Non-constituency Members of Parliament

Recent talks of a by-election in Punggol East SMC had raised some questions – assuming a by-election is called and an opposition candidate is successful, what happens to the existing Non-constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs)? Such has generated discussion on whether the current three NCMPs will have to vacate their seats in order to maintain the number of opposition MPs and NCMPs at nine members. SMU Assistant Professor of Law Jack Lee commented on his blog that ‘neither the Constitution nor the PEA requires this’. He also said that ‘the only situation mentioned by the Constitution which does not apply to elected MPs is when an NCMP is subsequently elected as an MP for any constituency… NCMPs vacate their seats under the same circumstances as elected MPs’. These situations may include: the MP ceases to be a Singapore citizen, resigns from parliament, or is asked to leave the parliament.