Appointment and Tenure of Members in Special Select Committee on Nominations for Appointment as NMPs
Ministry of FinanceSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns proposed constitutional amendments regarding the Special Select Committee (SSC) on Nominations for Appointment as Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs). Dr Neo Kok Beng asked whether the Elected President could appoint non-partisan members to the SSC and if the committee could be constituted immediately after general elections or existing NMP terms. On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Minister Chan Chun Sing responded that because NMPs participate in parliamentary proceedings, it is appropriate for a committee of Members of Parliament to oversee their nominations. He noted that the Constitution already mandates seeking public submissions and requires NMP appointments within six months of Parliament's first post-election sitting. Minister Chan Chun Sing concluded that the existing framework operates effectively, and the Government has no plans to amend it.
Transcript
78 Dr Neo Kok Beng asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the Government will consider introducing constitutional amendments to (i) have the non-partisan Elected President appoint non-partisan Singaporeans to the Special Select Committee (SSC) on Nominations for Appointment as Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) and (ii) require that the SSC be constituted immediately upon the close of general elections or at the end of existing NMP terms.
Mr Chan Chun Sing (for the Prime Minister): The framework for the appointment of Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) is set out in Article 39 and the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution. The composition of Parliament's Special Select Committee and the process for nominating persons for appointment as NMPs are prescribed under this framework.
The Special Select Committee comprises the Speaker as Chairman and Members of Parliament from both the ruling and opposition parties. While NMPs are independent and non-partisan, they are Members of Parliament who participate in its proceedings. It is therefore appropriate that Parliament, through a Parliamentary committee comprising Members of Parliament, oversees the identification and nomination of suitable NMP candidates.
The Constitution requires the Special Select Committee to have regard to the need for NMPs to reflect as wide a range of independent and non-partisan views as possible, and to invite the general public to submit names for consideration. In practice, the Committee also invites submissions from different sectors of society. As for the timeline, the Constitution requires NMP appointments to be made within six months after Parliament first sits following a General Election.
The current framework has worked well in enabling the orderly and timely appointment of NMPs who reflect a wide range of independent and non-partisan views. The Government has no plans to change it.