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SINGAPORE – Two former nominee MPs (NMPs), social entrepreneur Anthea Ong and Singapore Chinese Orchestra Executive Director Terence Ho, are seeking a second term in Parliament.
Other new candidates who have applied include Mr. Johann Annuar, CEO of the nonprofit Engineering Good, community artist Terence Tan, playwright and poet Nabilah Said, and actress and event host Audrey Lim.
The NMP scheme was introduced in 1990 to ensure a broad representation of opinions in Parliament. There can be up to nine MPNs per term, lasting two and a half years.
Johann, 46, whose organization helps disadvantaged groups in the community by providing them access to technology, submitted his papers just before the 4:30 pm submission deadline on Monday (November 23).
He said he hopes to speak out about reducing inequality if selected, particularly about digital inclusion and for groups like people with disabilities.
“We have done very well to make our country prosperous, and that comes with a responsibility to help the most disadvantaged in our community, to bring them to a level where they can do their best,” he told The Straits Times. .
After the presentations, a special committee of eight MPs chaired by the Speaker of the Parliament, Tan Chuan-Jin, will consider the requests, as well as the views of other MPs from whom they applied.
They will interview the shortlisted candidates, agree on the final nominees, and recommend them to the President, who appoints the NMPs.
In addition to public presentations, seven functional groups: business and industry; Professions; the labor movement; social service organizations; civic and people sector; tertiary education institutions; and media, arts and sports organizations – normally invited to submit suitable candidate names.
Abdul Samad Abdul Wahab, Vice President of the National Trade Union Congress, has been presented as the union movement’s choice for NMP, while Research Scientist Andie Ang of the Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund has been nominated by Singapore’s environmental groups.
Among other things, Dr. Ang, 35, hopes to advocate for science-based and nature-based solutions to tackle climate problems, while Samad, 48, said he will address issues such as expanding the progressive wage model. to more sectors if designated.
Possible NMP of Arts
Mr. Tan, Ms. Nabilah, and Ms. Lim, who were on a short list created by the arts community after an online town hall on November 18 attended by 172 people, also submitted their names for consideration.
They will seek to represent the arts sector as an NMP, along with Mr. Ho, 51, the former NMP of the arts.
The town hall was organized by a group of volunteers called the NMP Arts Secretariat.
He launched an online campaign after the city council, which garnered 1,993 valid responses in support of the candidates from 1,686 respondents.
About 60 percent of those polled endorsed Ms. Nabilah. Another 25 percent supported Ms. Lim and 13 percent supported Mr. Tan.
In 2018, artists Dr. Woon Tien Wei and Dr. Felicia Low presented their names to Parliament after a town hall organized by the NMP Secretary of Arts. Mr. Ho, who did not go through the community nomination process, was ultimately named Arts NMP.
Mr. Ho had attended the recent town hall but did not put his name on the online campaign.
He said his application is endorsed by a diverse group of the arts community, and he hopes to continue building on the work he has done over the past 18 months as Arts NMP to help the arts sector deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. .
Meanwhile, Tan, 39, said he wants to “help bridge an increasingly diverse society.”
Ms Nabilah said her top priority is helping the arts and culture sector cope with the consequences of the pandemic. “In the long term, it is also about building a ‘cultural immunity’ for the country, exploring how arts and culture can be more deeply embedded in the soul of Singapore,” he added.
Ho Meng Kit, executive director of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), said he has submitted nominations for business and industry. “They are all excellent candidates who will be able to represent the business community,” he said, declining to elaborate.
Former NMP applies again
Ms Ong, 52, who has championed mental health issues and spoken on behalf of marginalized groups in Parliament, said she did not intend to seek a second term as NMP.
“I really didn’t think that I would be reappointed even if I applied … I had raised issues and questions that are not always the most comfortable for the government in my first term,” he said.
But she changed her mind after youth activists and volunteers persuaded her to do so last Wednesday. “I felt that I should honor the process, if people came to support me,” he added.
Communication and technology professor Lim Sun Sun, pharmacist Irene Quay and Paralympic swimmer Yip Pin Xiu are not seeking a second term as NMP.
Meanwhile, labor economist Walter Theseira declined to comment on whether he is doing so.
“Parliament does not release information on potential candidates unless they are actually nominated. I agree that this can be useful to encourage people to submit their name for consideration, although it may go against the expectations of transparency. I prefer to make him follow the current process without comment, “he said.
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