18 Nov 2006

The NMP Farce

It is beneficial to have plurality of voices in debates. Yet, the current NMP system is not viable for two very basic reasons. It is unconstitutional and anti- democratic.

Unconstitutional as our statutes does not provide for certain people, which may be considered as outspoken members or elites, to have a voice in parliamentary debates.

Anti- democratic for the NMP is chosen by the government and not elected. Though NMPs do not have any voting rights in parliament, their outspoken position means they can alter or effect the course of parliamentary debates. Moreover, the procedure for choosing these NMPs are neither transparent nor accountable.

They are chosen by the government for their prominent positions in their sectors, and sometimes thought by the government to be representative voices of these sectors. However, even within these smaller communities, it does not always follow that the voices may be unified and that the selected individual is representative of those voices.

The current list of Singaporeans being bandied around for the NMP posts may be outspoken and respected individuals in their fields but it cannot be thus guaranteed that they should have a voice in the parliament.

There is also the problem of which sectors or groups should have a privileged voice in parliamentary debates. Why are gay representatives not included? Foreign workers? Single parents? Where is the litmus test on who should be chosen?

It has also often been argued that the NMP system is PAP's way of co-opting opposing voices, or to be seen as accepting of pluralistic views.

There is no doubt that we cannot continue to endorse the NMP system. It makes a mockery of what democracy is.

PAP - chosen individuals asked to become NMPs should flatly decline the offer and publicly denounce the selection process. By rejecting the NMP nomination and openly stating their reasons for not doing so, they are destroying the perpetuating myth that Singapore is a functioning democracy.

===

The above short commentary is in response to a news article on TODAY, published on Friday November 17, entitled, "Wanted: Less conventional NMPs; SINGAPORE: As the month-long race to put up names for Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) for the 11th Parliament kicks in, names are already being bandied about."

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

being NMP brings many advantages; I doubt the effectiveness of asking people to decline invitations

Anonymous said...

bingo
bingo online
online bingo
bingo casino
play bingo
internet bingo
play bingo online
play online bingo
bingo casinos
bingo sites
bingo web sites
bingo websites
top bingo casinos
best bingo casinos
online bingo casinos
bingo casinos online
internet bingo casinos
bingo
bingo online
online bingo
bingo casino
play bingo
internet bingo
play bingo online
play online bingo
bingo casinos
bingo sites
bingo web sites
bingo websites
top bingo casinos
best bingo casinos
online bingo casinos
bingo casinos online
internet bingo casinos
hoodia
hoodia diet pills
hoodia gordonii
pure hoodia
hoodia side effects
hoodia patch
hoodia prices
buy hoodia
compare hoodia
best hoodia
hoodia pills
hoodia pill
hoodia diet pill
hoodia diet
hoodia
hoodia diet pills
hoodia gordonii
pure hoodia
hoodia side effects
hoodia patch
hoodia prices
buy hoodia
compare hoodia
best hoodia
hoodia pills
hoodia pill
hoodia diet pill
hoodia diet

baccarat

baccarat crystal

baccarat strategy

baccarat online

baccarat game

casino baccarat

burt baccarat

play baccarat

baccarat black casino casino craps gambling guide jack poker roulette winner

baccarat wheels

baccarat rule

baccarat glass

baccarat jewelry

baccarat system

baccarat rim

baccarat cigar

baccarat enbanque

the baccarat battle book how to attack the game of baccarat

black baccarat roses

baccarat tip

baccarat vase

download baccarat

internet baccarat

baccarat casino vip

mini baccarat

baccarat secret winning

baccarat clueless clueless guide

baccarat crystal vase

avalon baccarat cancun

baccarat winning strategy

black baccarat

action baccarat fastest highest john patricks play stakes table win

baccarat casino edmonton

free baccarat

baccarat glasses

baccarat casino game

baccarat chandelier

baccarat crystal jewelry

baccarat casino online

baccarat gambling

baccarat paperweight

win baccarat

free baccarat strategy

baccarat stemware

baccarat online strategy

free online baccarat

baccarat massena

baccarat online gambling

lyle stuart baccarat

baccarat perfume bottle

baccarat cytech online

baccarat crystal glasses

baccarat decanter

free baccarat game

baccarat strategy and tip

baccarat baccarat card casino counting effective first game strategy system winning

baccarat martini

baccarat obelisk

virtual online casino gambling baccarat

avalon baccarat

baccarat beat black craps game house jack other roulette sixteen table ways win

baccarat crystal chandelier

new baccarat

baccarat crystal animal

play baccarat online

baccarat site

online baccarat game

approach baccarat beating black caribbean casino craps game it jack let own poker ride roulette slot strategic stud their winning

baccarat baccarat qs qs strategy system winning

baccarat basics

bert baccarat

baccarat animal

baccarat internet online

baccarat forum

baccarat glasses wine

baccarat crystal figurine

poker craps baccarat

baccarat design universe

free baccarat system

avon baccarat blenko cambridge crystal dalton federal fostoria gorham hawkes heisey hocking house

baccarat book en guest internet language play

baccarat crystal stemware

baccarat gambling system

baccarat harmonie

baccarat tragaperras videopoquer

baccarat book free game guest

baccarat passion

big baccarat

baccarat the internet casino game

baccarat book guest system

baccarat butterfly

baccarat book free guest online

baccarat book guest offline

baccarat uk

baccarat gambler so wanna

baccarat book gambling game guest

baccarat free internet

baccarat card game

baccarat the internet casino

baccarat book casino game guest



keno

free keno

game keno

keno online

free game keno

keno play

free keno online

free game keno online

keno rule

free keno play

estate keno real

caveman keno

drive in keno

daily keno

keno strategy

keno result

keno video

casino keno

club keno

free keno video

keno leigh

keno tip

keno win

keno odds

keno online play

keno number

keno olgc

keno lottery ontario

keno superball

basics keno

keno winning

club keno michigan

brother keno

keno number winning

big keno red

casino keno online

keno ontario

game keno online

hit keno

from keno powerful profits

internet keno

guide keno keno video winner winning

keno valentino

keno michigan

atlantic keno

keno system

keno map

keno oregon

keno leigh leslie

game keno online play

keno outdoor theater

keno machine slot

keno rolling stone

keno leslie

keno lottery

canada daily keno

download free keno

free keno online play

4 card keno

keno lottery massachusetts state winning

gambling keno

keno resultat

keno lotto

estate keno oregon real

chance game keno skill

keno machine

keno sandal

keno software

keno lottery michigan

keno lucky number

guide keno

daily keno olgc

card four keno

free keno online video

complete guide keno winning

download keno

bc keno

free game keno video

keno pogo

cleopatra keno

club keno result

daily from keno lore lotto

draw keno

keno stone

daily keno ontario

fun keno play

drive family in keno

keno strategy video

bclc keno

cheat keno

keno massachusetts

club keno michigan result

drawing keno number

card keno

help keno olgc winning

keno maryland

goose keno

hills keno

complete edition guide keno second winning

china keno



roulette

online roulette

roulette strategy

roulette wheel

free roulette

roulette table

casino roulette

play roulette

roulette system

roulette game

russian roulette

online casino roulette

vincere alla roulette

roulette rule

roulette tip

how to win at roulette

online roulette game

free roulette game

roulette gambling

free online roulette

roulette secret

play free roulette

roulette bet

exact formula number predict roulette

play roulette online

beating gold roulette secret spin wheel

roulette odds

internet roulette

roulette wheels

roulette wheel picture

game roulette russian show

roulette black jack

free roulette system

computer roulette

american roulette

online roulette gambling

system of a down roulette

roulette wheel diagram

winning at roulette

3d roulette

roulette winning strategy

roulette history

infallible roulette system

download roulette

roulette probability

roulette dare

tente roulette

roulette betting strategy

online roulette poker

estate pa real roulette

roulette casino game

play roulette online free

roulette guide

strip roulette

playing roulette

winning roulette system

european roulette

beat roulette

gamble roulette win

roulette secret revealed

roulette wheel layout

roulette black jack craps

how to win at online roulette

system of a down roulette lyric

roulette game free online

russian roulette game

roulette a vendre

free roulette strategy

roulette table layout

buddy roulette say that

roulette betting

roulette record

roulette software

how to win playing roulette

free roulette download

roulette cheat

internet casino roulette

roulette betting system

roulette calculator

roulette slot machine

poker roulette

roulette layout

lyric roulette

roulette fortune bookie

roulette game download

virtual roulette

roulette forum

roulette table picture

roulette wheel numbers

roulette winning tip

casino black jack roulette

casino gambling online poker roulette slot

roulette wheel casino

black jack roulette gambling online

roulette table for sale

free games.net roulette

roulette hybride

casino roulette download

roulette supply

roulette basics



craps

craps online

how to play craps

casino craps

craps rule

craps table

gambling craps

craps strategy

free online craps

online casino craps

control controlled craps dice dice golden revolution throw touch using win

craps odds

free craps

craps game

beat casino craps craps edition play revised win

learn to play craps

baccarat black casino casino craps gambling guide jack poker roulette winner

free craps game

virtual craps

playing craps

how to win at craps

play craps online

internet craps

craps system

betting black craps dartboard darts emporium golf graphite handicapper handicapping

forever craps

craps edge edge get get guide scobl

casino craps other winning

free online casino game craps

craps table layout

craps betting strategy

play craps free

advanced craps guide john patricks player sophisticated winning

casino controller craps dice from inside millions story underground winning

download craps

craps online game

craps casino game

craps guide

craps game download

roulette black jack craps

free craps game online

craps terms

craps free online play

free craps game casino

craps tip

build a craps table

learn craps

how to play street craps

craps how to play

beginner clueless clueless craps guide guide playing winning

craps betting

craps dice

craps layout

winning at craps

online gambling craps

craps table for sale

used craps table

craps bet

dice control casino craps

how to shoot craps

craps take the money and run

craps superstition

across america boomers craps gaming guide life

craps glossary

craps gambler john patricks so wanna

beat the craps out of the casino ho

craps software

craps gambling game

download free craps

casino craps rule

craps game rule

casino conquering craps

how to make a living playing craps

craps from powerful profits

craps table picture

craps roulette

craps black jack

learning craps

rule for playing craps

craps dealer

craps tournament

street craps

poker craps

casino consistently craps craps guide strategy winning winning

video craps

craps instructions

craps supply

las vegas craps

baccarat beat black craps game house jack other roulette sixteen table ways win

craps book

golden touch craps

casino craps gambling online

craps for dummy

craps tutorial

craps table plan

shooting craps

john patricks craps

craps payouts

craps on line

3rd craps edition player serious winning