Thanks 'commenter'.All my earlier comments about Mr NMP have been deleted by TODAY.They were not abuse and I was mainly stating facts.Must have touched a raw nerve with the Editors.The Straits Times has gone completely hush on this issue.Do we need the NMP scheme when it is clearly impartial?

TSM: "Calvin Cheng and the Select Committee have further damaged the institution of the NMP scheme, a uniquely Singaporean tool of deinstitutionalizing the role of a multi party system or any semblance of true democracy." In my opinion, the people who should take the rap for this are those sitting on the selection committee of which 7 out of 8 are PAP MPs. This once again, is an opportunity for us to once again be reminded of how unreliable the PAP MPs are acting as a group where it really counts in our lives.

By dismissing his affilication with the YPAP as curiousity, Mr. Cheng had diminished his own standing in the public space. There will always be doubts as to whether his involvment in any issue is due to conviction or mere curiousity. He cannot hope to be taken seriously after this.

TODAY really needs to hire a better vendor to redo their website. This commenting feature is one of those that are ridiculously annoying. Paragraphing is not captured and thus makes it difficult to read.

My sentiments exactly Wenfeng.Beautifully worded might I add.Imagine this, I am curious, I join the YPAP, spruce up my political CV and put myself up for NMP nomination to a select group of 8 whom 7 are my fellow cadre members.If I don't get nominated, I can still remain as an inactive member and try my luck again as either a MP candidate or as an NMP in future.Either way I win. Looks like there will be a beeline of Singaporeans rushing to join the PAP/YPAP to put themselves up as future NMP candidates as membership has been proven to have its privileges in this instance.PAP membership is like the golden calf.We see many opportunists in Singaporean society but to see it creep into politics is sad.Calvin Cheng and the Select Committee have further damaged the institution of the NMP scheme, a uniquely Singaporean tool of deinstitutionalizing the role of a multi party system or any semblance of true democracy.