SINGAPORE — Two more individuals — Singapore Kindness Movement’s William Wan and pre-school teacher trainer Philip Koh — have thrown their names into the hat for the post of Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP).

Dr Wan, who has been fronting the movement for the past three years, told Channel NewsAsia that he submitted his nomination papers yesterday, while Mr Koh, who founded Pre-school Teachers Network Singapore, told TODAY that he had collected the forms and intends to submit them before next Tuesday’s deadline.

The duo are the latest to emerge as contenders for NMP positions. Of the current batch of nine NMPs, only two — Mr R Dhinakaran and Associate Professor Eugene Tan — are eligible and seeking reappointment.

A Special Select Committee chaired by Parliament Speaker Halimah Yacob will sieve through the applications and recommend successful candidates to President Tony Tan, who will appoint the NMPs.

Yesterday, Dr Wan, 67, said he would like to promote Singapore as a gracious society, champion the causes of ex-offenders and raise issues related to the elderly. “Obviously, a kind (and) more gracious society is my passion,” said the winner of the Active Ager Award (Council of the Third Age) in 2011.

“I am also concerned about the ageing process and the number of people who are ageing — it’s increasing ... so it is important for me to champion their needs and also the fact that they can continue to contribute to society.”

Mr Koh, 50, said he hopes to be a representative for the pre-school sector and raise issues such as teachers’ working conditions and better access to professional training opportunities. Improving the quality of teachers and pre-school education is also on the cards, he added.

“At this point in time, we are seeing some changes in the pre-school sector ... While this is going on, I think it will be good for the sector to be represented in Parliament,” he said.

Mr Koh has been involved in pre-school education for the past 14 years and now trains pre-school teachers at NTUC SEED Institute, SIM University and Wheelock College. In July 2012, he founded the Pre-school Teachers Network Singapore, which aims to give pre-school educators a platform to discuss issues such as salaries and ways to motivate their charges.

Industry players interviewed said they welcome the notion of a voice representing them in Parliament.

EtonHouse International managing director Ng Gim Choo said an NMP representing the pre-school sector could help give feedback and information that reflect the sector’s concerns.

Those who have emerged as possible NMP nominees include Ms Chia Yong Yong, president of the Society for the Physically Disabled, Mr Raymon Krishnan, president of the Logistics and Supply Chain Management Society, National Trades Union Congress Central Committee vice-president K Karthikeyan, Drama Box artistic director Kok Heng Leun and former national sailor Benedict Tan.