PM Wong Tells PAP MPs To Take Ownership Of Issues, As Effective Advocacy Goes Beyond Speaking Up

He also stresses the importance of integrity, honesty and incorruptibility as core to PAP

- Goh Yan Han

People's Action Party MPs should take ownership of causes or issues that they feel strongly about and champion them with conviction, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 29.

In an eight-page "rules of prudence" letter traditionally issued to PAP MPs after each general election, he said effective advocacy of causes—whether they reflect constituents' aspirations or broader national concerns—goes beyond speaking up.

"You have to research the issues thoroughly, engage diverse stakeholders, understand the trade-offs, and present well-reasoned arguments for improving policies," he said in the letter on how the ruling party MPs should conduct themselves.

This was PM Wong's first such letter, as the recent general election was his first as Prime Minister and secretary-general of the PAP. The PAP won 87 out of 97 seats and 65.57 per cent of the vote.

The broad strokes of PM Wong's letter remained similar to the previous letter issued by his predecessor Lee Hsien Loong in 2020 when he was the prime minister, with both emphasizing the importance of integrity, honesty and incorruptibility as core to the PAP.