8/14/2012

Intimidation, intimidation!



As I read the morning papers my hands were shivering in fear. The word intimidation seems to be everywhere and jumping out from the pages. But who is intimidating who? This one I no able to figure out. In Parliament, everyone is so clever and it is really very hard to tell what they said and what they meant. And of course there is no intimidation in our first world Parliament. No chairs or punches were thrown, so we are one class above those gangster infested parliaments. Sure no see blood.

While I am still very hazy about the ongoings and recovering from the shock, I still think it may be a good idea for MPs on the wrong side of the power equation to exercise extreme care when asking questions in Parliament. Asking questions they must, but there are certain special nuances and skills required to be able to ask questions safely and successfully.

For one, include a prologue to the questions. Use a template as it can be used in all circumstances, by all MPs, before a question is asked. The things to say shall include ‘I am not casting any aspersion against anyone or any institution. I have full confidence in the integrity of the institution and its officers and have not the slightest doubt that they will be dishonest or bad or abuse their positions in anyway in the conduct of their duties. I have faith that these are people of great repute and infallible to temptations of all kinds. I have no motive in asking this question and it is done in good faith.’ I think this should be safe enough.

Only after saying this, like swearing on oath, should one proceed to ask question. Oh, before that, take care in phrasing the question carefully to make sure that it is free from any innuendoes or insinuations, or intimidations as they can be easily smelt out by the experts. After asking the question, just sit down and listen. Whatever the answer, just accept it as good and end of the story. And give oneself a pat on the back that one has done a good job, in asking questions in Parliament.

Then there will be a happy ending and no need to sweat under the threat of assumed intimidation. Our Parliament is a first world parliament and proper conduct with correct decorum will get one a long way. It can also be very gracious and enlightening in the company of great and talented politicians, some could even pass off as immortals.

Have a nice day.

31 comments:

  1. Please correct me if I am wrong.

    Our Opposition MPs are protected under parliamentary privileges.

    Any question or statement they make in parliament comes under the immunity provided by parliament.

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  2. But better still if Opposition MPs conform to majority.
    Kow tow 3 times before asking a question.

    Kow tow is also faster than the long preamble suggested by redbean.

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  3. I think kow tow is quite acceptable. But better add, wan sui, wan sui, wan wan sui to be more effective. Nice court etiquette.

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  4. MP asks a question because of disquiet in the public. The response is to challenge MP for making an allegation for asking the question. MP has to say no as no one can simply say yes even protected by parliament privileges.

    The next thing is to challenge MP to say it outside Parliament. Of course MP would not do that. So MP looks like being cornered. Battle won. So brilliant.

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  5. Sadly, the one with the big stick could not change the mindset of people in the street. Many are still believing what the MP has mentioned. So he won in Parliament but may not win the hearts of people in the street. Score : MP 1 : Minister 0.

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  6. Win a battle to lose a war.

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  7. There was spark but no fire. There was some paddling, but no forward movement of the boat.

    Just when it showed potential , it winnowed out like a  frailly lighted candle 

    It ended with...

    "I am glad to note that no allegations are being made against AGC, and that it is NOT being suggested in any way that AGC made a wrong choice or a false choice in choosing the charges that they did against Dr Wu.

    And there was silence....

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  8. There was not even a battle, let alone a war

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  9. If you are not certain of the charges or the accused deserve heavier sentencing, you will be in there to put up a show and wipe backside. What use are you?

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  10. There was silence in heaven. Men in white robes were in worshipful obscurity.

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  11. Bunch of pussies trying to run the show. If in private sector: epic fail.

    Thank god for hotels! And private enterprise.

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  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  13. And mind you, you don't need an army of oppositions to take on men of questionable nobility. You only need A Moses to do the job.

    They had the platform, but they have no substance!

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  14. got lun jiao but cannot stand ...no, maybe stand a bit...then shrank...no bullets...found out....lun jiao got no balls.

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  15. You can't even tackle small things you wanna tackle big issues? Please lah....go look in the mirror

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  16. "I wonder why you even need them in parliament. Highly educated but also highly idiotic"

    That is the point. To continue to let the ruling party fool the citizens and still collecting millions.

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  17. Because you also have clever oppositions who know how not to fight a battle and lose the war mah....

    Hmmm...should be....not to fight a battle and lose all the lovely spoil?. hehe

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  18. Oooooh, one liner mole is here.

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  19. The very guy who should bear the heaviest responsibility for the fall in birth rates is still exhorting citizens to marry and have children and warning that Singapore will sink if we continue this trend of falling population.

    Now, one question: If I do not marry or have children, do I care what happens to Singapore after I am gone? Obviously I couldn't care two hoots about what is going to happen to Singapore after I am gone.

    Another argument is that we should grow the population to expand the economy, whether by procreation or accepting new citizens. Can we do that perpetually?

    If not, when should we put a stop to population growth? Obviously this will be a problem for the future Government to unravel.

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  20. Which means to say...we have a lot of rich folks here who want...green, cheap and fast....where housing is concern.

    Who doesn't want cheap money making assets?

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  21. Me too. I don't own anything here. Can go anywhere anytime.

    Actually want to buy a HDB but they said my salary good so must go and pay private developer.

    I say two ups to them. Think I say Australia here I come.

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  22. Anonymous said...
    Which means to say...we have a lot of rich folks here who want...green, cheap and fast....where housing is concern.

    Who doesn't want cheap money making assets?

    ( to the above post before it got jumbled)

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  23. Reading too much into the verbal exchanes lah.
    He aredi declared, quote, "I am certainly casting no motive on Ms Lim."

    And
    I believe Ms Sylvia Lim was not intimidated at all and stand tall at the end of the debate with her integrity intact.

    patriot

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  24. Sylvia didn't carry through with the inquisition lah...

    If she came out looking she had done her duties for the people...and you give the thumbs up....well, forget about changes or justice where it counts in this land lah.

    Btw..Good job Ms Lim


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  25. The only people who know about right and wrong are trained judges.

    The people should just follow laws and please don't think or question too much

    Know when to stop questioning and just obey and you will do well in life

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  26. There is something wicked or evil about our laws. Too bad most don't know what it is or able to put a finger on it. Even those who know, they are helpless.

    Fellas, if there is no progress in this vital area, there will be no real changes....It is as simple as that.

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  27. Pardon the ignorant citizens.

    If even the learned lawyers from the Law Society of Singapore have all been neutered and under control of the powers that be, what can ordinary Singaporeans do?

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  28. "What I was saying is, it will be helpful in the context of statements that Ms Lim and others have made in the past that we can actually in this House debate issues, look at issues without having to inject politics into it," he said.

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  29. Who says learned lawyers from LSS are neutered? One so garang, budged into court to try to stop the proceedings some more. Our lawyers very tok kong one lah.

    And who is injecting politics into Parliament huh, man or woman?

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  30. Is the media part of politics?

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  31. What he is trying to say is...don't go there with your politics....it is underseige

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