoods,” Dr Tan said again.

“They are holding the Government accountable to provide answers to Singaporeans – let’s not forget that. We must not lose focus.”

Commenters on Dr Tan’s IG video thanked him for sharing his thoughts. One added that they had been shocked at the treatment Mr Leong received in Parliament. 

“I’m commoner with no high education but I know respect, tolerance, compassion & care for good human beings,” wrote @gohscheng.

Another wrote that “the strategies that were used against (Mr Leong) would be more at home in a playground.”

One netizen also praised Ms Poa for her “point about reclassification,” which they called “spot on.”

/TISG

Read also: Tan Cheng Bock: PSP NCMPs fought hard, despite disrespectful insults from PAP MPs

Tan Cheng Bock: PSP NCMPs fought hard, despite disrespectful insults from PAP MPs