STAR BLOGGERS

In Singapore, Members of Parliament (MPs) are responsible for debating on bills that once passed, become laws that affect local society. They also form the connection between the community and the Government, thereby representing the population in governmental policies. MPs hold Meet-The-People (MTP) sessions to gain feedback regarding a variety of issues ranging from subsidies to difficulties with the bureaucracy. Thus, they are impetuous and critical voices of the people and provide a diversity of views to secure the needs of the population. Especially important in the top-down political atmosphere in Singapore, MPs bridge the people-government chasm perceived to be debilitating to a true democracy.
On the subject of their day jobs (i.e., the occupation they hold outside of their parliamentary appointment), a quick search on the Singapore Parliament Website reveals most MPs who are not ministers hold managerial and executive positions in both public and private sectors. Dr. Ahmad Mohd Magad, MP of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, is the Managing Director of II-VI Singapore Ptd Ltd. Mdm Halimah Yacob, MP of Jurong GRC, is the assistant Secretary-General of the NTUC Women’s Committee. She is also a member of several committees and Board of Directors, such as the Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital and Medifund Committee. There are also a number of MPs in the legal profession – the MP of Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Mr. Christopher de Souza, is a partner at Lee & Lee. Other notable professions MPs hold include medical practitioners (Dr. Lily Neo, Jalan Besar GRC), lecturers (Ms. Sylvia Lim, Non-Constituency MP), and writers-in-residence at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Ms. Irene Ng, Tampines GRC).
The debate on whether MPs should retain their day jobs stem from several concerns. Foremost, a Member of Parliament is a person actively involved in political processes of the state. Their non-parliamentary occupations should not distract them from their duties and responsibility to the parliament. An MP is also expected to be present for the people and be invested in the common interest of the populace. Also, there is fear that MPs in the private sector may abuse their power for corporate interests.
Judging from the MPs’ day jobs, there is sufficient reason to believe they can manage their responsibilities, corporate or civil. We see most of the occupations held by MPs are related to their parliamentary duties in that they reflect the MPs’ capabilities of management of resources, financial prudence, social-political knowledge and exposure to the community. In that aspect, these occupations have merit in honing our MPs’ leadership and serve their exact purpose: to paint a realistic picture of Singapore and making suitable laws to better our society. Practically speaking, the high ranks our MPs attain in the corporate world are at the very least an indication of their abilities to lead, communicate, conceptualize and work within a hierarchy.
  Graft fears should be minimal in our legalistic society. With a government that prides itself on its anti-corruption stance and its leaders’ moral integrity, MPs have very little room for criminal endeavors. Conversely, they have more incentive to stay clean – according to the Ministerial Statement on Civil Service Salary Revisions, MPs draw a monthly salary of SGD$13,200 for their parliamentary position. This is a considerably high wage, similar to those of top executives and professionals. The nature of an MP’s parliamentary duties also makes it difficult for an MP to shirk his responsibility to his constituency. If the people are unhappy with their representation, they will voice their displeasure through votes in the next election and usher in a better candidate for their concerns. This self-renewal nature of politics ensures MPs function properly and efficiently.
From the process of garnering grassroots feedback to legislating bills, MPs require sensitivity to the local opinions and sentiments. A day job enhances this sensitivity by attuning the MPs to a larger slice of the Singapore pie. Regardless their jobs as doctors, lawyers, directors, CEOs and academics, the MPs gain deeper understanding of the Singaporean psyche and make laws more relevant. In fact, these non-parliamentary jobs should be encouraged as a natural, integral and useful part of sourcing for the response of the people. Quitting their day jobs is tantamount to cutting off one aspect of being a Singaporean who is affected by policies – MPs cannot afford this sort of insularity. Day jobs keep MPs grounded to the community so they can remain a strong medium for transmitting information to and fro the two sides of the chasm. For that, we should be glad for the MPs’ moonlighting.

Lin Jiasheng is a Secondary 4 student at Hwa Chong Institution and he shares his thoughts at http://scherzophreniac.blogspot.com