From jobs to healthcare, range of issues to be raised by new batch of NMPs

Nominated MPs (NMPs) from the latest cohort want to use their upcoming term in Parliament to speak on a range of issues, ranging from labour force resilience to healthcare costs to better support for those with special needs.

- Samuel Devaraj

Those The Straits Times spoke to on Jan 5 also emphasised that their role will differ from that of elected MPs. This includes being able to examine Singapore’s longer-term challenges without being subjected to the pressures of electoral politics.

Nine NMPs - consisting of eight new faces and one returning member — were announced by the Office of the Clerk of Parliament on Jan 2. This came after a Special Select Committee had deliberated on a list of 57 proposed names, the second-largest pool since the scheme was introduced in 1990.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will present the instruments of appointment to the NMPs on Jan 8, before they take their oaths and affirmations at the next sitting of Parliament on Jan 12.

The incoming NMPs are:

• Mr Azhar Othman, executive chairman of Enercon Asia

+ Associate Professor Kenneth Goh Toh Chuan, Singapore Aquatics president

+ Dr Haresh Singaraju, family physician at National University Polyclinics

+ Associate Professor Terence Ho Wai Luen, academic and university administrator

« Ms Kuah Boon Theng, managing director of Legal Clinic LLC

+ Mr Mark Lee Kean Phi, chief executive of Sing Lun Holdings

* Dr Neo Kok Beng, founder and chief executive of NEO Aeronautics

+ Professor Kenneth Poon Kin Loong of the National Institute of Education

« Mr Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees and National Trades Union Congress central committee member

Jobs and economic development are a major theme for the incoming batch of NMPs, with an eye towards how Singapore should adjust its strategies and policies in the face of technological disruption.

Prof Ho told ST he would like to focus on inclusive development, including how companies and workers can prepare for the future through human-centred work redesign, reskilling and lifelong learning.