The social service and disability sectors found a voice in Parliament in the form of Ms Chia Yong Yong, SPD’s President, who was one of nine new Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP) announced by the Special Select Committee of Parliament on 11 August. NMPs were chosen for their ability to add to discussions on Singapore’s issues and provide alternative voices. According to the media, Ms Chia is also the first wheelchair-user to have a place in Parliament in recent years.

For her term in the House, Ms Chia will be focusing on advocating for greater inclusion of people with disabilities, starting with issues such as eliminating typecasting. A keen champion to issues concerning people with disabilities, she was also appointed to the 26-member committee overseeing Our Singapore Conversation in 2013. On this platform to bring these issues to the fore, she said “I want to be able to (air) these (issues) and have people debate about them. Even if we disagree, I hope there can be greater understanding and acceptance of differences.”

Ms Chia will hold the post of NMP for the next 2½ years. We take this opportunity to congratulate her on this appointment.