SINGAPORE: The votes vacated by the defections of Dr. Syed Harun Alhabsyi and Mr. Raj Joshua Thomas will not be filled in the upcoming expression of congress.
The Special Select Committee on Nominations for Appointment as Nominated Members of Parliament stated in a report released on Tuesday ( Apr 8 ) that it had decided to proceed with the matter following a meeting the day before.
The current parliament, according to Article 65( 4 ) of the Constitution, shall continue for five years from its initial session on August 24, 2020, and then stand dissolved, the committee said, underscoring that this would mean the current parliament would be dissolved by August 23rd this year.
The commission decided not to nominate any individuals for interview as elected members of parliament to replace the two vacancies because the committee had already invited the general public to register names of those who might be considered for nomination by the committee and the latest parliament.
Speaker of the House Seah Kian Peng, Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Ms. Indranee Rajah, Minister of State for Education and Manpower, Ms. Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Education and Manpower, and Ms. Sylvia Lim from the Workers ‘ Party, all made up the commission.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Maliki Osman, who were the agency’s two other people, were never present at the meeting.
The committee perhaps, if it sees fit, designate someone to fill the vacancy whenever an NMP chair becomes unoccupied for any reason other than the dissolution of parliament or the player’s term of service.
On February 14, Mr. Thomas and Dr. Syed Harun announced their resignations as NMPs, sparking speculation that they might run for president in November’s approaching general election.