Change to the Political System

SevenEleven SG

LEGISLATION was introduced in Parliament yesterday to make a number of major changes to the political system. If all goes according to plan, the revisions should become law by next month.

The legislative move comes some 10 months after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced his plan to provide for more diverse views in Parliament.

The changes pave the way for greater opposition representation in Parliament, via an increase in the allowable number of Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) and the entrenchment of the Nominated MP (NMP) scheme.

Once implemented, non-ruling party MPs would fill at least 18 seats, or one-fifth of the House.

Other key changes include a cooling-off day to ban election campaigning on the eve of Polling Day, and allowing political websites to engage in online election advertising.

To effect these changes, amendments to the Constitution, the Parliamentary Elections Act (PEA) and the Presidential Elections Act were tabled - by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng in the first case, and Law Minister K.Shanmugam in the second and third.

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.

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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1042933/1/.html

SevenEleven SG

The scary part is the "Election Contingncies" plan given that the power given to the President and Returning Officer is unlimited

the Bear SG

i wonder what will happen is ah loong loses

will his accursed father attempt to call on his "emergency plan" ?

SevenEleven SG

i wonder what will happen is ah loong loses

will his accursed father attempt to call on his "emergency plan" ?

well, if all attempt fails, there's still the army

the Bear SG

well, if all attempt fails, there's still the army

i don't think the idiots in the army will want to wage war on its own citizens no matter how much discredit we throw at them...

maybe they'll actually activate their final emergency plan, go into the tunnel from Parliament, into the flying saucer on top of the Supreme Court and escape

Fallen-Angel SG

If they use the army, i don't think other Countries are gonna keep quiet & let it be.

the Bear SG

If they use the army, i don't think other Countries are gonna keep quiet & let it be.

you think other countries give a shit?

Wmyongj SG

To be honest, I dont know how effective are the NCMP or NMP in affecting policies making. My feeling is that many of these policies are decided irregardles of the view in the parliament. If the Minsters do not even listen to their own PAP MP, why would they bother with these views from NCMP or NMP?? Hope that I am wrong if someone could raise a few examples of policies changes are make taking the views of these NCMP or NMP?

I still think that Singapore need a diverse view with opposition MP in the parliament. We may not have a credible two party system. It will be good that we have 1-2 GRC and more than 10 opposition MPs elected in the next election.

Wmyongj SG

charlize SG

You can have 1,000 NMPs and NCMPs in Parliament and they won't make a difference in any policy.

They can kpkb all they want but they cannot vote.

Just like many ordinary citizens during election time.

angel7030 SG

This is exactly another gimmick by PAP to make some singaporeans happy and vote for them. In future, any international body ask PAP if they have opposition in the parliament, they will glad said YES, we got 20 seats under the opposition. Hmmm...this sound better right?

charlize SG

You deserve a million dollar salary with 8% annual increments.

angel7030 SG

The next time round, the camera will shift to show the opposition MP and NMP, with 20 of them inside, sure one will be caught sleeping.

TERMINATOR3000 SG

first they sleep in office...next they will start masturbating in parliament too!

angel7030 SG

OMG!!!, no wonder the crockroaches are so big inside the parliament.

likedatosocan SG

But i have a doubt. Is an NCMP a mp nominated by a political party called PAP Only? Can the People nominate them? Someone more learned please clarify for the whole singapore to know clearly.

Samuel Lee SG

But i have a doubt. Is an NCMP a mp nominated by a political party called PAP Only? Can the People nominate them? Someone more learned please clarify for the whole singapore to know clearly.

NCMP is "nominated" by the people, because it gives the best opposition loser a seat (The highest votes, but never win a seat, such as those opposition got result of 40% ~ 49%)

PS: The more the opposition wins (getting 50% or higher votes), the number of NCMP reduces.

likedatosocan SG

NCMP is "nominated" by the people, because it gives the best opposition loser a seat (The highest votes, but never win a seat, such as those opposition got result of 40% ~ 49%)

PS: The more the opposition wins (getting 50% or higher votes), the number of NCMP reduces.

Thanks for the clarification, Samuel. :)

NMP is a MP who is ONLY and solely nominated by a political party that is called PAP is it right? The people nominate them to represent the people or not?

TERMINATOR3000 SG

aircon in parliament too cold??i would sleep too if its almost 0C.its hyperthermia!!!if people sleeps...chances are that they wont wake up again...someone should recalibrate the faulty aircon!and turn on the fans and off the aircons once aircon reaches 18C!save energy!!!!times will get worse as singapore is not strategically important anymore!

china,taiwan,japan and korea regionol areas have removed asean as the key economic role..apart from oil refining...the rest like electronics and etc will not be seen as saviour to spores economy anymore.

angel7030 SG

Hmmm...you are right, i think old uncles and aunties cannot stand the cold, actually it is no good for them....i think next time, they should hold parliamentary debate at the Padang or lau pat sat...maybe they will be more alert and able to serve us better, otherwise all talking in their sleep.

I think once camera man shouted "Camera offline" All of them sleep liao