Politics · Other · 5 hrs ago
Jayakumar says opposition in Singapore parliament strengthens democracy
Former Singapore minister S Jayakumar says opposition in parliament is important to the democratic process.
In 1981, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew assigned the newly appointed political office holder to answer questions from opposition lawmaker JB Jeyaretnam.
Jeyaretnam, the Workers’ Party leader, had won the Anson by-election to become Singapore’s first opposition MP.
His frequent questions pushed Jayakumar to prepare more carefully and respond to unexpected follow-ups.
Jayakumar says the experience convinced him that governments should not fear opposition in parliament.
He later helped establish the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament scheme, intended to give ruling-party ministers opposition members to challenge them in debate.
The scheme gives seats to the best-performing losing opposition candidates when fewer than 12 opposition candidates win election.
Jayakumar says an NCMP can debate as effectively as an elected opposition MP, though an NCMP cannot cite a constituency’s concerns as their own.
Former senior minister S Jayakumar said no government should fear having an opposition presence in parliament.
He said questioning by opposition leader JB Jeyaretnam improved his debating and policy-explaining skills.
Jayakumar said the experience convinced him that opposition members have an effective role in parliament and are necessary for Singapore’s democratic process.
He recalled being tasked by then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1981 to answer Jeyaretnam’s parliamentary questions.
Jayakumar also said he saw no major difference between debating elected opposition MPs and Non-Constituency Members of Parliament.
- Who
- Former senior minister S Jayakumar shared his views. He recalled facing questions from Workers’ Party leader JB Jeyaretnam.
- What
- Jayakumar said opposition in parliament strengthens debate and is necessary for Singapore’s democratic process.
- When
- The interview was published on Oct 29, 2026. Jayakumar recalled events from 1981.
- Where
- Singapore’s parliament.
- Why
- Jayakumar said opposition questions made him prepare more thoroughly and improved his parliamentary skills.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
JB Jeyaretnam won the Anson by-election and became the first opposition Member of Parliament.
Newly appointed political office holder S Jayakumar was tasked by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew with fielding Jeyaretnam’s questions in parliament.
Jayakumar was interviewed by CNA at The Arts House, the former parliament building.
CNA published its interview with Jayakumar.
- Former senior minister
- S Jayakumar
- Opposition leader
- JB Jeyaretnam
- By-election
- Anson, 1981
- Questions by Jeyaretnam
- More than 40
- Current NCMPs named
- Andre Low and Eileen Chong
- Interview publication
- Oct 29, 2026
What people are saying
No government should really be scared or afraid of having opposition presence in parliament, and I think it convinced me that it was necessary for the democratic process in Singapore.
The whole experience, I guess, enabled me to hone my skills as a debater and explainer of policies and issues.
It had a big effect on me in the sense that I had to be on my toes.
I did not sense any big difference in dealing with NCMP or elected opposition MP.