NMP applications open to all who qualify

We thank Mr Ronald Lee for his letter "How about Nominated MP for disabled community?" (Tuesday).

Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) are appointed by the President upon nomination by a Special Select Committee of Parliament chaired by the Speaker and comprising seven other MPs.

The Constitution provides for the appointment of nine NMPs from people "who have rendered distinguished public service, or who have brought honour to the Republic, or who have distinguished themselves in the field of arts and letters, culture, the sciences, business, industry, the professions, social or community service or the labour movement".

In making the nominations, the committee takes into account the need for NMPs to reflect a wide range of independent and non-partisan views.

Qualified candidates, including the disabled, can apply to the committee when it opens applications to the public.

Applications can be made directly or through the National Council of Social Service, which represents organisations in the social services sector.

The social and community service sectors have been represented by NMPs in successive Parliaments.

We would like to assure Mr Lee that issues of concern to disabled Singaporeans have been well represented during debates in the House, not just by NMPs, but by all MPs.

Siow Peng Han, Deputy Clerk, Parliament Secretariat

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