Reform Party targets Tg Pagar GRC
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Oct 24, 2010
Opposition also eyes Holland-Bukit Timah, signalling plans to contest 5 GRCs so far
By Zakir Hussain
http://www.straitstimes.com/News/Home/Story/STIStory_594599.html
Tanjong Pagar GRC could see its first electoral contest since it was formed in 1991 at the coming polls, if the Reform Party (RP) delivers on its plans.
Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam has declared the party's intention to contest the six-member group representation constituency, if it has enough candidates.
The People's Action Party (PAP) team representing Tanjong Pagar GRC is led by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and includes Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew. Since 1991, Tanjong Pagar GRC MPs have all been returned unopposed.
The number of GRCs that the RP plans to contest has grown to five, with the latest additions being Tanjong Pagar GRC and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. Mr Jeyaretnam, 51, mentioned those two GRCs for the first time in an interview with Malay daily Berita Harian, which was published yesterday.
Earlier, the RP said it would contest Hong Kah and West Coast GRCs, and the Chua Chu Kang single-member constituency (SMC), on its own. It would also run in the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in a tie-up with Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong's Singapore People's Party.
Contacted by The Sunday Times, Mr Jeyaretnam said: 'One of our objectives is to see that every seat in Parliament is contested.'
Yesterday, two-term Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Indranee Rajah welcomed the possibility of an electoral fight. 'Tanjong Pagar MPs are ready for a contest,' she said, adding that opposition members have been seen visiting parts of the sprawling GRC.
It covers a large area in central Singapore and spans Balestier Road in the east to MacRitchie Reservoir in the north and Commonwealth in the west.
The RP picked its five GRCs because they had not been contested in recent elections. The son of the late opposition leader J.B. Jeyaretnam added that West Coast and Tanjong Pagar GRCs also have historical connections with his father.
'My father contested Telok Blangah, which is now in West Coast GRC, and was elected MP twice in Anson, which now comes under Tanjong Pagar GRC.' Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam contested Telok Blangah in the 1979 by-election and the 1980 general election, losing both times.
He became Singapore's first opposition MP in 15 years when he won Anson in the 1981 by-election. Then the Workers' Party chief, he defended the seat in 1984. But he had to vacate it in 1986 after being fined $5,000 for making a false declaration on his party accounts. He set up the Reform Party in 2008 but died later that year.
The opposition parties are now gearing up for a general election, which must be held by February 2012.
The National Solidarity Party has been targeting Jalan Besar, Jurong and Tampines GRCs and the MacPherson SMC. The Workers' Party has been active in Aljunied and East Coast GRCs, as well as Joo Chiat and Nee Soon East SMCs.
The Singapore Democratic Alliance is contesting the Pasir Ris- Punggol GRC, while the Singapore Democratic Party is targeting the Bukit Panjang SMC.
If the opposition parties' plans come to fruition, this election could be the most keenly contested since 1988, when 70 out of 81 seats were contested.
Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam told Berita Harian that the RP's prospective Malay candidates, to be named later, include professionals and former civil servants.
The RP now has 100 members and as many volunteers. It announced six party candidates in May, and yesterday, Mr Jeyaretnam said there are six more seriously considering standing.
He also told Berita Harian that 'we want to end the policy of treating Malays as a group that is suspicious, who cannot be trusted to hold key posts in security and defence'.
'We don't want to treat or typecast anybody on the basis of race,' he added.
Hong Kah GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad refuted this, saying: 'He is outdated. No such policy exists. There is a lot more progress that Malays can look forward to under the PAP and its policies.'
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Haha.... Looks like PAP cant afford to fill in new candidates to contest in Tanjong Pagar GRC this time round.
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Good, I can vote again.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
Good, I can vote again.
Depends where I guess.... Tanjong Pagar GRC is a 6 member.. and they are making it 5 i think....
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Why not Marine Parade as well? Or is Workers Party can eye there as well since WP contest East Coast GRC and Joo Chiat SMC as well as Aljunied GRC (Above Marine Parade GRC in Braddell Heights, part of MP GRC in Serangoon Central / MRT station, is Aljunied GRC)
Well Junyang, btw, there will be some 4 men GRC, and to compenstate that, there will definitely have some 6 men GRC one.
I expect Braddell Heights to go Bishan - Toa Payoh GRC, or Potong Pasir (Unlikely due to opposition so like no choice) if neither, then the surroundings (Braddell Heights - MP GRC, Serangoon - ALJ GRC, mainly Serangoon Gardens, Jalan Kayu - AMK GRC, which happened to be on Serangoon North and Paya Lebar - ALJ GRC, which mainly on Hougang South / Kovan MRT station) can just form a 4 men Serangoon GRC with dunno which minister lead it (Since if this 4 men arrangement, then currently has NONE).
Tanjong Pagar most likely to be 6 and Ang Mo Kio, if not still Sembawang be 6 men GRC. I rather place the chance of break-up 6men GRC at Pasir Ris - Punggol.
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Originally posted by FireGas:
Why not Marine Parade as well? Or is Workers Party can eye there as well since WP contest East Coast GRC and Joo Chiat SMC as well as Aljunied GRC (Above Marine Parade GRC in Braddell Heights, part of MP GRC in Serangoon Central / MRT station, is Aljunied GRC)
Well Junyang, btw, there will be some 4 men GRC, and to compenstate that, there will definitely have some 6 men GRC one.
I expect Braddell Heights to go Bishan - Toa Payoh GRC, or Potong Pasir (Unlikely due to opposition so like no choice) if neither, then the surroundings (Braddell Heights - MP GRC, Serangoon - ALJ GRC, mainly Serangoon Gardens, Jalan Kayu - AMK GRC, which happened to be on Serangoon North and Paya Lebar - ALJ GRC, which mainly on Hougang South / Kovan MRT station) can just form a 4 men Serangoon GRC with dunno which minister lead it (Since if this 4 men arrangement, then currently has NONE).
Tanjong Pagar most likely to be 6 and Ang Mo Kio, if not still Sembawang be 6 men GRC. I rather place the chance of break-up 6men GRC at Pasir Ris - Punggol.
I see...
I got a feeling Braddell Heights to AMK GRC.
Sembawang GRC and AMK GRC to have some adjustments too.... -
Election fever is almost upon Singapore!
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Originally posted by charlize:
Election fever is almost upon Singapore!
Indeed!
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Pointless.
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Originally posted by ditzy:
Pointless.
Be more optimistic.
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
Be more optimistic.
Ok, so bet on Asian Handicap, PAP -35% and RP +35%. Who will win then.
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Originally posted by C751A 70049/70050:
Ok, so bet on Asian Handicap, PAP -35% and RP +35%. Who will win then.
LOL.. They might not win, but it matters how much percentage PAP wins over the votes.
I would buy RP + 35%. -
Originally posted by Junyang700:
LOL.. They might not win, but it matters how much percentage PAP wins over the votes.
I would buy RP + 35%.
In Anson, there are some JB's supporters. Votes go to Kenneth RP.GReat number of elites stay in the TP GRC. Many of whom will I guess vote for PAP. Some oldies from TP still have strong support for LKY.
On the whole, this is going to be something to look forward to. Son of the enemy of LKY in to conquer TP GRC.
He and team have guts. -
Originally posted by onźźa:
In Anson, there are some JB's supporters. Votes go to Kenneth RP.GReat number of elites stay in the TP GRC. Many of whom will I guess vote for PAP. Some oldies from TP still have strong support for LKY.
On the whole, this is going to be something to look forward to. Son of the enemy of LKY in to conquer TP GRC.
He and team have guts.Yeah... Hope the contest is for real... I would say this is the most difficult GRC to guess the percentage of voters to the PAP and opposition.
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
Yeah... Hope the contest is for real... I would say this is the most difficult GRC to guess the percentage of voters to the PAP and opposition.
I have many friends and relatives there. They have been waiting for so long for a party to contest there. I know which party they will be voting for if TP is contested, no doubt about it.If it takes place, it is going to be like a small drama. Son of the late victim in for "vengeance".
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they doing this to help other opposition parties.............show gutless S'poreans they got the balls to challenge the OLD FUCKER !
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I see.... sounds optimistic.
My side SDP always contest.. hard to make a choice....
One is too "free"... one is too "autocratic".... -
Originally posted by Asromanista2001:
they doing this to help other opposition parties.............show gutless S'poreans they got the balls to challenge the OLD FUCKER !
Not confirm yet. RP still filling in the candidates.RP releases this news too fast. If in the case they fail to get enough candidates to contest residents in TP will be very disappointed.
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It will be very interesting if there is some contest in those "hot" GRCs with heavyweight people in there.
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if there is no walkover in next election, that will be good, everyone get to vote.
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Originally posted by ditzy:
Pointless.
They are sending a suicide team over at Tanjong pargar. -
Originally posted by likeyou:
suicideSomebody's favourite word...
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Originally posted by likeyou:
They are sending a suicide team over at Tanjong pargar.YOu copied and pasted from Temasek Review. Be original.
Do you agree better to leave Lee Kuan Yew in Tg Pagar GRC, nobody is to contest him?
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Originally posted by onźźa:
YOu copied and pasted from Temasek Review. Be original.
Do you agree better to leave Lee Kuan Yew in Tg Pagar GRC, nobody is to contest him?
I think its good to test the ground sometimes.... contest every single ward is the best - be it SMC or GRC.