Translated by Donaldson Tan
This is a non-verbatim translation of Zaobao report 《继续在国会采负责与理智态度 工人党议员要就事论事》 dated 03 October 2011.
(03-10-2011) ● 游润恬 报道
工人党国会议员出席内阁宣誓仪式。
据了解工人党议员进行分工，每个人关注不同课题。不过阿裕尼集选区议员陈硕茂强调，分工只是议员之间的内部工作安排，不是打造个别议员形象的方法。
后港区议员饶欣龙昨早走访选区时，中年居民上前用福建话说：“这次，要敢敢hoot（揍）。”言下之意是要他在国会上发言时狠批政府。
也是工人党财政的饶欣龙（35岁）用福建话回应大叔说，不可以乱乱“揍”政府，否则反而会得“黑眼圈”。对此大叔说：“要讲的就得讲，人民的心啊，人民很‘逼恻’（烦躁）。”
民众在五月大选用选票表达了对执政的人民行动党和政府政策的愤懑，把六名当选反对党议员和三名非选区议员送入国会。再过一个星期，国会将在大选和总统选举后召开首次会议，届时七名新的反对党议员将首次亮相。
本报专访所有新人，了解他们打算在国会里以什么姿态扮演反对党议员角色。从竞选群众大会的讲台到国会议事厅的讲台，民众可以期待听到怎样不同的演讲？
严燕松：口水战可娱乐大众 但未必对国家有利
国会里的反对党阵容主要由工人党组成，除了秘书长刘程强和主席林瑞莲之外，其余六人是新人。工人党媒体小组组长严燕松（34岁）表示，新人参与国会辩论的论调，将跟工人党资深议员过去十多年一贯的论调一样——负责任、理智、就事论事。
他说：“我们看到其他国家的议员陷入口水战，我们不要新加坡走那条路，我们从政不是为了要跟谁搏斗，而是为了反映一些需要被反映但目前被忽略了的观点。如果这些观点刚好是跟政府唱反调的，那我们还是得提出。”
他也说：“国会口水战或许可以娱乐大众，但这未必对国家有利。”
他表示若纯粹从政治层面看，政府如果在采纳了工人党建议得以推出更好的政策并成为一个更好的政府，这其实有损工人党利益。
“不过对我们来说，更重要的是新加坡人民的生活有没有获得实质改善。如果有，那整体来说这是件好事，我们也达到了我们原本从政的目的。有效的反对党可以逼政府做出为国家好的事，相信选民会看到这对他们的好处。”
那么工人党一贯的稳扎稳打作风，是否可以满足那些在五月大选把票投给反对党，渴望反对党“给政府颜色看”的选民？阿裕尼集选区议员毕丹星（35岁）表示民众可能抱着许多不同的心态，包括等着看执政党和反对党议员上演对决好戏，或希望反对党更加咄咄逼人。
他说：“语不惊人死不休是没有意义的，因为这类论点往往站不住脚，或偏离主流想法太远。这方面得取得平衡，我们也不希望被民众视为是唯唯诺诺的反对党。该反对的时候要反对，该支持政府的时候，支持也没错。”
除了将要提出的论调，新人处女演讲的内容，也令人感到好奇。工人党暂时卖关子。在如切区以300多张票微差落选的非选区议员余振忠（46岁）表示，一切等17日国会展开辩论时，自有分晓。
他说：“反对党议员人数多了，意味着反对党在国会发言的时间整体上增加了，并将能关注更多元的课题。”
据了解工人党议员进行分工，每个人关注不同课题。不过阿裕尼集选区议员陈硕茂（50岁）强调，分工只是议员之间的内部工作安排，不是打造个别议员形象的方法。“工人党并不是在组织影子内阁，也没有硬性限制议员只能在国会上提某一类课题。”
新人不认为 党督会克制自由
有半个世纪以上历史的工人党，月前宣布由刘程强担任党督、林瑞莲担任副党督。党督的责任是确保属于同个政党的议员在国会辩论和投票时所采取的立场跟党一致。在新人出现前，工人党并没有党督。
受访新人异口同声表示不认为党督克制了他们表达立场的自由。陈硕茂指出，任何有组织的政党都有党督，工人党有党督不足为奇。
严燕松说：“选民把票投给我们，主要是因为认得铁锤（工人党标志）和铁锤的立场，而不是因为我们的个人因素。我们集体行动，才能更好地反映新加坡人的观点。”
饶欣龙说入党这十年来他观察到，工人党内部高度民主，党领袖会先与其他中委进行全面且激烈的辩论，才决定党立场。
另一方面，阿裕尼集选区议员莫哈默·费沙（35岁）表示，身为首名马来族反对党议员，马来社群可能期望他在国会多谈马来族的课题，但他这么做的时候其实也是想到全国人民，因为一个族群提升后整体社会也获得提升。
罗文丽：我要发表惊人言论
新加坡人民党第二副主席罗文丽（62岁）是唯一非工人党的非选区议员。她前天告诉本报：“我要在国会上发表惊人的言论。”
她表示会在国会上重提一些詹时中之前曾在国会提出、但没有得到满意答案的问题。丈夫詹时中是波东巴西区前议员。
帮助单亲妈妈和废除内部安全法令，会是她关注的课题。
本报昨天报道，罗文丽有意在国会上反映其他没有机会进入国会的反对党人物的观点。她将依赖人民党的政策工作小组判定哪些观点适合成为国会演讲的题材。
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First-time Opposition MPs gear up for Parliament
In a week’s time, the 12th Parliament will convene for the first time. Of the 6 elected Opposition MPs and 3 NCMPs, 7 are actually new faces. Zaobao speaks to the 7 new faces to learn how they perceive their roles as the Opposition in Parliament.
The Workers’ Party
The Workers’ Party forms the core of the 9-member Opposition camp in Parliament. With exception to Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang and Chairman Sylvia Lim, the other 6 WP parliamentarians are new faces.
It is understood that the Workers’ Party (WP) will assign each parliamentarian a different scope of topics for parliamentary debate. This division of labour is an internal arrangement and it is not a ploy to drum up the image of each parliamentarian, according to Chen Show Mao, a WP MP for Aljunied GRC.
Some Singaporeans urged the WP to be more pro-active in Parliament. “Don’t hesistate to ‘hoot’ the PAP,” a middle-aged resident told Yaw Shin Leong, WP MP for Hougang SMC, during a walkabout yesterday.
However, Mr Yaw replied that remarks directed at the PAP in Parliament should be a calculated move. “Bei sai luan luan hoot, ah bo dan or bak kar,” he replied. He further added that if he were to speak in Parliament, he would speak on the heart and the plight of the people.
WP NCMP Gerald Giam, who also heads the WP Media Team, told Zaobao that the new faces’ approach to Parliament would adhere to the established practices of senior WP parliamentarians: responsible, rational, and sticking to the topic at hand.
“We don’t wish for Singapore to emulate the political gridlocks seen in other countries. The reason why we are in politics is to voice up perspectives that the government has neglected. Even if these perspectives conflict with the government’s, we will not hesistate to bring it up,” he said.
Mr Giam further added that while the ‘war of words’ may have entertaining value to the masses, it certainly has no benefit for the country. The WP would benefit if the government becomes a better government by adopting policy proposals by the WP.
“The most important criteria for our perfomance is the betterment of lives of Singaporeans. If Singaporeans’ lives improved during our term as parliamentarians, then we not only must have done a good job, we also achieved our objectives of joining poilitics. After all, an effective Opposition is one that can nudge the government to do things that can benefit the entire country. I believe the electorate can see the benefit of our approach.”
Engaging the Ruling Party
However, would the non-confrontational style of the Workers’ Party reasonate with the angry faction of the electorate who is most disatisfied with the ruling party? Pritam Singh, WP MP for Aljunied GRC said that the electorate is not homogenous. Some desired for parliamentary showmanship while others want the Opposition to corner the government in Parliament.
“Shocking statements are usually untenable or fringe. While we seek to achieve balance, we don’t want to be perceived as a submissive Opposition party too. When it is appropriate to oppose the government, we will do so. When there is grounds to support the government in its decision, we will do so too,” Mr Singh told Zaobao.
WP NCMP Yee Jenn Jong, who lost Joo Chiat SMC by slim margin of 300 votes to PAP MP Charles Chong, said developments will unfold when the 12th Parliament convenes.
“There are more Opposition representatives in Parliament now. This means the Opposition has a longer airing time in Parliament to bring up more issues, topics and other concerns,” he said.
It is understood that the WP would be assigning each parliamentarian a different scope of public policy coverage. The division of labour is an internal arrangement and it is not a ploy to drum up the image of each parliamentarian.
“The Workers’ Party is not creating a Shadow Cabinet. There is also no strict enforcement that each parliamentarian must adhere rigidly to the scope of public policy he is assigned,” Chen Show Mao, a WP MP for Aljunied GRC, told Zaobao.
Introduction of the Party Whip
Until last month, the WP doesn’t have a Party Whip. Low Thia Khiang has assumed the role of Party Whip while Sylvia Lim has assumed the role of Deputy Party Whip.
The role of the Party Whip is to ensure every party parliamentarian would adhere to the official party position during parliamentary voting and debates. Is the Party Whip a cause of concern for the WP’s new faces? The reaction is mixed.
Chen Show Mao pointed out that it is unsurprising that the WP now has a party whip given that this is a common practice among established political parties.
Gerald Giam said, “The electorate voted us because they recognise the Hammer (WP’s logo )and what the Hammer stands for, and not due to our individual personality. Moving together as a team is our most effective mean to reflect Singaporeans’ concerns in Parliament.”
Yaw Shin Leong said that his 10-year experience as a party member affirmed his perception that WP is highly democratic. The party leadership only determines their position after a vigourous debate with Executive Council.
However, Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap, a WP MP for Aljunied GRC, cited concerns. Being the first elected Malay Opposition MP, the Malay community expects him to speak up for them. His motivation for doing so stems from the belief that the betterment of the Malay community ultimately benefits society at large.
Lina Chiam: I will bring startling views into Parliament
Lina Chiam is the 2nd Vice-Chairman of the Singapore People’s Party (SPP). She is also the only non-WP NCMP. She told Zaobao she will bring startling views into Parliament.
She added that she will bring up concerns which Chiam See Tong previously brought up in the last Parliament that were never satisfactorily addressed by the government. Chiam See Tong was the previous MP for Potong Pasir. Her other concerns include the single mother issue and the repeal of the Internal Security Act.
Madam Chiam will also be bringing up views of other SPP members. The SPP Policy Working Group, headed by former government scholar Mr Benjamin Pwee, would be advising Madam Chiam on parliamentary debate.
