Former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Raj Joshua Thomas has announced that he will not be contesting in the upcoming general election, following his resignation from the NMP position.
In a post shared on his LinkedIn and Facebook accounts, Thomas stated he had received a range of feedback since stepping down as an NMP in February.
He acknowledged that many of the public’s views were fair, even if he did not agree with all of them.
“I will not be running in the upcoming general elections,” he wrote. “I have instead been spending time on the ground, and would like to earn my stripes first.”
Thomas expressed gratitude to those who supported him, adding, “I will do my best to keep and build on your trust and confidence in me.”
His resignation on 14 February, along with psychiatrist Syed Harun Alhabsyi, marked the first instance in which NMPs stepped down before completing their allocated two-and-a-half-year term. Thomas was initially appointed as an NMP in 2021 and reappointed in July 2023.
However, he made clear that he would not be part of the slate of new candidates introduced for the coming polls.
Thomas Confirms PAP Membership Application and Readiness to Serve in Upcoming Election
Following his resignation, Thomas confirmed in an interview with Mothership that he had indeed applied for membership with the PAP and has been actively engaging with residents and grassroots activities.
When asked if he was ready to run at the time, Thomas said he was “prepared” to answer the call if needed—whether it be for running in the upcoming General Election or anything else he is called upon to assist with in the country.
In a 26 March Facebook post, Thomas further noted that he had decided to contribute to the PAP.
In a statement to The Straits Times, he said, “The new PAP candidates have just been announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong,” and urged the public to focus on the newly introduced candidates and key issues.
“I will be happy to share more after the elections,” he added.
Meanwhile, Syed Harun has been announced as one of the 32 new PAP candidates presented by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the party’s manifesto launch event on 17 April.
The resignation of the two NMPs shortly before the general election has reignited public debate about the role and future of the NMP scheme.
Critics have raised concerns about whether the non-partisan role is being used as a stepping stone into partisan politics.
Ravi Philemon, leader of the alternative party Red Dot United, publicly questioned the ethics of such moves. He suggested that resignations followed by party membership could erode the credibility of the NMP institution.
Former NMPs have also voiced apprehension regarding the perceived politicisation of the scheme, warning that public confidence in its independence may be affected.
Shanmugam, however, defended the resignations, stating that the Constitution allows former NMPs to join political parties after stepping down.
Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim raised the issue in Parliament through a formal question, asking whether the Government would consider introducing a cooling-off period for NMPs before they may run for elected office under a political party.
In response, Education Minister and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing stated in a written reply that existing safeguards are in place to maintain the non-partisan nature of the NMP scheme.
He added that the Government does not intend to revise the current framework.
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