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SINGAPORE: Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has announced that he will contest in the upcoming General Election. He will be standing in the five-member Marine Parade GRC where he has been an MP for close to 40 years.
Mr Goh was first fielded there in 1976 when he entered politics and since then has contested in nine General Elections, but at the Marine Parade National Day dinner on Friday evening (Aug 14), he admitted he had contemplated retirement.
"I saw Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday. We had a long chat," he said. "He wants me to carry on. He wants me to help in the leadership transition to the fourth generation team as an elder. Smooth leadership succession is Singapore’s unique strength to safeguard political stability and continuity of good government.
"As for Marine Parade, you and I have together spent 40 years to build our beautiful home. You have grown up or grown old with me. Your roots and mine are sunk here. Therefore, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the coming elections."
Mr Goh also said that a General Election is a critical moment for the country to determine its path forward. But he said the elections are not about electing those whose "grandstanding" speeches have no impact on everyday lives. Instead, it is about electing MPs who can form an effective Government.
Marine Parade GRC might see a contest between the incumbent People's Action Party and the Workers' Party in the upcoming elections.
The National Solidarity Party, which had contested there in the last elections, said it will not do so to avoid a three-corner fight.
"At the very least, they must be able to run a town council in a transparent, accountable and responsible manner," said Mr Goh. "And voters too must demand accountability of all political parties. They cannot have two standards of integrity - one for the ruling party and the other for opposition parties. If they do, they will end up with Third World town councils in opposition wards."
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/esm-goh-to-defend-his/2050964.html?cid=FBsg