Singapore – Since the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) already holds 82 seats in Parliament, adding another lawmaker to that list won’t make much of a difference, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan said on Thursday.
The 53-year-old SDP secretary-general is gearing up for a showdown against the PAP’s Murali Pillai, a 48-year-old lawyer, for next month’s by-election in Bukit Batok.
Speaking to reporters at Bukit Batok MRT station a day after President Tony Tan Keng Yam issued the writ of election, Dr Chee questioned the merits of having Mr Murali join the PAP’s ranks in Parliament.
The opposition veteran said that if he were to be elected on May 7, he would continue to “press the government to make sure it is much more sensitised to the plight of Singaporeans”.
He pledged to speak up for retirees and retrenched workers in the single-member constituency, as these individuals are feeling the effects of the rising cost of living in Singapore.
When asked for his strategy for the next two weeks until Polling Day, he said he would be more targeted in his approach and go all-out to communicate his party’s messages to the 25,727 voters in the ward.
“It’s important that they understand and hear what our message is. Not only will we be taking care of their housing estate, we won’t take a back seat as far as the running of the town council is concerned,” he said.
Dr Chee stressed that the SDP would be both transparent and accountable when running the town council; he reiterated that the party already had the necessary resources to take over from the PAP should he emerge victorious.
The opposition party will hold a press conference on Friday to reveal its plans for the constituency. Having already combed the entire estate, he said he would continue to reach out to residents in the coming days and explain why they should vote for the opposition in this by-election.
Separately, the Elections Department (ELD) issued an advisory on Thursday on political activities and election campaigning.
It stated that, under the Parliamentary Elections Act, any person who conducts activities to promote or procure the election of a candidate must be individually authorised in writing by the candidate or his election agent on and from Nomination Day.
Those who are not Singapore citizens are barred from taking part in election activities and cannot be authorised to do so.
ELD also said that any civic, business or professional body that wants to participate in a political activity or allow its funds and/or premises to be used for political purposes must ensure that its constitution allows it to do so. The organisation must also ensure that this does not contravene any laws that it is subject to.
Political activities include endorsing a candidate and publishing advertisements or issuing press statements to express support for the candidate. If such advertisements or statements amount to election advertising, ELD said, the relevant rules under the Parliamentary Elections Act and its regulations have to be complied with.
“While such bodies should have their own processes to consult their members and consider the merits of supporting a candidate, it remains each individual’s right as a voter, regardless of his membership of any organisation, to freely decide whom to support and how to cast his vote,” the department said.
leeuwen@sph.com.sg
April 22, 2016.
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