Some immediate-past NMPs keen on reappointment
Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin. TODAY file photo.
SINGAPORE — Having served a relatively short term in Parliament — just one year before an election was called last year — some immediate-past Nominated Members of Parliament have expressed interest in seeking reappointment.
Others who served at the same time however said they would leave it to their respective functional groups to decide whose name to throw into the ring.
Today (Feb 2), the Office of the Clerk of Parliament announced that members of the public can now begin proposing names for new NMPs to be considered by the Special Select Committee of Parliament, which is headed by Speaker of Parliament Madam Halimah Yacob.
Speaking to TODAY, Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin, co-founder of social enterprise group Thought Collective, who was among those appointed in 2014, said that she would be open to reappointment, and would like to “deepen the conversation on innovation … especially amongst young people.”
Ms Kuik felt that she needed to honour the commitment of serving a full term as an NMP, having only served about a year compared to the fixed 2.5-year term typically served by NMPs.
On the other hand, Dr Benedict Tan Chi’-Loong felt that despite the relatively short term, he “worked very intensively and very quickly when the term started”. “Just before I started my term, I was aware that the normal term will be 2.5 years or till the next election, whichever is earlier. In other words, I did have a heads up that (it) may be a short term,” he added.
The former national sailor also said that despite being honoured to step forward as an NMP for sports, he felt others should be given the opportunity. “One of the underlying philosophies behind the NMP scheme is that it wants to invite a diversity of views and that is why with each term, you have a different individual stepping forward with different backgrounds who can offer a more varied perspectives at Parliament,” he said.
Mr Karthikeyan, who was nominated by the National Trades Union Congress, said that while his term was cut short, he was heartened to be exposed to politics and the process of policy-making, and would relish the opportunity to be reappointed as an NMP.
“I didn’t get a chance to get everything asked or put out to Parliament. So, given the chance, of course I will look (into issues like the) sandwich class (in Singapore),” he said. He added that it was a good learning opportunity even though “it took some time to understand the whole system”.
For Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng, he felt that his experience during the first term was good preparation should he be given the opportunity to represent the business community as an NMP again. “I think there’s a lot of things that as an NMP representing the business community that I could do. I understand the ground better, (and could get) feedbacks from the businesses (and) what problems they are facing,” said the president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Dr Tan maintained that new blood can be brought in to add more value to Parliament. “Of course, there will always be new issues to raise, but that doesn’t mean that I have to be the one, because I’m always there to contribute and I can always support and (provide resources for) the next candidate,” he said.
Correction: In an earlier version of this report, we reported the designation of Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng as vice-president of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is the president. We apologise for the error.
