MEMBERS of Parliament and their grassroots leaders will exercise greater caution as they celebrate upcoming Chinese New Year activities with their residents.
However, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong expects them to remain accessible and go about their MP business as usual.
'You can take precautions,' he said, but stressed that 'MPs have to be accessible; you go round, you have to meet residents, you have to be in contact'.
The need for this balancing act was highlighted by PM Lee when he spoke to reporters after visiting MP Seng Han Thong in hospital yesterday.
The MP for Yio Chu Kang suffered burns earlier in the day when a mentally unstable man poured thinner on him and set him on fire at a community event.
Mr Lee noted that the incident happened despite Mr Seng taking precautions after a 2006 incident when a disgruntled cabby punched him at a Meet-the-People's session.
'The grassroots leaders have been exceptionally careful and will always be on the watch and be close to him,' PM Lee said. 'But despite all the precautions, this guy slipped through.'
He added: 'I think the MPs will be on their guard and so will the grassroots leaders, but we have to continue with our activities.'
Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng, who also visited Mr Seng, told reporters that as MPs were elected and had a service to perform, people should be able to approach them.
'And therefore, we do not want to set up a major security operation every time the MP is out, doing his work. Besides, an MP also has his normal life to lead.'
While MPs should take precautions, Mr Wong noted that the 'violent and serious crime' committed against Mr Seng was totally unexpected and hard to prevent. 'You don't expect somebody to throw something at you from the back and burn you,' he said.
MPs interviewed by The Straits Times last night said they would be more careful but will not stop mingling with residents.
Ms Lee Bee Wah also said that when mingling with residents, it is very difficult to be on guard.
Mr Michael Palmer said he had 'always been cautious of people coming physically too close'.
MPs like Mr Ong Ah Heng also count on grassroots leaders to help look out for unusual behaviour. Mr Ong will be giving hongbao to needy residents in Nee Soon Central on Sunday.
Added MP Charles Chong: 'It helps to have grassroots leaders with experience in spotting people who act suspiciously and would talk to them to find out what's happening.'
One way to handle an emotionally or mentally unstable person is to ask if he had taken his medication, Mr Chong said.
'If he has his medication with him, I'll give him water to take it. If not, I will call his relatives to help us manage him.'
But Mr Chong cautioned against overreacting to the latest incident. 'I don't think we want to reach a situation with bodyguards pushing everybody aside.
'Usually people won't eliminate their politicians this way. They can do it at the ballot box.'
Additional Reporting by Li Xueying and Jermyn Chow
