A Daunting Job

 

Recently both the ruling party and the opposition party in Singapore disclosed to the public that 2 members of parliament in each of their own camp are having extra marital affair. The man in the ruling party is also the speaker of the house. All 4 submitted their resignations. For the opposition party that only has 10 members in parliament, 2 is a great loss. 

These 2 affairs which coincidentally came to light at the same time stir up controversies and bring some excitement to the otherwise mundane squeaky clean political scene in Singapore.

To be honest I am quite surprised at the lack of tolerance for extra marital affair for our MPs among a large segment of the public. It must be noted though that the opposition party's rationale for sacking the 2 MPs was more because of their dishonesty in denying the affair earlier on. 

I guess in terms of morality telling a lie and cheating on your spouse are both forms of dishonesty. However I view the later as involving feelings and affection, so more like a human weakness. In fact after learning that the speaker of the house was told by the PM to discontinue the affair some time back but fails to do so, signals to me that the love must be quite deep such that he is prepared to sacrifice his career. I also feel that if the MPs have been doing a fine job serving their constituencies they should be allowed to carry on the good work and allowed space to sort out their personal affair over time. I mean if they have divorced their respective spouses, the public opinion would have been different right? 

I really don't think I am too liberal in not holding our lawmakers to higher moral standards. I have a more practical view. In Singapore where it is so difficult to get 'good' people to enter politics expecting our lawmakers to be saints and behaving like one throughout only makes entering politics daunting.

"It is getting more difficult to persuade people who are dedicated, able and honest to join politics and serve Singapore, said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong...... It is a national problem. If the PAP cannot persuade honest, dedicated and capable people to serve Singaporeans, and neither can the opposition, it will have grave consequences for everyone," he said on Saturday (Aug 17) 2019