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No to alliance: Reform Party
By Kor Kian Beng
Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam said it is withdrawing its application to join the Singapore Democratic Alliance. -- PHOTO: REFORM PARTY
THE Reform Party has decided not to join an alliance of three opposition parties known as the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA).
Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam said it is withdrawing its application to join the alliance, citing developments this week which have deepened a rift between Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong, who is SDA chairman, and the SDA's secretary general Desmond Lim.
Mr Lim and the SDA's two other component parties have clashed with Mr Chiam whether to admit the Reform Party (RP) into the alliance. Sources in Mr Chiam's Singapore People's Party (SPP) said the opposition veteran is now thinking of pulling his party out of the SDA, to pursue merger plans with RP.
On Wednesday, Mr Jeyaretnam said the Reform Party is also open to working with Mr Chiam and his party. He said: 'We continue to admire Mr Chiam for reaching out beyond his safe seat and feel we have much common ground still.
'The people are ready for an alliance and we will continue to explore ways of allowing Mr Chiam and the SPP to join with TeamRP in forming a dream team to contest the next election.' Merger talks between Mr Chiam and Mr Jeyaretnam have been on-off since June last year. There were put on hold in May when a document with 11 points of agreement between the two leaders was leaked to the media.
Both have gone on joint walkabouts in the Bishan-Toa Payoh and Hong Kah GRCs. SDA also comprises the Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS) and the Singapore Justice Party. It was set up in 2001 for opposition parties to pool resources and contest as a united force.
By Kor Kian Beng
Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam said it is withdrawing its application to join the Singapore Democratic Alliance. -- PHOTO: REFORM PARTY
THE Reform Party has decided not to join an alliance of three opposition parties known as the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA).
Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam said it is withdrawing its application to join the alliance, citing developments this week which have deepened a rift between Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong, who is SDA chairman, and the SDA's secretary general Desmond Lim.
Mr Lim and the SDA's two other component parties have clashed with Mr Chiam whether to admit the Reform Party (RP) into the alliance. Sources in Mr Chiam's Singapore People's Party (SPP) said the opposition veteran is now thinking of pulling his party out of the SDA, to pursue merger plans with RP.
On Wednesday, Mr Jeyaretnam said the Reform Party is also open to working with Mr Chiam and his party. He said: 'We continue to admire Mr Chiam for reaching out beyond his safe seat and feel we have much common ground still.
'The people are ready for an alliance and we will continue to explore ways of allowing Mr Chiam and the SPP to join with TeamRP in forming a dream team to contest the next election.' Merger talks between Mr Chiam and Mr Jeyaretnam have been on-off since June last year. There were put on hold in May when a document with 11 points of agreement between the two leaders was leaked to the media.
Both have gone on joint walkabouts in the Bishan-Toa Payoh and Hong Kah GRCs. SDA also comprises the Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS) and the Singapore Justice Party. It was set up in 2001 for opposition parties to pool resources and contest as a united force.
