Submitted by farhan on Sat, 05/09/2015 - 4:46pm
A member of the public sent the
photo below to The Online Citizen (TOC) apparently showing the
candidate for Nee Soon GRC, Lee Bee Wah, on stage at what is said
to be a getai, the nightly event to commemorate the Seventh Month
Festival.
TOC understands that the incident
took place on Friday evening.
The opposition Workers’ Party,
which is contesting the constituency in the elections, had also
been conducting its rally at the Yishun Stadium on Friday evening
as well.
Ms Lee was the Member of
Parliament (MP) for the area before the dissolution of Parliament
for the ongoing elections.
It is unclear if Ms Lee, who wore
an all-white attire, was invited to the event, or whether she had
spoken or made a speech at the getai.
On 14 August, the Singapore Police
issued a statement to remind political parties to keep getai and
the elections separate.
“Election campaigning activities
and Seventh Month Festival events should be kept separate,” the
police statement said.
The police said Seventh Month
Festival event organisers “should ensure that no speeches intended
to canvass support for election candidates and/or political parties
are delivered (at) Seventh Month Festival events”.
It is, however, unclear if
election candidates are allowed to participate in getai
activities.
The festival ends on 12
September.
The police warning in August was
issued on the first day of the month-long Hungry Ghost or Seventh
Month Festival.
It came after media reports that
several getai organisers had been “approached by political parties
that want to organise events with them to take advantage of the
massive crowds that these outdoor stage performances attract”,
according to local news reports.
UPDATE: Since the publication of
the above report, TOC has received the following note from a member
of the public, who wishes to remain anonymous:
“Dear TOC, I will like to share
with you something important. Just now when I was walking back home
to the khatib mrt, I happened to came across a GETAI performance
which is just next to the basketball court area opposite Khatib
mrt. Oh of curiosity I went to the GETAI to watch. In the midst of
the performance, I saw the mc of the GETAI introducing the arrival
of a person whom he identified as the PAP Candidate for Ngee Soon
GRC. The person is Mdm Lee Bee Wah.
“The Mc continue with his speech
and asked the audience to support her and vote for her in the
coming election.
“While the mc was talking, Mdm Lee
started to go from row to row and start shaking the hands of the
attendees of the GETAI.
“The whole process lasted for
close to 20 mins. I understand from the police advisory is that it
is against the election law to solicited for votes through the
avenue of the GETAI.”
Article first appear on The Online
Citizen
www.theonlinecitizen.com
- See more at:
http://www.allsingaporestuff.com/article/pap-candidate-lee-bee-wah-attends-seventh-month-getai-during-elections-period#sthash.IE7iuc0U.dpuf
