Veteran union leader put up as NMP candidate
Veteran unionist K Thanaletchimi. Photo: Koh Mui Fong
SINGAPORE — More than a fortnight after submissions opened to choose the next batch of Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs), the labour movement on Friday (Feb 19) became the first group to publicly unveil its nominee: Veteran unionist K Thanaletchimi.
The other six functional groups — business and industry, the professions, social-service organisations, the civic and people sector, tertiary education institutions, and media, arts and sports organisations — declined to share details of their nominees when contacted by TODAY.
The professions functional group has selected two candidates, whose names will be put forward to the Special Select Committee — helmed by Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob — before the Tuesday deadline for submissions, said the group’s coordinator Academy of Medicine master Lim Shih Hui. The nominees’ identities were not disclosed.
Ms Thanaletchimi, 50, is president of the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union and an elected member of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Central Committee.
In a press statement, NTUC president Mary Liew said Ms Thanaletchimi, a senior assistant manager at the National University Hospital’s pharmacy department, has forged good rapport and working relationships with tripartite partners through her various appointments on national-level committees. “To effectively represent the interests of workers of all collars, ages and nationalities, she currently sits (on) various NTUC committees representing diverse interests, ranging from industrial relations, working women, mature workers, to membership, sports and the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute.”
If appointed, Ms Thanaletchimi said she would continue advancing the interests of all workers, with a special interest in women and increasing healthcare affordability.
She told TODAY that she was interested in exploring better skills upgrading and job opportunities to get women back into the workforce, and how more support can be given to single mothers. On healthcare affordability, she hopes to champion preventive health to ensure workers are healthy for as long as possible, so they “don’t have to pay more for (their) healthcare needs at a later age”.
If selected, she would be the 11th union representative appointed as an NMP since 1992. The search for the next cohort of NMPs began earlier this month, with the public and the seven functional groups having until Tuesday to submit names to the eight-member committee.
