Overheard in Parliament: The best quotes… and the more forgettable ones
SINGAPORE — On Tuesday (Feb 26), a total of 27 Members of Parliament (MP) — including political office holders, Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) and Nominated MPs (NMPs) — spoke on a range of issues over six hours during the first day of this year’s Budget debate.
There were some memorable quotes — as well as more forgettable ones, including those laden with clichés.
Here is TODAY’s selection of the quotes which hit the mark and those that, well, missed by a mile:
HITS
“For each course in IT, data analytics, cyber security, we need one on psychology, sociology, human relations. For each new resource in the IT department, a similar one in the HR department. We talk about industrial revolution but the quieter yet more violent one lies in the companion revolution in the way we work and relate to each other.” — Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng
“Let’s not take for granted clean, green and safe environments that we work, live and play in every day. These are not a given — they are the result of a lot of hard work put in by our cleaners, security officers and landscape workers.” — Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Zainal Sapari
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“There are some concerns about the seniors in menial jobs. The sight of these seniors, as they shuffle around, tug at our heartstrings… These are the scenarios which led to many Singaporeans and tourists asking why our government is not taking care of these poor citizens.” — Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Chong Kee Hiong
“Our seniors should also be treated with dignity, not subjected to an ageist mindset or have their wages docked mechanically by formula just for crossing some threshold making them 'old', when they can be just as productive.” — NCMP Daniel Goh
“A strong and united Singapore will not be built with some Singaporeans being made to feel that they must conform or support the Government’s narrative with little room for alternative views.” — Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh
“Rather than simply trading in essentialist and simplistic caricatures of different cultures, we need to create forums where people are unafraid to ask tough questions of one another, confront their unconscious biases, and dispel long held misconceptions.” — NMP Lim Sun Sun
MISSES
“Stakeholders must strengthen information flow, overcome information asymmetry and collaborate on transformation.” — West Coast GRC MP Patrick Tay
“To raise productivity of the services sector, companies will need to innovate and to restructure.” — East Coast GRC MP Jessica Tan
“With Industry Transformation Maps covering 80 per cent of our economy, their progress is central to our economic restructuring effort to foster innovation, boost productivity and develop skills of workers in their respective industries.” — West Coast GRC MP Foo Mee Har
“Singapore is at a transition point, where our economy is taking on a major transformation.” — Minister in Prime Minister's office and labour chief Ng Chee Meng
“This Budget is also about addressing the needs and challenges of businesses and workers in the face of growing structural changes. To achieve this, we must prioritise and master lifelong learning.” — Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo
