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SINGAPORE: The Singapore government has announced proposed changes to the country's electoral system to encourage a wider range of views in Parliament, including opposition and non-government views.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said if the People's Action Party is not serving Singaporeans well, they should not vote for the party. This will ensure Singapore will always have the best team to serve the country.
It was with that statement that Mr Lee wrapped up a speech in Parliament on Wednesday, proposing major changes to the electoral system, which will result in Parliament having at least 18 Members of Parliament (MPs) who are not from the ruling party - that means nine opposition MPs (including Non-Constituency MPs) and nine Nominated MPs (NMPs).
The number of Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs), who did not win a seat during an election but have the next highest percentage of votes, will be increased from six to nine. That means opposition members will form at least one-tenth of the 84 directly-elected MPs with constituencies, whatever the outcome of the elections.
Currently, the House has one NCMP - Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim - and two MPs from the opposition parties.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the proposed change will make NCMPs more representative of those who voted for the opposition during the elections.
Also proposed is a cap of two NCMPs from any Group Representation Constituency (GRC) contested by the opposition.
Once all these are amended in the Parliamentary Elections Act, the president will no longer need to specify a number before Nomination Day.
For example, if the new system was in place during the last General Election in 2006, there would be two opposition MPs - Chiam See Tong and Low Thia Khiang, who each won the majority of votes in their constituencies - and seven more would have been admitted as NCMPs from wards which the opposition members have contested in.
These would have included two from Aljunied ward - Workers' Party Sylvia Lim and another member; one from Chua Chu Kang constituency - Singapore Democratic Alliance's Steve Chia; two Workers' Party members from East Coast constituency; one from Joo Chiat ward - Tan Bin Seng from the Workers' Party; and another from Nee Soon Central constituency - Lian Chin Way from the Workers' Party.
Also proposed is the automatic inclusion of nine Nominated MPs (NMPs) in Parliament. Mr Lee said these can also come from civil society like activists in the environmental movement.
All in, the new Parliament is expected to have a total of 18 non-government representatives from opposition MPs and NMPs, making up one fifth of the House.
Mr Lee said: "The change in composition of Parliament will affect the dynamics in the House between the government and the opposition parties. Government MPs have to become sharper at defending their positions.
"Opposition MPs and NCMPs will surely want to score points too, but must understand that while they may be in the opposition, they must uphold the political system and our institutions and their loyalty must be to Singapore."
To keep pace with the growing number of voters and elected MPs, Mr Lee also proposed 12 Single-Member Constituencies (SMCs), up from the current nine.
He said there should be fewer six-member Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) as smaller GRCs make it easier for voters to identify with the MPs. He added that six-member GRCs work too, depending on the configuration of constituencies.
But Mr Lee said the changes may not result in more seats being contested or more opposition MPs elected.
He said: "Ultimately it is up to the opposition parties to field candidates to contest elections and up to voters to decide who they want to represent them in Parliament. The purpose of these changes is to make the GRC scheme work better, to strengthen the link between voters and their MPs."
But Mr Lee said these changes do not mean that the General Election is near.
"These changes are not just for the 2011 General Election, but also for the long-term strength and stability of our system. Whatever political system we have, it will only work well if the electorate vote wisely and in full knowledge that if they vote for frivolous or fickle reasons, it will mean a setback to our economy and our future," said PM Lee.
The prime minister also said that changes are made to the system when it needs improving. Even though he has a good team in place now, his job now is to find and nurture the next generation of leaders.
Political analysts said they are glad to hear about the proposed changes.
Bilveer Singh, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, said the changes augur well for a more dynamic political culture in the coming years.
He said allowing more opposition MPs in Parliament signals a paradigm shift on the part of the ruling party, who he said can be seen as giving more respect to the opposition.
Senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, Gillian Koh, said she hopes to see four-member GRCs, instead of the current five or six.
As one GRC member has to be of the minority race, Dr Koh said one in four in a GRC will match the racial make-up in Singapore.
Still, she said having more single-member wards give more opportunities to activists and smaller opposition parties.
- CNA/yt
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