Govt supports further steps to institutionalise Leader of the Opposition office: Chan Chun Sing

The government, in principle, supports further steps to institutionalise the Leader of the Opposition (LO) office, Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing said on Feb. 3.

Chan, who is also Minister for Defence, was responding on behalf of the Prime Minister to a parliamentary question posed by Nominated Member of Parliament Neo Kok Beng.

Arrangements of LO office still being shaped: Chan

Neo asked the PM in Parliament about the criteria for a Member of Parliament (MP) to assume the LO office and whether the government will appoint someone to the role if no elected MP meets the criteria.

He also asked if the government will institutionalise the office.

In his reply, Chan said that while the government supports institutionalisation in-principle, the office is relatively new.

As such, its roles, responsibilities and operating arrangements continue to be shaped by parliamentary practice, experience, and the conduct of those who occupy it, Chan said.

"It would therefore be appropriate to allow these conventions to further develop and mature, so that any eventual codification in statute is informed by established and sound practice," he added.

Criteria of LO

Commenting on the criteria, Chan listed several considerations.

The LO should be the leader of the main opposition party in Parliament, provided there is a predominant opposition party with a significant number of MPs.

The LO must also uphold high standards of honesty and integrity, and "command the trust and respect of Parliament necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the office."

Another opposition MP can be considered if, for some reason, the leader of the main opposition party does not meet the criteria, Chan explained.

These requirements may be set out explicitly if the LO office is institutionalised in the future.

However, he noted that there will be some conventions of conduct and responsibility that cannot be fully codified but which are nevertheless "understood, respected and observed" by all MPs.

NCMP ensures there will always be opposition MPs in good standing

As to whether the PM will appoint an LO if no elected opposition MP meets the criteria, Chan called this scenario a "hypothetical" and said it was unlikely.

There will always be 12 non-ruling party MPs in Parliament, Chan said, referring to the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme.

"I therefore have little doubt that there will always be opposition voices in this House, and among them, Members in good standing who are able to meet the requirements of the office," the minister said.

Top image via Parliament website, Workers' Party / YouTube