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The Opposition on electoral changes
SINGAPORE — Several Opposition parties without a current presence in parliament have expressed concern over some of the proposed rule changes on Internet elections advertising, which were tabled in Parliament on Thursday.
National Solidarity Party secretary-general Goh Meng Seng wondered if the ban against publishing falsehoods about a candidate could be enforced fairly.
Also, he pointed out: “Defamations are civil cases under the law, so isn’t it contradictory that something that falls into that category is now a seizable offence?
“What if a member of the ruling party says something unflattering
about an Opposition politician … who is going to initiate that investigation?”
Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam, too, noted: “There are existing libel laws which the Government have used effectively, so why do
we need new ones?”
In the proposed tweaks to the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Acts, publishing false statements about the personal character or conduct of a candidate could earn one a fine or a jail term of up to 12 months, or both.
Should the changes be passed, any election advertising will be banned not just on Polling Day but also the eve — the new “Cooling Off Day”. This set
Mr Goh wondering: “Would it be an offence for any opposition member to appear at a coffee shop during this period to talk about the elections?”
The Singapore Democratic Party, however, shrugged off the changes. “We intend to bring up the level of our Internet presence and campaigning during the elections, with or without the changes to the Internet guidelines,” said assistant secretarygeneral John Tan.
Meanwhile, the stipulation that just two Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) could come from a single Group Representation Constituency did not faze some. NCMP seats are for the best-performing losing opposition candidates, and the Constitutional changes would make for at least nine opposition members — elected or otherwise — in the House.
Said Singapore Democratic Alliance secretary-general Desmond Lim: “These proposals makes no difference ... our first mindset is to win, not to think of
consolations.” Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim, an NCMP, said the party will give its views when Parliament debates the motion next month, as will Singapore People’s Party secretary-general Chiam See Tong, MP for Potong
SINGAPORE — Several Opposition parties without a current presence in parliament have expressed concern over some of the proposed rule changes on Internet elections advertising, which were tabled in Parliament on Thursday.
National Solidarity Party secretary-general Goh Meng Seng wondered if the ban against publishing falsehoods about a candidate could be enforced fairly.
Also, he pointed out: “Defamations are civil cases under the law, so isn’t it contradictory that something that falls into that category is now a seizable offence?
“What if a member of the ruling party says something unflattering
about an Opposition politician … who is going to initiate that investigation?”
Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam, too, noted: “There are existing libel laws which the Government have used effectively, so why do
we need new ones?”
In the proposed tweaks to the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Acts, publishing false statements about the personal character or conduct of a candidate could earn one a fine or a jail term of up to 12 months, or both.
Should the changes be passed, any election advertising will be banned not just on Polling Day but also the eve — the new “Cooling Off Day”. This set
Mr Goh wondering: “Would it be an offence for any opposition member to appear at a coffee shop during this period to talk about the elections?”
The Singapore Democratic Party, however, shrugged off the changes. “We intend to bring up the level of our Internet presence and campaigning during the elections, with or without the changes to the Internet guidelines,” said assistant secretarygeneral John Tan.
Meanwhile, the stipulation that just two Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) could come from a single Group Representation Constituency did not faze some. NCMP seats are for the best-performing losing opposition candidates, and the Constitutional changes would make for at least nine opposition members — elected or otherwise — in the House.
Said Singapore Democratic Alliance secretary-general Desmond Lim: “These proposals makes no difference ... our first mindset is to win, not to think of
consolations.” Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim, an NCMP, said the party will give its views when Parliament debates the motion next month, as will Singapore People’s Party secretary-general Chiam See Tong, MP for Potong
