But ex-NMPs undecided about seeking nomination for another term
by Esther Ng
09:18 AM Nov 03, 2011
SINGAPORE - Even as nominations opened yesterday for a new batch of Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs), several among the previous batch told Today that their term - which was interrupted by the General Election (GE) in May - was too short for them to make a tangible impact.
And with a record number of Opposition MPs in the House following the keenly-contested GE, they also pointed out that the NMPs have an even greater role to play as non-partisan voices.
The previous batch of NMPs were sworn into the 11th Parliament in July 2009. They made their maiden speeches a month later.
The 11th Parliament was dissolved in April this year.
The official tenure for NMPs is two-and-a-half years. Those who spoke to Today said they were still undecided whether to seek nomination for a second term.
Sociologist Paulin Straughan, 48, told Today: "If there is any reason why I would consider a second time, it would be because I have unfinished business."
That all nine NMPs in the previous batch were new played a part in the steeper learning curve for them, she said.
"We had to learn how and when to raise issues ... When we finally became productive, it came to a sudden end because of the elections," said Professor Straughan.
Concurring, The Substation artistic co-director Audrey Wong, 43, noted that by the time she and her fellow NMPs "start to get comfortable and settle in", their time spent in Parliament was "too short to make an impact".
Adding that she had not made up her mind on seeking nomination again, she said: "After a certain point, you want to do more than talk."
Media entrepreneur Calvin Cheng, 36, added: "I do think it is a pity our term was cut short because it takes a while for one to get used to parliamentary procedure in order to effectively raise our areas of interest."
Mr Cheng said he ran out of time before he could raise an issue close to his heart: The mandatory death penalty for drug offenders.
Trade unionist Terry Lee, 58, also noted that he would be unlikely to get a second bite of the cherry - the labour movement usually does not nominate the same person twice, he said.
NMPS, ONLY NEUTRAL MPS IN THE HOUSE
The NMP scheme was introduced in 1990 to provide independent and non-partisan views on a wide range of topics.
Mr Cheng believes that the next batch of NMPs "will have a much tougher time" as it is more challenging now to be non-partisan.
But Mr Cheng reiterated: "Democratic purists may see the fact that NMPs have no electoral mandate as a weakness but, make no mistake, in a partisan political environment where all politicians now have one eye on the 2016 elections, the ability to speak without fear or favour is a huge strength."
He added: "The new NMPs must draw on this."
Prof Straughan noted that NMPs are the only neutral MPs in the House who do not have to worry about toeing a party line.
She said: "NMPs don't have to worry about being popular, they just have to worry about being relevant."
Political observer Eugene Tan felt that, in the new political climate, NMPs "can demonstrate that they can deal with the value of the ideas rather than go on a partisan route".
Assistant Professor Tan said: "In a more contested political climate ... the idea is to show that Parliament may not necessarily be reduced to a partisan contest of ideas."
Corporate counsel Siew Kum Hong - who was an NMP from 2007 to 2009 - added: "NMPs can still add value with fresh ideas and perspective.
"Their non-partisan stance will be welcomed ... as we've seen from the first sitting of Parliament, there's been a lot of political posturing from both sides."
by Esther Ng
09:18 AM Nov 03, 2011
SINGAPORE - Even as nominations opened yesterday for a new batch of Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs), several among the previous batch told Today that their term - which was interrupted by the General Election (GE) in May - was too short for them to make a tangible impact.
And with a record number of Opposition MPs in the House following the keenly-contested GE, they also pointed out that the NMPs have an even greater role to play as non-partisan voices.
The previous batch of NMPs were sworn into the 11th Parliament in July 2009. They made their maiden speeches a month later.
The 11th Parliament was dissolved in April this year.
The official tenure for NMPs is two-and-a-half years. Those who spoke to Today said they were still undecided whether to seek nomination for a second term.
Sociologist Paulin Straughan, 48, told Today: "If there is any reason why I would consider a second time, it would be because I have unfinished business."
That all nine NMPs in the previous batch were new played a part in the steeper learning curve for them, she said.
"We had to learn how and when to raise issues ... When we finally became productive, it came to a sudden end because of the elections," said Professor Straughan.
Concurring, The Substation artistic co-director Audrey Wong, 43, noted that by the time she and her fellow NMPs "start to get comfortable and settle in", their time spent in Parliament was "too short to make an impact".
Adding that she had not made up her mind on seeking nomination again, she said: "After a certain point, you want to do more than talk."
Media entrepreneur Calvin Cheng, 36, added: "I do think it is a pity our term was cut short because it takes a while for one to get used to parliamentary procedure in order to effectively raise our areas of interest."
Mr Cheng said he ran out of time before he could raise an issue close to his heart: The mandatory death penalty for drug offenders.
Trade unionist Terry Lee, 58, also noted that he would be unlikely to get a second bite of the cherry - the labour movement usually does not nominate the same person twice, he said.
NMPS, ONLY NEUTRAL MPS IN THE HOUSE
The NMP scheme was introduced in 1990 to provide independent and non-partisan views on a wide range of topics.
Mr Cheng believes that the next batch of NMPs "will have a much tougher time" as it is more challenging now to be non-partisan.
But Mr Cheng reiterated: "Democratic purists may see the fact that NMPs have no electoral mandate as a weakness but, make no mistake, in a partisan political environment where all politicians now have one eye on the 2016 elections, the ability to speak without fear or favour is a huge strength."
He added: "The new NMPs must draw on this."
Prof Straughan noted that NMPs are the only neutral MPs in the House who do not have to worry about toeing a party line.
She said: "NMPs don't have to worry about being popular, they just have to worry about being relevant."
Political observer Eugene Tan felt that, in the new political climate, NMPs "can demonstrate that they can deal with the value of the ideas rather than go on a partisan route".
Assistant Professor Tan said: "In a more contested political climate ... the idea is to show that Parliament may not necessarily be reduced to a partisan contest of ideas."
Corporate counsel Siew Kum Hong - who was an NMP from 2007 to 2009 - added: "NMPs can still add value with fresh ideas and perspective.
"Their non-partisan stance will be welcomed ... as we've seen from the first sitting of Parliament, there's been a lot of political posturing from both sides."
