Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

PSP refutes RP’s claims about an ‘agreement’ over Yio Chu Kang SMC

SINGAPORE — The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has refuted allegations by the Reform Party (RP) that it did not honour an agreement over who would contest Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency (SMC) in the upcoming General Election (GE), saying that there was no such agreement.

The Progress Singapore Party has refuted allegations by the Reform Party that it did not honour an agreement over who would contest Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency in the upcoming General Election.

The Progress Singapore Party has refuted allegations by the Reform Party that it did not honour an agreement over who would contest Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency in the upcoming General Election.

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has refuted allegations by the Reform Party (RP) that it did not honour an agreement over who would contest Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency (SMC) in the upcoming General Election (GE), saying that there was no such agreement.

RP chairman Andy Zhu had said in a Facebook post on Thursday (June 25) that RP ceded West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) to Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s PSP in the spirit of opposition unity and that in return, the PSP offered to withdraw from various constituencies that they had been eyeing.

The PSP said on Wednesday it will run in nine constituencies, including Yio Chu Kang SMC.

In his Facebook post, Mr Zhu wrote: “PSP are deeply aware that after the ceding of West Coast GRC, we will be contesting in Ang Mo Kio GRC, Yio Chu Kang SMC and Radin Mas SMC.”

He added: “It seems like they are not honouring this gentleman's agreement that they had with our secretary-general Kenneth (Jeyaretnam). Yio Chu Kang SMC was part of Ang Mo Kio and the rights to contest should be given to us.”

But on Friday, the PSP’s assistant secretary-general Leong Mun Wai told the media that although the two parties had exchanged “a lot of ideas and principles”, they did not arrive at a formal agreement.

“We were very surprised that they said there is an agreement and we are breaking the agreement. But nevertheless if there is a misunderstanding, then I would like to apologise to (Mr Jeyaretnam) and RP,” said Mr Leong, who was speaking at a media session in which the PSP was introducing its final slate of GE candidates.

RP had contested Ang Mo Kio GRC in the two previous elections. Yio Chu Kang SMC, meanwhile, is a new ward that was carved out from Ang Mo Kio GRC.

Mr Leong added: “I hope they won’t take issue and attack Dr Tan directly, especially the honesty of Dr Tan… (He) is a man of integrity and character. We take a serious view if they continue to attack Dr Tan and we hope that they’d stop giving out further accusations, and let us all concentrate on the GE.”

When TODAY asked Mr Zhu about the disagreement with PSP during his walkabout at Ang Mo Kio GRC on Friday morning, he declined to comment further.

Dr Tan has said that the PSP is ready for three-cornered fights, and would go ahead with them if they had no choice.

“Some of the wards have been fought before by other political parties... But I think you cannot ‘chope’ a place,” he had said.

‘WE HAD AN AGREEMENT’

Speaking to TODAY on Friday evening, Mr Jeyaretnam said "it is not true" that both RP and the PSP did not come to any formal agreement, as claimed by Mr Leong.

"We have a message from him in writing," Mr Jeyaretnam said, adding that he did not want to release it to the public. "But I will if I have to."

He said that the contents of the message stated that PSP not only offered that RP contest in Yio Chu Kang SMC and Kebun Baru SMC, but "Yishun" as well — referring to Nee Soon GRC.

Mr Leong's apology, Mr Jeyaretnam said, did not change anything.

"You can't go back on an agreement. We had an agreement."

Separately, Mr Jeyaretnam clarified that his stay-home notice does not mean that he is out of the running for this GE, and it will not affect his party's campaigning during the elections.

Mr Jeyaretnam, who returned from the United Kingdom on Thursday, was placed on a 14-day stay-home notice by the authorities. 

His request for a waiver was denied by both the Ministry of Health and the Elections Department of Singapore.

He will, however, still be allowed to file his nomination papers through an authorised person.

Mr Jeyaretnam said that the ability to live stream videos on the party's Facebook page has levelled the playing field by allowing the party to reach out to supporters despite the physical limitations posed by Covid-19 regulations.

As for the party political broadcasts and the constituency broadcasts — which are video messages from political parties that will be aired on national television in lieu of physical rallies — Mr Jeyaretnam said that he did not anticipate any problems.

"If I'm not able to do it, somebody else in the party will do it," he said, adding that arrangements have been made for these to be done remotely. 

Related topics

PSP Reform Party Yio Chu Kang Singapore General Election SGVotes2020

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.