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PSP's Leong Mun Wai apologises for Facebook posts that impugned Tan Chuan-Jin, parliamentary processes

SINGAPORE — Mr Leong Mun Wai of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has apologised for the social media posts he published that was said to have “impugned” Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and the processes of Parliament.

Mr Leong Mun Wai speaking in Parliament on March 4, 2022.

Mr Leong Mun Wai speaking in Parliament on March 4, 2022.

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  • Mr Leong Mun Wai of the Progress Singapore Party has apologised in Parliament for his social media posts
  • He was said to have “impugned” Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and the processes of Parliament
  • Mr Leong said that it was not his intention
  • He just wanted to highlight that “some amount of discretion and flexibility" can enhance discussions in Parliament 

SINGAPORE — Mr Leong Mun Wai of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has apologised for the social media posts he published that was said to have “impugned” Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and the processes of Parliament.

The Non-Constituency Member of Parliament’s apology came at the end of parliamentary proceedings on Tuesday (March 8) evening. This was hours after Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Deputy Leader of the House, urged Mr Leong to apologise by the end of the day.

Mr Leong said in his apology that it was not his intention to impugn either Mr Tan or the parliamentary processes.

Instead, he was trying to highlight through his social media posts that “some amount of discretion and flexibility with the standing orders will go a long way in enhancing our discussion in this House”.

He also explained that he was hoping to ask Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng a “very important point” about the displacement of Singaporean professionals, managers, executives and technicians on Monday.

“But today, I would like to sincerely and unreservedly apologise to the Speaker and this House for my Facebook comments… in which I impugned the Speaker and the processes of Parliament.”

Mr Leong also said that he has since taken down the related posts at 5.30pm on Tuesday, and has withdrawn what he said in them. He added that he undertakes not to repeat them again.

“I acknowledge I did not set out all the facts in my post, and thus give a misleading impression.”

The day before, Mr Leong stood up at the end of the debate for the Ministry of Manpower’s spending plans to seek clarification from the ministry.

His request was denied by Mr Tan, because the cut-off time to ask questions had been reached. Shortly following this exchange, Mr Leong wrote on Facebook that "the Speaker didn’t even give me the chance".

That evening, Mr Leong also uploaded a 30-second video on his Facebook account, which showed the exchange with Mr Tan.

On Tuesday, Mr Zaqy described Mr Leong’s actions as “dishonourable and a contempt of Parliament”.

He then urged Mr Leong to take down two Facebook posts that he posted about the matter, withdraw his comments, apologise for his actions in Parliament by the end of Tuesday's sitting, as well as on Facebook.

Mr Leong told the House that he will be putting up an apology on his Facebook account in due course.

APOLOGY ACCEPTED

Mr Zaqy, who accepted Mr Leong’s apology, said that Parliament is a place to debate on important issues that affect the country and its citizens.

“We have, in this House, developed a set of procedures and practices to guide us on how we ought to do this in an effective and efficient manner.”

There are examples in other jurisdictions in which people use such procedural rules to “prevent or frustrate the government of the day from carrying out its proper functions”, My Zaqy noted.

"It would be completely contrary to our interests for this to occur in this House," he said in Parliament after Mr Leong's apology.

He added that Mr Leong should also acknowledge that there was a “long debate” on the jobs of Singaporeans and the foreign talent policy about six months ago in which Mr Leong was also involved.

Moreover, there are other avenues for issues to be raised in subsequent sittings in Parliament, Mr Zagy said.

“And in this year’s (Committee of Supply debate), more than 600 cuts were filed. We’re looking at more than 50 hours of debate. I don’t think anyone can reasonably say the Budget was not extensively debated.” 

Related topics

Leong Mun Wai Tan Chuan-Jin Parliament PSP MOM apology

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