THE opposition National Solidarity Party's (NSP) youngest candidate, Nicole Seah, might have the chance to enter politics as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) if Yee Jenn Jong from the opposition Workers' Party (WP) turns down the offer of the NCMP post.
NSP's performance in Marine Parade GRC was ranked fourth on the list of losers from Saturday's General Election, and speculations have it that Seah may be fielded as a NCMP if WP turns down their offers for the NCMP posts.
In a statement from the Elections Department yesterday, Lina Chiam from the opposition Singapore People's Party (SPP) and Yee from WP have been offered the posts of NCMPs after becoming the best performers among opposition candidates who lost in Saturday's General Election. A third NCMP post will be offered to an undecided WP candidate who contested in East Coast GRC.
Chiam garnered 49.6 per cent of Potong Pasir SMC votes and Yee garnered 49 per cent of votes for Joo Chiat SMC. WP's team who contested in East Coast GRC garnered 45.2 per cent of votes.
WP has constantly been against the idea of NCMPs as they feel that NCMPs are treated as "second-class Members of Parliament". Low Thia Kiang, secretary-general of WP, declared that he would not want to be a NCMP even if he lost in the General Election, and the other candidates from WP will not accept the post on their own accord without first consulting opinions from the party.
Yee from WP has said that he will leave the decision to his party.
source : asiaone