"Retiring MP Inderjit Singh takes issue with online article - TODAY/CNA 28 July 2015
SINGAPORE: Ang Mo Kio GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Inderjit Singh on Tuesday (Jul 28) took to Facebook to speak out against an online article, which reposted his old speeches and claimed erroneously in its headline that he had left the People’s Action Party (PAP).
Mr Singh had announced on Facebook last Friday, following the release of the electoral boundaries report, that he would not be contesting in the coming General Election.
On Monday, a blog called The New Era had posted an article with the headline “Inderjit Singh: Why I left the PAP”.
Without referring to the blog, Mr Singh said: “I read with amusement that some people have taken my old speeches and reposted them with a headline that I have left the PAP.”
He added that he remains a member of the PAP and will be assisting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his election campaign in Ang Mo Kio GRC.
Mr Singh said that he had requested to step down as a Member of Parliament on Jan 2, 2013, “as I have contributed almost 20 years as an MP and wanted to spend time on my work and family”.
On Sunday, PAP organising secretary Ng Eng Hen alluded to Mr Singh’s decision to announce that he would be retiring as an MP. “You can post your retirement on Facebook, but I think as an MP who has served 15, 20, even 30 years – that’s not the best way to do it,” Dr Ng said, with a laugh.
He added: “We want to handle the retirement of our MPs more smoothly and I would prefer a more deliberate and a dignified manner.” Where possible, the PAP’s potential new candidates for the GE will be introduced by retiring MPs who they will take over from, Dr Ng said.
Dr Ng added in a statement that he had "great respect" for Mr Singh, and that he was a "people's MP". His statement as follows:
It is interesting to read this response from MP Inderjit Singh and even more amuzing to read Dr Ng's FB post.
Lessons for me are:
1. when on FB or ANY social media, read with CARE! Not everything said and written are truth or even written by the authors ascribed the credit by the 'poster'!;
2. for me, it will be a GREAT LOSS to NOT have MP Inderjit Singh in the Parliament as he is just about ONE of the few, besides MP Lily Neo, who had spoken about what can be done better with some of the policies and directions of the last 10-15 years. Such qualities are in short supply and being the running mate of the PM in the same 6-member GRC, it is seen as a credit to the PM for having someone close and sincere voiced his concerns in parliament though some would have preferred that any disagreement be sorted out in private;
3. Dr Ng's FB post is a bit strange as PAP MPs, he could have picked up the phone and call MP Inderjit Singh to VERIFY if it was indeed his POSTING and his own words. That he did not, even though he said it with a 'laugh', cannot dispel one of the worst fears in Singaporean voters' mind, that colleagues DO NOT talk or communicate with each other?
Much work remained to be done in this coming GE. While it would have been a perfect time to hold it, certain events in the last few months have complicated matters somewhat. e.g. the most untimely breakdown of the NSEW lines, the 'last?' DBSS flats with narrower corridors, the Blogger Roy and 'naughty' young Amos court cases, the AGO Report on some lapses in control issues involving Related Parties Transactions, etc. So, it should be interesting without any 'sign' of internal communication breakdown in PAP.
SINGAPORE: Ang Mo Kio GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Inderjit Singh on Tuesday (Jul 28) took to Facebook to speak out against an online article, which reposted his old speeches and claimed erroneously in its headline that he had left the People’s Action Party (PAP).
Mr Singh had announced on Facebook last Friday, following the release of the electoral boundaries report, that he would not be contesting in the coming General Election.
On Monday, a blog called The New Era had posted an article with the headline “Inderjit Singh: Why I left the PAP”.
Without referring to the blog, Mr Singh said: “I read with amusement that some people have taken my old speeches and reposted them with a headline that I have left the PAP.”
He added that he remains a member of the PAP and will be assisting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his election campaign in Ang Mo Kio GRC.
Mr Singh said that he had requested to step down as a Member of Parliament on Jan 2, 2013, “as I have contributed almost 20 years as an MP and wanted to spend time on my work and family”.
On Sunday, PAP organising secretary Ng Eng Hen alluded to Mr Singh’s decision to announce that he would be retiring as an MP. “You can post your retirement on Facebook, but I think as an MP who has served 15, 20, even 30 years – that’s not the best way to do it,” Dr Ng said, with a laugh.
He added: “We want to handle the retirement of our MPs more smoothly and I would prefer a more deliberate and a dignified manner.” Where possible, the PAP’s potential new candidates for the GE will be introduced by retiring MPs who they will take over from, Dr Ng said.
Dr Ng added in a statement that he had "great respect" for Mr Singh, and that he was a "people's MP". His statement as follows:
When I read that Inderjit was retiring, two thoughts came into my mind. First, that at 55, he had many more years to contribute, and was big-hearted to retire now, so that younger candidates could stand in his place. I have great respect for Inderjit and learnt from his many good speeches in Parliament. He has a heart for the daily struggles of Singaporeans and could put it across in heartfelt and effective ways. When he spoke, Ministers took note, and followed up. He was a people’s MP.
Second, I thought we should do better than just Facebook postings for retiring MPs. After many years of service, the Party should try to find a more dignified and deliberate way to announce their retirement. So when we announce new candidates, whenever possible, we will do it together with their retiring MPs, that they are taking over. I hope this approach will do justice to the many years of contribution that MPs like Inderjit have given to serve their residents."
It is interesting to read this response from MP Inderjit Singh and even more amuzing to read Dr Ng's FB post.
Lessons for me are:
1. when on FB or ANY social media, read with CARE! Not everything said and written are truth or even written by the authors ascribed the credit by the 'poster'!;
2. for me, it will be a GREAT LOSS to NOT have MP Inderjit Singh in the Parliament as he is just about ONE of the few, besides MP Lily Neo, who had spoken about what can be done better with some of the policies and directions of the last 10-15 years. Such qualities are in short supply and being the running mate of the PM in the same 6-member GRC, it is seen as a credit to the PM for having someone close and sincere voiced his concerns in parliament though some would have preferred that any disagreement be sorted out in private;
3. Dr Ng's FB post is a bit strange as PAP MPs, he could have picked up the phone and call MP Inderjit Singh to VERIFY if it was indeed his POSTING and his own words. That he did not, even though he said it with a 'laugh', cannot dispel one of the worst fears in Singaporean voters' mind, that colleagues DO NOT talk or communicate with each other?
Much work remained to be done in this coming GE. While it would have been a perfect time to hold it, certain events in the last few months have complicated matters somewhat. e.g. the most untimely breakdown of the NSEW lines, the 'last?' DBSS flats with narrower corridors, the Blogger Roy and 'naughty' young Amos court cases, the AGO Report on some lapses in control issues involving Related Parties Transactions, etc. So, it should be interesting without any 'sign' of internal communication breakdown in PAP.
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