USE OF GOVERNMENT MACHINERY BY RULING PARTY

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Prime Minister to what extent an issue is considered national in nature to warrant the use of Government machinery by the ruling Party.

The Second Minister for Defence (Services)(BG Lee Hsien Loong) (for the Prime Minister): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of the Prime Minister. It is the responsibility of any Government to set the National Agenda, to formulate policies in the national interest, to mobilize support for these policies and to develop a consensus among the population on the way forward for Singapore. To say that these policies will have the support and the endorsement of the People's Action Party is to state the obvious. Any government which does not make full use of all the means at its disposal to achieve national goals is in dereliction of its duty.

Mr Chiam See Tong: I do not think the Minister has answered the question. The question is, to what extent an issue is considered national in nature to warrant the use of Government machinery by the ruling party. I understand that the ruling party has been using Government machinery in their so-called National Agenda. Please answer the question.

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask if the Member disputes that it is the responsibility of the Government to set the National Agenda?

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, this is typical of this Parliament. You have a question answered by a question. Let us have the answer, please.

Mr Speaker: You can repeat your answer, General.

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, much as I am tempted to repeat the answer, let me try another line. It is the Government's responsibility to debate issues, to sell policies, to implement decisions. The Government makes use of all its machinery for this purpose - grassroots organizations, the Feedback Unit, SBC. The subjects which are discussed under the National Agenda are entirely proper subjects which concern every Singaporean and which the Government wants every Singaporean to take an interest in. If there are subjects which are of a purely Party nature, which the Member for Potong Pasir feels have been illegitimately labelled as national issues and which the Government has been improperly using the Government machinery to discuss, I would request him to list them and we can examine them to see whether, in fact, they are illegitimate.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, it looks like we are going around the mulberry bush. Sir, in the press conference not long ago, the Minister has, in fact, admitted ---

Mr Speaker: Mr Chiam, this is a time for Oral Questions. Could you please ask your supplementary question?

Mr Chiam See Tong: I want to know to what extent an issue is considered national before the PAP can use ---

Mr Speaker: I thought he has answered your question. Can you please ask your supplementary question, Mr Chiam?

Mr Chiam See Tong: But he has not answered the question.

Mr Speaker: I am afraid he had. Let us come to your next question.

Mr Chiam See Tong: All right, I accept your ruling, Sir. If the PAP has been using Government machinery, does the Minister admit that, in fact, the PAP and the Government have almost become one?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, perhaps I should clarify that this is a PAP Government. [Laughter]

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, I do not know why Members are laughing. There must be certainly a distinction between the political party which is in power and the Government, the civil servants which form part of the Government machinery. The Minister is going on the basis ---

Mr Speaker: Let us have your supplementary question. I do not have to repeat again, Mr Chiam.

Mr Chiam See Tong: I will ask the Minister then. If the ruling party, the political party, has merged with the Government, the civil servants, then what is the difference between Singapore and any of the communist countries?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, the ruling party has not merged with the civil servants. Secondly, in a communist country there would not be any opposition Member to ask questions.

Mr Speaker: Question No. 4, Mr Ng.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, before asking Question No. 4, I have to state that I have no direct or indirect pecuniary interest on the matter, except that a group of MPs including myself who are old boys of Montfort are getting together to help raise funds for the building of Montfort School. Hence this question is asked in the public interest. Mr Speaker, Sir, Question No. 4.