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11 parties attend Opposition meeting

SINGAPORE — Eleven opposition parties attended talks this evening (Aug 3) to negotiate where each party will field its candidates for the coming General Election to avoid multi-cornered fights.

11 Opposition parties met at the National Solidarity Party's headquarters in Jalan Besar on Monday (Aug 3) to work out where each party will field their candidates in the coming General Election. Photo: Wee Teck Hian

11 Opposition parties met at the National Solidarity Party's headquarters in Jalan Besar on Monday (Aug 3) to work out where each party will field their candidates in the coming General Election. Photo: Wee Teck Hian

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SINGAPORE — Eleven opposition parties attended talks this evening (Aug 3) to negotiate where each party will field its candidates for the coming General Election to avoid multi-cornered fights.

The parties include the nine earlier expected to attend — the Workers’ Party (WP), National Solidarity Party (NSP), Singapore People’s Party, Reform Party (RP), Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), Singaporeans First (SingFirst), Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), People’s Power Party (PPP) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) — as well as the Socialist Front and Singapore National Front.

The Singapore National Front was once part of the SDA, but no longer. Socialist Front chairman Ng Teck Siong said he was considering forming a team for Tanjong Pagar GRC. Less than an hour into the meeting, however, Mr Ng left the meeting, citing urgent matters to attend to. His party colleague Chia Ti Lik later told reporters that the party would be sitting out this GE.

The meeting, organised by the NSP and held at its headquarters at Jalan Besar, was originally due to be held last Friday, but was postponed to accommodate some parties. Plenty of horse-trading is expected during the closed-door meeting. Speaking to reporters when the parties took a break, Singapore National Front's Karim Sattar said the atmosphere is friendly but "the discussion for one or two places is a bit heated".

Speaking to the media this evening before the talks started, party representatives spoke about where they were interested in contesting.

SDA’s Desmond Lim said he is considering contesting in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, and hopes for Opposition unity this evening.

DPP’s Seow Khee Leng said his party is keen on Fengshan SMC, while RP’s Kenneth Jeyaratnam is looking at Ang Mo Kio and West Coast GRCs, and Pioneer and Radin Mas SMCs.

Mr Yee Jenn Jong, Mr Daniel Goh and Mr Faisal Manap from WP were present and Mr Yee said they hope to avoid multi-cornered fights.

SingFirst’s Tan Jee Say said he intends to contest in Tanjong Pagar GRC, while PPP’s Goh Meng Seng says he intends to contest in Chua Chu Kang GRC.

Negotiations look to be potentially complex for certain seats, with some parties eyeing constituencies where another party had worked the ground for the 2011 elections and with new parties being formed since then. Changes to the electoral boundaries are another factor.

REPORTING BY AMANDA LEE, HON JING YI, NG JING YNG, LAURA PHILOMIN, LEE YEN NEE

WATCH: One of the National Solidarity Party's potential candidates, Kevryn Lim, speaks about issues that she would like to champion.

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