Speaker chides MP Kenneth Tiong for ‘insulting’ remark to Minister Chee Hong Tat
Aljunied GRC MP Kenneth Tiong has apologised to Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat for his remarks in Parliament after being chided by both the minister and the Speaker.
Speaking in the House on Wednesday (5 Nov), the Workers’ Party MP had described a question posed by Mr Chee as “stupid”.
Source: MDDI Singapore on YouTube
Kenneth Tiong says Chee Hong Tat was asking ‘a stupid question’
The exchange occurred during a discussion about family offices and sanctioned entities in Singapore, when Mr Tiong asked whether the Government would mandate enhanced due diligence for existing client relationships across all regulated financial sectors.
Mr Chee, who is also Deputy Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, replied that Singapore takes a risk-proportionate, and not zero-risk, approach.
He then asked Mr Tiong if WP’s stance was that we should adopt a zero-risk approach.
Source: MDDI Singapore on YouTube
In response, Mr Tiong said there was “a pattern” of ministers and political office-holders asking “very rhetorical questions which have no meaning”.
When Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng asked him to respond to the question, the Aljunied MP said:
The answer is no, and I don’t think it is the minister’s point of view that you should, in fact, have a zero-risk approach, because it’s impossible. So he’s asking a stupid question.
Source: MDDI Singapore on YouTube
Chee Hong Tat asks Kenneth Tiong to withdraw comment and apologise
Mr Tiong’s remarks prompted an immediate reaction from Mr Chee.
He said it was “not quite appropriate” for Mr Tiong to use the word “stupid” during a discussion in this House.
He then asked him to withdraw that comment and apologise.
Source: MDDI Singapore on YouTube
Mr Tiong withdrew the comment, though he maintained that the question was “not a meaningful question”.
Mr Chee then said he was “disappointed” that Mr Tiong chose to conduct the discussion in this manner, as he only wanted to clarify the position to give a considered response.
Speaker chides Kenneth Tiong for ‘insulting’ comment
Later, Mr Seah mentioned that he was “quite disappointed by the exchange just now”.
While Mr Tiong had withdrawn the comment, the Speaker would have expected an apology, he said, adding:
I consider what you had said just now to be quite insulting and is beneath the dignity of this House to use such language.
Source: MDDI Singapore on YouTube
He also reminded “everyone, front bench, back bench” to maintain dignity and decorum in the House and that such language about a fellow MP “is not par for the course”.
Kenneth Tiong’s apology accepted by Chee Hong Tat
Mr Seah stopped Mr Tiong twice when he tried to speak.
The Speaker stopped Mr Tiong the first time because he was still talking.
And Mr Seah stopped him the second time because Mr Tiong had not stood up to speak.
When he finally rose to speak, Mr Tiong apologised to Mr Chee.
Source: MDDI Singapore on YouTube
Mr Chee accepted the apology and thanked Mr Tiong, saying he hoped to have such discussions in a civilised, polite and respectful manner in future.
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Featured image adapted from MDDI Singapore on YouTube.
