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WP will not contest Bukit Batok by-election, cites SDP’s plans there

SINGAPORE — The Workers’ Party (WP) will not send a candidate for what is shaping up to be a multi-cornered fight in the Bukit Batok Single-Member Constituency by-election.

Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim speaking to members of the media on March 14, 2016. Photo: Amanda Lee/TODAY

Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim speaking to members of the media on March 14, 2016. Photo: Amanda Lee/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — The Workers’ Party (WP) will not send a candidate for what is shaping up to be a multi-cornered fight in the Bukit Batok Single-Member Constituency by-election.

The party’s chairman Sylvia Lim confirmed this to reporters at her Meet-the-People session on Monday (March 14), in the party’s first comments on the resignation of the ward’s hitherto Member of Parliament (MP) David Ong last Saturday.

She cited two reasons for this decision: One, the WP has not been active in engaging residents of Bukit Batok SMC; and two, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has traditionally contested the constituency.

“We noted their intention to contest, we believe they will give Bukit Batok voters a choice,” said Ms Lim.

During the Parliament sitting earlier on Monday, the Bukit Batok seat was officially vacated as Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob said she has received and accepted Mr Ong’s resignation.

The 54-year-old MP, who had just started serving his second term, quit abruptly on Saturday, citing “personal indiscretions”.

Multiple reports have linked his resignation to an alleged extramarital affair he had with Ms Wendy Lim, a grassroots volunteer in his ward.

Ms Lim said the WP executive council discussed the issue after the Bukit Batok seat was declared vacant and reached its decision not to contest the by-election.

Asked about Mr Ong’s resignation and whether the PAP could have handled the situation differently, Ms Lim declined to be drawn on the matter, saying people can form their own opinions based on information in the public domain.

“There could be mixed views on how things should be handled, I don’t think I want to add my opinion on that,” she said.

Asked whether she felt Mr Ong should have stepped down, Ms Lim said she is not aware of the full facts. “That’s the decision he has made and the party has accepted it so (that’s what they’ve done),” she added.

Asked about the WP’s stand on when the by-election should be called, Ms Lim said the party has said in Parliament previously that a three-month time frame is “reasonable”, although she noted that “that is not the law at the moment”.

“I think the expectation is there that it would be within this time frame, but as I said ... (there) didn’t seem to have a definite point that it has to be called, so we have to see how things unfold,” said Ms Lim.

“I believe the public expectation ... because it’s a single seat and because it is still early in the term, that Bukit Batok residents would need an MP as soon as possible.”

So far, the SDP and Democratic Progressive Party have indicated their intention to contest the Bukit Batok ward although other parties have not ruled themselves out. 

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