Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong is not selected for a second term?!

9 Nominated Member of Parliament names were submitted. The incumbent NMP Siew Kum Hong is not in the list. As a proof that a politician IS a human being, he too apparently is disappointed for not selected for a second term.

Pity. I don't think any of the 9 NMP does blog. At the very least, Mr. Siew blogs & it is always good to know the politicians' thought. (Yes, he blogs about his disappointment in "NMP results are out".)

Anyway, congratulations to the 9 NMP & they are:

1. Calvin Cheng, 33

Entrepreneur. His company, Lumina-Looque International, operates modelling agencies, lifestyle event firms and media houses. Also a council member of the Singapore Red Cross.

'The issue I feel most strongly about is Singapore's cultural identity. Being in fashion, media and entertainment, I feel I am on the front lines of where our cultural identity is being forged. With the integrated resorts' launching, a window is opening up which will either strengthen our cultural identity or weaken it.'

2. Teo Siong Seng, 54

Well-known in the shipping industry as managing director of Pacific International Lines, Singapore's second-biggest shipping line after Neptune Orient Lines. President of the Singapore Shipping Association and chairman of the Singapore Maritime Foundation. Became president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in March this year.

'With the current economic crisis, I hope to voice the concerns of SMEs and reflect reactions from the ground as to whether the Government's Resilience Package is working, and whether there can be further improvement in policies. As someone who was educated in the Chinese-language stream up to O levels, I also hope to handle some parliamentary debates in Chinese. It's good to have more Chinese speakers in Parliament.'

3. Terry Lee Kok Hua, 57

A veteran unionist. Has been a member of the Singapore Insurance Employees' Union for 33 years, and its president since 1982. Has been a member of the National Trades Union Congress central committee since 1997.

'My focus will be very much on learning and training. I think this is the worst crisis that most people have been through. It's very painful when someone who has only one skill loses his job, especially if he is not young. The Government is already doing a lot, but I think even more should be done to support training. Employers and workers have to play their part too.'

4. Mildred Tan-Sim Beng Mei, 50

Managing director of Ernst & Young Advisory. Also a member of the National Council on Problem Gambling, the National Family Council, the Pro-family Business Council, and Community and Parents in Support of Schools (Compass).

'I'm fortunate to have been exposed to many different fields. First and foremost, I will look at the business and economic development of Singapore. That comes in my professional capacity. I also have a strong passion and interest in community services, including family, education and health issues.'

5. Paulin Tay Straughan, 46

Sociologist who researches family issues and is the vice-dean of the National University of Singapore's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

'I hope to raise issues concerning the family and youth. The family is a subject close to my heart - in my personal life and in my work - and in recessionary times when the eyes of policymakers are on the economy and creating jobs, family needs tend to take a back seat. The other group I am concerned about is youth, how we can continue to engage them through means other than the Internet, so they don't get disenchanted with the system.'

6. Audrey Wong Wai Yen, 41

Artistic co-director of The Substation arts venue. The former journalist has been with The Substation for 13 years, and has worked to bring together young and established visual artists, musicians, dancers and theatre practitioners to collaborate on projects.

'I see the position of an Arts NMP as having the potential to bring perhaps a more humanistic and alternative viewpoint to the present economic-dominated discourses and perspectives adopted by the Government and its agencies - not just with respect to the arts, but on areas beyond the arts. Perhaps the public visibility of an arts NMP will inspire more people to take arts and culture seriously and take on leadership roles in the arts/creative sector.'

7. Joscelin Yeo Wei Ling, 30

A national swimmer, and the only Singaporean athlete to have competed in four Olympic Games starting with Barcelona in 1992. The winner of 40 gold medals at the SEA Games has been named Sportswoman of the Year three times.

8. Viswa Sadasivan, 49

Chief executive of Strategic Moves, a media training and consultancy firm. He is also vice-president of the executive committee of self-help group Sinda, the Singapore Indian Development Association.

'The area I feel most comfortable talking about would be people's participation in civil society. My concern is primarily that people are confused out there. They see that the Government is talking about not having a monopoly on wisdom and having all hands on deck, but is also selective about feedback and suggestions that don't suit it. The more we continue to send mixed signals, the more people are hesitant to step forward.'

9. Laurence Wee Yoke Thong, 63

Immediate past president of the Gerontological Society of Singapore and the current executive director of Presbyterian Community Services Singapore. Also on the board of directors of the Centre for Seniors and charitable organisation Care Corner Singapore.

'I will have an emphasis on older people. They are important to society. They are the repository of expertise and experience. They can pass down invaluable values to this world. A lot of important values may be lost in our material and technological advancement, such as being human and caring for others. I also want to talk about employment opportunities for people with disabilities. They should be seen as integrated in the mainstream community.'

From Straits Times background story "Nominees for NMP positions".

Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong is disappointed he has not been selected for a second term.

He declined to speculate on why he was passed over, when contacted on Monday night. But he told The Straits Times that he stood by his involvement in matters such as the leadership tussle at the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) and causes important to civil society groups.

Mr Siew, 34, an in-house counsel, had been criticised online most recently for offering legal advice to the so-called 'Old Guard' group in Aware which regained control of the organisation five weeks after they were ousted.

Saying that he had been involved in his personal capacity and not as an NMP, he added: 'I would like to think that if I was not reappointed because of the Aware incident, and I had known that things would turn out this way, I would still not have done anything differently.' Political observers who shared his disappointment applauded him for speaking up and sticking to his guns during his term.

Singapore Management University law lecturer Eugene Tan said: 'He represents someone who was prepared to speak his mind, and fight and defend the causes that he believes in. It was a fairly rare demonstration of commitment.

Former NMP Zulkifli Baharuddin, who similarly praised Mr Siew for making his views heard effectively, felt however that one term was enough so as to give others a chance. A total of 46 people vied for nine NMP positions this time round. Having new blood also allows for diversity and possibly 'another Siew Kum Hong', he added.

Apart from Mr Siew, Mr Gautam Banerjee, 54, executive chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, was the only other person in the current batch of NMPs known to have applied for a second term.

Mr Banerjee, who was also not nominated, said he understood why a fresh set of NMPs was selected: 'After all, the NMP scheme seeks to provide diversity and different perspectives in Parliament.'

This is not the first time that incumbent NMPs seeking re-appointment have not been successful. Political observers said former NMPs can exploit their higher profiles and use other platforms to put forward their views, such as running for election.

Mr Siew said last night he had no intention to run in the general election: 'I intend to continue to be active in civil society, but haven't really thought about how.'

From Straits Times, "Disappointed not on list".