Debate on AHPETC in Parliament Part 2: The even more dramatic things people said
The saga continues from Thursday’s debate over the Auditor-General’s report on the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) in Parliament. The report found “several lapses” in some of the financial statements of the town council, which is run by the opposition Workers’ Party.
Here are some of the even more interesting things people said, in a “Part 2” compilation.
Liang Eng Hwa, MP
“My friend asked, ‘Why is PAP doing Workers' Party a favour by helping them get their house in order, yet get accused of bullying Workers' Party?”
“We are more concerned whether the Worker’s Party is bullying their residents with malpractices, than being accused of bullying the Workers' Party.”
Hri Kumar Nair, MP
“People say don’t attack Workers' Party, they only get more sympathy. Why should the Workers' Party be let off easy just because they are the opposition?”
“They were patting themselves on the back while padding their own pockets.”
Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Education
“They betrayed the people’s trust with a consistent pattern of evasive behavior. They betrayed the people’s trust by promising one thing and doing another.”
“The town council is rotting, and the rot is serious.”
“You can outsource work. You cannot outsource responsibility.”
“Workers' Party promised to be the check and balance against government, but can’t even check themselves.”
“Won’t answer auditors, won’t answer parliament, won’t answer residents — who is left in Singapore that the Workers' Party thinks is worthy of an answer?”
“We saw a big wayang in this house. Ordinarily, such a wayang would have been comical… I am so disappointed, I am so saddened, by this entire sorry saga.”
Low Thia Kiang, Worker’s Party Leader
(shouting) “Nobody wants to work for me, that is the problem, Prime Minister!”
Click on the image below to watch an excerpt of Low's speech:
Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for National Development
(reference to Chinese idiom) “When the top beam is not straight, the lower beams are crooked.”
“I am a forgiving man. I listened carefully to their speeches hoping to find some trace of sincerity and genuine remorse. Sadly, I found none.”
“Pritam Singh’s refusal to reply K. Shanmugam was classic.”
“If they cannot run a town council, how can they be trusted to run a whole country?
(in a sarcastic tone) “What a sterling service the FMSS has delivered the town council.”
“This motion is not about PAP versus Workers' Party. This is about Singaporeans. This motion is about our residents.”
“I’m a reasonable, generous man. Also a very religious man. However possible, I try to help. Whoever, doesn’t matter. PAP, non-PAP. Key point is, are you sincere in wanting to help your residents? If you are honest, clean, I will do my best.”
