Masagos Zulkifli rounds up debate on Constitution and Penal Code Amendment Bills relating to Section 377A

MPs have shown why Parliament, rather than the courts, is the right forum to debate difficult social issues, said Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli. Rounding up the debate on the Constitution and Penal Code Amendment Bills relating to Section 377A in Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 29), he said the House has had a robust debate. He said Singapore has created space for society to deliberate on social issues within the political process and not through a legal route which is zero-sum in nature. After the debate and the vote, what lies ahead is the work of staying united and bringing people with different perspectives together. Mr Masagos said as a society, Singaporeans cannot lose sight of mutual respect when they engage one another and must endeavour to listen to those who disagree with them. "It is time to come together and move forward, preserve the peace and stability that our society has fought hard for and forge ahead - united, not divided - so that we can achieve progress as a nation for many more years to come," he said.