GE: S'pore's Parliament dissolved for 14th general election By S.Ramesh

[tioliaohuat]

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Parliament has been dissolved for the 14th general election in the country.

The Proclamation was issued by President SR Nathan through the government gazette on Tuesday afternoon.

Some 2.35 million voters are eligible to vote in the coming polls.

There will be 87 wards, three more than the 84 in the 2006 General Election.

The 87 wards have been carved out into 12 single member constituencies and 15 group representation constituencies (GRCs)

The 12 single member constituencies are Bukit Panjang, Hong Kah North, Hougang, Joo Chiat, Mountbatten, Pioneer, Potong Pasir, Punggol East, Radin Mas, Sengkang West, Whampoa and Yuhua.

The GRCs have been carved out as four, five and six member GRCs.

The four-member GRCs are Moulmein-Kallang and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

There are 11 five-member GRCs.

These are Aljunied, Bishan-Toa Payoh, Chua Chu Kang, East Coast, Jurong, Marine Parade, Nee Soon, Sembawang, Tampines, Tanjong Pagar and West Coast.

Ang Mo Kio and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRCs will have six candidates each.

Ang Mo Kio GRC with 178,933 voters is the largest GRC for this election while Bukit Panjang with 33,035 voters is the largest single member division.

The changes were contained in the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee Report which was made public on February 24.

Six key political parties in Singapore are contesting the general election.

The People's Action Party has introduced 24 new candidates with many of them are in their thirties and forties.

The PAP said its slate includes the fourth generation of leaders to take Singapore beyond the year 2020.

18 incumbent Members of Parliament, including two Cabinet Ministers and the current Speaker of Parliament are retiring while two other MPs, the late Dr Ong Chit Chung and the late Dr Balaji Sadasivan, had passed on.

The opposition parties contesting the polls include the Workers' Party, the Singapore People's Party, the Singapore Democratic Party, the National Solidarity Party, the Reform Party and the Singapore Democratic Alliance.

They too have introduced several candidates who are scholars and former administrative service officers with the Singapore government.

The opposition Workers' Party held the Hougang ward in the last Parliament and its Chairman Sylvia Lim is a Non-Constituency MP.

The Workers' Party, led by its Secretary-General, Low Thia Khiang, is expected to contest the most number of wards in the coming polls.

Among the constituencies, the Party has expressed its intention to contest include the Aljunied GRC, East Coast GRC, Moulmein-Kallang GRC and Nee Soon GRC and several single member wards apart from Hougang, which it held in the last Parliament.

The Singapore People's Party had one MP, Mr Chiam See Tong in the Potong Pasir division.

Mr Chiam will be contesting the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC which is is helmed by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng.

The SPP will also be contesting in Potong Pasir and Hong Kah North.

Making her debut in this election is Mrs Lina Chiam, wife of Mr Chiam See Tong.

She will be standing in Potong Pasir and will face the PAP's Sitoh Yih Pin who is contesting the ward for the third time after losing twice to Mr Chiam in the last two elections.

For the Singapore Democratic Party, it is contesting in the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and the Bukit Panjang and Yuhua single member constituencies.

The National Solidarity Party will be contesting in the Jurong, Chua Chu Kang and Tampines GRCs and has expressed interest in the Marine Parade GRC too.

Recently, the NSP decided not to stand in the Moulmein-Kallang GRC to avoid a three-cornered fight as the Workers' Party plans to field a team there.

Among the single seats NSP will be contesting include Mountbatten and Whampoa.

The newest opposition party is the Reform Party, led by Secretary-General Kenneth Jeyaretnam, who is the son of the late JB Jeyaretnam.

The party has staked a claim in the West Coast GRC and also the single seats of Pioneer and Radin Mas.

The Singapore Democratic Alliance is led by Secretary-General, Desmond Lim. The party intends to contest the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and several single member constituencies in the east and west of Singapore.

The only independent candidate who has announced his candidacy so far is Andrew Kuan who intends to contest in the Joo Chia single seat, which is also eyed by the Workers' Party.

The Returning Officer for the general election is Mr Yam Ah Mee, the Chief Executive of the People's Association.

- CNA/fa

 

[tioliaohuat]

GE: Ground "not so sweet" for elections, says SM Goh

SINGAPORE : Singapore's Senior Minister, Goh Chok Tong, has said the issue of rising costs has rendered the ground "not so sweet" for elections.

Speaking to the Singapore media at the end of his visit to China, Mr Goh said: "I would not duck the issue, because politics is about people's livelihood. Therefore, rising cost is a very big issue facing, not just Singapore, but facing every other country."

He questioned whether having more opposition members in Parliament would solve the problem.

He also pointed out that the government had transferred cash to the people, which more than offset additional costs due to inflation.

On immigration, Mr Goh said the government recognized it as a concern among citizens, and has moderated the flow.

But he said doing so has economic trade-offs that sometimes may not be apparent to the people.

Mr Goh also commented on People's Action Party chairman Lim Boon Heng's recent public display of emotions.

He said: "The man might be very quiet, might be very reticent, he has emotions, so he's very human. Right? So in this particular case, I can understand why he broke down - because he was against the setting up of the IRs (integrated resorts). We had to debate.

"He was a very staunch Catholic - he was against it. We debated. We debated among the cabinet members, among ourselves, and he debated within himself.

"From the point of religion, he would say no. In fact, he said so quite clearly. He would be against it from that ground. But then he was a union leader - he had to create jobs."

In reply to a question on new candidates standing in single member constituencies, Senior Minster Goh said the PAP strategy is to field incumbents.

So whether it is Heng Swee Keat, Chan Chun Sing, or Tan Chuan Jin - they are members of the team, so we fight as a team in GRCs, and the 12 singles will fight as singles. And of course, the whole party will fight as a party to win the elections."

Turning to the slate and quality of opposition candidates, Mr Goh said it is easy for some voters to be impressed because so few good opposition candidates were fielded in the past.

He also said better qualified candidates could be a reflection of a greater interest in politics.

He added: "The key is to assess the motivations of the people standing for elections. I am not casting any aspersions on them. I am not suggesting that they have bad motivations. What I am saying is that in the PAP, when we interview candidates, we always try and probe the candidates' motivations.

"It's very important. What are your motivations. Is it to advance your self interest, or are you there to serve the people? Are you prepared to make time and energy, and be available to serve the people?

"So we probe for motivations, we probe for your convictions, your commitment and of course into your character."

When asked about his role in the upcoming election, Senior Minister Goh said it is the prime minister's election and the prime minister will take charge.

He said both he and the minister mentor will take on what he called an "active role outside the arena", watching developments and giving the prime minister feedback, when needed.

He added: "So my role will be to give some reading where I think it is useful for them to know, but without trying to crimp their style because the government has to fight it their way.

"This is the new environment, new electorate, so let them handle the new electorate. And to ensure that I win the Marine Parade GRC, so that two new candidates can be in parliament."

The senior minister also defended the PAP Manifesto, which was criticised as being short on details.

He said a manifesto cannot be too detailed or it would end up looking like a budget speech.

He added: "I frankly would like an elaboration on the challenges facing Singapore because I do believe that we are going into a period of uncertainties. Just look at events in the Middle East. How will that pan out? We don't know yet.

"At the moment, the impact is not that large because the oil price has shot up, but Saudi Arabia is pumping more oil into the market, so the oil price is within a manageable limit.

"In our case, Singaporeans have not felt the effects of the oil price because we have tightened our monetary policy. The Singapore dollar has strengthened against the US dollar.

"So, while the oil price has shot up over 100 dollars, in terms of Singapore dollars, the prices have not gone up very much. So people don't see that."

- CNA/al

 

[Robert Half]

Nomination Day & Polling Day

 

[tioliaohuat]

GE: Political parties suggest various approaches to deal with key issues for GE

SINGAPORE: Various political parties have launched their manifestos and election campaign platforms ahead of the General Election.

They have offered different proposals on how to tackle some of the key issues during the hustings.

The ruling People's Action Party's manifesto is about "Securing Our Future Together".

In its manifesto, the PAP says Singaporeans can count on the Party to do the best for the people from all walks of life, and to keep the people united through good and bad times.

The PAP says together, the ruling Party will make Singapore a vibrant and inclusive society with opportunities for a better life for each and every citizen.

To achieve this vision, the PAP says it seeks the electorate's mandate to realise six key objectives.

These are to create opportunities for higher incomes for all, improve the lives of lower-income Singaporeans, bring out the best in every child, develop a vibrant city and an endearing home, help seniors stay active, healthy and engaged and involve all Singaporeans in shaping the country's future.

"Towards a First World Parliament" is the Workers' Party's campaign slogan for the General Election.

It calls for more opposition voices to keep the ruling party on its toes by occupying enough seats to block any constitutional amendment that requires at least two thirds of the House votes.

The Singapore Democratic Party has outlined ten promises it plans to fulfil, if it gets elected into Parliament.

The party says four of the promises deal with issues at the constituency level, while the other six deal with national issues.

It also wants to ensure Singaporeans get priority in employment and to reduce GST and medical fees.

The Singapore Democratic Alliance has revised its manifesto to focus on five issues.

These are the cost of living, prices of HDB flats, the income gap, job security and medical expenses.

The Singapore People's Party has outlined the six key issues it will campaign on which include the cost of living, and the need for greater public accountability.

The National Solidarity Party says it will push for minimum wage for older workers, more controls on the inflow of foreign talent, and affordable public home prices in Singapore.

- CNA/fa

 

[tioliaohuat]

Nomination Day & Polling Day

GE: Singapore General Election set for May 7

SINGAOPRE : The Writ of Election for Singapore's next General Election (GE) has been issued.

Nomination Day is on the April 27, Wednesday, and Polling Day for the GE will be on May 7, Saturday.

Polling Day is a public holiday.

Some 2.35 million voters are eligible to vote in the coming polls.

There will be 87 wards,carved out into 12 single member constituencies and 15 group representation constituencies.

The election deposit for each candidate standing for election will be S$16,000 and nomination papers can be filed from 11 am and noon on April 27.

- CNA /ls/sf