Opposition parties meet to avoid three-cornered fights
SINGAPORE: Singapore's opposition parties said they
have agreed on about 80 to 90 percent of seats to contest in the
coming General Election.
This comes after an inter-party meeting on Wednesday night to avoid
three-cornered fights.
The parties also came to some resolution on what will happen in
Potong Pasir after MP Chiam See Tong sent in a notice to withdraw
his party from the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA).
The alliance is made up of the Singapore Malay National
Organisation (PKMS), Singapore Justice Party, and Mr Chiam's
Singapore People's Party which is the group's founding member. Mr
Chiam is also the Chairman of the SDA.
Singapore's opposition parties were all represented in Wednesday's
negotiations.
All eyes were on whether Mr Chiam would attend. But he was a
no-show.
In his place was SPP's Central Executive Committee member Hamim
Aliyas.
He confirmed that Mr Chiam's wife, Lina Chiam, would contest Potong
Pasir under the SPP banner.
Mr Mohd Nazem Suki, Assistant Secretary-General of SDA, said: "We
have settled that. We don't say that we are giving but it's an
honour. It's the honour to Mr Chiam itself. But then names are not
mentioned."
Mr Chiam had won the Potong Pasir seat under the banner of the
SDA.
In the latest turn of events, Mr Chiam has pulled his party out of
the alliance. The rift started after an abortive bid by Mr Chiam to
bring The Reform Party into the alliance.
Despite earlier talk of of no shows by some political parties, all
major opposition parties were present. The aim is to avoid
three-cornered fights because such an event would dilute the
chances of the opposition winning a seat.
The parties gave little away - only to say the meeting was friendly
and cordial.
But some hard bargaining took place.
Wards like Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency (GRC)
saw five parties expressing interest to contest it.
Mr Goh Meng Seng, Secretary-General of the National Solidarity
party, said: "No comments. This is consensus of the council of the
meeting that we will not reveal which are the ones not
resolved."
Mr Nazem added: "We managed to settle most of the constituencies
and we managed to get out of the three-cornered fight."
Mr Chia Ti Lik, Secretary-General of the Socialist Front, said:
"Certainly this round there's a lot more interest in contesting a
lot of seats then in the past. It's going to make for a vibrant
election."
One thing's for sure - all 12 single member constituencies will be
contested, and most of the 15 GRCs.
The parties will meet again on Saturday to finalise their battle
plans.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1113995/1/.html
