Nine new NMPs to give fresh ideas on ageing, heritage, economic restructuring

Disabled lawyer among 9 new NMPs
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 12 Aug 2014

LAWYER Chia Yong Yong, 52, will make history as the first wheelchair user to have a place in Parliament.

The president of SPD, formerly known as the Society for the Physically Disabled, is one of nine new Nominated MPs (NMPs) chosen to give fresh perspectives on the social and economic challenges Singapore will face in the coming years.

The others are Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Thomas Chua, 60; veteran unionist K. Karthikeyan, 55; social entrepreneur Kuik Shiao-Yin, 36; Board of Architects Singapore president Rita Soh, 55; doctor and former national sailor Benedict Tan, 47; labour economist Randolph Tan, 50; veteran historian Tan Tai Yong, 51; and banker Ismail Hussein, 51, who is a director of the Association of Muslim Professionals.

They were selected by a parliamentary committee chaired by Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob. It included two ministers and five other MPs, including Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, a member of the committee, said the panel looked for new NMPs who could add to discussions on issues Singapore faces.

These include ageing, economic restructuring and productivity, sporting excellence, a better living environment, retaining Singapore's heritage and appreciating its history, challenges of working mothers, youth aspirations, and entrepreneurism, said Dr Ng, who is the Leader of the House.

The youngest among the nine is Ms Kuik, who is expecting her first child.

The nominees will be appointed by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Istana on Aug 26. That is when their 21/2-year term will begin.

They will take their oath when Parliament next sits on Sept 8.

The final nine NMPs-to-be were chosen out of 36 candidates whose names were submitted earlier this year by members of the public or functional groups.

All 36 were considered by the selection committee in its assessment of suitable candidates for appointment as NMPs, said the Clerk of Parliament yesterday.

Unsuccessful candidates included blogger Roy Ngerng, as well as Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan and businessman R. Dhinakaran, both of whom were outgoing NMPs seeking a second term. Their terms expired last Friday.

The NMP scheme began in 1990 to provide more alternative voices in Parliament.

Madam Halimah said the panel looked for candidates who could use their specialised knowledge to add to the depth and breadth of debates in Parliament.

Also taken into account was "the candidates' ability to contribute alternative ideas and fresh perspectives", she said, "as this will help Singapore navigate challenges in the years ahead".

NMPs want to discuss social shifts in Singapore
Many of them to draw on personal experiences in championing causes
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 12 Aug 2014

SHIFTING social norms are among the concerns that some of the nine incoming Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) want to discuss in the House.

The new batch, announced yesterday, start their term on Aug 26 but have already cast their eye on several broad social trends.

Said social entrepreneur Kuik Shiao-Yin, 36: "I'm very concerned about how we maintain racial and religious harmony in Singapore and guard against extremism of all sorts. That has been an issue over the years."

Tensions between the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender camp and religious groups have made recent headlines. The annual Pink Dot picnic drew a record 26,000 in June and a Wear White campaign championing "pro-family" values was set up in response.

Reflecting on this, Ms Kuik, the youngest of the new NMPs, said: "How do you encourage a culture of moderate and fair-minded public dialogue that gives everyone a space in society?"

A fellow nominee, National University of Singapore (NUS) vice-provost of student life, Professor Tan Tai Yong, 51, noted that different Singaporeans have different views on social norms.

"It's an interesting time to reflect on some of these issues and on where the country is heading," said the historian, who has been teaching at the NUS since 1992.

The NMPs were chosen for their ability to add to discussions on Singapore's issues and provide alternative voices, said Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, who chaired the selection panel.

The new line-up, unlike the previous two, does not include any representative for the arts or environmental groups.

Among the nine nominees, many will draw on personal experiences in championing causes in Parliament.

Ms Kuik, who is expecting her first child in two months, said one issue she will be thinking about is how young women balance work and having children.

Corporate lawyer Chia Yong Yong, 52, who has peroneal muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair, is keen to champion issues concerning people with disabilities, such as inclusion. "My colleagues and I have worked with persons with disabilities for years. We feel we're able to have better empathy and understanding of issues on the ground," said the president of SPD, formerly the Society for the Physically Disabled.

Others will use their experiences to raise issues pertinent to their fields. Prof Tan, for instance, is keen on Singapore's heritage.

And income inequality is close to the heart of Mr K. Karthikeyan, 55, who formed the Singapore Petrochemical Complex Employees' Union in 1986 and has been a union leader since. "I don't think we should have low wages any more. The rich-poor divide affects Singapore socially. If people think they are going to stay poor, they think, 'Why do I bother working if my pay is so low and the rich are so far above me?'"

The progressive wage model, which boosts low incomes according to workers' skills, is something he would like to see implemented in more sectors, said Mr Karthikeyan, whose nomination was welcomed by the NTUC, of which he is vice-president.

Banking executive and Association of Muslim Professionals director Ismail Hussein said that while he represents the Malay-Muslim community, he would cover a range of issues and focus on areas that matter to all Singaporeans.

Sembawang GRC MP Ellen Lee, who was on the NMP selection panel, said the nine are a diverse group. She said of their 21/2-year term, which may end earlier if a general election is called: "It's not the length of the tenure, but what they do with the time that counts."

'Spotlight on more causes' with all-new slate of NMPs
Observers point out that heritage and disability issues now have champions
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 13 Aug 2014

THE choice of the all-new slate of Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) may reflect a desire to give more communities and causes a chance to be in the spotlight, political watchers and MPs said yesterday.

This is because issues concerning heritage and people with disabilities, for instance, may not have previously had sufficient airtime in the House, said some.

But they now have champions, respectively, in historian Tan Tai Yong and lawyer Chia Yong Yong, who has peroneal muscular dystrophy.

Economic restructuring is another big item of continued importance to Singapore, said the analysts, pointing to the selection of a labour economist, veteran unionist and business association chief.

The new batch of NMPs, whose term begins on Aug 26, was announced on Monday. They were selected, in part, for their ability to add to parliamentary debates on certain issues.

These include ageing, economic restructuring and productivity, sporting excellence, a better living environment, heritage, working mothers' challenges, youth aspirations and entrepreneurism.

But unlike the previous group of NMPs - whose terms ended on Aug 8 - the incoming group does not have representatives who focus on the arts and environmental concerns.

Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad was of the view that rotating the groups that previously had NMPs representing their interests "gives different communities a chance to air their views, and puts new areas in the spotlight".

But arts community members, who have had a representative since 2009, said yesterday that they were disappointed by the exclusion this time, and are now mulling over forming an advocacy group.

Former NMP Audrey Wong, who served from 2009 to 2011 and represented the arts, said: "Maybe it means that Parliament feels the arts, in a way, has had its chance, and wants to be fair and give more communities a chance to speak up."

Ms Chia Yong Yong, the first NMP who is a wheelchair user, is a case in point. She is keen to champion issues concerning people with disabilities.

And areas like heritage have also been recent popular talking points.

Said Ms Wong: "There has been a groundswell of public awareness about the need to look after our heritage and manage it in a more sustainable way."

The selection of Professor Tan Tai Yong, a historian who is keen on Singapore's heritage, could be a reaction to this growing interest and a signal that these issues should be addressed, said law don Eugene Tan, who served as NMP from 2012.

He was one of two from the previous batch who sought reappointment but were unsuccessful. The other was businessman R. Dhinakaran.

Sociologist and former NMP Paulin Straughan also felt that the inclusion of a history and heritage expert was timely: "You need to know what happened in the 49 years leading to the 50th year of independence Singapore is celebrating next year."

But other issues, like economic restructuring, remain important enough for NMPs who are experts on the topic to be chosen. There has been an NMP representing the labour unions, and another representing business association, in each Parliament session.

This time was no exception, with National Trades Union Congress vice-president K. Karthikeyan, as well as Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Thomas Chua having been selected.

Incoming NMP and labour economist Randolph Tan said Singapore's current economic restructuring is "the primary concern at this point".

"The future of our society will depend on the way our economy develops," he added.

He, Dr Straughan and Ms Wong said that businesses and labour were crucial to this economic process, and so it made sense to continue to include such representatives on the NMP slate. This is because manpower is a crucial part of economic restructuring. Businesses' concerns also deeply affect Singapore and deserve a voice in the House, they added.

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