The Business Times, Dec 1, 1987
AFTER months of public discussion, a proposal to introduce the team MP concept in the next election was tabled in Parliament yesterday. Between 30 and 39 constituencies will be involved initially.
Plans for modifying the voting system were in two related bills tabled by First Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.
Under proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore and the Parliamentary Elections Act, parties contesting certain constituencies will have to offer a slate of three candidates, one of whom must be from a minority community.
The three candidates must be either all from the same political party or each must be an independent.
How many constituencies will elect MPs on a team basis will be decided by the President who will then declare these as Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs).
Mr Goh told reporters yesterday that the constituencies likely to be involved would be those with sizeable minority communities. These would include some new towns.
Team MPs can account for no more than half of the MPs to be elected in a general election. For example, if the total number of MPs remains unchanged at 79, there can be no more than 13 GRCs and 39 team MPs.
Mr Goh said the total number of GRCs to be declared was expected to be between 10 and 13. If there are 10 GRCs, seven must have representation from the Malay community and three from other minority groups.
These representatives will, however, have to be certified as truly belonging to their minority group by either the Malay Committee or the Other Minorities Committee before Nomination Day. These two committees will be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights.
A by-election in a GRC will only be held when all the three MPs elected no longer hold their seats for one reason or another.
Mr Goh said that the team MP concept would be introduced in just half of the constituencies in order not to constrain the opposition parties. With the introduction of GRCs, some renaming of constituencies is likely.
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