Opposition
guns for 57 seats after reaching electoral
pact
By Peh Shing Huei, Ken Kwek
March 11, 2006
The Straits Times
OPPOSITION parties last night met to carve a pact and settled on an
ambitious line-up of 57 seats that they intend to gun for at the
coming polls.
If this best case scenario happens for them, the People's Action
Party (PAP) will not be returned to power on Nomination Day for the
first time since the 1991 General Election.
After meeting for nearly an hour, more than 20 opposition figures
agreed to take up nine out of the 14 group representation
constituencies and all nine single-seats.
Whether they will eventually field candidates in all 57 seats
remains uncertain. A more realistic figure would be closer to the
low 40s, sources told The Straits Times later.
The agreement was arrived at amicably, said veteran opposition
figure Chiam See Tong at an impromptu press conference after the
pow-wow at PKMS building in Changi Road.
'We had a very good, fruitful meeting. We have come to a happy
conclusion that there will be no three-cornered contests,' he
said.
Last night's meeting marked a watershed of sorts for the opposition
for reaching a pact early on and for revealing their choice of
possible seats to boot.
In previous polls, opposition parties tended to keep their cards
completely hidden until Nomination Day. It appears to stem from a
desire to want to be known to voters in advance and not be accused
of being political Johnny-come-latelys to their wards of
choice.
But a little element of surprise remains. For example, the Workers'
Party (WP), deemed the party to watch because of its concerted
groundwork over the past few years, openly reserved four
GRCs.
These are Ang Mo Kio GRC, helmed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,
Aljunied GRC, Sembawang GRC and East Coast GRC.
But WP chairman Sylvia Lim said: 'We have named four GRCs, but in
the end we may go for three.'
The dropped GRC will likely be either Ang Mo Kio or
Sembawang.
It is also aiming for three single-seats: its own Hougang, led by
WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang, Joo Chiat and Nee Soon
East.
The Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) led by Mr Chiam settled on
the Pasir Ris-Punggol, Jalan Besar, and Tampines GRCs, along with
his own Potong Pasir seat which he has held since 1984.
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) got Jurong GRC and prevailed
over one new single-seat - Bukit Panjang.
Mr Yip Yew Weng, president of the National Solidarity Party, which
is part of the SDA, had made first bid for the seat. But last night
he deferred to SDP chairman Ling How Doong, whose PAP opponent may
be Mr Teo Ho Pin.
Mr Yip will move to the other new single-seat, Yio Chu Kang, where
the PAP's Mr Seng Han Thong may be fielded.
Only one single seat, MacPherson, still has two bidders - the
Democratic Progressive Party and the Singapore People's Party. It
will be settled amicably, said Mr Chiam.
The most prominent opposition leader in attendance last night was
Mr Chiam. Mr Low had a prior engagement, said colleague Miss
Lim.
The 57 of 84 seats the parties reserved last night is the best case
scenario, but unlikely to come to pass. Sources said that the
parties may give up as many as three GRCs due to a lack of
resources. If so, the contested seats would drop to 41.
But two unknown factors remain: the emergence of independents and
the play that veteran opposition figure J.B. Jeyaretnam is likely
to make. He said he intends to contest, provided he can annul
himself from bankruptcy at a hearing on Tuesday.
He sent a representative to last night's meeting, who gave nothing
away.
'He has a very bad sore throat and could not speak properly,' said
Mr Chiam.
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