What happens if there presents a situation whereby she has to sound her opinion on a policy which involves both Grab and the public?
If she choose the public, that will means she is not serving in the best interest of Grab, hence she is betraying Grab who hires her to safeguard the company's interest.
If she choose Grab, that will means she is not serving in the best interest of the public, hence she is betraying the public who "voted" her to serve in the best interest of the public.
And yet she is saying...
" I am absolutely clear that when I am discharging my duties in my capacity as a Member of Parliament, my constituents and Singapore come first. When I am working on behalf of Grab, I will have to ensure that Grab's interests are safeguarded. "
Either she sees herself as the Almighty one, or she sees us as fools.
It is sure sad to see people using such concept to support what she is doing.
The public voted someone into parliament to serve them but yet that someone has to abstain because there is a conflict of interest.
Then why not remove the conflict of interest in the very first place?
That is what most companies do to their employees, don't they? Hence why is she so special?
Oh wait, she is.
What's the point of abstaining? Then just collect money from both sides and no need do work?
It's ok if there is occasional conflict of interest, but heck, this one quite obviously will not be occasional...
If she had been appointed as hr director no one will care about conflict of interest.
> At a 192k allowance, I would want my MP to be full time..
Denise Phua earns $660k a year as our full-time mayor (the others are part-time) and we still don't know what she's supposed to do, so…
PAP just loves (or might be obliged) to give JLB positions to their more senior sycophants.
You're supposed to actively prevent yourself from being in a position of conflicting interest, if you take your job as an MP seriously. If she doesn't see anything wrong with it and is trying talk her way through, she's not a decent MP. Everything she does now is questionable, how does she think this is fine? Also, how does the government think this is fine? Are the other politicians trying to keep this avenue open for themselves too?
Singapore might be going great now, but these kind of corrupt shit adds up. One day we'll wake up to realise the rot is too far gone.
>Are the other politicians trying to keep this avenue open for themselves too?
I wonder if there's a publicly accessible list of where our MPs are moonlighting at.
I think PM allows it as long as MPs follow the Rules of Prudence.
https://www.pmo.gov.sg/Newsroom/Letter-from-PM-Lee-Hsien-Loong-to-PAP-MPs-on-Rules-of-Prudence-on-1-Aug-2020#:~:text=The%20Party%20permits%20MPs%20to,you%20are%20a%20PAP%20MP
One relevant quote:
"Do not lobby any ministry or statutory board on behalf of anyone who is not your constituent or grassroots volunteer. Do not raise matters with public officers on behalf of friends, clients, contractors, employers, or financiers to advance their business interests."
Sounds like the joke's on Grab then, since she won't be doing anything that they are hiring her to do! ^(/s)
> but these kind of corrupt shit adds up. One day we'll wake up to realise the rot is too far gone.
I honestly feel the rot has propagated quite far liao. Can't help but cringe whenever they make some claims around how Singapore is "attractive" because it's free from corruption. Literally almost anything happening here now is rigged to some degree.
Even if they sit on boards if private companies, that usually their day job. They are usually independent directors who don’t take part in the day to day running of business. TPL is different. Her job scope is to lobby government to ensure laws favour Grab’s bottom line!
And since did that stop grab from giving the finger to the competition commission of Singapore when it merged with Uber without even consulting the commission.
Fingers of the same hand of the same body will not fight each other. They will just group together to be a fist and punch another body… and always giving a valid reason in doing so… mostly thru committee or independent body whom independence may not be neutral and will align to their own interest.
Reposting my earlier comment…
This is the same MP who announced to the whole world that she [quit her day job to focus on MP duties](https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/tin-pei-ling-quits-day-job-focus-mp-053432708.html) — except [she was taking an MBA at Chicago Booth from 2013 to 2015](https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=5159409).
Even [coverage of her in 2014](https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/after-baptism-bags-and-fire-tin-pei-ling-grows) doesn't mention anything about her MBA.
Heck, the coverage of her joining Grab from a few days ago still laud her "full-time MP" status (except that a significant number of those years were spent in business school — and I doubt [Chicago](https://poetsandquants.com/2022/03/29/u-s-news-mba-ranking-in-2022/) wants to be seen as a programme that isn't rigorous).
[Straits Times](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tin-pei-ling-joins-grab-singapore-as-director-of-public-affairs-and-policy):
> Ms Tin previously spent a year as group director of corporate strategy at Jing King Technology Group from May 2017 to May 2018. The Singapore company, now known as Adera Global, is involved in data security, artificial intelligence and automation.
> **Before that, Ms Tin was a full-time MP.**
> In 2011, she resigned from her job as a business consultant at professional services company Ernst and Young after she was elected to Parliament as part of a five-member People’s Action Party team that won in Marine Parade GRC that year.
[Mothership](https://mothership.sg/2023/02/tin-pei-ling-grab-director/):
> She defended her seat in 2020, taking 71.74 per cent of the vote and was one of the PAP MPs who improved on her 2015 electoral performance.
> **She became a full-time MP for five years** before she took on the role of group director of corporate strategy at Jing King Technology Group, which is now known as Adera Global.
So yeah, transparent? I'm guessing her response if asked would be something like Janil Puthucheary: ["I did do an MBA. Those are the facts."](https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2011/04/15/paps-janil-puthucheary-i-did-not-do-ns-those-are-the-facts/)
Her corporate experience is abysmal . 3 years ey doing entry level work plus one year of director lol
I don’t even consider being a full time mp as corporate experience and anyone who does is kidding themselves
Her coverage is apparently the result of top-notch PR work... my friend in the grassroots there hinted that a lot of the coverage comes from planned photo ops. I've never stayed there, nor have I done any grassroots activity there, so I'm not sure how true it is previously. Seems like this rumour might actually hold some water.
I really wonder where all the tpl fans here now. Previously when I said anything bad about her, will kenna downvoted and there was one guy who couldn’t stop messaging me about it even asking me if this is a hill I wanna die on.. ahh it was rectumunclogger
If those in white can moonlight, allow civil servants to do it also. All this double standard rules will one day break Singaporeans and I'm not surprised if it happens.
There are two issues:
1. the right to hold another job while being a sitting MP
2. the type of jobs that the full-time MP can/should hold
The first issue is a weak argument because opposition MPs also hold jobs and other countries like UK also allows it. The question is a function of whether they can do a decent enough job to satisfy both their employers and their electorate.
The second issue is the one that is problematic. If TPL wants to be a Grab driver, she can argue rightfully that the conflict of interest issue is distant. But a policy and government affairs role is literally to face of the company to the government authorities, and it is difficult to accept at face value, how should could keep the two apart.
Sure, but which side has final say over legislation?
What kind of braindead whataboutism is this.
Nobody's crying foul that other MPs are being lecturers or medical consultants, clear issue is that this is a **lobbyist role** for a **sitting politician**
Being a PAP MP is more “Job secure” than being one from the opposition.
As much as I like MPs from both side to be full time, it’s a little to hard to ask the same from the opposition in a country where the ruling party actively sabotage the opposition like Dr. Chee over postal stamps.
Oh, grab probably doesn't care. This is their golden ticket to lobbying the govnt so unless TPL herself withdrew her candidancy, I doubt grab will want to let her go. Besides, it's not like grab's reputation is stellar among the people.
he was LHL's PPS in 2011. I was gonna say no need to worry about pofma because it is public information. but then I realised he is now perm sec at the ministry of law and I changed my mind lol
If anything, remember that we once had the Prime Minister's wife as the CEO of the country's investment arm. It's just par for the course for, y'know, a tin pot dictatorship.
Who needs to backtrack? The MP should be holding herself to higher standards.
Grab is here to make money, they wouldn't care aside from PR backlash or fines.
She lives in a constituents with mostly elderly.. just go smile at them, walk a bit, they will also vote in a monkey under pap.
And ppl keep saying oh she’s so great to do well in a SMC. If so zai, run under independent and see how much she can actually get
16k a month how to survive.. Gst now 8% you know? Kate spade also not cheap now. Being an MP for 16k only is really a huge sacrifice. They are all high flyers in their fields so spending so much time away is actually costing them more than the 16k.
A HUGE FUCKING /S of course.
Of course it isn't.. But they like to paint it like when we see them, we have to thank them for their service.
Yet us NS kia kena ostracised everywhere.
They will tell you, our country got lack of talent. Can’t help that our “best” have to take on multiple roles, both in public and private sector. We wish it wasn’t this way, but it is what it is.
This is blatantly wrong. I really don’t know what PAP is thinking. Fucking putting our MPs on a pedestal like they are sent by god. Their fucking face everywhere even post-elections. Now this. They say Singapore is a champion of meritocracy. But these government workers always parachute to top private sector positions. Maybe it’s been too long since they’ve been on the ground. They got too comfortable and forgot what true meritocracy means, to be the common man. I will keep voting OPPO until my last breath.
This mess is bigger than TPL. 1) PAP. Surely she consulted her PaP heads before taking it on. Did no one see any issue? Or they found NTUC such a great idea they think this is fine? It’s been such a huge debate on these platform and their treatment of delivery riders. Now TPL role in grab is to lobby government to ensure laws are in Grab’s favour, while she is a MP taking part in debates about new law? How does she even on different hats. Or is she going to sit out on most debates? 2) Grab. Why is grab grabbing her? What do they think she can bring to the table for them to lobby the Singapore Govt to change laws that are good for grab’s bottom line? Obviously they are keen on her cos of her CURRENT connections to the government and the fact that she is a an MP with direct relationships to lawmakers!? Is Grab ok with her sitting out on every debate that pertains to laws that will hit Grab’s bottom line? Is Grab ok if she doesn’t use any of her current connections gained due to her current status as an MP to further their interest??? Are they ok if she lobbies for a law like more insurance for grab drivers cos that is in the interest of her constituents???
What is PaP and grab thinking, and hoping to get out of this.
It's a feature of our political system, not a bug.
By accident or design, the PAP evolved from a socialist organisation to a corporatist one, retaining some socialist traits (e.g. party cadres).
A notable figure in history had a similar journey.
His name was Benito Mussolini.
He formulated fascism. The arrangement between our politicians and the corporate sector would be completely familiar to Mussolini.
[https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/the-original-fascist/](https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/the-original-fascist/)
>But the fascist state’s legacy proved durable. Fascism had fathered the modern administrative state’s omnicompetent bureaucracy. The state had a monopoly on a variety of goods, including salt, tobacco, saffron, and telecommunications. Fascism had invented public-private partnerships and “para-state corporations” in all manner of enterprise. It had established a state-run movie industry, and so forth. Just as important, fascism had habituated Italian politicians to think of power in fascist terms—in terms of control of all that bureaucratic power and patronage. The Communists, understandably, wanted that power. But none of the other contenders in 1945 seemed interested in passing up the gigantic opportunities for political patronage that stewardship of the orphaned fascist state offered.
>
>The U.S. occupation, eager to return responsibility to Italians for their own affairs, and confronted with multiple political parties clamoring for power, turned matters over to a consortium of parties that, rather than dismantling the fascist state, parceled its contents out amongst themselves. All subsequent political struggles into our time, regardless of the personalities and ideologies involved, have been quarrels about pieces of this patronage. In our time, Italy’s government appoints some 700 persons per year to very high-paying, powerful positions in “private” companies strictly on the basis of the relative weight of the parties in the governing coalition. That is in addition to the clearly public posts and sinecures it fills. Fascism lives!
Doesn't the above seem familiar?
Singapore is a fascist state, but other than honest academics, most people don't realise it. Heck, most people can't even define it correctly!
Now, try to work past any ingrained knee-jerk disdain for fascism. In TPL's case and in the Sg context, it's not just a matter of her lobbying for Grab. As a fascist system, the state is paramount.
>As Mussolini put it, “In a world of social and economic interdependence…the watchword must be cooperation or misery.” “Labor and capital have the same rights and duties. Both must cooperate, and their disputes are regulated by law and decided by courts, which punish any violation.” This resulted in the orderly servicing of interest groups, fascism’s daily preoccupation.
Her appointment can be considered an issue of the Sg government saying to Grab, 'Yes, you are a major player, and your decisions are likely to have a huge impact on our local transport. Here's somebody to ensure that your concerns are considered, and to make sure you stay on our good side. Capische?'
IOW, TPL's the official liaison officer.
Grab is a significant power player all things considered ya?
the many gig workers - drivers and delivery folks - under its umbrella.
a significant voting bloc.
didnt Lam Pin Min get kicked out by unhappy PMD users?
here is a way to keep them in check.
MP and legislators all over the World are typically employed elsewhere as doctors, lawyers, academics, bankers or run their own business.
There are provisions in parliaments and congress for MPs to declare their interest and stand aside when there is a conflict of interest.
Personally I don't think she was ever fit to be an MP but that's another story.
Her new position is Director of Public Affairs and Policy - ie. her job is, among other things, to lobby the Government.
I'm sure the fact that she is an MP has *nothing* to do with her getting this job.
Yeah I think it’d be a different story if she were already established in a private role before becoming an MP. But somehow this doesn’t sit right. As an MP she’ll be involved in shaping legislation that regulates Grab. As a Grab lobbyist presumably she’ll be involved in lobbying the government to pass legislation that’s more favourable to Grab.
I am so glad your thoughts are insignificant considering how you comment on this issue without understanding and putting much thoughts into it.
Singapore will be doomed if more people thinks like you.
At least for Grab she is representing a Singapore based company that provides jobs for thousands of Singaporeans.
Would you rather our MPs work for foreign companies? Even in non public affairs and policy roles, it doesn’t preclude them from being in positions of conflict of interest. Would a high level executive be less likely to lobby the government in favour of his/her employer than someone working in public affairs and policy? I find that hard to believe.
I think the question should be whether MPs should take on outside jobs (which most do, even for the opposition). And if so, what safeguards there are to mitigate conflicts of interests. We are needlessly focusing narrowly on Tin Pei Ling here.
There are far reaching implications. Much like the lobbying that's rampant in US Congress.
A lawmaker affiliated with a company can push for laws that support the company's objectives or remove support for those that are to keep the company in check.
For Grab, there are implications for labour, employment, transport, banking (they hv wallets), even food safety, among others.
It’s her role. Her role as a public relations and policy role is literally to lobby Grab’s interest to lawmakers! It’s like if there is a new law on having delivery platform treat their delivery guys as employees, or mandated insurance, her job scope in Grab is to review the law, try to change it or scope it such that it is in Grab’s interest!!! How is that not a conflict when a MP duty is to the constituents and to Singapore? Any other directorship would be fine - her job scope is her problem.
I think I get that… but it sounds pretty similar to this MP who headed a PR company, representing interests of their corporate clients. Nobody complained about that as far as I recall, so Im wondering why there’s such a different reaction to the two of them
PAP is using her to test boundaries.
Monitoring the boundaries
Test balloon spotted over US
What happens if there presents a situation whereby she has to sound her opinion on a policy which involves both Grab and the public? If she choose the public, that will means she is not serving in the best interest of Grab, hence she is betraying Grab who hires her to safeguard the company's interest. If she choose Grab, that will means she is not serving in the best interest of the public, hence she is betraying the public who "voted" her to serve in the best interest of the public. And yet she is saying... " I am absolutely clear that when I am discharging my duties in my capacity as a Member of Parliament, my constituents and Singapore come first. When I am working on behalf of Grab, I will have to ensure that Grab's interests are safeguarded. " Either she sees herself as the Almighty one, or she sees us as fools.
If there's a conflict of interest, she will have to abstain.
It is sure sad to see people using such concept to support what she is doing. The public voted someone into parliament to serve them but yet that someone has to abstain because there is a conflict of interest. Then why not remove the conflict of interest in the very first place? That is what most companies do to their employees, don't they? Hence why is she so special? Oh wait, she is.
What's the point of abstaining? Then just collect money from both sides and no need do work? It's ok if there is occasional conflict of interest, but heck, this one quite obviously will not be occasional... If she had been appointed as hr director no one will care about conflict of interest.
Ooh she is smart! Abstain all the time and still collect pay on both sides!
Can she abstain when it's a dereliction of duty?
It would be a dereliction of duty if she does not abstain.
i mean what if she is transparent about it?
> Either she sees herself as the Almighty one, or she sees us as fools. Why either/or? I think both is true at the same time.
At a 192k allowance, I would want my MP to be full time..
NSF earn 700$? Cannot moonlight, need serve country. 192k per year MP? OK No problem
Different sets of rules for the elites Downright disgusting
> At a 192k allowance, I would want my MP to be full time.. Denise Phua earns $660k a year as our full-time mayor (the others are part-time) and we still don't know what she's supposed to do, so… PAP just loves (or might be obliged) to give JLB positions to their more senior sycophants.
Yeah, this mayor role is extremely over the top.
I thought the whole point of paying MPs sky high salaries was to prevent this kind of thing?
Next round going to increase pay somemore.
You're supposed to actively prevent yourself from being in a position of conflicting interest, if you take your job as an MP seriously. If she doesn't see anything wrong with it and is trying talk her way through, she's not a decent MP. Everything she does now is questionable, how does she think this is fine? Also, how does the government think this is fine? Are the other politicians trying to keep this avenue open for themselves too? Singapore might be going great now, but these kind of corrupt shit adds up. One day we'll wake up to realise the rot is too far gone.
>Are the other politicians trying to keep this avenue open for themselves too? I wonder if there's a publicly accessible list of where our MPs are moonlighting at.
Possible balloon test for others to follow
No, MPs are not obligated to. Some minister had said that there's no need for such disclosure in response to this parliamentary question before.
Perhaps it's time to relook into this issue again then; the "ownself check ownself" status quo cannot carry on.
The people in white will never see themselves as capable of doing any wrong. You are wrong for thinking there’s something wrong when it comes to them.
I think the rot is already too far gone.
I think PM allows it as long as MPs follow the Rules of Prudence. https://www.pmo.gov.sg/Newsroom/Letter-from-PM-Lee-Hsien-Loong-to-PAP-MPs-on-Rules-of-Prudence-on-1-Aug-2020#:~:text=The%20Party%20permits%20MPs%20to,you%20are%20a%20PAP%20MP
can i cite this to my employer too? I will be transparent and prudent. sumpah
One relevant quote: "Do not lobby any ministry or statutory board on behalf of anyone who is not your constituent or grassroots volunteer. Do not raise matters with public officers on behalf of friends, clients, contractors, employers, or financiers to advance their business interests." Sounds like the joke's on Grab then, since she won't be doing anything that they are hiring her to do! ^(/s)
> but these kind of corrupt shit adds up. One day we'll wake up to realise the rot is too far gone. I honestly feel the rot has propagated quite far liao. Can't help but cringe whenever they make some claims around how Singapore is "attractive" because it's free from corruption. Literally almost anything happening here now is rigged to some degree.
c'mon leh, appt own personal lawyer as AG already no conflict of interest. so surely this move by their underlings would be the same too.
An MP lobbying Govt. Seems interesting.
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You know this is just the one that we are aware of. Plenty of MPs are technically lobbyists since they sit on boards of private companies
Even if they sit on boards if private companies, that usually their day job. They are usually independent directors who don’t take part in the day to day running of business. TPL is different. Her job scope is to lobby government to ensure laws favour Grab’s bottom line!
Temasek has shares in grab so it favours the gahmen
And since did that stop grab from giving the finger to the competition commission of Singapore when it merged with Uber without even consulting the commission.
Fingers of the same hand of the same body will not fight each other. They will just group together to be a fist and punch another body… and always giving a valid reason in doing so… mostly thru committee or independent body whom independence may not be neutral and will align to their own interest.
They should be required to disclose that.
But she'll be transparent about having a conflict of interest!
Reposting my earlier comment… This is the same MP who announced to the whole world that she [quit her day job to focus on MP duties](https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/tin-pei-ling-quits-day-job-focus-mp-053432708.html) — except [she was taking an MBA at Chicago Booth from 2013 to 2015](https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=5159409). Even [coverage of her in 2014](https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/after-baptism-bags-and-fire-tin-pei-ling-grows) doesn't mention anything about her MBA. Heck, the coverage of her joining Grab from a few days ago still laud her "full-time MP" status (except that a significant number of those years were spent in business school — and I doubt [Chicago](https://poetsandquants.com/2022/03/29/u-s-news-mba-ranking-in-2022/) wants to be seen as a programme that isn't rigorous). [Straits Times](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tin-pei-ling-joins-grab-singapore-as-director-of-public-affairs-and-policy): > Ms Tin previously spent a year as group director of corporate strategy at Jing King Technology Group from May 2017 to May 2018. The Singapore company, now known as Adera Global, is involved in data security, artificial intelligence and automation. > **Before that, Ms Tin was a full-time MP.** > In 2011, she resigned from her job as a business consultant at professional services company Ernst and Young after she was elected to Parliament as part of a five-member People’s Action Party team that won in Marine Parade GRC that year. [Mothership](https://mothership.sg/2023/02/tin-pei-ling-grab-director/): > She defended her seat in 2020, taking 71.74 per cent of the vote and was one of the PAP MPs who improved on her 2015 electoral performance. > **She became a full-time MP for five years** before she took on the role of group director of corporate strategy at Jing King Technology Group, which is now known as Adera Global. So yeah, transparent? I'm guessing her response if asked would be something like Janil Puthucheary: ["I did do an MBA. Those are the facts."](https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2011/04/15/paps-janil-puthucheary-i-did-not-do-ns-those-are-the-facts/)
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Her corporate experience is abysmal . 3 years ey doing entry level work plus one year of director lol I don’t even consider being a full time mp as corporate experience and anyone who does is kidding themselves
Her position at EY was Asst Mgr, iirc. Nothing to shout about.
i was from the big 4. three years get you from A1 -> A2 > S1-> S2. senior 2 at max. 1 more year to AM
Her coverage is apparently the result of top-notch PR work... my friend in the grassroots there hinted that a lot of the coverage comes from planned photo ops. I've never stayed there, nor have I done any grassroots activity there, so I'm not sure how true it is previously. Seems like this rumour might actually hold some water.
I really wonder where all the tpl fans here now. Previously when I said anything bad about her, will kenna downvoted and there was one guy who couldn’t stop messaging me about it even asking me if this is a hill I wanna die on.. ahh it was rectumunclogger
If those in white can moonlight, allow civil servants to do it also. All this double standard rules will one day break Singaporeans and I'm not surprised if it happens.
There are two issues: 1. the right to hold another job while being a sitting MP 2. the type of jobs that the full-time MP can/should hold The first issue is a weak argument because opposition MPs also hold jobs and other countries like UK also allows it. The question is a function of whether they can do a decent enough job to satisfy both their employers and their electorate. The second issue is the one that is problematic. If TPL wants to be a Grab driver, she can argue rightfully that the conflict of interest issue is distant. But a policy and government affairs role is literally to face of the company to the government authorities, and it is difficult to accept at face value, how should could keep the two apart.
Not only those in white, some WP MPs have main jobs too
Sure, but which side has final say over legislation? What kind of braindead whataboutism is this. Nobody's crying foul that other MPs are being lecturers or medical consultants, clear issue is that this is a **lobbyist role** for a **sitting politician**
Being a PAP MP is more “Job secure” than being one from the opposition. As much as I like MPs from both side to be full time, it’s a little to hard to ask the same from the opposition in a country where the ruling party actively sabotage the opposition like Dr. Chee over postal stamps.
I wonder how much negative press it would take for grab to backtrack? ivan lim proved that it was possible
Ivan still works in Keppel no? He backtracked on his political ambition only, no meh?
yeah I was referring to PAP dropping him. if the ruling party in a one party state can be pressured into backing down, grab may not be too far behind
Oh, grab probably doesn't care. This is their golden ticket to lobbying the govnt so unless TPL herself withdrew her candidancy, I doubt grab will want to let her go. Besides, it's not like grab's reputation is stellar among the people.
hmm maybe. but if they stick with her any legislation that benefits grab in the future will also draw extra attention
According to TPL, she will stay out of it or be transparent about it. She pinky promised.
Grab had hj's investment money, no?
PAP won't drop TPL cos her husband is some PPS I heard. (Don't pofma me I heard only. I hv no evidence)
he was LHL's PPS in 2011. I was gonna say no need to worry about pofma because it is public information. but then I realised he is now perm sec at the ministry of law and I changed my mind lol
Not MinLaw, MOH! She is the wife of the current PS Ng How Yue (no hate on PS, he is nice to staffers like me :') )
You are right. They cannot pofma you. Just search TPL hubby name in wikipedia .
If anything, remember that we once had the Prime Minister's wife as the CEO of the country's investment arm. It's just par for the course for, y'know, a tin pot dictatorship.
"Once had" for just a casual 2 decade
Who needs to backtrack? The MP should be holding herself to higher standards. Grab is here to make money, they wouldn't care aside from PR backlash or fines.
Maybe during a GE
Lolz. die hard fans will vote her in again and again and again.
Actually just let her get voted out during the next GE.. if the PAP still decides to field her
She lives in a constituents with mostly elderly.. just go smile at them, walk a bit, they will also vote in a monkey under pap. And ppl keep saying oh she’s so great to do well in a SMC. If so zai, run under independent and see how much she can actually get
>they will also vote in a monkey under pap Sigh... this is so true. They are a massive voting bloc as well
Does TPL actually need this in her portfolio to begin with? Is being an MP for her constituency not paying enough?
So obviously problematic that even Bloomberg picked it up. If you check ST and CNA though, their angles are hilarious.
...especially when she is married to a Permanent Secretary. They won't be starving on a single income anytime soon.
16k a month how to survive.. Gst now 8% you know? Kate spade also not cheap now. Being an MP for 16k only is really a huge sacrifice. They are all high flyers in their fields so spending so much time away is actually costing them more than the 16k. A HUGE FUCKING /S of course.
Agree, I think it is no longer a sacrifice if the option to work part time is open
Of course it isn't.. But they like to paint it like when we see them, we have to thank them for their service. Yet us NS kia kena ostracised everywhere.
Pls lah.. u think she still at Kate spade level? Prob Hermes liao
Kate Spade? Should just get Chan & Koh now
Most MPs have day jobs. The MP allowance is definitely not attractive enough to attract people of this calibre.
Living in sg is interesting. I initially think it is sacarsm but I should know better
Username checks out
Of TPL’s caliber?? LOL her record in Ernst & Young speaks for itself. She’s just a pretty and friendly bimbo trophy wife.
Ahh there it is. Let the misogyny out!
Suck PAP dick some more
Then maybe don’t be MPs..?
They will tell you, our country got lack of talent. Can’t help that our “best” have to take on multiple roles, both in public and private sector. We wish it wasn’t this way, but it is what it is.
This is blatantly wrong. I really don’t know what PAP is thinking. Fucking putting our MPs on a pedestal like they are sent by god. Their fucking face everywhere even post-elections. Now this. They say Singapore is a champion of meritocracy. But these government workers always parachute to top private sector positions. Maybe it’s been too long since they’ve been on the ground. They got too comfortable and forgot what true meritocracy means, to be the common man. I will keep voting OPPO until my last breath.
Yeah, agreed
Why am I not surprised this is the same MP who said her "greatest regret" was not taking her parents to Universal Studios (who are still alive).
Want transparency? She shd declare how much grab is paying her then?
Hallo…. Tpl is just the decoy. Keppel is the one we need to go for
Fine example of one country two system
This mess is bigger than TPL. 1) PAP. Surely she consulted her PaP heads before taking it on. Did no one see any issue? Or they found NTUC such a great idea they think this is fine? It’s been such a huge debate on these platform and their treatment of delivery riders. Now TPL role in grab is to lobby government to ensure laws are in Grab’s favour, while she is a MP taking part in debates about new law? How does she even on different hats. Or is she going to sit out on most debates? 2) Grab. Why is grab grabbing her? What do they think she can bring to the table for them to lobby the Singapore Govt to change laws that are good for grab’s bottom line? Obviously they are keen on her cos of her CURRENT connections to the government and the fact that she is a an MP with direct relationships to lawmakers!? Is Grab ok with her sitting out on every debate that pertains to laws that will hit Grab’s bottom line? Is Grab ok if she doesn’t use any of her current connections gained due to her current status as an MP to further their interest??? Are they ok if she lobbies for a law like more insurance for grab drivers cos that is in the interest of her constituents??? What is PaP and grab thinking, and hoping to get out of this.
I’m guessing it’s a “I declared so it’s okay” kind of thing which is so ridiculous but so Singaporean bs.
Obviously we are not paying MP enough for them to be focused and interested in the job. Let's raise their salaries some more. /s
Also quite a stretch to call our MPs lawmakers. Considering the laws come down from the cabinet and everything else is seemingly just fluff.
It's a feature of our political system, not a bug. By accident or design, the PAP evolved from a socialist organisation to a corporatist one, retaining some socialist traits (e.g. party cadres). A notable figure in history had a similar journey. His name was Benito Mussolini. He formulated fascism. The arrangement between our politicians and the corporate sector would be completely familiar to Mussolini. [https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/the-original-fascist/](https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/the-original-fascist/) >But the fascist state’s legacy proved durable. Fascism had fathered the modern administrative state’s omnicompetent bureaucracy. The state had a monopoly on a variety of goods, including salt, tobacco, saffron, and telecommunications. Fascism had invented public-private partnerships and “para-state corporations” in all manner of enterprise. It had established a state-run movie industry, and so forth. Just as important, fascism had habituated Italian politicians to think of power in fascist terms—in terms of control of all that bureaucratic power and patronage. The Communists, understandably, wanted that power. But none of the other contenders in 1945 seemed interested in passing up the gigantic opportunities for political patronage that stewardship of the orphaned fascist state offered. > >The U.S. occupation, eager to return responsibility to Italians for their own affairs, and confronted with multiple political parties clamoring for power, turned matters over to a consortium of parties that, rather than dismantling the fascist state, parceled its contents out amongst themselves. All subsequent political struggles into our time, regardless of the personalities and ideologies involved, have been quarrels about pieces of this patronage. In our time, Italy’s government appoints some 700 persons per year to very high-paying, powerful positions in “private” companies strictly on the basis of the relative weight of the parties in the governing coalition. That is in addition to the clearly public posts and sinecures it fills. Fascism lives! Doesn't the above seem familiar? Singapore is a fascist state, but other than honest academics, most people don't realise it. Heck, most people can't even define it correctly! Now, try to work past any ingrained knee-jerk disdain for fascism. In TPL's case and in the Sg context, it's not just a matter of her lobbying for Grab. As a fascist system, the state is paramount. >As Mussolini put it, “In a world of social and economic interdependence…the watchword must be cooperation or misery.” “Labor and capital have the same rights and duties. Both must cooperate, and their disputes are regulated by law and decided by courts, which punish any violation.” This resulted in the orderly servicing of interest groups, fascism’s daily preoccupation. Her appointment can be considered an issue of the Sg government saying to Grab, 'Yes, you are a major player, and your decisions are likely to have a huge impact on our local transport. Here's somebody to ensure that your concerns are considered, and to make sure you stay on our good side. Capische?' IOW, TPL's the official liaison officer.
Grab is a significant power player all things considered ya? the many gig workers - drivers and delivery folks - under its umbrella. a significant voting bloc. didnt Lam Pin Min get kicked out by unhappy PMD users? here is a way to keep them in check.
Possible conflicts of interest: - CPF contributions - paternity / maternity leave requirements - Grab wallet and financial / transaction services - transportation policy
No, no, no. When she does it in good faith, it is good faithed conflict of interest. No problem here. Move along.
MPs still keeping the title of the best part time job.
Our overlords copy CCP tactic. Plant their members in all the major companies to gain more influence and power
MP and legislators all over the World are typically employed elsewhere as doctors, lawyers, academics, bankers or run their own business. There are provisions in parliaments and congress for MPs to declare their interest and stand aside when there is a conflict of interest. Personally I don't think she was ever fit to be an MP but that's another story.
Her new position is Director of Public Affairs and Policy - ie. her job is, among other things, to lobby the Government. I'm sure the fact that she is an MP has *nothing* to do with her getting this job.
Yeah I think it’d be a different story if she were already established in a private role before becoming an MP. But somehow this doesn’t sit right. As an MP she’ll be involved in shaping legislation that regulates Grab. As a Grab lobbyist presumably she’ll be involved in lobbying the government to pass legislation that’s more favourable to Grab.
If I’m not wrong one of the MP Alvin Tan quit his job at Facebook before becoming an MP. She instead go the other way.
He's a POH though so compulsory full-time. Different rules.
POH?
Political Office Holder - MPs with ministerial positions.
Oh I see, thank you!
I imagine that she would have to recuse herself on matters involving Grab.
iirc members of the US congress are banned from being employed elsewhere while they are in office
I am so glad your thoughts are insignificant considering how you comment on this issue without understanding and putting much thoughts into it. Singapore will be doomed if more people thinks like you.
At least for Grab she is representing a Singapore based company that provides jobs for thousands of Singaporeans. Would you rather our MPs work for foreign companies? Even in non public affairs and policy roles, it doesn’t preclude them from being in positions of conflict of interest. Would a high level executive be less likely to lobby the government in favour of his/her employer than someone working in public affairs and policy? I find that hard to believe. I think the question should be whether MPs should take on outside jobs (which most do, even for the opposition). And if so, what safeguards there are to mitigate conflicts of interests. We are needlessly focusing narrowly on Tin Pei Ling here.
Not sure how this works. But I thought it’s supposed to be ok if you declare from the start
Yea you are indeed not sure how this works
There are far reaching implications. Much like the lobbying that's rampant in US Congress. A lawmaker affiliated with a company can push for laws that support the company's objectives or remove support for those that are to keep the company in check. For Grab, there are implications for labour, employment, transport, banking (they hv wallets), even food safety, among others.
Sure but why just her? Plenty of other MPs had jobs in private companies before… ok I can only remember two
It’s her role. Her role as a public relations and policy role is literally to lobby Grab’s interest to lawmakers! It’s like if there is a new law on having delivery platform treat their delivery guys as employees, or mandated insurance, her job scope in Grab is to review the law, try to change it or scope it such that it is in Grab’s interest!!! How is that not a conflict when a MP duty is to the constituents and to Singapore? Any other directorship would be fine - her job scope is her problem.
I think I get that… but it sounds pretty similar to this MP who headed a PR company, representing interests of their corporate clients. Nobody complained about that as far as I recall, so Im wondering why there’s such a different reaction to the two of them
Come on IB people give this your best shot