RP chief cannot comprehend 'why NSP cannot return the favour'
SINGAPORE - The Reform Party (RP) confirmed yesterday that it will contest West Coast GRC and the Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) of Radin Mas and Pioneer, even as it briefly expressed unhappiness on its official Facebook page against the National Solidarity Party (NSP) for not giving way in the two single-seat wards.
In a Facebook posting last night, RP chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam noted that it has dropped its interest in several seats "for Opposition unity". It added: "We cannot comprehend why one party cannot return the favour. They have muscled into our area knowing we had been there over a year. It gives residents a bad impression of Opposition in general."
A subsequent comment posted by RP identified the party in question: "Did NSP ever even put a toe in Pioneer or Radin Mas prior to middle of March 2011? Let alone walk the ground." The posting and the accompanying comments were taken down about an hour later.
Earlier in the day, Mr Jeyaretnam told reporters that his party has given way to the NSP in Jurong GRC, the Singapore Democratic Party in Yuhua SMC and the Singapore People's Party in Hong Kah North SMC.
At a separate walkabout, NSP secretary-general Goh Meng Seng acknowledged that "there are still areas where we are facing three-cornered fights". Mr Goh said: "As far as the NSP is concerned, we have made the greatest compromise that we could and I think the ball is in other people's court now."
Meanwhile, Mr Jeyaretnam said the RP has not made a final decision on whether to contest Chua Chu Kang GRC - in which the NSP has declared an interest after giving way to the Workers' Party in Moulmein-Kallang GRC.
Mr Jeyaretnam said his party has "enough candidates to form the nucleus" of the team for Chua Chu Kang and it is a question of whether it decides to go ahead.
The party is also on the verge of announcing new candidates, he added, saying it is in discussion with other parties on the possibility of sharing candidates.
Mr Jeyaretnam kept reporters guessing on where he would be contesting. He said: "It could be Pioneer, it could be Radin Mas. Remember Radin Mas has a history, a lot of the residents have come forward to ask me to stand there, including ... residents at Bukit Purmei who supported my father (J B Jeyaretnam) in Anson. So, there's a big groundswell of support there. Or I could be standing in West Coast."
SINGAPORE - The Reform Party (RP) confirmed yesterday that it will contest West Coast GRC and the Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) of Radin Mas and Pioneer, even as it briefly expressed unhappiness on its official Facebook page against the National Solidarity Party (NSP) for not giving way in the two single-seat wards.
In a Facebook posting last night, RP chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam noted that it has dropped its interest in several seats "for Opposition unity". It added: "We cannot comprehend why one party cannot return the favour. They have muscled into our area knowing we had been there over a year. It gives residents a bad impression of Opposition in general."
A subsequent comment posted by RP identified the party in question: "Did NSP ever even put a toe in Pioneer or Radin Mas prior to middle of March 2011? Let alone walk the ground." The posting and the accompanying comments were taken down about an hour later.
Earlier in the day, Mr Jeyaretnam told reporters that his party has given way to the NSP in Jurong GRC, the Singapore Democratic Party in Yuhua SMC and the Singapore People's Party in Hong Kah North SMC.
At a separate walkabout, NSP secretary-general Goh Meng Seng acknowledged that "there are still areas where we are facing three-cornered fights". Mr Goh said: "As far as the NSP is concerned, we have made the greatest compromise that we could and I think the ball is in other people's court now."
Meanwhile, Mr Jeyaretnam said the RP has not made a final decision on whether to contest Chua Chu Kang GRC - in which the NSP has declared an interest after giving way to the Workers' Party in Moulmein-Kallang GRC.
Mr Jeyaretnam said his party has "enough candidates to form the nucleus" of the team for Chua Chu Kang and it is a question of whether it decides to go ahead.
The party is also on the verge of announcing new candidates, he added, saying it is in discussion with other parties on the possibility of sharing candidates.
Mr Jeyaretnam kept reporters guessing on where he would be contesting. He said: "It could be Pioneer, it could be Radin Mas. Remember Radin Mas has a history, a lot of the residents have come forward to ask me to stand there, including ... residents at Bukit Purmei who supported my father (J B Jeyaretnam) in Anson. So, there's a big groundswell of support there. Or I could be standing in West Coast."
Last edited:
