Parliament to decide if WP gets full complement of NCMPs
Punggol East Workers’ Party MP Lee Li Lian, who lost the election, bowing to supporters after a speech on polling night at Hougang Stadium. TODAY FILE PHOTO
SINGAPORE — Whether the Workers’ Party (WP) will have its full complement of Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) will now be at the discretion of Parliament during its first session in January.
With the WP offering Mr Dennis Tan, Mr Leon Perera and Associate Professor Daniel Goh as their NCMPs, and keeping to Ms Lee Li Lian’s decision not to accept the position, it will be up to Parliament to decide on Dr Goh.
Yesterday, the WP informed the Elections Department (ELD) that it had nominated Mr Perera from its East Coast GRC team to join Mr Tan, who had contested in Fengshan, in Parliament. Following that, the ELD announced that the two men as well as Ms Lee, who had received the highest percentage of votes among the WP’s unelected candidates, were declared elected as NCMPs.
And in reply to TODAY’s queries, an ELD spokesperson said Parliament may declare the seat vacant “if any NCMP declared to be elected” does not take the Oath of Allegiance before Parliament at the first or second sitting. This is the view of the Attorney-General, based on Article 61 of the Constitution. “Parliament is not thereafter obliged to declare that seat be filled by the next succeeding candidate,” added the ELD spokesperson.
WP chief Low Thia Khiang told reporters last night that its three proposed NCMPs are the future leadership core of the party. The decision was made by the WP’s Central Executive Council (CEC) on Tuesday.
Mr Low, 59, noted that the trio were younger than himself and party chair Sylvia Lim, 50. Mr Tan, a lawyer, is 45, Mr Perera, the chief executive of a research and consultancy firm, is 44, and Dr Goh, a sociology don, is 42.
If they had been elected at the polls, it would have boosted the WP’s renewal plans, said Mr Low, adding: “The second best possible option will be for them to be NCMPs so that more Singaporeans will know them better.”
Mr Low said the party will respect Parliament’s decision on the matter.
Dr Goh, writing on his Facebook page last night, said as much: “There is no better fate than to place myself in the hands of the august men and women representing the will and wisdom of the people. Come what may, January’s destiny awaits. Regardless, I will march on.”
Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan agreed that Parliament is not obliged by law to fill the vacancy.
He added that Parliament, under the Parliamentary Elections Act, can “by resolution” allow the seat vacated by Ms Lee to be filled by Dr Goh.
But with the People’s Action Party filling 83 out of the 89 seats, much will depend on whether its MPs want to fill the vacated seat, he said, noting that no debate on this is needed in the House. “WP is, of course, entitled to raise its objection to the PAP MPs’ decision but there is nothing much it can do,” said Assoc Prof Tan.
Mr Low said the decision to nominate Mr Perera and Dr Goh was also one made by the WP’s East Coast team, including its former NCMP Gerald Giam.
On his blog, Mr Giam said he asked for the two men to be considered before the CEC cast their votes because they were the “most suitable candidates”. “I’m happy that the CEC unanimously agreed to this proposal ... (Mr Perera and Dr Goh) have both taken leading roles in policy work within (WP), and I’m confident they’ll be able to make very positive contributions to Parliamentary debates and speak up for not just residents of East Coast GRC, but all Singaporeans,” he wrote.
Mr Giam, who had a “very fulfilling four years” as an NCMP, said the work continues for him in East Coast and that he will still handle policy research and media aspects for the WP.
Meanwhile, Mr Tan wrote on his Facebook page yesterday: “I’ll do my best to serve the people of Fengshan and Singaporeans from other constituencies by speaking up responsibly and without fear in Parliament.” Ng Jing Yng
