Also, being an NMP is probably one of the few ways politically unaffiliated (less affiliated?) people can wrangle their way into Parliament. Haha.

Why Siew Kum Hong don’t run as opposite? Whichever party he run or even as an independent, I hundred percent guarantee plus chop will vote for him! We need passionate people like Mr Siew, not rubber stamping yes-man like Prata Nathan and the rest of the elite boys and girls in white.

Few NMP speaks like Siew, most just go with the flow, and tackle non sensitive topics. Those who questioned sensitively are often kicked out after 1 term, the pap regime does not welcome such candidate. We have seen examples, hopefully Siew can get another 1 more term, we need people like him and Slyvia Lim.

anyone knoes why NMP eunice olsen don’t wish to continue for a 3rd term?

“The concept of nominated MPs (NMP), or non-elected MPs ”

All the while i have not known that the ‘N’ means non-elected.
I am learning something everyday.
So the rest , i assume are elected.
Correct me if i of the wrong.

regards
sec1 failed F9

Would it be fair to say, based also on the author’s bombastication,
that with more NMPs, the role of opposition can either get diluted in time or be redundant?

Care to respond, author? (sorrly, I no no your name since this article has no author name other than TOC editorial. why? )

The NMP scheme in First World Singapore is a sham and a shame. You cannot hide the fact that we are effectively a One-Party state which is why we are ranked so low for political and press freedom. This is an embarrassment to the PAP on the world stage.

PAP leaders especially LKY is doing a disservice to the nation by not ensuring the future survival of our country as no party in power can remain honest and efficient forever. If and when the PAP fails, the republic will collapse as there is no alternatives.

I personally feel that PAP is in itself in deep Crisis. In October last year, LHL had to came out open in ST worrying about the image of MPs kissing babies (article titled beyond kissing babies). Well, I guess he should be adding to the list MPs dancing Hip Hop, Playing in a Band and Singing Karaoke. Heard anything worthy from them apart from “Mr Speaker Sir, I applaud the Bill as it is vital to the progress of Singapore.” Even when presenting their support, there are even conceptual errors in their preprared speeches.

But then again, the alternative parties have yet to come out of their crisis of almost half a century. I guess, we really need to brace ourselves for the fate of our future to come; on the one hand we have Jesters as MPs and on the other hand we have ???

I feel that the NMP scheme allows for credible individuals to participate in offering critical views in parliament without being trapped in party politics where the contestations are leaning more often (read: trapped) towards party loyalty (for whatever reasons it may be). Fortunately or unfortunately, the selection criteria is a little out of the way for the average joe with above average citizenry concerns.

Without the NMPs, Singapore might just be a plug and play system adopting any ‘effective’ laws enacted by first world nations elsewhere. The signs are already here; They passed one law and realised that there are loop holes that can disadvantage their position, so they draft and pass a new law. Then, in a few months they come to realise that their international standing is beaten so they amend another law.

Somehow, the game has gone from hunting to dressup. Considering that the widening income gap, the huge gini figures have been published and known to the world, hardly do we hear a serious debate to address the problem. Take for instance the fact of an ageing population, after the pompous fanfare launch of Active Ageing campaign, do we hear or observe a sustained buildup that gives hope and opportunities to for our elderly to live lives in full dignity apart from the sporadic awards and features in news papers?

Singapore is known to be governed like a Corporation and the way I see it NMPs are merely internal auditors that have no real powers.

The NMP Scheme is essentially a very bad idea.

Your article has correctly identified that its main flaw is its lack of legitimacy. What is the meaning of “Parliament”? What is the meaning of “democracy”? No matter how eloquent, how qualified, how passionate or how fair-minded they are – if they had not been elected, they don’t represent the people and therefore they have no business speaking in Parliament.

The NMP scheme is yet another of the PAP’s containment schemes to prevent true and legitimate oppostion to its toxic rule.

NMPs, NCMPs, MPs or whatever makes no difference when it really matters.

This is due to 50% walkovers, 66% mandate and 98% seats for the PAP at every election. And one grand old man of SIngapore politics.

In fact I would say that this old man play such a crucial role that if he were to kick the bucket, Singapore will be plunged into a serious political crisis, besides the economic crisis we are having now.

What old man? That one is already long gone already… After DBS CEO Richard Stanley, this old man is next to go!

We dont wish the OLD Man to go now cause Singapore will be in trouble.

Investors will be looking at him but hope he could change his belief and moved Singapore towards a true demoracy of substantable economic development.

NMPs are supposed to represent different groups of ppl, but they must be able to discuss various issues . They should not be so useless as to discuss one aspect of our society eg Jessie phua talk only about sports issues which SSC, Sports Ministry all know about it ,we dont need to pay a parrot to do this.We want to hear what the sports ppl views on non sports issues too. The selection have fail in this aspect. Look at Dr Loo, and Siew they are able to discuss various issues just is what is expected.I heard some even lied their CVs ?

NMPs like Olsen and Siew will not join opp becos once they joined, they can’t speak up “freely” as what they are doing now. More importantly, no need to hold any responsibility ( to the voters), in the case of 377A. We all know that. I disagree with NMP scheme just like what others opps do.

As it is a Fact that Elites are still mere mortal from a biological point of view,
from a long term and National perspective as well as love for our country and concern for its future in a non-partisan way, but a wholistic way, I hope the old guards prepare the system to be more Robust so that in future, the system is more Balanced to address any unforeseen circumstances that threaten the people’s liberties.

I hope the system progress from a rather Totalitarian to a more Balanced system to serve the citizens of the alternative type R.

Let’s hope Lee Kuan Yew will be healthy and long live.

I am likely very wrong to say Lee Kuan Yew equals Singapore, if he goes, Singapore will go with him, but, i can’t help myself thinking so. To date, no other leader seems to have his aura.

Pardon me should anyone thinks otherwise.

patriot

The PAP should do away with the GRCs concept and let all Singaporeans have a chance to vote. With more single wards, I am sure more people will be willing to participate in the GE as independent candidates . With so many super GRCs, it is virtually impossible for all wards to be contested. If this continues, many Singaporeans may not be able to cast their votes in their life time. This is bad for Singapore as many Singaporeans will not have the opportunity to participate in a GE.

Dear #18 ,

“18) Poor Retiree on April 19th, 2009 6.33 pm The PAP should do away with the GRCs concept and let all Singaporeans have a chance to vote. ”

I do not completely agree with your opinion, in a polite way.
The Fact is singaporeans have accepted such a system since its inception technically speaking where acceptance can be many ways : willingly / happily / supportingly / less than willingly / less than happily / not surely .

Accept is accept. please accept. feel free to reply to me.

#19) I beg to differ ,
‘The Fact is singaporeans have accepted such a system since its inception …..’
………………………………………………………………..
I think you are quite naive. When fear is put to you do you really accept such a system? Do you want to end up in prison for 32 years like our fellow citizen Chia T P or being ruined a bankrupt like JBJ and Chee S J or leaving your country like F Seow and Tan L H?

Tell us : What can those who believe in fair democratic elections do? What can those who do not accept such a system do? Do you think the 33% of voters who voted for the opposition accept the GRC concept? Without the GRCs 33% is equivalent to about 28 seats for the opposition proportionally. Yet they got only 2 miserable seats. I don’t think all 66% of voters who voted for the PAP accept the system if they are given a chance to vote in SMCs.

Tell the PAP to revert to the original and fairer GRC of 3 members or if LHL is brave enough to undo what his father had done: revert to all SMCs and see whether Singaporeans have accepted such a system!

#19, some other things to consider:

First, last time I remembered there wasn’t a referendum on whether we wanted such a system. So there is no acceptance to speak off.

Second, presuming there had been acceptance, “accept is accept, please accept” is akin to saying “since my dad doesn’t let me go out past 10pm when I was 12 and I accepted, now that I’m 26 I must still come back at 10pm” ???

Third, #18, I totally agree with you. Why do we need so many MPs in a GRC? 4-5 man teams just make it so difficult to contest. What Singapore needs is more real voices, not to make the rise of these voices more difficult, unless… Elsewhere we see constituencies 10-20 times the size of Singapore, do we really need so many for Aljunied-Eunos?

If the concern is that we need more MPs in Parliament to have enough debate, breaking constituencies to small individual bits will go a long way in promoting real voice and representation in Parliament.

Somehow I understand the practicality of NMPs given the severe political limitations we have, but it rubs me wrongly. NMPs just doesn’t quite sit with Democracy and Westminster-style Parliament.

To Trueblood Singaporean and Patriot,

Please.. Singapore has grown beyond Old Man Lee. For a man who take credit for a lot of other people’s hard work, many Singaporeans like you have too much faith in him..

To Trueblood Singaporean and Patriot,

Singapore has grown beyond Lee Kuan Yew. For a man who take credit for a lot of other people’s hard work, many Singaporeans like you have too much faith in him..

Allow me.
I would not disagree with both of you.
However, technically speaking #18 is not wrong either.
The trick is to understand what #18 means.

Mandate comes from the People in a democracy.
By this, the people are responsible for whatever the status quo, in their own ways. This is the most difficult to understand. Laws are implemented by those in power. BUT! they are given the mandate by the People, in the 1st place.
Whatever way the Mandate is given , it IS given. Can both of you comprehendo?
Whatever your disagreement, you must acknowledge the Responsibility and Role of the People.

Using your analogy of curfew imposed by a father to a son, yes, in Asian culture especially, its normal for a son to obey the father. But this is not a must. In a free world, the son can choose not to come home at stated time. He CAN do many things to persuade or convince his father to extend the timing. As a Freeman, he can also ignore. But he must be Responsible for his actions then.

In short, the Choice lies in the Son. As long as he accept. He better be held Accountable as he is Responsible for the choices he makes. He is a Freeman.
So, the father can impose a curfew. He need not accept it. Depending on the mentality or character of a person in the son’s shoes, the outcome can be different.

by the way, the analogy is null and void:

1. the Son did not choose the Father. The did not choose who to be his father. In a way, the father chose him instead.

Peace

[ anyone knoes why NMP eunice olsen don’t wish to continue for a 3rd term ]
Maybe it has to do with the lifetime pension that NMPs (and MPs and mayors and heavens knows who else) get after serving two consecutive terms. Anyway, good riddance. Hope Siew Kum Hong stays on.

Lee Kuan Yew is the best! Just trust him and be happy! :)

On the surface, GRCs were concocted to ensure racial minority representation. GRCs got bigger probably due to difficulties in sourcing potential minority MPs to meet PAP’s qualifying criteria. This could be solved by reverting back to SMCs within a regional multi-party framework (eg, Central Region comprises 6 SMCs and different parties could contest in these 6 SMCs so long as one SMC has a minority race candidate).

Below the surface, there are likely other dynamics involved (eg, statistical tendencies of Big Numbers, shielding newbies from the rigours of grassroot politics, raising the stakes for opposition candidates, etc).

By betting big, the PAP could win big. But they could also lose big.

Until the GRC concept is re-calibrated (eg, made smaller) or re-framed (eg, SMCs within sub-regions), NMPs serve as a useful counter-balance, esp the likes of Siew Kum Hong and Dr Lee Tsao Yuen.