Comments on: Reforming the NMP Scheme

By: jiangbao

jiangbao — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:49:21 +0000

No NMP please, its ridicious really. they are appointed except for best losers. Even world cup no longer uses best losers.

By: anti-uselessness

anti-uselessness — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:24:24 +0000

I personally do not like NMPs, in particular those who promote personal agenda (especially anti-secularism) and those who did not attend even 1/4 of all parliamentary meetings (lazy female). And I hate those who did nothing directly beneficial to the Singapore society to deserve the appointment of a NMP (especially some entrepreneurs).

By: tiredsingaporean

tiredsingaporean — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:35:06 +0000

10) Joy Lee on December 11th, 2009 4.45 pm
Due to walkover, many did not need to be given a vote to land a seat.
Is this technically wrong understanding?
If not,
why introduce more unElected representatives?
To represent……?

In the end, represent what? who? isn’t its the same reason back to the PAP? so many wayang trying to mislead the people again, don’t think its gonna work anymore cos singaporeans are too sick and tired to be treated like idiots anymore. PAP have to go!

By: Chua Lee Loong

Chua Lee Loong — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:15:44 +0000

Why be nominated and not chosen by the people in a democracy?
Highly educated and 1st world, citizens should be given the chance to vote for them. Why nominate, bypassing the selection process by the people?
Not confident with highly educated citizens?
No lah, i think you very confident.

By: singaporean

singaporean — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:10:18 +0000

i believe that anyone who enters parliament needs to be elected by the people, not “nominated” without an election.

and those who enter parliament should have rights to vote on the motion in parliament.

NMPs are not elected and they do not have rights to vote on the motion in parliament. thus because of these 2 points, the NMP is not a true representation of the people in parliament – and should not be in parliament in the first place.

By: Anon

Anon — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:33:54 +0000

12) Novilio on December 11th, 2009 11.47 pm
This is what I call real Reformative Ideas.
Well done RP! I like your ideas. Makes sense to me.

Dear probable RP member, you couldn’t be a bit more subtle in your self praise could you?

By: Lee Hoong Chan

Lee Hoong Chan — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:23:08 +0000

We have to wait for
Nature to Take its course.
Period.

By: Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)

Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:45:16 +0000

No amount of reforms will change the undemocratic nature of how parliamentary members are selected.

Better representation still does not equate to true representation.

Scrap the mockery to our parliamentary system known as GRC, and we won’t need NMPs or whatever reforms. Problem solved.

By: StinkingScheme

StinkingScheme — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:49:10 +0000

In my view the NMP scheme stinks. It compounds the undemocratic system already existing in Singapore. There are a sizable 33.3% of voters against the PAP, and yet these dissenters are represented by only two MPs. The least the NMP scheme should do is to increase the representation of the 33.3% dissenters. Instead the scheme magnifies the number of MPs for the PAP, because the NMPs are simply chosen by a committee appointed by them, and not by the people.
To make matters worse, the constitution allows for an appointed (but unelected) NMP to become a Minister. So, theoretically, it is possible for a lost PAP candidate in the GE to be appointed a Minister and earn humongous salary without ever being elected to Parliament.

By: contrarian

contrarian — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:51:47 +0000

The best thing to do about the NMP system is to get rid of it.

This convoluted change you propose, it is probably easier and better to have an upper house of Parliament instead.

By: Novilio

Novilio — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:47:42 +0000

This is what I call real Reformative Ideas.
Well done RP! I like your ideas. Makes sense to me.

By: Thinking ah Beng

Thinking ah Beng — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:45:08 +0000

After the “highfalutin incident”, seems like the NMPs are all given the gag order, or have they all decided to gag themselves until the election is over?

seems like the current cohort of NMPs are pretty street-smart as well, in addition to their pretty good credentials – they know when to hide, and when to hide completely.

By: Joy Lee

Joy Lee — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:45:44 +0000

Due to walkover, many did not need to be given a vote to land a seat.
Is this technically wrong understanding?
If not,
why introduce more unElected representatives?
To represent……?

By: Wayang Pulit

Wayang Pulit — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:00:13 +0000

I am also not in favor of NMP scheme.
I, personally, do not endorse it , not that i can.

By: whatdoyouexpect?

whatdoyouexpect? — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:58:52 +0000

logicalLEE it should be the PEOPLE to chose an NMP
if everythinggie nneds to be elected by the pap rulin governments
might as well renamed it to
welcome to the KINGDOM of singapoor

By: Chand

Chand — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:25:48 +0000

I’m a minority and I DO NOT want an NMP to represent me in parliament. Let’s focus on voting for opposition and create a balance of power for all Singaporeans.

Things like minority representatives can only solve or highlight the problems of a select group of society, but not fix the problem that there is no balance of power in parliament and that there is no real democracy in Singapore.

Supporting the NMP scheme will send us hurling further and further back on the road to achieving democracy, it is exactly what the PAP wants us to do.

By: Oxford Dude

Oxford Dude — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:04:16 +0000

I am not even sure if some people want to recognise that LGBTs exist in Singapore. For starters, People Like Us (PLU) has been denied registration under the Societies Act annually for quite a number of years already.

By: btan

btan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:58:07 +0000

NMP and NCMP schemes should be abolished as it undermines the opposition.

We should have a Representative Parliamentary System if we want to be fair. But the sky of Singapore will snow first before PAP government will do what is fair.

By: Kelvin Teo

Kelvin Teo — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:33:10 +0000

I think one very good example will be Thio Li Ann’s spiel on 377A which obviously targets sexual minority..it is a case of a minority group’s interest not only neglected but also being targeted. You noticed her picture is there among the NMPs right?

By: ali

ali — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:02:43 +0000

“Here is a fictitious scenario. ”

While its good analysis, you should give several real-life evidences of how minority or fringe groups have been neglected in our parliamentary processes.

If not, it sounds too much like a paper on political theory >.< Just my two cents.