48 Nominated Member of Parliament applications submitted, up from 36 in 2016

SINGAPORE – Forty-eight individuals have submitted their names to be considered for the nine Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) posts after the deadline passed on Friday (July 6).

This was more than the 41 and 36 submissions in 2014 and 2016, respectively, but lower than the 50 received in 2011.

Members of the public and seven functional groups were invited to submit the names of those to be considered from June 4 to July 6. The seven groups were: business and industry, labour, the professions, social service organisations, civic and people sector, tertiary education institutions and the media, arts and sports organisations.

The NMP scheme was introduced in 1990 to provide alternative non-partisan views in Parliament. Up to nine NMPs serve during each term, which lasts for two-and-a-half years. The current term ends in September.

Of the seven groups, only the labour movement revealed their nominee: union leader Arasu Duraisamy. The 50-year-old is a member of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Central Committee, and the general secretary of the Singapore Port Workers' Union.

Curator and fine arts lecturer Woon Tien Wei, and Ms Felicia Low, lecturer and founder of non-profit organisation Community Cultural Development (Singapore), also submitted their names through the National Arts Council (NAC) to represent the arts sector as NMPs. The two artists, had said last month that they would send in their applications after gauging the community's support for them through an online exercise.

Dr Woon said: "I feel moved by the support from the community. I am also particularly heartened to see many members of the community interested in the NMP process and the Parliamentary process."

Responding to TODAY's queries, the NAC, whose chairman Chan Heng Chee is the coordinator of the media, arts and sports organisations, said they had submitted all eligible applications to Parliament. They did not reveal how many names were submitted.

"(NAC) looks forward to working with the appointed arts NMP, if one is selected," said the spokesperson.

The names of four individuals were submitted for the civic and people sector, said a People's Association spokesperson. Its chief executive director Desmond Tan is the coordinator for the group.

"They are established in their professional fields, have distinguished themselves in their social and community services and would ensure a greater diversity of voices in the House as they contribute independent and non-partisan views in Parliament," said the spokesperson, who did not identify the nominees.

Singapore Business Federation chairman Teo Siong Seng, the coordinator of the business and industry group, said two names were submitted on their end.

"This year, we looked at people who are active in their own sector, able to represent the industry or the business sector (and) are also quite involved in the industry transformation maps," he said.

Mr Sim Gim Guan, chief executive officer of the National Council of Social Service – who is the coordinator for the social service organisations – did not reveal how many names were submitted, but he said they had encouraged member organisations to nominate candidates they felt were fit for the NMP role.

Blogger Wendy Cheng, also known as Xiaxue, was also reported to have expressed interest in the role. She said she would be keen to raise issues related to the Internet, media, women and motherhood.

An eight-member committee chaired by Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin will recommend candidates from the pool of submissions for appointment to the President.