SINGAPORE — Dr Daniel Goh of the Workers’ Party (WP) was formally declared a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) by the Elections Department today (Feb 4), after Parliament last week passed the motion to declare the NCMP seat offered to Ms Lee Li Lian empty. 

Dr Goh, 42, who teaches sociology at the National University of Singapore, was the one of the candidates in the WP’s East Coast GRC team in the General Election last September, and nominated by the WP to be elected NCMP. 

Ms Lee had said she would not take up the seat after losing the contest in Punggol East last year. Last week, the debate over the motion tabled by the WP saw the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the WP locked horns over Ms Lee’s decision and the spirit of the NCMP scheme. 

The PAP members of the house voted to amend the motion to call the WP’s move a “political manoeuvre to take full advantage of the NCMP seat”, causing the WP members to abstain from voting on the motion.

Writing in a Facebook post today, Dr Goh said it was his privilege to be elected as an NCMP and to serve the country in Parliament. “I don’t think I can sleep tonight; I know this is a grave responsibility and I will give it my best in the coming years. I love Singapore and want this nation to last for our children, to be a ‘shining red dot’, as our (Prime Minister) puts it, for generations to come,” he added.

When contacted, he declined to be interviewed, saying he was with his family for pre-Chinese New Year festivities.

Dr Goh joins Mr Dennis Tan and Mr Leon Perera as the third NCMP from the WP. Speaking to TODAY, Mr Tan said the WP MPs will deal with all issues that affect the livelihood of Singaporeans, but specific topics he may raise include those involving the legal sector and cost of living, among other things. 

Meanwhile, having touched on economic issues in his earlier speech in Parliament, Mr Perera said this is one of the more time-sensitive issues he hoped to explore further in future sittings.