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Parties, candidates descend on Elections Department to collect nomination forms

SINGAPORE — A day after the Writ of Election was issued, the Elections Department (ELD) saw a flurry of activity, as preparations for the General Election kicked into high gear.

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SINGAPORE — A day after the Writ of Election was issued, the Elections Department (ELD) saw a flurry of activity, as preparations for the General Election kicked into high gear.

Alongside the People’s Action Party (PAP) and Workers’ Party (WP), all other political parties that have indicated interest in contesting had representatives present today (Aug 26) to collect nomination forms or submit papers at the ELD office on Prinsep Link. 

A handful of potential independent candidates also made an appearance. Among them are perennial hopefuls Ooi Boon Ewe, 74, “parrot man” Zeng Guoyuan, 63, and former National Solidarity Party secretary-general Tan Lam Siong, 54, who plans to run as an independent in Potong Pasir. Also hoping to make their mark at the polls are private-car driver Shirwin Eu and blogger Han Hui Hui.

“I will be contesting most likely near my house at Bukit Panjang (single member constituency),” said Mr Eu, 32. “I chose to contest because that is my interest. I will most likely be fighting for transportation issues. My strength and flair I believe is in policies.”

Ms Han, who was charged last year for causing a public nuisance at the Speakers’ Corner and for allegedly staging a demonstration without approval, declined to comment when approached at the ELD. Later, however, she announced on her Facebook page that she plans to contest in Radin Mas and asked for donations.

Mr Zeng, who was remembered for tearing up his nomination forms on Nomination Day in 2011, said he wants to contest in Potong Pasir. “A lorry tried to kill me (two years ago) but I am still alive ... I will still fight until the end,” said Mr Zeng, who suffers from nose cancer.

Meanwhile, Mr Tan is set for a three-cornered fight with the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) and the PAP in Potong Pasir. “I am very happy that finally we are able to really do the work that we all have been preparing to do,” he said.

Mr Cedric Foo, the People’s Action Party (PAP) incumbent at Pioneer, appeared at about 3pm to collect his forms, as did a representative from the PAP’s Cheng San Branch in Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

WP’s Gerald Giam and Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap also turned up to submit papers, among them the pre-election declaration for its political donation certificate application and minority certificate applications. “The deadline is very soon (for the submission) of these forms. We thought that we should submit well ahead of it, so as not to have a last-minute scramble,” he said.

Singapore Democratic Party chairman Jeffrey George, who collected forms for his party’s candidates, said the party will make the necessary submissions by Friday. It will also be introducing its candidates — totalling 11 — on a daily basis, he added.

Other opposition parties that turned up include the Reform Party, Singaporeans First, People’s Power Party, National Solidarity Party, Singapore Democratic Alliance, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and SPP. 

DPP and SPP, which are set to field a joint team in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, was represented by Mr Mohamad Hamim Aliyas of DPP. Mr Hamim, who quit the SPP in 2013, said he was collecting forms for both parties. Asked about the negotiations between the two parties, he said it was “friendly”. “We will still wait for Nomination Day to reveal all the candidates,” he said.

SPP also sent Mr Williamson Lee to collect forms for the party — three sets for SMCs and one for GRCs. He declined to speak to the media. 

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