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SINGAPORE: Wrapping up two weeks of the Budget sitting, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who's also the Leader of the House said 61 Members of Parliament had filed a total of 405 amendments.
And the number of cuts filed were the highest in recent years.
The House also saw the active participation of the nine new Nominated Members of Parliament appointed just seven months ago.
The Leader of the House gave his take on the debate before Parliament was adjourned to a date to be fixed.
Mr Mah said: "The debate in this House over the last two weeks has been a robust one. Hard questions were raised by both government and opposition members as well as Nominated Members.
"Ministers and their deputies responded fully. This Parliament is the highest forum in the land where national issues and policies are argued and decided seriously and soberly for the interest of the people.
"Its purpose is not to provide exciting TV drama or be a ‘wayang’ or a show, although we do have ample examples of such parliaments. I believe our members have acquitted themselves well. They have not let down the people who elected them into this House."
Abdullah Tarmugi, Speaker, Singapore Parliament, said: "I am still trying to figure out why several members persisted in cramming five minute speeches into one minute amendments, often resulting their speeches to be read at break-neck speed to get every point in and stressing the simultaneous translators and the Chair in the process.
"This Parliament also scored a first. In my 26 years, it's the first time we were treated to a rendition of "Good, Better, Best" by an Honourable Member. But this aside, it did not distract from the serious debate and important one, nothing less than about the transformation of our economy in the next decade.
"We push on resolutely and together with a smile and a song on our lips. This is what the Singapore story is all about." - CNA/vm
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