SINGAPORE - More details emerged yesterday on the rift in the Singapore People's Party (SPP) - which led to the resignation of six members on its Central Executive Commitee (CEC) - as the party re-elected, for another term, those who remained on the CEC, including veteran Opposition leader Chiam See Tong and his wife, Lina.

Sources told Today that several incidents contributed to the rift, which began about two months ago. Some were related to certain decisions made without discussion with the former CEC.

In one, Mrs Chiam had allegedly not told the former CEC about guests she could invite to her swearing-in as Non-Constituency Member of Parliament, which was attended by her family members. In another, she had threatened to issue a lawyer's letter to former first assistant secretary-general Wilfred Leung, a long-time aide to Mr Chiam, over a comment he had made about her leadership style.

The final straw came last Friday, when Mrs Chiam sent an email "blasting" Mr Leung about a mistake he had made for an office signboard that was to have been unveiled yesterday at the Ordinary Party Conference - when there had been no response to an email sent earlier by Mr Leung to the former CEC for approval.

Responding to Today's queries, Mrs Chiam said it was her "personal invitation to invite any guests of my choice for my swearing in as NCMP". On the other incidents, she said they were "laughable" and "not worth commenting".

Earlier, at the party's closed-door meeting at its Siang Kuang Avenue office, Mrs Chiam came out after an hour to read out a statement to the reporters waiting outside.

Mrs Chiam said: "The OPC (Ordinary Party Conference) has proceeded to re-elect the remaining members of the CEC. The election of the office bearers will take place after the first CEC meeting. The OPC fully supports the leadership of the CEC."

As reporters shot questions to Mrs Chiam following her statement, party supporters on security duty nudged them out and shut the doors to the party's office.

When Mr and Mrs Chiam emerged about four hours later, Mrs Chiam told reporters she had no comment when she was asked for details on the new CEC and about the disagreements with the former CEC members. Mr Chiam did not speak to reporters.

According to the SPP's constitution, the CEC will meet within three weeks of yesterday's conference to elect the office bearers. About 30 party members were seen attending the conference.

A check on the SPP's website yesterday showed 11 members remaining on the CEC - including Mr and Mrs Chiam, chairman Sin Kek Tong, first vice-chairman Yong Seng Fatt, assistant treasurer Jason Leong and head of its policy working group Jimmy Lee.

Mr Sin and Mr Lee were not present at the conference - Mr Lee is not a cadre member, while a party supporter told reporters that Mr Sin was on "sick leave".

Mr Sin could not be contacted yesterday. When contacted, Mr Lee said he was not aware that he was still part of the CEC.

The launch of a photo-book commemorating SPP's General Election campaign last year was to have been held at the party conference - a press release on the launch was sent to the media by former CEC member Benjamin Pwee - but a sign listing "security guidelines" at the entrance of its office yesterday included the line: "No unauthorised book sales".

Profits from the sale of the book through the party were to have gone towards the SPP's community service outreach. However, Mr Pwee, who was formerly SPP second assistant secretary-general, told Today that the initiative hangs in the balance. The book, titled 10 Days, will be sold at commercial book stores from today, he said.

Mr Pwee - together with Mr Leung, organising secretary Ting Sze Jiang, head of its Malay/Muslim affairs bureau Mohamad Hamim Aliyas, head of its women's wing Juliana Juwahir and head of its SME businessmen bureau David Tan - resigned on Saturday over "differences in opinion about party leadership style and party future direction".