Nominated Member of Parliament

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A Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) is an unelected MP that does not represent any electoral district in the Parliament of Singapore.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The Nominated Members of Parliament scheme was introduced by Goh Chok Tong and approved by Parliament in March 1990. It allowed for the appointment of up to six unelected MPs for two years after which they can be reappointed. In 1997, the number of NMPs was increased to nine.

The idea behind the scheme was to allow citizens without party affiliation to participate and contribute to parliamentary debates without having to go through the electoral process.

The nominated members are selected by a Parliamentary Select Committee which in 1992 had approximately ten members, of which one was from the Opposition. [1]

Wong Kan Seng, the House Leader and Minister for Home Affairs, gave another reason for the scheme -- the performance of the opposition MPs (there were four at that time) had been disappointing. [2]

Chiam See Tong, then the opposition leader, opposed the scheme. He argued that the NMPs represent nobody and the scheme ran counter to the fundamental democratic principles of representation and accountability. The opposition perceived this as a scheme to make the opposition look unnecessary.[2]

NMPs are appointed by the President for a term of two and a half years on the recommendation of a Select Committee chaired by the Speaker of the House. NMPs shall not be connected to any political parties.

NMPs and Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) can vote on all issues except the following:

  • amendment of the constitution,
  • public funds,
  • vote of no confidence in the government,
  • removing the president from office.

So far, there is one notable legislative initiative from an NMP. In 1995, Woon Cheong Ming Walter, a law lecturer from the National University of Singapore introduced the Maintenance for Parents' bill in parliament, the first bill passed which was initiated by a non-People's Action Party (PAP) member. NMPs also had contributed to parliamentary debates, sometimes offering critical views on policies. In 1994 four NMPs criticised the government's plans to link Cabinet Ministers' salaries to those of top earners in the private sector. Chia Shi Teck, for example, was very critical of parliament. For example, he tabled a motion on Dr. Chee Soon Juan's hunger strike and he stood against the government supported candidate for presidency Ong Teng Cheong. After his two years in office he was not reappointed as an NMP. [1]

[edit] List of NMPs

July 2, 2002 – January 1, 2005

  • Dr. Jennifer Lee
  • Ms. Braema Mathiaparanam
  • Mr. Chandra Mohan K Nair
  • Mrs. Fang Ai Lian
  • Dr. Gan See Khem
  • Ms. Olivia Lum
  • Mr. Ng Ser Miang
  • Assoc. Prof. Ngiam Tee Liang
  • Mr. A Nithiah Nandan

January 1, 2005 – Jan 21, 2007

January 22, 2007 -

  • Ms. Cham Hui Fong
  • Mr. Gautam Banerjee
  • A/Prof Kalyani K Mehta
  • Mr. Khew Teck Fook, Edwin
  • Mr. Loo Choon Yong
  • Ms. Eunice Elizabeth Olsen
  • Mrs. Phua Nee Wong Wai Chan, Jessie
  • Mr Siew Kum Hong
  • Prof Thio Li-ann

[edit] Analysis

According to Ho Khai Leong, the presence of NMPs and their participation in parliamentary debates have added pressure to PAP MPs to be less complacent and to be more competent in parliament. [2]

Chua Beng Huat, on the other hand, has claimed that this scheme co-opts more moderate dissenting voices and thus is an attempt to de-legitimise the need for more aggressive opposition. [3] This was also the original attempt of the government as then Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong made clear when he said that the NMP scheme was meant "to further strengthen our political system by offering Singaporeans more opportunity for political participation and to evolve a more consensual style of government where alternative views are heard and constructive dissent accommodated" [4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Hussin Mutalib (2005) Parties and Politics: A Study of Opposition Parties and the PAP. Marshall Cavendish Academic ISBN 981-210-408-9
  2. ^ a b c Ho Khai Leong (2003) Shared Responsibilities, Unshared Power: The Politics of Policy-Making in Singapore. Eastern Univ Pr. ISBN 981-210-218-3
  3. ^ Chua Beng Huat (1995). Communitarian Ideology and Democracy in Singapore. Taylor & Francis, ISBN 0-203-03372-8
  4. ^ Straits Times, 30.11.1989, p. 18