Overview
- The Office of the Clerk of Parliament confirmed 57 proposed names received by the Nov 6, 4:30pm deadline, the second-highest total since the scheme began in 1990.
- The total compares with 61 submissions in 2020 and 30 in 2023, indicating a rebound in public and sectoral interest.
- Speaker Seah Kian Peng chairs the Special Select Committee, which includes Chan Chun Sing, Desmond Lee, Indranee Rajah, Zaqy Mohamad, Janil Puthucheary, Sim Ann and Louis Chua.
- The committee will interview nominees, consult elected MPs, decide on a shortlist and submit names to the President, with up to nine NMPs appointed for 2½-year terms.
- Besides public submissions, seven functional groups across business, labour, professions, social services, the civic sector, tertiary institutions, and media/arts/sports were invited to nominate candidates, while independents Darryl Lo and Jeremy Tan publicly signalled bids with Lo confirming his submission.