Former Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) have weighed in on the proposed changes to the NCMP scheme mooted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, which will see more opposition voices in Parliament and NCMPs given the same voting rights as constituency MPs.

The Workers’ Party’s (WP) Yee Jenn Jong said being an NCMP allowed him to show what he can do in Parliament, but noted that “real politics” goes beyond what happens inside the House.

… “The consolation prize is not just a consolation prize in the ordinary sense. It gives the Member of Parliament who takes up the seat prominence,” said Dr Alan Chong, an associate professor from S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. “I wouldn’t write off this innovation just like that because it offers the opposition another way into Parliament. One must not forget the example of Mr Gerald Giam – he was touted as one of the WP’s rising stars because he had a stint as an NCMP in the last Parliament.”

Dr Chong added that it is also because NCMPs would have proven they had garnered enough votes to earn the post in Parliament.