Friday, July 13, 2012

Parliament members should be full time

It is time for Singapore to move to a Parliament with members who work full time in this job, and do not have any other full time work. We cannot have part timers to be MPs.

My reasons are:

  • Laws have to be debated actively. There are merits and risks that have to be considered. Parliament should not be a rubber stamp.
  • The Parliament should act as a "check and balance" on the Government of the day. It should be a deterrent against corruption and abuse of power.
  • The allowance paid to a MP, at $15,000 a month, is sufficient to be a full time pay. 
If we make it as a full time job, we will attract the right people whose interest is to serve the people and not to enhance their business in the profession or the private sector. 


Read this blog:
http://tankinlian.blogspot.sg/2012/07/are-our-mps-taking-job-seriously.html


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9 comments:

  1. michael13July 13, 2012 8:56 PM

    It's an important step in the right direction. I fully support it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 13, 2012 10:15 PM

    For sake of transparency and accountability.

    Let's publish a list of all the absentee MPs.

    I guess MPs don't take public transport?
    So got no sense of urgency in solving a national problem?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lye Khuen WayJuly 14, 2012 6:29 AM

    Yes, it is high time an MP in Singapore is not holding another full-time job.
    No if's or but's. Period.
    Except National Service.

    ReplyDelete
  4. C H YakJuly 14, 2012 12:32 PM

    Certainly, a professional full-time job these days in the private sector cannot even get such salary. $15K...wow.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJuly 14, 2012 2:08 PM

    I used to have a lecturer/Associate Prof in NTU and who is also a PAP MP. We don't really understand what he taught half the time. I graduated with a strong believe that he should have concentrated on his MP role instead of both.

    ReplyDelete
  6. RaymondJuly 14, 2012 11:58 PM

    Hi Mr Tan,

    I am surprised to learnt that the $15K is tax free. Can anyone confirm this?

    Cheers
    Raymond

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJuly 15, 2012 10:56 AM

    MP pay & allowances is taxable.

    As written by Ms Chua Lee Hoong, political editor of the Straits Times:

    http://www.straitstimes.com/The-Big-Story/The-Big-Story-1/Story/STIStory_755542.html

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJuly 15, 2012 11:10 AM

    The other rumour I heard.

    After 2 terms as an MP.
    No need to pay taxes anymore for the rest of your life.

    Is this true?

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJuly 15, 2012 6:43 PM

    "After 2 terms as an MP.
    No need to pay taxes anymore for the rest of your life."

    Not true.

    What is true is that before GE2011, those who serve 2 terms as MPs or as ministers have lifelong pension from 55 yrs old onwards.

    After GE2011, they remove this privilege for subsequent MPs. I think certain high-level office holders still got this privilege --- perhaps president and prime minister?

    Those who already qualify for lifelong pension before GE2011 will still get it. I.E. This new rule to remove auto pension is not retroactive.

    ReplyDelete