PAP looking at ‘very strong’ candidates for Bukit Batok

SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party (PAP) is looking at a few “very strong candidates” to defend its Bukit Batok Single-Member Constituency in the upcoming by-election, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said on Monday (March 14).

Speaking to the media at the first Meet-the-People session (MPS) for the ward after the shock resignation of its former Member of Parliament (MP) David Ong last Saturday, Mr Tharman said: “When we finally announce the candidate, I can assure you that it will be someone committed to the interests of Bukit Batok residents, and be able to speak for them and Singaporeans in Parliament.”

He declined to say whether the PAP’s Bukit Batok branch secretary Mr Leow Boon Swee, 45, who appeared at the MPS, could be a potential candidate. “I wont give any clues at this point,” Mr Tharman added.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said a by-election for Bukit Batok would be held “in due course” following the abrupt resignation last Saturday of Mr Ong, 54, over “personal indiscretions”. His resignation has been linked to an alleged extramarital affair with a grassroots volunteer in the ward Wendy Lim.

In response to TODAY’s queries as to whether Ms Lim is still a party member, a People’s Action Party (PAP) spokesman on Monday said: “As the matter is undergoing investigations, we are unable to provide further details at the moment.”

On Sunday, PAP party whip Chan Chun Sing said the party took “decisive action” from the time it knew about Mr Ong’s situation “a very short time” ago. Asked whether Mr Ong had volunteered to resign, Mr Tharman said: “Singaporeans know how to put two and two together quite cleanly. They know how the party responds whenever something like this arises.”

Mr Ong has not responded to queries since news broke of him quitting. Mr Tharman said when the former MP steps forward to address questions is something for Mr Ong to decide.

“I think he needs some private space now and that’s something for him to decide in the goodness of time. That’s something he’s already made a statement on and we’ve stated our position on it quite clearly as well,” he said.

“I think the shock is perfectly understandable. Residents knew him well. So that’s what’s foremost on our minds, making sure that everything carries on smoothly ... We’ll make sure that problems are solved, we’ll make sure that their needs are taken care of, make sure that projects that are ongoing are carried on smoothly, and are completed.”