A6 TOPOF THENEWS | THE STRAITS TIMES | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 | Olsen, who entered Parliament at higher and produce similar passion- 27 in 2004. ate speeches that affect Singapore- Nine new Nominated MPs Speaker of Parliament Tan ans by and large,” he said. Chuan-Jin, who chaired the Special He added that they could be ex- Select Committee, said in the state- pected to raise issues such as ment yesterday that the nine nomi- whether Singapore can do more to 1 nees met all constitutional criteria help those who are disadvantaged, picked for 2 /2-year term and requirements. entrepreneurship and the economy. “We are also confident that these Former NMP and Singapore Man- passionate and committed individu- agement University law don Eu- als will ably represent the views gene Tan said the new slate shows within and across their communi- an “accent on youth and the post-65 ties, thus expanding and deepening generation”. perspectives shared at parliamen- “This continues the trend of hav- Among them are para swimmer, social entrepreneur and labour economist; two are below 30 tary debates,” he added. ing an emphasis on young people in The NMP scheme, introduced in the NMP appointments. It reflects Yasmine Yahya and Adrian Lim • Sakae Holdings chairman Siew Ching, 43; and broad range of issues. 1990, is meant to provide non-parti- the changing demographics where Douglas Foo Peow Yong, 49; • Labour economist and associate “As a group, they add to the diver- san views in Parliament. those born post-independence will • Singapore Chinese Orchestra professor Walter Edgar Theseira, sity of expertise and experience in There can be up to nine NMPs in form the growing majority of vot- 1 A paralympian gold medallist, a executive director Ho Wee San, 40. the House,” said the Minister for each term, which lasts 2 /2 years. ers,” he added. social entrepreneur and a labour 49; Culture, Community and Youth. SIM Global Education associate Ms Yip told The Straits Times that economist are among the nine new • Communication and technology The nine will replace the current Noting that two of the NMPs – Ms lecturer Felix Tan said the new she is honoured to be the youngest faces selected as Nominated MPs. professor Lim Sun Sun, 46; NMPs, whose terms end on Sept 21 Yip and Mr Abbas – are below the batch of NMPs has big shoes to fill, NMP. “I hope to use my experience The latest crop of NMPs an- • Inter-religious non-profit group and have stepped down. The Special age of 30, Ms Fu expressed confi- as the outgoing batch, which in- in the sporting arena as an athlete nounced in a statement by Parlia- Roses of Peace founder Abbas Ali Select Committee which chose the dence that they “will enrich debate cludes social entrepreneur Kuik to make our sporting culture a more ment yesterday are: Mohamed Irshad, 29; NMPs had received 48 proposals. by bringing the voices of the youth Shiao-Yin and theatre group artis- vibrant one. I also hope to bring a • Social entrepreneur and Hush Leader of the House Grace Fu to the House”. tic director Kok Heng Leun, has de- fresh voice for youth and speak up • Paralympian swimmer Yip Pin TeaBar founder Anthea Ong Lay said in a statement yesterday that Ms Yip, in fact, will become the livered many eloquent and passion- for equality, ” she said. Xiu, 26; Theng, 50; the nine come with good youngest NMP in Parliament. ate speeches in Parliament. • Labour unionist Arasu • Pharmaceutical Society of credentials in their respective Before her, the youngest NMP was “So, one would expect that this [email protected] Duraisamy, 50; Singapore president Irene Quay fields, and have keen interest in a beauty queen and actress Eunice new batch could raise the bar a little [email protected] THE NINE NEW NMPs Douglas Foo, 49 Anthea Ong, 50 Irene Quay Siew Ching, 43 Mr Foo, who is president of the Ms Ong is a social entrepreneur Ms Quay plans to speak up about Singapore Manufacturing who has launched initiatives such issues such as rising healthcare Federation, feels it is the right time as the Hush TeaBar, a not-for-profit costs, better management of for him to step up and play the role social enterprise which hires deaf healthcare services and support for of NMP. people, those with mental health working mothers. The chairman and founder of issues or those in recovery, for She is a certified pharmacist and Sakae Holdings said he has learnt a workplace wellness programmes. an assistant director in the Allied lot from his years as a businessman, She has also launched initiatives Health Office at the KK Women’s and that it is his duty to raise like the Playground for Joy for and Children’s Hospital. awareness about issues related to special needs children. She is also president of the the economy. As an NMP, Ms Ong said she Pharmaceutical Society of He is also vice-chairman of the hopes to speak up on social Singapore and has served on Singapore Business Federation and inclusion, mental health and several national bodies, including a vice-president of the Singapore volunteerism – issues which she Health Ministry committee. National Employers Federation. feels are interlinked. “I see a huge potential for health “I hope to use this platform to She sees volunteerism as a way to professionals to be engaged in a reach out to businesses and spread address the issues of both social team-based collaborative the message about how important inclusion and mental health. practice... (where they can be the) it is for them to take a hard look at He also wants to reach out to “Volunteering can help dispel socially connected, thus warding first point of contact for social, complex medical conditions and their business models and use young people and get them excited prejudices, challenge stereotypes off loneliness and depression. How psychological, physical or allow the healthcare system to digital technology to innovate and about the new economy, while also and create acceptance of diversity,” can we do more to embrace speech-related disorders,” she said. extend their reach to a greater prepare themselves for the future making them aware of the current she said. “It helps people who volunteering as a culture in “This can in turn free up our population in a financially economy,” he said. challenges facing the workforce. donate their time to feel more Singapore?” physicians to focus on more sustainable manner.” Arasu Duraisamy, 50 Ho Wee San, 49 Walter Theseira, 40 Mr Arasu has been involved with Mr Ho, who is executive director of A non-partisan and objective voice the labour movement for the past the Singapore Chinese Orchestra on public policies – that is what 25 years, having first joined as a (SCO), hopes to be an advocate and Associate Professor Theseira from union member in 1993. voice for the traditional arts in the Singapore University of Social Today, he is the general secretary Singapore. Sciences hopes to bring to of the Singapore Port Workers He believes that the arts can play Parliament. Union (SPWU) and an elected a role in bringing together people “There is a growing sense that member of the NTUC Central of different races, religions and people are not sure whether Committee. backgrounds. policies are being made in the best He plans to use his role as an NMP “We have strong traditional art interest of as many people as to champion worker issues and forms in Singapore, but the key is to possible, or whether policies ensure that workers’ concerns are bring them to a more professional increasingly favour a narrow reflected when the Government level and for them to be managed in group,” he added. crafts and implements policies that a more professional way,” he said. Prof Theseira, who is head of the affect them. Mr Ho, who has been with the university’s Master of Management He also wants to raise awareness SCO for two decades and has served (Urban Transportation) about the importance of training. on various committees in the programme, said this is because “Coming from the port industry, National Arts Council, feels that he people do not think of policies with where we are currently undergoing industry,” he said. can be a “good bridge” between arts other, there is a binding national reference to the facts, but rather evidence to the debate. a major transition to the Tuas port, “Seventy per cent of our workers groups and government agencies. policy to serve national service. I with beliefs or conspiracy theories. Prof Theseira said he will weigh I fully understand the need for our are in SMEs and they may not fully Sports is another area of interest. always believe there is a way to NMPs can provide a non-partisan in on issues such as transportation, workers to be trained so that we understand the urgency and “On the one hand, we want to bring these two together... and to voice, he said, adding that someone retirement, housing, education and can keep up with changes in the importance of training.” groom our sportsmen, but on the bring a better outcome,” he added. like himself can bring research and the labour market. Lim Sun Sun, 46 Abbas Ali Mohamed Irshad, 29 Yip Pin Xiu, 26 As an academic who has Mr Mohamed Irshad, the founder Ms Yip, a national athlete and researched topics such as the social and president of inter-faith group paralympian swimmer, said she impact of technology, Professor Roses of Peace, said he hopes to wants to champion sports in Lim said that becoming an NMP tackle the apathy among the youth Singapore and create a better will allow her to further contribute towards religious harmony.