MPs should speak out and not just toe the party line when the interests of residents have not been met, said Mr Charles Chong.
Well-known for his outspokenness, he said: "It is impossible to make perfect laws and regulations. There could be people who fall through the cracks. MPs should speak out about these instances with conviction and work for the policy to be changed or get exceptions to be made in these particular cases."
The veteran politician – he entered Parliament in 1988 - prefers to first try to resolve the issue behind closed doors. "If that doesn't work, I've no hesitation in bringing it up in Parliament or speaking up in public. I've a commitment to my voters," he said.
Mr Chong, 62, has walked the talk. Between 2003 and 2006, the then Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP headed a campaign to get Buangkok MRT station opened. He recalled: "They did not open the station because it was not financially feasible. You can’t think of feasibility; the interests of the residents take precedence."
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