Non-Constituency Member of Parliament scheme is introduced

The Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme was introduced just before the 1984 parliamentary general election to ensure that there would always be a minimum number of opposition members in parliament.^[1] If there are fewer than three elected opposition members, the highest scoring opposition candidates among those who have lost in a general election will be appointed as NCMPs in order to bring the total number of opposition members in parliament to three. To qualify to be an NCMP, opposition candidates would also need to belong to a political party and to obtain at least 15 percent of the votes cast.^[2] An NCMP holds his seat for the term of parliament, but does not represent any constituency. He is entitled to vote on all matters except supply bills, money bills, constitutional amendments, motions of no confidence in the government and motions to remove the president from office.^[3] The Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill to make provisions for the NCMP scheme was passed by parliament on 25 July 1984.^[4]

Following the 1984 general election, two opposition candidates – J. B. Jeyaretnam of the Workers’ Party and Chiam See Tong of the Singapore Democratic Party – won in the constituencies of Anson and Potong Pasir respectively, thus creating one NCMP post to be filled.^[5] The NCMP post was first offered to M. P. D. Nair of the Workers' Party who declined before it was offered to Tan Chee Kien of the Singapore United Front who also did not accept the post.^[6] The NCMP seat was therefore left vacant until Francis Seow and Lee Siew Choh of the Workers’ Party were made NCMPs following the 1988 parliamentary general election.^[7]

References
1. 3 reasons for opposition MPs. (1984, 25 July). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Cheng, S. T. (1988, September 6). NCMPs – govt’s answer to need for an opposition. The Straits Times, p. 20. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. da Cunha, D. (Ed.). (2002). Singapore in the new millennium: Challenges facing the city-state (p. 56). Singapore: ISEAS. Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN; Parliament of Singapore. (c2011). Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP). Retrieved November 29, 2013, from Parliament of Singapore website: http://www.parliament.gov.sg/publications/n; The Straits Times, 6 Sep 1988, p. 20.
4. Passed. (1984, July 26). Singapore Monitor, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Henson, B. (1989, July 25). In search of an opposition. The Straits Times, p. 2; The Straits Times, 6 Sep 1988, p. 20. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. Tan Chee Kien ‘resigns’. (1985, May 15). The Straits Times, p. 12. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. Francis Seow and Siew Choh made non-constituency MPs. (1988, September 18). The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.