http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/sing...three-constituencies-20110417-075707-871.html
SDP to contest in three constituencies
<cite class="byline vcard">By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene</cite>
From left to right: Dr Vincent Wijeyasingha, Michelle Lee and Dr James Gomez could stand in Holland-Bukit Timah …
Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan has confirmed that the party will be contesting in three constituencies in the upcoming General Election.
Chee revealed that the party will be contesting in Yuhua and Bukit Panjang single-member constituencies (SMC), and Holland-Bukit Timah group representation constituency (GRC).
He added that they are also planning to field a team in another constituency - possibly a GRC - but Chee declined to reveal further details. He said that an announcement will be made later this week where the party is expected to unveil its manifesto and line-up of candidates.
"We will definitely contest in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. We have been preparing the ground more than a year," he said.
"We are very well prepared and the slate of candidates which we will announce very shortly will be more than capable of taking over from the PAP team."
The SDP chief was speaking to reporters during his walkabout at Ghim Moh on Sunday morning where he introduced potential candidates to residents in the area.
While the party refused to reveal where the candidates will be contesting, Yahoo! Singapore understands that the possible line-up for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC is coming to shape.
They are social policy doctorate holder Dr Vincent Wijeyasingha, 40, academic Dr James Gomez, 45, Michelle Lee, 35, and former lecturer John Tan 49. Another possible candidate is ex-ISA detainee Teo Soh Lung.
When asked to comment on the quality of his candidates, Chee said, "Our candidates are all going to be very highly qualified professionals but I want you to look beyond that. It's because you look into their hearts, that's where the service comes in.
"But you won't find them lacking in any shape or form when it comes to their credentials, their competence, as far as our team is compared with the PAP team is concerned."
Chee went on to add that his party's candidates are good enough to rival the incumbent People's Action Party (PAP) team in the four-member Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and is confident that they can "give more than a hard fight".
"We are coming here feeling good, we worked hard, we've been preparing very hard.
"Our candidates know all the issues and they know the situation in the constituency specific as well so we feel very good coming here and I'm sure it will be a very good contest," he said.
The current PAP team is led by Minister for Community Development, Youths and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. The area received a walkover in the last 2006 election.
Chee also commented on the National Solidarity Party's (NSP) withdrawal from Yuhua, which paved the way for the SDP to contest in the area. He said that both parties were initially interested in the single-seat wards of Yuhua and Whampoa.
However, since the NSP had expressed strong interest to run in Whampoa, the SDP decided to back off from standing in the area. In return, the NSP has withdrawn from contesting in Yuhua.
"Because the NSP was also interested in Whampoa, we didn't see the need for a three-corner fight so we drew on that and the NSP has reciprocated and I think that is a very good strategy going forward because that allows both of us to fight one-on-one with the PAP," he said.
Follow Yahoo! News on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
Follow our General Election coverage here.
SDP to contest in three constituencies
<cite class="byline vcard">By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene</cite>
From left to right: Dr Vincent Wijeyasingha, Michelle Lee and Dr James Gomez could stand in Holland-Bukit Timah …Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan has confirmed that the party will be contesting in three constituencies in the upcoming General Election.
Chee revealed that the party will be contesting in Yuhua and Bukit Panjang single-member constituencies (SMC), and Holland-Bukit Timah group representation constituency (GRC).
He added that they are also planning to field a team in another constituency - possibly a GRC - but Chee declined to reveal further details. He said that an announcement will be made later this week where the party is expected to unveil its manifesto and line-up of candidates.
"We will definitely contest in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. We have been preparing the ground more than a year," he said.
"We are very well prepared and the slate of candidates which we will announce very shortly will be more than capable of taking over from the PAP team."
The SDP chief was speaking to reporters during his walkabout at Ghim Moh on Sunday morning where he introduced potential candidates to residents in the area.
While the party refused to reveal where the candidates will be contesting, Yahoo! Singapore understands that the possible line-up for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC is coming to shape.
They are social policy doctorate holder Dr Vincent Wijeyasingha, 40, academic Dr James Gomez, 45, Michelle Lee, 35, and former lecturer John Tan 49. Another possible candidate is ex-ISA detainee Teo Soh Lung.
When asked to comment on the quality of his candidates, Chee said, "Our candidates are all going to be very highly qualified professionals but I want you to look beyond that. It's because you look into their hearts, that's where the service comes in.
"But you won't find them lacking in any shape or form when it comes to their credentials, their competence, as far as our team is compared with the PAP team is concerned."
Chee went on to add that his party's candidates are good enough to rival the incumbent People's Action Party (PAP) team in the four-member Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and is confident that they can "give more than a hard fight".
"We are coming here feeling good, we worked hard, we've been preparing very hard.
"Our candidates know all the issues and they know the situation in the constituency specific as well so we feel very good coming here and I'm sure it will be a very good contest," he said.
The current PAP team is led by Minister for Community Development, Youths and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. The area received a walkover in the last 2006 election.
Chee also commented on the National Solidarity Party's (NSP) withdrawal from Yuhua, which paved the way for the SDP to contest in the area. He said that both parties were initially interested in the single-seat wards of Yuhua and Whampoa.
However, since the NSP had expressed strong interest to run in Whampoa, the SDP decided to back off from standing in the area. In return, the NSP has withdrawn from contesting in Yuhua.
"Because the NSP was also interested in Whampoa, we didn't see the need for a three-corner fight so we drew on that and the NSP has reciprocated and I think that is a very good strategy going forward because that allows both of us to fight one-on-one with the PAP," he said.
Follow Yahoo! News on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
Follow our General Election coverage here.
