<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published June 9, 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>46 candidates vying for NMP posts
By LEE U-WEN
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THE names of 46 people are in the hat from which the next batch of Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP) will be picked when the new term starts in July.
A statement released by the Clerk of Parliament last night said that 46 proposal forms were received before the May 11 deadline for the submission of names. This is just shy of the record of 48 names submitted during the last round in December 2006.
The general public and six different groups were invited over a five-week period from April 6 to May 11 this year to propose candidates whom they felt were suitable to become NMPs.
Of the 46 nominees, 31 are from the public and the remaining 15 from six functional groups representing organisations from business and industry; social and community services; media, arts and sports; the professions; labour movement; and tertiary education institutions.
The NMP scheme, introduced back in 1990 to provide for alternative views in the House, came into the spotlight last month when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that the scheme would be a permanent feature of Singapore's political system. Previously, every Parliament had to vote on whether it wanted NMPs for the new term.
Up to nine NMPs serving a term of 2-1/2 years will be chosen from the list of nominees by a Special Select Committee that will make recommendations to President S R Nathan.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>While the names of the 46 hopefuls were not revealed, some of the candidates who have publicly made known their intention to be NMPs include theatre director Beatrice Chia-Richmond and veteran unionist Terry Lee.
At least two existing NMPs are seeking a second term as NMPs - in-house counsel Siew Kum Hong and PricewaterhouseCoopers executive chairman Gautam Banerjee.
Two more have declared they will not seek a second term. They are university law professor Thio Li-ann and Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore chairman Edwin Khew.
The eight-member Special Select Committee, chaired by Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi, will be meeting to consider eligible candidates this month. When finalised, the list of persons nominated will be forwarded to President Nathan for his appointment.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>46 candidates vying for NMP posts
By LEE U-WEN
<TABLE class=storyLinks border=0 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=1 width=136 align=right><TBODY><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Email this article</TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Print article </TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Feedback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>THE names of 46 people are in the hat from which the next batch of Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP) will be picked when the new term starts in July.
A statement released by the Clerk of Parliament last night said that 46 proposal forms were received before the May 11 deadline for the submission of names. This is just shy of the record of 48 names submitted during the last round in December 2006.
The general public and six different groups were invited over a five-week period from April 6 to May 11 this year to propose candidates whom they felt were suitable to become NMPs.
Of the 46 nominees, 31 are from the public and the remaining 15 from six functional groups representing organisations from business and industry; social and community services; media, arts and sports; the professions; labour movement; and tertiary education institutions.
The NMP scheme, introduced back in 1990 to provide for alternative views in the House, came into the spotlight last month when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that the scheme would be a permanent feature of Singapore's political system. Previously, every Parliament had to vote on whether it wanted NMPs for the new term.
Up to nine NMPs serving a term of 2-1/2 years will be chosen from the list of nominees by a Special Select Committee that will make recommendations to President S R Nathan.
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At least two existing NMPs are seeking a second term as NMPs - in-house counsel Siew Kum Hong and PricewaterhouseCoopers executive chairman Gautam Banerjee.
Two more have declared they will not seek a second term. They are university law professor Thio Li-ann and Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore chairman Edwin Khew.
The eight-member Special Select Committee, chaired by Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi, will be meeting to consider eligible candidates this month. When finalised, the list of persons nominated will be forwarded to President Nathan for his appointment.
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