MPs file 144 questions for Parliament sitting

Singapore

lMEMBERS of Parliament have filed a total of 144 questions - 108 for oral answer and 36 for written response - for the upcoming sitting of the House on Monday.

Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim will ask whether the government is optimistic that the Singapore Exchange's (SGX) performance and reputation can be revived, in the context of the bourse's many challenges in recent years, such as the quantity and quality of listings, turnover, technical disruptions and risk management.

The latest problem was on July 14, when a technical glitch forced trading on the SGX's securities market to be suspended for more than half a day.

Ms Lim, an MP for Aljunied GRC, also intends to ask how the government sees the SGX's role in broader economic development, and the steps that it is taking to work with the SGX management to expedite the desired outcomes.

Five lawmakers plan to ask Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan to shed more light on the more than two dozen China-made MRT trains that have been shipped back to their manufacturer due to structural defects.

It was reported early last month that SMRT's engineers had discovered that 26 of the 35 trains delivered by the manufacturer in 2013 had cracks in the structure connecting the car body and the bogie.

Among the five MPs who have filed questions on this topic is Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir), who is keen to find out the reasons for SMRT or the Land Transport Authority not making public the discovery of these hairline cracks on the trains.

He will also ask Mr Khaw if the manufacturers are liable to compensate for any loss of use and/or profits for the downtime of the trains that have been sent back.

The Auditor-General's latest report for the 2015/16 financial year, which uncovered many lapses and instances of weak governance at various ministries and statutory boards, will also come under scrutiny.

Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) will ask whether the "lapses and inadequate financial controls" in the report uncover any systemic flaws; he will also ask for the measures that the public-sector entities will take to strengthen their management of public resources.

The Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Amendment Bill will be introduced on Monday; six Bills are up for a second reading. These include the Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill, the SkillsFuture Singapore Agency Bill, and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency Amendment Bill.