SINGAPORE: Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam has defended the right of Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) to resign and subsequently join political parties to contest in elections.
His remarks followed the resignations of Raj Joshua Thomas and Syed Harun Alhabsyi on February 14, midway through their NMP terms. Mr Thomas has since joined the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), while Dr Syed Harun has been seen with Mr Shanmugam’s team at Nee Soon GRC, fuelling speculation that he will be fielded as a candidate at the ward.
Mr Shanmugam said over the weekend that while NMPs must remain independent while they are in active NMP service, constitutional documents had “clearly envisaged” NMPs joining political parties and do not prohibit them from doing so.
While the minister is correct in stating that the Singapore Constitution does not prohibit NMPs from joining political parties after stepping down, the larger question remains: Is it ethical?
The NMP scheme was established in 1990 to inject non-partisan viewpoints into parliamentary debates and concerns about the integrity of the scheme and its ability to function as intended understandably arise if individuals appointed to this role later align themselves with any political party.
NMPs are expected to contribute diverse perspectives on national issues and scrutinize government policies from a neutral standpoint without the pressure of toeing a party line.
But when NMPs resign and join political parties, it could create the perception that their independence was never absolute. Were their past contributions to parliamentary debates truly independent or influenced by political aspirations?
For example, if an NMP frequently supported government positions while in Parliament and then joined the ruling party, the public may question whether their perspectives were driven by independent judgment or by a desire to secure future political prospects.
The fundamental question is whether these individuals were truly non-partisan during their tenure or if their participation as NMPs served as a stepping stone for eventual entry into politics.
Let’s take this at face value – say the NMP absolutely was independent and never intended to use their role as a stepping stone until they were presented with the prospect of joining a political party, at which point they resigned to avoid conflict.
Even if this is the case, the fact is: it can’t be proven. There will always be doubts lingering in voters’ minds and their prior speeches and positions in Parliament will inevitably be viewed with suspicion
And even if it is only a perception not actually rooted in the real circumstances, it matters. Public confidence in political institutions depends on transparency and accountability and individuals jumping from an NMP role to a political party member role may erode public trust as voters could view the scheme as a recruitment pipeline rather than a genuine effort to bring non-partisan perspectives into Parliament.
The resignations of Mr Thomas and Dr Syed Harun have not only sparked debate about whether their decisions were a calculated move to increase their political visibility but have even led to some calls online to abolish the NMP scheme as a whole.
While the Constitution does allow for NMPs to enter politics after their term, Singaporeans deserve a system that is not only legally sound but also ethically robust.
One possible safeguard could be introducing a cooling-off period, preventing NMPs from joining a political party or contesting elections for a set period after resigning or completing their term. Advocates for such a measure argue that this would help prevent immediate political affiliations and reduce the perception that NMPs are using the system as a political springboard.
Greater transparency in the selection and appointment process could also help ensure that NMPs truly reflect independent perspectives. If an individual has strong political leanings, they should ideally pursue elected office directly rather than enter Parliament under the guise of non-partisanship.
Minister Shanmugam is correct that the law permits NMPs to transition into party politics but Singaporeans must ask: Do we want the NMP system to remain a genuine platform for independent voices, or are we comfortable with the possibility that it could turn into a political springboard? If the latter becomes the norm, then perhaps it is time to re-evaluate whether the NMP scheme serves its intended purpose at all.