The following letter was sent by Karthigesu.
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It was revealed last week that MP (Member of Parliament) for Bukit Batok, Mr David Ong, resigned from his elected position because of his indiscretion in having an extra-marital affair with his Women’s Wing grassroots leader.
It would be more understandable if Mr Ong resigned because of health reasons or reasons of mental incapacity. But to resign for personal moral failure is truly unacceptable. It must have cost taxpayers millions of dollars to hold the last General Election. From the policemen, to the teachers, to the civil servants deployed for the event, a lot of man-hours are also invested into it.
I estimate that to host one by-election alone, it will cost tax-payers hundreds-of-thousands of dollars. Why should taxpayers be penalised for the moral failure of the MP?
In the last 5 years, 3 MPs have resigned due to moral failures. This is very unacceptable. The MPs who err in this manner must be hit where it hurts them the most – their pockets.
I urge the government to consider fining MPs who resign due to moral failures. Such a penalty should send a strong deterrent message to all the elected MPs who are presently indulging in such activities to stop doing so. It will also have a deterring effect on MPs (current and future) from failing morally.
As Singaporeans we have always prided the fact that there are no free lunches. MPs like David Ong who resigned after merely 6-months in office should not be allowed to have ‘free lunches’ at the expense of taxpayers.
What is even more depressing is that he had been collecting his MP’s allowance ($15,000), the entire time he had been failing his voters by sleeping with his constituency volunteer.
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You may send your letters to us at [email protected].
Taxpayers should not bear the cost of PAP MP's infidelity
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