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Singapore Parliament to Welcome Nine New Nominated Members
A diverse group of nine individuals, including eight fresh faces, are poised to join Singapore’s parliament as Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs). The appointments, announced by the Office of the Clerk of Parliament on Friday, January 2, will see President Tharman Shanmugaratnam formally appoint the members on January 8, with their oaths taken at a subsequent parliamentary sitting this month.
The incoming NMPs represent a broad spectrum of Singaporean society, bringing expertise from fields ranging from healthcare and law to academia and labor representation. Returning for a second term is Mr. Mark Lee Kean Phi, CEO of Sing Lun Holdings.The new appointees are: Mr. Azhar Othman, Executive Chairman of Enercon Asia; Associate Professor Goh Toh Chuan Kenneth, President of Singapore Aquatics; Dr. Haresh Singaraju, a family physician at National University polyclinics; Associate Professor Terence ho wai Luen, an academic and university administrator at the National University of Singapore; ms. Kuah Boon Theng SC,Managing Director of legal Clinic LLC; Dr. Neo Kok Beng, Founder and CEO of NEO Aeronautics Pte Ltd; Professor Kenneth Poon Kin Loong, a professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University; and Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, general Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees.
The selection process, initiated on October 8 with a public call for nominations, culminated in the review of 57 submissions. According to a press release from the Office of the Clerk of Parliament, the Special Select Committee meticulously assessed all eligible candidates.
“Having to determine the maximum of nine NMPs to nominate is challenging and we deliberated very carefully on all the candidates,” stated Mr. Seah Kian Peng, Speaker of Parliament and chairman of the committee. “We are satisfied that these nine nominees meet the constitutional requirements, demonstrated by their distinguished contributions to society and in their respective fields. We are confident they will strengthen and add value to parliamentary debates through their varied backgrounds and experiences, diverse perspectives, and commitment to serving Singapore and Singaporeans.”
Leader of the House, Indranee Rajah, echoed this sentiment, welcoming the new cohort to the 15th Parliament. “They have made notable contributions in work, community and society, and excelled in their respective fields,” she said. “I am confident that their diverse expertise and experience will enrich the discussions in Parliament as we chart Singapore’s path forward in an uncertain and disrupted world.”
The NMP scheme, established to provide alternative voices within the parliamentary system, allows for the appointment of up to nine individuals for a term of two-and-a-half years. These appointments are made on the suggestion of the Special Select Committee, which also includes members Mr. Chan Chun Sing, Mr. Desmond Lee, Mr.Zaqy Mohamad, Dr.Janil Puthucheary, Ms. Sim Ann, and Mr. Louis Chua.
Eligibility criteria for NMPs, as outlined in the Constitution, include Singaporean citizenship, a minimum age of 21, registration on the current register of electors, a minimum of 10 years of residency in Singapore, and the ability to actively participate in parliamentary proceedings, including proficiency in at least one of the country’s official languages. Candidates must also not be disqualified from serving as a Member of Parliament.
