Singapore Parliament has invited members of the public to submit names of suitable candidates for selecting the Republic’s next batch of Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP) from today. The nominations close on July 6 at 4:30 pm.
Forms are available at the Parliament House or through the Parliament website, said the Office of the Clerk of Parliament in a press statement.
For being eligible to be a Nominated Member of Parliament, a candidate should be a Singaporean citizen at least 21 years old, enrolled in the current register of electors and have lived in Singapore for the past 10 years. In addition to this, he/ she must be able to actively participate in Parliamentary proceedings.
Nominated persons should have rendered distinguished public service, or brought honour to the Republic, or have distinguished themselves in the field of arts and letters, sports, culture, the sciences, business, industry, the professions, social or community service or the labour movement.
Names of people who qualify for appointment as Nominated Member of Parliament will be submitted to the Special Select Committee of Parliament for consideration. The recommendations of this Committee will then be submitted to the President for appointment.
The eight-member Special Select Committee comprises of Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin as the Chairman assisted by MPs Chee Hong Tat, Grace Fu, Koh Poh Koon, Sylvia Lim, Josephine Teo, Vikram Nair and Lawrence Wong.
It is being reported that out of nine NMPs in Parliament, five are likely to step down. Kuik Shiao-Yin, Thomas Chua, Kok Heng Leun and Azmoon Ahmad have confirmed that they are leaving, while unionist K Thanaletchimi is unlikely to continue as the NMP representing the labour movement typically serves one two-and-a-half year term.