Thursday, April 14, 2011
Comment: NCMP has no voting right
We need diversity of views that can be taken seriously and not just hot air soon to be forgotten. Since NCMP has no voting right, NCMPs cannot do much as gatekeeper to stop unfair bills and policies from being passed, or if not, at least to apply pressure on the ruling party to re-look and refine their policies better. This is a compromised system that shamelessly undermines the role and purpose of a genuine opposition party within the parliament. It's like pulling out all the tiger's teeth such that it can do nothing much except to perform occasional roars to amuse the crowd. After so many years of predominantly single party rule, it is time to progress and try out a system that sees ruling party genuinely working along with and accommodate diversity of views from opposing camps MPs, with the common objective of working out sound policies for the people or country
I agree that NCMP scheme is not a good way to introduce opposition into the Parliament. Voting right is needed after all the debate. NCMP failed in this critical aspect. PM Lee kept selling NCMP and NMP was not addressing participants' concern but rather skirt around the NCMP's voting right.
ReplyDeleteThe NCMP can vote on all bills save constitutional, finance(budget & supply) and no confidence bills. They also cannot vote on Presidential impeachments.
ReplyDeleteSo they do have voting rights. If I am not wrong they can also introduce private member bills and second any bill. Walter Woon introduced the Maintenance of Parents Act as an NMP. NMPs and NCMPs have similar voting rights.
See Constitution Article 39(2)
Please get it right.
A football game with a moving goalpost - that's what our political election has become. The defending team (PAP) move their goal-post when they see a threatening shot from the attacking (opposition) team. How can you say "first world" when we play by "third world" tactics?
ReplyDelete