Standing to speak, MP Gerald Giam (WP-Aljunied) called on parliament to set up standing select committees for each ministry or group of related ministries comprising MPs from all political parties represented in parliament.
While Singapore has seven standing select committees, it does not have any specific to individual ministries, he said, noting that other countries like the United Kingdom and Australia have this practice.
After scrutinising legislation and policies, the select committees can make recommendations to parliament before Bills and motions are voted on, said Mr Giam.
“This process will lead to more informed and constructive debate and better decision-making in parliament,” he continued.
In response, Ms Indranee said: “I think the question that we have to ask ourselves is, in the other countries where they have this multitude of select committees, are they necessarily better governed? Do they necessarily have better outcomes? Are their parliaments more efficient? Is their government more trusted?”
“I would venture to say no, not necessarily, to all of those questions,” she said, adding that Singapore fares well in international rankings on governance, transparency and corruption.
It would not be productive for every ministry to have to answer to a select committee, said Ms Indranee.
Mr Giam then questioned if Ms Indranee believed that select committees do not lead to better governance and trust, and if she meant that they cause the public to trust the government less.
Ms Indranee clarified that she was responding to the “underlying assumption” that having select committees would lead to better governance or better accountability.
“I’m saying that having select committees doesn’t necessarily either guarantee or give you better governance or better accountability. I’m saying that the processes that we have give a lot of room for government and ministers to be held to account,” she added.
During the two-and-a-half day Budget Statement debate, 61 Members of Parliament from both sides of the House rose to speak, said Mr Seah. A total of 598 cuts were filed for the subsequent Committee of Supply debates, he added.
He chaired his maiden Budget and Committee of Supply debates this year after becoming Speaker of Parliament in August 2023.
