In Your Opinion Podcast: Is the Nominated MP scheme losing its relevance?

(From left to right) Our podcast guests are ex-NMPs Nicholas Fang and Anthea Ong, who is also the editor of a new book called The Nominated Member Of Parliament Scheme, with ST's podcast producer Hadyu Rahim and Insight editor Grace Ho. ST PHOTO: EDEN SOH

Insight Editor

Updated

Published

Oct 14, 2022, 06:00 PM

Synopsis: Every second and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' Insight editor Grace Ho takes a hard look at political and social issues of the day with her expert guests.

The Nominated Member of Parliament, or NMP, scheme was introduced by then-First Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in November 1989. It was meant to evolve a more consensual style of government where alternative views would be heard and constructive dissent accommodated. But 32 years later, and with 10 opposition MPs in the House, is the scheme still necessary?

In the studio to share their experiences are two former NMPs: Anthea Ong, also the editor of a new book called The Nominated Member Of Parliament Scheme: Are Unelected Voices Still Necessary In Parliament?; and Nicholas Fang, managing director of Blackdot Research.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:40 Why Anthea decided to write a book on NMPs

4:16 Nicholas on the role of NMPs, and why sectors such as the arts and sports deserve a voice in Parliament

9:20 What does embracing the NMP scheme look like, versus merely accepting it

11:32 Whether the scheme is losing its relevance

Read the article here: https://str.sg/wH9A

Produced by: Grace Ho (graceho@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim and Eden Soh

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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