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Synopsis :

In this press conference, Member of Parliament for Anson constituency J. B. Jeyaretnam says that the executive council of the Workers' Party has decided unanimously that it would be wrong for any member of the party to accept the Non Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seat. He has   written to MPD Nair who was offered the seat informing him of the party's decision. Mr Jeyaretnam explains that the Workers' Party has advocated parliamentary government as the most suited form of government for Singapore. A parliamentary government is unthinkable unless there is an elected opposition. His party's objective has been to bring about parliamentary government and see the emergence of a strong opposition in Parliament. A genuinely elected opposition in Parliament is the heart and soul of a parliamentary government. He says that the People's Action Party (PAP) saw the possibility of a genuine opposition emerging in Singapore and was alarmed and worried by this trend. So it came up with the NCMP scheme. Mr. Jeyaretnam feels that the NCMP does not represent voters and has no voting powers. Parliament should have elected representatives. To accept the NCMP seat would prejudice Singapore's political future. He adds that the decision not to take up the NCMP seat was not announced earlier so that the residents of Jalan Kayu where MPD Nair had contested the election would know that the executive council of the Workers' Party made a considered decision before declining the offer. However, he will not discourage other parties from taking up the seat.