SINGAPORE — Good politics should result in a resilient political system that can withstand adversity, Opposition Member of Parliament Low Thia Khiang said, so just focusing on good policies and ensuring no gridlock in politics is a “narrow technocratic view”.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, on the fourth day of the debate on the recent President’s address, the Workers’ Party chief said: “The outcome of good politics is the fostering of a political system that is able to withstand… the unexpected collapse or slow corruption of the ruling party.”

Outlining four principles for a robust political system, Mr Low reiterated that excessive fear of political gridlock would just lead to a society dependent on one political party, “waiting for it to rot to the point of no return before any alternative party can be formed to take its place”.

He said alternative parties are an “insurance” against the failure of the incumbent ruling party: “We cannot expect a political party to transform itself into a credible alternative party overnight.

“If this Government truly believes in preserving this shining red dot, then the onus is on it to build a political system conducive to the growth of alternative parties as well as the renewal of the ruling party.”

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Mr Low also said that politics in Singapore has to be inclusive, such that the Government recognises the diversity of opinions and does not mark those who make them as “disloyal and divisive”, and there should not be a fear of interest-based politics, because this was something that could not be avoided.

He suggested that there was a need to nudge Singaporeans with narrow political interests to interact with each other and that this deliberative process would be educational for Singaporeans to learn what is needed for the collective good of the country.

Ceding government influence to allow Singaporeans and institutions to flourish on their own should also be encouraged, Mr Low added.

He also pointed out that the autonomous universities here allow academics to critique policies and join Opposition parties, which has not led to the destabilisation of the political system in Singapore.

Mr Low likened his definition of good politics to the make-up of the national SkillsFuture policy to promote lifelong learning.

This includes making it accessible to all Singaporeans regardless of background, and empowering them to take charge of their future instead of directing them to meet economic needs, among other things.

He reminded the House that “times have changed” and Singapore could no longer sail on the model that national institutions were tied closely to the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), where leaders steer the ship in the direction they know best and everyone should not rock the boat.

“The ship model has to change … we cannot simply rely on a group of so-called super talents in Government steering society from high above,” he said.

Mr Heng Chee How, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, who spoke after Mr Low, agreed with the need to cater to changing aspirations today, but said that the country should not neglect the past values that have been built.

In reference to Mr Low’s analogy on “buying insurance” against failure in governance, Mr Heng pointed out that the PAP is a “practical example of a political party (which) understands what the people want and (it is) taking steps” to meet their interests.

“I say ‘buy insurance’ is correct, but please know which insurance policy you are considering,” Mr Heng added.