INCREASE NUMBER OF NCMPS

9. NCMP scheme introduced in 1984
        a. Currently, Constitution provides for up to 6 NCMPs
        b. Parliamentary Elections (PE) Act prescribes minimum of 3 opposition members in Parliament, although President can specify a higher number, up to 6, before Nomination Day
        c. So if fewer than 3 opposition candidates are returned as elected MPs, the losing opposition candidates who poll the highest percentage of votes will be declared NCMPs to bring the total to 3

10. History of NCMP scheme
        a. In 1984, one NCMP seat was offered to Mr M P D Nair of the Workers' Party in Jalan Kayu constituency
               i. The Workers' Party rejected seat on his behalf
        b. In 1988, Dr Lee Siew Choh of WP occupied the NCMP seat
        c. Followed by Mr JB Jeyaretnam of WP in 1991 (despite insisting in 1984 that he would never accept a nonconstituency seat)
        d. Then Mr Steve Chia of SDA in 2001
        e. Most recently Ms Sylvia Lim of WP in 2006

11. NCMPs have made their contribution to the national debate
        a. Expressed opposition views in Parliament
        b. Let Singaporeans compare policies and programmes of the Government and opposition
        c. And evaluate the performances of parties and MPs through the continuing debates in Parliament, not just during the short period of a GE

12. NCMP scheme has achieved its purpose and become accepted by the public
        a. However, given that there are 84 elected MPs, instead of a minimum of just 3 opposition MPs, we should increase this to a minimum of 9 opposition MPs (including NCMPs), equal to the number of NMPs

13. We will amend the Constitution to change the current maximum number of NCMPs that Parliament can legislate from 6 to 9
        a. We will also amend the PE Act to increase the minimum number of opposition MPs plus NCMPs in Parliament to 9
        b. The actual number of NCMPs will thus be 9 minus the number of opposition MPs directly elected to Parliament
        c. There will therefore be no need for the President to specify a number before Nomination Day

14. Hence whatever the election outcome, opposition members, directly elected and NCMPs, will form at least onetenth
of the directly elected members of Parliament with constituencies (presently 84)

15. Also propose to amend PE Act to set a cap of 2 NCMPs to come from any one GRC
        a. This will spread out the NCMPs more evenly
        b. Make them more representative of those who have voted for the opposition nationwide in a general election
        c. Also clearly distinguish between winning and losing teams in a GRC
        d. Should not have an outcome where the entire losing team enters Parliament as NCMPs, and enjoys almost equal status as the winners

16. e.g. if we had done this before the 2006 GE, outcome would have been (Slide):
        a. 2 opposition MPs elected (Mr Chiam See Tong and Mr Low Thia Khiang)
        b. 7 more would have come in as NCMPs
               i. 2 from Aljunied GRC (WP, Ms Sylvia Lim + 1)
               ii. 1 from Chua Chu Kang (SDA, Mr Steve Chia)
               iii. 2 from East Coast GRC (WP)
               iv. 1 from Joo Chiat (WP, Dr Tan Bin Seng)
               v. 1 from Nee Soon Central (WP, Mr Lian Chin Way).

---

What can you do with the new Windows Live? Find out