Ong Ye Kung says S'pore may crash if 'co-driver' opposition wants a hand in steering

Health minister Ong Ye Kung responded to Faisal Manap of the Workers' Party (WP) thanking him and President Tharman during a rally for supposedly agreeing that Singapore needed "a strong opposition".

Ong: a constructive opposition is not the same as a strong opposition

Speaking at the People's Action Party (PAP) rally for Sembawang West SMC at Evergreen Primary School on Apr. 30, Ong pointed out that his belief is actually the opposite.

Ong said what Singapore needs is a strong ruling party, which is the PAP, along with a constructive opposition presence to provide check and balance.

"Together they can form an effective governance system," he said.

Ong then clarified:

"I think I'm one of the first ministers to say that before the campaign even started, and that there's no chance of an opposition wipeout in this GE (General Election). But what I said is not the same as wanting a strong opposition."

He added:

"In fact, I expressed my great fear, my great worry, that opposition can be so strong in Parliament, Singapore, we get caught up in paralysis. Everything gets jammed, we cannot move forward. It has happened in many democracies around the world, it can happen here."

In likening the opposition to a co-driver sitting beside the PAP driver, Ong said if the PAP loses another three to four GRCs, the co-driver will now have one hand on the steering wheel, saying that they also want to drive.

"It will then become very dangerous. We may be at risk of crashing. And if we crash, who has the responsibility? The PAP driver, the co-driver will say I'm just the co-driver, you're the main driver."

He said he feared that this was the direction Singapore was heading towards.

The aim of the General Election is to therefore produce an effective governing system for the people, Ong added, where the PAP has a strong mandate and can get work done in a "difficult situation", while the opposition is there, as a check and balance, raises questions, offers alternatives, and plays a role that is loyal to Singapore.

Poh: This is not the time for rhetoric or reinvention

Ong's sentiments about governing in a challenging environment were echoed by Poh Li San, the candidate for Sembawang West GRC, at the rally.

Poh said:

"The economy remains uncertain. The world is changing rapidly and the challenges we face are very real. This is not the time for rhetoric or reinvention. This is the time for steady, trusted leadership."

The current election is therefore not about who speaks the loudest or about personalities, she added .

Rather, it is about "real, visible, meaningful" progress, she said.

In highlighting the various community projects and initiative that been undertaken for Sembawang West SMC, she concluded the rally by imploring residents to think not just about politics or promises, but to also consider performance and people.

"Let us choose continuity, let us choose credibility and let us choose community-first leadership," she said.

Poh's opponent is Chee Soon Juan from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).

Top image from Mothership