In Parliament Sylvia Lim questioned MND's independence and appropriateness as regulator of town councils because a minister from a political party is in charge and would favour his own party.
She also alleged that civil servants were afraid to criticize their 'political masters' and those who did so would have to throw in their letters of resignation.
She suggested that AGO be the independent regulator of town councils.
In his reply SMS Desmond Lee demolished all of Sylvia Lim's argument and questioned WP's real position.
1. Political office holders elected to government will helm the executive arm and be in charge of all ministries and agencies including those with regulatory powers. This is just the system and it is not a system unique to us. Indeed, the elected governmemt has the responsibility to make laws that are in the interests of people.
2. Even PAP TCs have been fined when they don't do well ( = no favouritism).
3. History has shown that this is a government that WILL ACT on wrongdoing. Nothing would be swept under the carpet. That persons from none other than the prime minister's own town council are being investigated is testament.
4. Were civil servants from CPIB afraid to investigate PM's town council? Are they timorous souls?
5. Sylvia Lim wanted an independent regulator who is not MND, AND YET fought the application for independent auditors who would report - NOT TO MND - but to the court.
So what exactly is WP's position? Do they sincerely want fair oversight from an independent body ? Or do they have a preference for no oversight because there are real problems in their town council that they don't want investigated?
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