Deadpoet’s Cave

I don’t know the answer to that.

But someone at The Void Deck wants to know why there is space for only one NCMP when Singapore’s Constitution states that NCMPs should be “not exceeding 6 in number”.

The answer lies, I think, in the Parliamentary Elections Act Cap. 219.

Election of non-constituency Members in certain circumstances

52. —(1) At any general election, the number of non-constituency Members to be declared elected shall be 3 (or such greater number not exceeding 6 as the President may by order specify for the purpose of that general election) less the total number of Opposition Members elected to Parliament in accordance with section 49 (7). (Emphasis added.)

From my understanding of the Constitution and the PEA, if there are three or more opposition MPs, there will be no NCMPs. In this case, there are two opposition MPs in Parliament, so there is space for one NCMP, unless the President declares that there should be more.

This begs a question. Shouldn’t the PEA comply with the Constitution?

The Constitution only says “not exceeding 6 in number”, nothing more. The PEA says three (up to a maximum of six) minus the number of opposition MPs. Can an Act of Parliament clarify parts of the Constitution to that extent?

I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer. If i misinterpreted all this, or I missed some other relevant section/subsection, please let me know.

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