A Record-Setting 14th Term of Parliament, With Participation Up

One night in Parliament, the clock struck midnight—and MPs were still debating two competing motions on jobs and Singapore's foreign talent policy, more than 13 hours since the sitting began.

- Wong Pei Ting and Ang Qing

By the time Leader of the House Indranee Rajah adjourned the House to "great relief" at 12:33 am on Sept 15, 2021, Nominated MP Janet Ang had returned to the Chamber after leaving to celebrate her birthday over dinner with her family, while the birthday of Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad had just begun.

This is just one instance that reflects how the 14th term of Parliament has not just been active, but near relentless.

For starters, this term of Parliament was not much longer than the last, with the difference being just 2 1/2 months.

But the tempo was higher, with 162 sittings, up from 135, along with an unprecedented number of Bill and motion speeches, ministerial statements, and adjournment motions.

The number of occasions a PAP backbencher spoke during question time and orders of the day such as Bills or motions increased by 65 per cent from the 13th term of Parliament.

All but seven of the 27 PAP MPs who were re-elected in 2020 took their participation up a notch.

Contributions by the opposition MPs grew 164 per cent, partly due to the WP's additional four seats in Sengkang GRC from the 2020 General Election.

Leading the pack was incumbent Nee Soon GRC MP Louis Ng, who was also the most active MP in the 13th term.

Mr Ng's participation went up by 72 per cent, with him filing or clarifying 728 parliamentary questions, versus 327 previously, while clocking 195 speeches or clarifications on Parliament's items of business.

Besides Mr Ng and incumbent Yio Chu Kang MP Yip Hon Weng, who came in second, other members who finished in the top 10 in terms of questions asked and debate participation included all three incumbent Sengkang GRC MPs Louis Chua, Jamus Lim, and He Ting Ru from the WP, and PSP Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai.

The larger and stronger opposition presence has certainly given the PAP a run for its money, said Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan.