Not every member of Singapore’s Parliament won a seat at a general election. Alongside elected Members of Parliament, the House includes people who arrive through two special schemes: Nominated MPs (NMPs) and Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs). The idea of nominated MPs in Singapore puzzles many residents, because it sits outside the usual image of politics as a contest between parties in constituencies. This guide explains what each scheme is for, how people enter Parliament through them, and how their role differs from an elected MP. In short: up to nine NMPs are appointed by the President for a term of two and a half years, the current nine took office on 8 January 2026, and NCMP seats ensure that at least 12 opposition MPs sit in the House.
Why These Schemes Exist
Both schemes answer a similar concern in different ways: how to make sure Parliament hears a wider range of views than a purely constituency based, majority winning election might deliver. Singapore’s elections tend to produce strong majorities, and the design worry was that a very lopsided House could debate with too little challenge, and that some perspectives from outside party politics might not be represented at all.
The NCMP scheme addresses the first concern by guaranteeing a minimum presence of opposition voices even when few or no opposition candidates win their seats. The NMP scheme addresses the second by bringing in independent, non partisan individuals with expertise or community standing that might not otherwise reach the floor of the House. Neither scheme is about winning power; both are about widening the debate.
What a Nominated MP Is
A Nominated MP is an individual appointed to Parliament rather than elected. The purpose is to introduce independent and non partisan views, often from people with deep experience in a particular field such as the arts, business, labour, the social sector, the professions, or civil society. The intention is that these members speak from expertise and conscience rather than from a party line.
The broad process works like this. A Special Select Committee of Parliament, chaired by the Speaker, invites and considers nominations from the public, looking for people who have distinguished themselves or who can reflect the views of important groups in society. The committee recommends names, and the President then makes the appointments. NMPs serve for two and a half years, and there can be up to nine at any one time. Because they are appointed for their independence, NMPs are expected to remain non partisan while they serve.
Who Are the Nominated MPs in 2026?
The current nine NMPs were recommended by the Special Select Committee and appointed by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, with their term starting on 8 January 2026. Eight are first-timers and one is returning for a second term:
- Azhar Othman, executive chairman of Enercon Asia
- Associate Professor Kenneth Goh Toh Chuan, president of Singapore Aquatics
- Dr Haresh Singaraju of National University Polyclinics
- Associate Professor Terence Ho Wai Luen of the Singapore University of Social Sciences
- Kuah Boon Theng, Senior Counsel
- Mark Lee Kean Phi, chief executive of Sing Lun Holdings, who also served as an NMP from 2023 to 2025
- Dr Neo Kok Beng, founder and chief executive of NEO Aeronautics
- Professor Kenneth Poon Kin Loong of the National Institute of Education
- Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees
On the standard two and a half year term, this group would serve until mid-2028 unless Parliament is dissolved earlier. The scheme itself dates back to 1990; the maximum rose from six to nine in 1997, and NMPs became a permanent feature of Parliament in 2010.
What a Non-Constituency MP Is
A Non-Constituency MP comes from a different route entirely. NCMP seats are offered to the best performing opposition candidates who did not win their constituencies outright. In effect, the scheme rescues a number of the strongest losing opposition candidates and brings them into Parliament, so that there is a guaranteed minimum level of opposition representation regardless of the election outcome.
The selection is based on election results: among opposition candidates who were not elected, those who came closest to winning, measured by their share of the vote, are the ones offered NCMP seats, in order, until the House has at least 12 opposition MPs in total. A candidate must have won at least 15% of the votes in their constituency to qualify. An offered candidate can accept or decline. Unlike an NMP, an NCMP is a party political figure who stood for election, so the two schemes bring in very different kinds of members.
How They Compare With Elected MPs
The most important thing to understand is that all three types of member can speak, debate, and contribute to committees, but their roles and mandates differ. Elected MPs also carry the duty of representing a specific constituency and its residents, which the other two types do not in the same way.
The table below sets out the broad differences. The numbers are set out in the Constitution and can be changed, so confirm the latest figures with Parliament or the Elections Department (ELD).
| Feature | Elected MP | Nominated MP (NMP) | Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| How they enter Parliament | Win a seat at a general election | Appointed on a committee’s recommendation | Offered a seat as a top performing losing opposition candidate |
| Political alignment | Usually stands for a party | Independent and non partisan | Opposition party candidate |
| Represents a constituency | Yes | No | No |
| Main purpose | Represent residents and govern or oppose | Bring independent expert views | Guarantee minimum opposition voice |
| Term | Until Parliament is dissolved | Two and a half years | For that term of Parliament |
What They Can and Cannot Do
For most day to day parliamentary business, such as raising questions, joining debates, and sitting on committees, NMPs and NCMPs participate much like elected members. This is what lets them contribute expertise or opposition scrutiny to the work of the House.
Voting is where the two schemes now differ. Since 1 April 2017, NCMPs have had the same voting rights as elected MPs. NMPs still cannot vote on Bills to amend the Constitution, Supply and other money Bills, motions of no confidence in the Government, or a motion to remove the President, although they can speak in those debates. The reasoning is that members who were not elected should not be decisive on those fundamental questions. What has stayed constant is the underlying idea: these members enrich debate, but the core democratic mandate still rests with those the public elected.
Why the Design Matters
Taken together, the two schemes reflect a particular view of what a Parliament is for. It is not only a place where a governing majority passes laws; it is also meant to be a place where a range of voices is heard, including expert, community, and opposition voices that a first past the post style contest might otherwise leave out. Whether you think the schemes strike the right balance is a fair question for debate, and it is exactly the kind of question these members exist to raise.
For anyone following Singapore politics, the practical takeaway is simple. When you see an MP quoted in the news, it is worth knowing which kind they are, because it tells you a lot about the mandate they speak from.
This article is general information only, and the rules and numbers can change, so verify current details with Parliament or the Elections Department before relying on them.
Nominated MPs: Quick Answers
How many Nominated MPs can there be?
Up to nine at any one time, each appointed for two and a half years. The term can be renewed, and past NMPs have returned for a second term.
Who chooses Nominated MPs?
Members of the public submit nominations. A Special Select Committee, chaired by the Speaker and made up of eight MPs in total, considers them and recommends names, and the President makes the appointments.
Can Nominated MPs vote?
Yes, on most Bills and motions. They cannot vote on constitutional amendments, Supply and money Bills, no-confidence motions or the removal of the President.
Who are the NCMPs in the current Parliament?
After the May 2025 general election, the two NCMP seats went to the Workers’ Party’s Andre Low and Eileen Chong, bringing opposition representation in the House to 12.
Explore more
To see where these members fit in the wider system, read how Parliament works and how the Singapore government works. For the process that fills the elected seats, see our guide to Singapore elections explained.