SDP's Chee Soon Juan may miss out on NCMP spot by 0.56%

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan may have missed out on becoming Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) by just 0.56 per cent.

With the Workers' Party winning ten seats in this General Election, two NCMP spots are available due to Parliamentary rules guaranteeing up to 12 NCMP spots.

Chee had contested Sembawang West SMC and finished with 46.81 per cent of the votes.

However, he was narrowly outdone by the Workers' Party (WP) candidates for Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC.

WP Jalan Kayu SMC candidate Andre Low received 48.53 per cent of the votes, while the WP Tampines GRC candidates, led by Faisal Manap, won 47.37 per cent of the votes.

Chee said he will be requesting a recount of votes for Sembawang West SMC, reported 8world News.

The vote count also does not yet include overseas votes.

How does the NCMP scheme work?

If fewer than twelve opposition Members are returned at GE, then the “best losers” from among the opposition candidates will be declared elected as NCMPs to bring the total number of opposition members in Parliament to 12.

To be declared an NCMP, the candidate needs to have obtained not less than 15 per cent of the total number of votes in his constituency and polled the highest percentage of votes among losers at the GE.

So, if more than twelve opposition Members are returned from other parties, or if PSP's candidates do not manage to poll high enough, they might lose their NCMP seats.

The previous NCMPs for the 14th Parliament of Singapore were PSP members Leong Mun Wai and Hazel Poa.

Top image via CNA/YouTube