Former Workers’ Party NCMP Yee Jenn Jong on the volunteerism spirit of “best losers in the elections”

On Saturday, former Workers’ Party Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Yee Jenn Jong took to Facebook to talk about the work and effort put in by NCMPs.

His Facebook post was a reply to a past candidate for the People’s Action Party (PAP) in Aljunied GRC, Victor Lye Thiam Fatt who said that “best losers in the elections” were paid by being given the positions of Non-Constituency Member of Parliaments (NCMPs).

Mr Victor Lye, is now branch chairman of the PAP Bedok Reservoir-Punggol division and an active grassroots leader.

Mr Yee started his post by saying, “As a former NCMP, it feels kinda surreal to have a PAP politician ‘envy’ the position and allowance of a NCMP. Perhaps more information is needed about life on the other side in case one thinks the grass is greener there …”

He then explained that the allowance of NCMPs was 15 per cent that of MPs, at about S$2000 a month. He adds, “It is meant to cover expenses for parliamentary work, which a losing PAP candidate will not have to do.”

On intensive days with the various Ministries’ debates, Mr Yee said that he and his NCMP colleagues make sure of good attendance and participation records. He even said that he absents himself almost completely from his regular job to participate in the debates as much as possible.

He said, “I do not believe the allowance for NCMP was designed by the PAP government to cover grassroots activities; hence NCMP gets 15% of a MP’s allowance. In addition, NCMPs do NOT get any access to facilities in the constituency he/she contested in previously, unlike that of losing PAP candidates.”

Netizens who commented on his post commended the hard work of NCMPs.

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