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I took my name out of the ballot for NCMP post: WP's Png By Saifulbahri Ismail | Posted: 21 May 2012 1821 hrs SINGAPORE: The Workers' Party's candidate for Hougang, Mr Png Eng Huat, said he had decided not to be considered for the Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) post after last year's General Election (GE). In an exclusive interview with Channel NewsAsia on Monday, Mr Png revealed he was against the NCMP scheme. He said this stand goes back to the time when the NCMP scheme was introduced. He did not wish for a government to dictate on the number and type of opposition members in Parliament. Mr Png added that before the GE, he had made the position clear to The Workers' Party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang and the party. At a rally on Sunday night, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean had asked the Workers' Party why it didn't send Mr Png to parliament as an NCMP when it had a chance to do so. Mr Png said: "I actually took my name out of the ballot for the NCMP post. Because I have a personal stand against the NCMP scheme, so that's why my name wasn't in the ballot. So I don't think DPM knows all of these." Mr Png was part of the Workers' Party team for East Coast GRC in last year's GE. The Elections Department had offered three NCMP seats to the best losing opposition candidates in last year's GE. One of the seats was offered to the Workers' Party's East Coast GRC team, which was taken up by Mr Gerald Giam. Mr Png also commented on DPM Teo's suggestion that the Workers' Party had taken the Hougang residents for granted. Mr Teo had said that the manner in which the Workers' Party handled Mr Yaw Shin Leong's expulsion from the party, which had led to the by-election, was the issue. Mr Png said Mr Teo has not visited nor talked to the residents as intensely as he had. Mr Png also pointed out the issue of Mr Yaw's expulsion was brought up by residents a few times during his home visits. Png Eng Huat clarifies involvement in NCMP ballot process By Saifulbahri Ismail | Posted: 22 May 2012 1226 hrs SINGAPORE: The Workers' Party candidate for the Hougang by-election, Mr Png Eng Huat, has clarified that he went through the ballot process for the Non-Constituency MP post last May. He clarified that his name was in the ballot, together with the names of the other WP members who had contested in East Coast GRC in the last general elections. "To clarify, my name was in the ballot paper itself that night when we went for the NCMP selection meeting. I cannot remove that name, so I have to go through the process," Mr Png said. He explained that he was just going through the balloting process, as that was the selection procedure. "But to ensure that I don't get voted, I made my stand again clear to the East Coast team, to secretary-general (Low Thia Khiang) and to a few other members to ensure that I will not be selected for the NCMP post," Mr Png added. He also said he did not have the opportunity to inform all executive committee members before the ballot process that he did not want to be considered for the NCMP position. Mg Png was speaking to the media a day after he told Channel NewsAsia in an interview that he had taken his name out of the ballot when the party was choosing the NCMP candidate. In a statement released on Monday evening, Mr Png reiterated that he had already made it clear to Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, as well as the East Coast team, that he would not want to be considered for the NCMP position. Mr Png said this stand goes back to the time when the NCMP scheme was introduced as he did not wish for a government to dictate the number and type of opposition members in Parliament. Mr Png told reporters he "didn't even want to get one vote". He said his choice of words used during the interview with Channel NewsAsia may have been ambiguous and apologised for the confusion. I think PEH really screw up big this time. At the very least, he has big communications problem - can't even tell a simple story straight. Worst, he could have integrity problem if the truth pointed the other way. The meeting minutes is a hard evidence while talking talkng is purely private affair without backing. And if he really has principle and believe that NCMP is a really bad idea, he SHOULD have voiced out before balloting started to take out his slip, even if end in futile. This is what oppos MPs are expected to do, not coward in one corner and keep quiet. Can you trust him to discharge his duty well if elected? I don't think so. So, would you trust a leader who prata here, prata there? Someone who has to clarify and clarify and clarify, because after he tried to clear the picture, new hard evidence surfaced to throw doubt on his stand? And LTK instead of apologising for the hooha (not just admitting as genuine hor), went on the offensive to accuse others of trying to sabotage his guy and party! Would you trust this kind of leader? He should do some soul searching and say sorry for taking the Hougang residents for granted. Granted that majority of them will still support him no matter what. And about the leaked minutes, surely he has a lot of soul-searching to do too, instead of pointing fingers so readily. Something is really wrong within the party. Low Thia Khiang on NCMP ballot incident By Imelda Saad | Posted: 22 May 2012 2201 hrs SINGAPORE: The Workers' Party (WP) Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang has urged voters not to be distracted by recent events. Mr Low said they were made to "intentionally damage the party" and "sabotage" its candidate for the Hougang by-election Png Eng Huat. Mr Low was speaking on Tuesday evening at the party's second rally for the by-election. Mr Low confirmed that the leaked minutes of WP meeting to decide on the post of the Non-Constituency MP are genuine. Mr Low said he does not want to speculate how anonymous sources obtained the minutes. But he also confirmed what Mr Png has said about not being interested in the NCMP post. Producing the NCMP ballot paper on stage, Mr Low said all the names of the East Coast GRC team members were considered for the post. "This is the ballot which I prepared, with all the names of the team on the ballot paper. Png Eng Huat had told me before and after the General Election that he was strongly against the NCMP scheme and had not wanted to be considered for the NCMP position, just as Eric Tan had told me of his desire to be NCMP. However I still listed the names of the whole East Coast GRC team, because they were all part of the team." He added that even though Mr Png had said he did not want to be considered, the selection lay solely with the Central Executive Committee (CEC). Mr Png had one vote to his name. Mr Low said this shows that the party functions on a collective leadership. "In fact, I would invite all of you to take a look at the minutes (of the meeting to decide on the NCMP post). It shows that the Workers' Party functions in a fair and transparent manner where decisions are made collectively. In addition, it also dispels rumours that the CEC is made up of all 'yes' men and women or even fully controlled by Low Thia Khiang. In this case, the CEC was not unanimous in its decision," said Mr Low. "Png Eng Huat had previously stated his position on NCMP to me and some other members of of the CEC but he still got one vote; the majority voted for Gerald Giam. When the voting result was concluded, only Eric Tan decided to resign; the other members stayed united on course with the Workers' Party. This shows that the Workers' Party is a credible party and can embrace different opinions while working together as a team and moving forward," added Mr Low. The WP secretary-general said he stands by what he said when he introduced Mr Png as a man of integrity. Speaking at the same rally, WP chairman Sylvia Lim also backed Mr Png. She said that if Mr Png is elected as an MP, she will appoint him as vice-chairman of the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council. Mr Png took the opportunity to list out his plans for Hougang residents if he is elected. They include improving the estate maintenance and community events for youths. The next Workers' Party rally is expected on Thursday, a day before the Cooling-off Day when no campaigning is allowed.

Keep up the good work! Don't let us daft Sinkies down

Min 9 opposition seats in Parliament!

Assume (hope) PAP loses a seat(s) and ends up as the loser with the highest %, do they become a ncmp? It will be funny if a minster sits at the back bench

Imagine what MIW said..since NCMP is so effective, isn't it interesting to see some underperforming minister become one when they lost they fight in the coming GE?......like WKS and that baba black sheep

SINGAPORE: Amendments to Singapore