No by-election for Ang Mo Kio GRC

last SG · 2010-10-01T16:30:35+00:00

Thomson is part of Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC also.

tranquilice SG

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said the government will not consider holding a by-election for Ang Mo Kio GRC.

He said the other MPs in the GRC will help to take care of the Cheng San-Seletar ward vacated by the passing of Dr Balaji Sadasivan.

He said this is similar to what happened when MP for Jurong GRC Dr Ong Chit Chung died in 2008.

Mr Lee was speaking to reporters after paying his last respects to the late Dr Balaji at the Cheng San Community Club.

Dr Balaji, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in late 2008, had apparently suffered a relapse and died early Monday morning.

Dr Balaji was also the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Mr Lee said he has lost a good friend and colleague.

"He was a good friend, very good man, good colleague on the ground as well as in the government. And we are very sad to see him go before his time. He was a doctor, he knew what the diagnosis meant. He stayed completely calm. And he continued working and attending to his duties right up to the end. We will miss him for a long time," he said.

Mr Lee was accompanied by his wife, grassroots members and residents.

Other colleagues of Dr Balaji and members of the public also turned up at the wake. Among them were Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed and former minister Lee Yock Suan.

Representatives from the different religious organisations were also present. Many said Dr Balaji was a person with a big heart, and was full of insight.

Timothy Ooi, a former patient of Dr Balaji, recalled: "He was very caring, (he) gave very practical advice, and he really took care of me, over the years. Even after year 2000, when I bumped into him, he still chats with me, and checks how I am doing."

βέτά SG

I think it was stupid of him not to hold a by-election for Jurong GRC when Dr Ong Chit Chung passed on. It would been a good gauge on the sentiments of the electorate, even if you lose Jurong GRC, you can improve on your policies to win more votes for the General Elections. You might lose a battle, but you would have won the war.

I don't think he dare risk putting up Ang Mo Kio GRC for by-election because his seat is in Ang Mo Kio GRC, he risk not getting elected.

Seriously, if I were him, if it was any other GRC other than Ang Mo Kio GRC, I would have risk it to get a better understanding of the electorate. Unless of course they are 100% confident of winning the next election, then the statistics gained from the by-election would have been redundant.

hasene SG

This incapable Peee M Lee Hsien Loong can't stand the thought of losing seat to opps and so is not for by election. Tell him la, must as well convert the whole of Singapore to monarchy or communism so that he and father will be rest assured there is no political competition for them.

Clivebenss SG

The GRC system deprives the constituents to be served by an MP should there be no by election with a death of an MP.

dechang SG

I don't think he dare risk putting up Ang Mo Kio GRC for by-election because his seat is in Ang Mo Kio GRC, he risk not getting elected.

Don't you know that the PAP have always been very confident of themself?

likeyou SG

I dont understand why need the by-election?

Clivebenss SG

I dont understand why need the by-election?

one less voice in parliament.

Rock^Star SG

what voice?

charlize SG

I dont understand why need the by-election?

Why the need for elections even?

Oh yah, one day holiday.

My bad.

βέτά SG

Don't you know that the PAP have always been very confident of themself?

Pride comes before a fall. :lol:

Samuel Lee SG

Hmm.....

经一事，长一智。。。。 With the lesson learnt by the Ong's Bukit Batok issue, I think it is no surprise that no by election will be held.

Hmm...

Sure bo? What if that is Tanjong Pagar GRC (Even assuming the one who step down is not the old man but one of the other 5 minion whom I dont really know who.)?

(If that is the old man, then cannot clear the mess liao.)

105090 SG

no public holiday :(

Samuel Lee SG

no public holiday :(

Usually in weekends ma. So got holiday or not also no use. (Is it possible only Ang Mo Kioerans and workplace / schools in Ang Mo Kio got the holiday??)

dechang SG

Pride comes before a fall. :lol:

PAP will never lose 1 lah. Even if they lose they will just send the army down to arrest and throw all the opposition members to jail

tranquilice SG

Why the need for elections even?

Oh yah, one day holiday.

My bad.

Voting day is usually on Saturday.

Holiday? What holiday when most people don't work on Saturday.

tranquilice SG

PAP will never lose 1 lah. Even if they lose they will just send the army down to arrest and throw all the opposition members to jail

Whose army?

likeyou SG

Whose army?

Mindef??

Junyang700 SG

Aiyah... elections coming soon anyway... No need for by elections liao I guess. By liao few months later elections again...

likeyou SG

Aiyah... elections coming soon anyway... No need for by elections liao I guess. By liao few months later elections again...

Or just their ploy?

tranquilice SG

Mindef??

No, not mindef. It's his secret army. He doesn't trust the citizens.