Source: Straits Times, 28 July 2009

GIVEN that Nominated Members of Parliament have been around for 19 years, it is perplexing that the scheme has yet to evolve clear and consistent criteria for the selection of an NMP.

Ordinary Singaporeans – including aspiring NMPs – do not really know what the parliamentary selection committee looks for when it interviews potential NMPs. The selection committee currently consists of seven People’s Action Party MPs and one opposition MP, and is chaired by Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi. This issue of clarity deserves to be taken more seriously since the NMP scheme will soon be a permanent part of the political system.

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ST link

THE controversy over the size of a Group Representation Constituency (GRC) was addressed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.

He said the purpose of the scheme is to produce the right incentives for voters, candidates and political parties to ensure a good government.

PM Lee made the point to Singapore reporters in South Korea when asked to comment on public feedback to recently proposed changes to the political system.

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CNA link

SINGAPORE : Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, said that in the recent electoral changes announced in Parliament, tweaks were made to ensure long-term stability of a government that will serve Singapore well.

Speaking to reporters in Seoul where he attended the ASEAN-Korea summit, Mr Lee said the next step is to legislate the changes in time for the upcoming polls.

On comments that more should have been done to downsize the Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs), Mr Lee said the test is not in the popularity of the system.

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ST link

CHANGES announced to the political system can give voters what they want: the best of not two, but three, worlds.

They will get the best MP to look after the constituency; the best government taking care of the country; and more alternative voices in Parliament so debate and policy formulation can be more robust.

Labour chief Lim Swee Say drew this conclusion in Parliament yesterday as he endorsed changes to the political system that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on Wednesday.

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CNA link

SINGAPORE : The opposition National Solidarity Party (NSP) has welcomed the proposed amendments to the electoral system, calling them “long overdue”.

But the NSP described them as “half-hearted” attempts.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said his government will shrink the size of Group Representation Constituencies (GRC); ensure a minimum of nine opposition MPs in the House; and make Nominated MPs a permanent feature of the parliamentary system.

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ST link

CHANGES to Singapore’s political system are in the works and yesterday, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong spelt out three principles that will guide these amendments.

One, they must be fair to all political parties; two, they should result in a strong, effective Government after an election; and three, they must ensure diverse views are represented in Parliament.

Mr Goh also said that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will give details of the changes in Parliament this week.

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ST link

SINGAPORE’S political system is ‘not set in stone’ and must evolve in response to changing circumstances, President S R Nathan said last night.

In particular, it must resonate with the young. New leaders need to be found to connect with a new generation of Singaporeans, he added.

Like their predecessors, these younger leaders ‘understand how Singapore works’.

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