Hey Look! ST Journalist Criticising the PAP

March 1, 2007
Why PAP MPs should go beyond cheerleading

By DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR, Chua Mui Hoong

WHAT is the role of a People's Action Party MP in a PAP-dominated Parliament?

The question came to mind yesterday, as yet another PAP MP rose to his or her feet to sing the praises of this Budget and this Government, for the second day running.

Mr Wee Siew Kim called Budget 2007 generous and forward-looking. Dr Fatimah Lateef declared that nowhere else in the world would anyone find a Budget so full of 'love' and 'compassion'.

Is the PAP MP's role to be a cheerleader for the Government? Maybe part of his role is to spout and defend the rhetoric of the excellence of the PAP government. This, after all, is a democracy with competitive political parties vying for votes.

But too much self-praise by the PAP is off-putting, even if Budget 2007 has won deserved accolades, even from non-partisan observers, for boldness and generosity.