Deputy prime minister (DPM) Heng Swee Keat uploaded a Facebook video on July 5, questioning the Workers' Party's (WP) stand on the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme.

WP's stand on NCMP scheme has not changed

Heng had asked WP to answer these two questions:

"First, does the WP agree that with the NCMP scheme, there can be no opposition wipeout?"

"Second, if offered NCMP seats, will WP candidates accept?"

Replying Heng's remarks, WP chief Pritam Singh said during a doorstop interview at Sengkang on July 5: "I'm quite surprised that Mr Heng of all people will make that comment."

He subsequently urged Heng to look at the Hansard, which is the official reports of parliamentary debates.

"There's a long history of the position that the Workers' Party has taken on the NCMP scheme. It's on record, it's in the public domain, and Mr Heng just needs to look at that."

Regarding Heng's point that WP has opposed the NCMP scheme, but still took up seats, Pritam said: "The stand has been made and that stand hasn't changed, and he should just review that record."

You can watch Pritam's full interview here:

Limitations of being an NCMP

During the Aljunied GRC political broadcast on July 3, the WP team listed some reasons why an NCMP does not have the same rights as a Member of Parliament (MP).

Former NCMP Leon Perera said in his speech:

"The voices of NCMPs can be ignored as they don’t carry the full mandate of the people. The voices of fully elected opposition MPs cannot be ignored by the PAP at the risk of losing more fully elected seats."

Former NCMP Gerald Giam further also elaborated on the "limitations" of the NCMP position.

He said that it is hard to establish a base without constituents to serve and a town to manage.

As he had been covering the duties of former Aljunied GRC MP Low Thia Khiang for the past few months, he said that he was able to walk the ground, familiarise himself with the constituency, and get to know the residents, in ways that he could not as an NCMP.

He added:

"PAP keeps saying there’s no need to vote for the opposition as the NCMP scheme ensures your voice in Parliament. Don’t be swayed by this argument."

WP candidates and former NCMPs Dennis Tan and Yee Jenn Jong have also spoken up with critiques of the scheme.

Other points Heng made

In his video, Heng also pointed out that the WP has been taking "full advantage" of the NCMP scheme from the start, as majority of NCMP's have been from the party.

He added that alternative voices have also been institutionalised through the the Nominated MP or NMP scheme.

Top image from Mothership.