Mr Sadasivan argued that Parliament should ensure that the tenets of the Pledge have primacy when considering national policies. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
NOMINATED Member of Parliament Viswa Sadasivan wants Parliament to reaffirm its commitment to the principles enshrined in the National Pledge.
In his view, this entails strengthening Singaporeans' sense of citizenship, the fundamentals of democracy and racial and religious unity. He tabled a motion on Tuesday for the House to take into account such principles when debating economic and other national policies.
In a wide-ranging, 50-minute speech, he also proposed re-examining the current emphasis on racial categorisation in many areas of life, and called for the 'repoliticisation' of universities to rouse young people out of political apathy.
People's Action Party MP Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) seconded the motion, though he disagreed with several points made by the 49-year-old NMP, a media consultancy boss and long-time political observer.
Chairman of the Political Feedback Group from 1994 to 2004, Mr Sadasivan made his maiden speech in Parliament on Tuesday. He had been sworn in along with eight other new NMPs last month.
He began by lamenting how beautifully crafted the National Pledge was, and said it was a waste that its meaning and power are not understood enough or reflected on. To ensure that the Pledge means more than just words for all citizens, Mr Sadasivan argued that Parliament should lead the way by ensuring that the tenets of the Pledge have primacy when considering national policies.
He highlighted what he considered four key tenets: the idea of citizenship, inter-racial and religious unity, democracy and the balance between happiness and prosperity. Going further, he made several suggestions on how national policies could be better aligned with these principles.
One, relook the racial categorisation of Singaporeans in application forms and through ethnic self-help groups. Two, have Chinese-, Malay- and Tamil-language media carry more features about what is happening in the other communities.
Three, review liberal policies that bring in foreign workers as they depress wages of low-income Singaporean workers. Four, increase financial assistance to the very poor and elderly.
Five, improve the teaching of National Education and spend more time on Singapore history in schools to increase young Singaporeans' interest in the nation and their sense of rootedness. Six, encourage political associations in universities - once a base of political interest and activism - and allow campus rallies to rouse the young from apathy.
Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times
