The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) conducted its first walkabout
in Punggol East on Sunday.
Led by
secretary-general Chee Soon Juan, a group of 50 members and
volunteers visited Rivervale Mall and 20 housing blocks in the
morning.
Also part of the group were party treasurer Vincent Wijeysingha,
and Dr Paul Tambyah, raising speculation that either may be chosen
as SDP's candidate in the
single-member constituency.
Dr Wijeysingha
is a lecturer and Dr Tambyah is an infectious disease expert who
has spoken at SDP's rallies and worked on several of its policy
papers. Dr Chee won't be eligible to run for an election till
2015.
Even though Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has yet to call for a
by-election, at least four opposition parties and an independent
have indicated their interest in contesting.
Besides the SDP, they are the WP, the Singapore Democratic
Alliance, the Reform Party, and former Singapore People's Party
member Benjamin Pwee. RP and SDA have also done walkabouts in
Punggol East.
Meanwhile, Dr
Wijeysingha declined to comment yesterday on a legal tussle between
him and Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin.
Dr Wijeysingha
yesterday apologised to Mr Tan for making defamatory comments about
him in a Facebook note he wrote on the recent SMRT bus drivers'
strike.
He now faces a
claim for damages that has yet to be finalised but could amount to
tens of thousands of dollars.
Asked yesterday if SDP would help raise money to pay the damages,
Dr Chee said it was between Dr Wijeysingha and Mr Tan and would not
comment.
But, he added, the turn of events was "very, very
disappointing".
"We look forward to a Singapore where politics can be debated,
where we can really have reasoned argument instead of legal action
being taken," he said.
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20130106-393670.html
