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The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) qualified for two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats in the 14th Parliament of Singapore after its stellar performance at GE2020 for a new party.

PSP's West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team, led by the party's secretary general Tan Cheng Bock, along with assistant secretary general Leong Mun Wai, Jeffrey Khoo, Hazel Poa, and Loganathan Nadarajah, attained 48.31 per cent of the vote, the highest vote share out of the candidates who were not elected in GE2020.

The party had previously critiqued the NCMP scheme, with both Tan and Leong saying, prior to polling day, that they would not take up seats if offered, with Tan adding that he would leave it to the team members to decide, if offered.

Decision on NCMPs

At a press conference on July 14 at PSP's HQ, it was announced that Leong and Poa would be taking up the seats, and that the party had officially accepted the offer by the Elections Department.

Tan mentioned that there had been "some talk" about offering the seats to another political party.

He said that a "new ruling" meant that if the party declined to take up the seats, a ballot among the five candidates would be carried out to fill the seats.

"I will be just watching, that's all, I won't be involved", Tan said, adding that a team would be backing up the two NCMPs.

Both Leong and Poa acknowledged that they previously had reservations about the NCMP scheme, but said that they would accept the party’s decision for them to take up the NCMP seats.

Leong said that he saw a need to represent the 48.31 per cent of West Coast GRC voters who had voted for them, as well as “all the Singaporeans who have cheered [for] us in this campaign”.

Poa added that the results of the election showed her that “the voters can see what is at stake”, addressing her worry that the NCMP scheme would weaken efforts by opposition parties to “make the government listen”.

Previous statements on taking up the seats

Tan had previously told the media on July 11, shortly after the results were announced, that the party would decide who to take up the seats.

"We've got so many of the younger chaps, let them have a feel," he told reporters. "I'll have a committee, and then we'll decide."

Party will continue ground work

Poa said that the party will continue work on the ground, and intends to conduct meet-the-people sessions as well as house visits.

However, Tan declined to reveal specific details of where this might take place.

GE2020 was the PSP's first election after being formally registered in April 2019.

The issue of NCMPs during GE2020

There had been a debate on the NCMP scheme in the lead-up to Polling Day, after People's Action Party Tanjong Pagar GRC candidate Indranee Rajah, on June 29, highlighted the scheme as a reason why suggestions that opposition MPs have to be elected in order to have a voice in Parliament were "not correct".

Opposition politicians, such as WP candidates Dennis Tan and Yee Jenn Jong spoke up with critiques of the scheme.

Tan himself spoke out against the scheme as well, dismissing it as a ploy by the PAP government to get more votes.

Amendments to NCMP scheme to take effect from 14th Parliament

Changes to the NCMP scheme, which include increasing the number of NCMP seats from nine to 12, and giving NCMPs the same voting rights as elected MPs, are now in effect.

NCMPs were previously not able to vote on constitutional changes, supply bills, money bills, votes of no confidence in the Government, and removing a President from office.

Top image by Nigel Chua