Rift widens between SDA leaders and Chiam
By Kor Kian Beng & Zakir Hussain
LEADERS of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) yesterday rejected their chairman Chiam See Tong's decision to appoint a new secretary-general and backed incumbent Desmond Lim instead.
They also rebuffed Mr Chiam's efforts over the past year to bring Reform Party (RP) into the SDA fold, saying the negotiations were conducted without the official nod of the alliance leaders.
These moves will further deepen the rift in the three-party grouping, which has been weakened recently when Mr Chiam and Mr Lim fell out over plans to let RP into the alliance.
Mr Chiam, veteran MP for Potong Pasir, was not present at the two-hour meeting involving leaders of the two component parties: Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS) and Singapore Justice Party (SJP).
He was informed of the meeting last Saturday by SDA leaders but his wife Lina Chiam told them yesterday afternoon he would not be attending.
Two leaders from Mr Chiam's Singapore People's Party (SPP), however, were at the meeting which was chaired by SDA's vice-chairman and PKMS chief Ali Asjadi. It was attended by 11 of the 15 council members.
Mr Lim came out of the meeting looking victorious and chaired the subsequent media conference. He told reporters that in future, any discussion to bring in new political parties has to be approved first by SDA's supreme executive council.
He will be the chief negotiator for such talks, he said, as he spelt out the conditions for newcomers to the alliance.
They will be put on a four-year probation period during which they cannot sit on the council or have voting rights.
'Any party that wants to join us must not impose any conditions but they should respect and comply with our Constitution,' he said.
He also said that RP, led by Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam, has not officially applied to join the SDA.
'Whatever discussions Mr Jeyaretnam has had with Mr Chiam were in their own personal capacity,' he added, saying that Mr Chiam did not seek the SDA council's approval for the talks.
Mr Lim said the SDA is now in talks with two opposition parties who have agreed to the conditions.
Sources say the two are Singapore Democratic Party led by Dr Chee Soon Juan and the newly formed Socialist Front headed by Mr Ng Teck Siong.
When asked what was next in store for Mr Chiam, Mr Lim said he would have to abide by the council's decision.
'Any decision made by the majority is final and conclusive,' he added.
Mr Chiam could not be contacted last night on his plan of action.
The latest development comes at a time of heightened election fever following Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's announcement last Saturday that the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee has been formed.
But Mr Lim said the latest episode will not slow SDA's plans to ramp up preparations for the election, including monthly discussions with other political parties on national policy issues.
Additional reporting by Tessa Wong
By Kor Kian Beng & Zakir Hussain
LEADERS of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) yesterday rejected their chairman Chiam See Tong's decision to appoint a new secretary-general and backed incumbent Desmond Lim instead.
They also rebuffed Mr Chiam's efforts over the past year to bring Reform Party (RP) into the SDA fold, saying the negotiations were conducted without the official nod of the alliance leaders.
These moves will further deepen the rift in the three-party grouping, which has been weakened recently when Mr Chiam and Mr Lim fell out over plans to let RP into the alliance.
Mr Chiam, veteran MP for Potong Pasir, was not present at the two-hour meeting involving leaders of the two component parties: Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS) and Singapore Justice Party (SJP).
He was informed of the meeting last Saturday by SDA leaders but his wife Lina Chiam told them yesterday afternoon he would not be attending.
Two leaders from Mr Chiam's Singapore People's Party (SPP), however, were at the meeting which was chaired by SDA's vice-chairman and PKMS chief Ali Asjadi. It was attended by 11 of the 15 council members.
Mr Lim came out of the meeting looking victorious and chaired the subsequent media conference. He told reporters that in future, any discussion to bring in new political parties has to be approved first by SDA's supreme executive council.
He will be the chief negotiator for such talks, he said, as he spelt out the conditions for newcomers to the alliance.
They will be put on a four-year probation period during which they cannot sit on the council or have voting rights.
'Any party that wants to join us must not impose any conditions but they should respect and comply with our Constitution,' he said.
He also said that RP, led by Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam, has not officially applied to join the SDA.
'Whatever discussions Mr Jeyaretnam has had with Mr Chiam were in their own personal capacity,' he added, saying that Mr Chiam did not seek the SDA council's approval for the talks.
Mr Lim said the SDA is now in talks with two opposition parties who have agreed to the conditions.
Sources say the two are Singapore Democratic Party led by Dr Chee Soon Juan and the newly formed Socialist Front headed by Mr Ng Teck Siong.
When asked what was next in store for Mr Chiam, Mr Lim said he would have to abide by the council's decision.
'Any decision made by the majority is final and conclusive,' he added.
Mr Chiam could not be contacted last night on his plan of action.
The latest development comes at a time of heightened election fever following Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's announcement last Saturday that the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee has been formed.
But Mr Lim said the latest episode will not slow SDA's plans to ramp up preparations for the election, including monthly discussions with other political parties on national policy issues.
Additional reporting by Tessa Wong
