If 'co-driver' opposition wants a hand in steering, S'pore may risk a crash: Ong Ye Kung

A strong opposition is not the same as a constructive one, he says at rally

- Zaihan Mohamed Yusof

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung believes that a strong PAP government with a constructive opposition as a check and balance makes for an effective system of governance.

But this is not the same as wanting a strong opposition, he said at a rally on April 30.

He was responding to an earlier statement by WP vice-chairman Faisal Manap, who is leading the party's slate in Tampines GRC. Mr Faisal had thanked Mr Ong for supposedly agreeing that Singapore needs a "strong opposition".

"I am afraid that he is badly mistaken," said Mr Ong.

Instead, the Health Minister expressed his fear that Parliament could become mired in paralysis.

Using a co-driver analogy cited during the 2011 General Election, Mr Ong said that when the opposition presence grows, it will become more than a co-driver to the ruling party, which is in the driver's seat.

If the PAP loses another three or four GRCs after the 2025 General Election, it is likely that the co-driver "will have one hand on the steering wheel and say, 'I also want to drive'," he said.

"It can become dangerous. We may be at risk of crashing. And if we crash, the co-driver will say, 'It is not my fault, I am not the main driver'. I fear that this is where we are heading to."

The desired outcome of any general election is not to have a certain number of opposition MPs, but to produce an effective system of government, he said.