Published on Jan 15, 2013
4:18 PM
In a shock move, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) announced on
Tuesday that it will not be contesting the Punggol East
by-election.
Secretary-general Chee Soon Juan made the announcement at a press
conference at the party headquarters, one day before Nomination
Day.
As recently as Monday night, Dr Chee had indicated the party would
contest when he told reporters that the SDP had decided on which
candidate to field.
An SDP member also collected a political donation certificate
earlier on Tuesday. Party activists have also been distributing
flyers in Punggol East every night since the writ of election was
issued last Wednesday.
The SDP had also tabled a proposal to the Workers' Party (WP) to
field a unity candidate, which the WP rebuffed. SDP had then said
over the weekend it would proceed "full steam ahead" with its plan
to contest.
Dr Chee said at the press conference that he was heeding the call
from the public to preserve opposition unity...
http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/sdp-pulls-out-punggol-east-election-20130115