Why Ass Loon So Scared of Jurong GRC By-Election?

[makapaaa]

Is he trying to run away from something? What is he not confident of?

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Aug 27, 2008
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>By-election rules to stay <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Lydia Lim, Senior Political Correspondent
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Prof Thio said Singaporeans have shifted from concern with needs, to wants, from the tangible to intangible values, and 'it is healthy to interrogate rationales for laws and process at regular intervals, to test their cogency'. -- ASHLEIGH SIM/THE STRAITS TIMES
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PARLIAMENT on Wednesday defeated a motion calling on the Government to change the law so as to require a by-election should the minority candidate or half or more of the members of a GRC vacate their seats.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>Proposed 3 conditions for by-elections

On the three situations when by-elections should be called, Professor Thio Li-Ann proposed the following:

If a single member constituency (SMC) seat is vacated, elections should be held within three months, pending an amendment of the Parliamentary Elections Act.

In a GRC, she proposed that by-elections should be called within three months only when half or more GRC MPs vacate their seat.

The third situation where a by-election should be called is when the minority MP in the GRC vacates his seat.



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Prof Thio Li-ann's speech in Parliament
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The motion filed by Nominated MP Thio Li-ann was defeated by 62 to five votes.
Ten MPs joined in the four-hour debate, which saw Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong setting out the Government's stand for the first time since the death of Jurong GRC MP Ong Chit Chung last month sparked debate on the issue.
Mr Lee said the law was clear (to who?) that a by-election need only be held when all the members of a GRC vacate their seats. There is also no deadline for when a by-election must be held, which is a matter for the Prime Minister to decide (like what an dictator is entitled to?).
He also explained the political thinking behind the law.
The Prime Minister told the House that the Singapore system of representative democracy placed the emphasis on the choice of a political party to form the Government - not the choice of candidates to become Members of Parliament. (except that this is what the Familee wishes for!)
Singapore (or PAPee?) deliberately chose the first model so that individual MPs could not force by-elections at random, thereby distracting the country from more important issues (like enriching the Familee?). As a result, Singapore has enjoyed stability (more like PAPee enjoying perpetual rule and enslaving of the people!), Mr Lee said.
Under such a system, when a parliamentary seat falls vacant mid-term, the ruling party steps in to make sure affected constituents are taken care of. 'If a seat falls vacant mid-term, the Prime Minister has the full discretion when to call a by-election because the vacancy does not affect the mandate of the government, nor its ability to deliver on its programmes and promises,' he said. (in other words, the Parleement in overstaffed and overpaid for its workload lah!)

 

[zack123]

Today Mahathir mentioned that Anwar cannot buy over the BN MPs cos BN leaders have more money and can outbuy Anwar.

In Singapore although buying out candidates from other parties are not practiced, some opposition MPs are acting as though their have been bought over judging from their silence.

If this goes on, PAP will not have any fear for the coming elections.

 

[wizard]

By election....

PAP need more candidate to squeeze in - Can lah.. We blar blar blar......

Opposition - cannot lah

JB contesting - Cannot lah...

I think Singaporean is Kiasu is adopt right from the top- PAP

 

[splintuh]

If a single member constituency (SMC) seat is vacated, elections should be held within three months, pending an amendment of the Parliamentary Elections Act. In a GRC, she proposed that by-elections should be called within three months only when half or more GRC MPs vacate their seat.

That's reasonable, and is based on simple common sense. I wouldn't have expected anything less given that in both scenarios, my representatives are virtually(or wholly) missing.

The third situation where a by-election should be called is when the minority MP in the GRC vacates his seat.

I personally don't think this is necessary, as it places additional focus on the minority MP. All GRC MPs should be treated equal in this case as they ran as a team. Anyway, imo some minority MPs are just tokens...

Mr Lee said the law was clear that a by-election need only be held when all the members of a GRC vacate their seats. There is also no deadline for when a by-election must be held, which is a matter for the Prime Minister to decide (like what an dictator is entitled to?).

Yawn... he's only re-stating the current law, while the motion is clearly to amend the law. Fyi Mr Lee, by the virtue of democracy, we should be reviewing all the electoral laws.

The Prime Minister told the House that the Singapore system of representative democracy placed the emphasis on the choice of a political party to form the Government - not the choice of candidates to become Members of Parliament. (except that this is what the Familee wishes for!)

Yup, that's why you can (and do) get a bunch of monkeys to run under in a GRC, personalities and characters are no longer required.

I nominate barbie to run in my GRC at the next GE. She's a female, she's incorruptable, doesn't need an huge MP allowance, won't die creating a vacant seat, will never vote against the party, will never talk her head off like LBW, represents a minority group, and looks better than most of the women MPs.

Wow, putting things in perspective, Barbie is the perfect candidate for PAP.

... thereby distracting the country from more important issues.

Yah, we heard that from LHL at the last election. He'd need to spend time to think of ways to fix the opposition... what a distraction.... *wave fingers*

Under such a system, when a parliamentary seat falls vacant mid-term, the ruling party steps in to make sure affected constituents are taken care of.

I read this to mean that if Mr Low / Chiam vacate their seats, PAP has the mandate to step in and manage the constituency given that they are the ruling party. Anyone else read it that way?

 

[Frankiestine]

He will not lose in the by election but he will definitely have a reduce majority from the last result and this to him is tantamount to a slap in the face.

 

[hughgrant]

to be honest for a small country need to have 70+ MPs? 2/3 of them die tomorrow the country will still function

 

[nexus]

The whole PAppy clearly know that they will lose Jurong GRC if a by-election is call at this moment given so many unpopular policies in the last one year. When the leader is useless and a coward do you expect those under him to be any better?

They will only cling on to power using any means.

 

[captainxerox]

the anwar win is the story circulated in pap on why by-election is stupid idea!

 

[hearthard]

The by-election in Anson won by JBJ is one lesson learnt by PAP