Channel NewsAsia: Elections Dept asks WP to name NCMP from its Aljunied team

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006

By Dominique Loh

The Elections Department confirms it has asked the Workers' Party to name a member of its Aljunied GRC team to be declared as a Non-Constituency MP.

Either Goh Meng Seng, James Gomez, Sylvia Lim, Mohd Rahizan Yaacob or Tan Wui-Hua could be named as the next NCMP.

The party members are to meet on Tuesday night at their headquarters to make that decision.

The Parliamentary Elections Act allows a maximum of 3 NCMPs to be declared, minus the number of opposition MPs voted in.

Choosing the NCMP is determined by the highest percentage of votes garnered by a candidate among the opposition parties in descending order.

Since two opposition MPs were voted into Parliament after this year's election, the Act allows for another opposition MP to be inducted into Parliament as a NCMP.

The Workers' Party have until 15 May to make their decision and inform the Returning Officer. - CNA/ir