- Joined
- Dec 30, 2010
- Messages
- 12,730
- Points
- 113
by Claire Huang Jingyi
TODAY
Updated 12:17 PM Mar 13, 2012
SINGAPORE - The Supreme Court will review the application by a Hougang resident on the issue of a by-election in the single seat constituency on March 30.
This comes after Mdm Vellama Marie Muthu, 42, filed an application on March 2 with the High Court to hold the Prime Minister accountable for calling a by-election in Hougang, within three months.
Her application follows the Workers' Party's move to expel its Member of Parliament for Hougang Yaw Shin Leong amid allegations he had an extramarital affair.
Lawyer M Ravi, who is representing Mdm Vellama, told the media on March 13 that he is asking the High Court to clarify if Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong must call for a by-election and, if so, the timeframe within which a by-election should take place.
On March 9, PM Lee told Parliament that he intends to call a by-election for the vacated Hougang seat, but he has not decided when he will do so. The timing of the by-election is at the Prime Minister's discretion.
In his application, Mr Ravi said PM Lee had told Parliament he "intends" to call for a by-election, but that it is not a "must".
This, Mr Ravi said, suggests that PM Lee may call for a by-election, if he chooses to, only four years from now.
Mr Ravi argued that even if PM Lee has some discretion as to the timing of the by-election, he "cannot delay the by-election to the extent that the implied right to being represented by an MP of the voters' choice be rendered nugatory, for example, holding a by-election just before the end of the current Parliamentary term".
Mr Ravi said there therefore must be a sense of urgency when setting the time frame and by convention, three months is a reasonable time.
To force Hougang residents to go without a representative would be to treat them differently from constituents in Tanjong Pagar or any other constituency, said Mr Ravi.
TODAY
Updated 12:17 PM Mar 13, 2012
SINGAPORE - The Supreme Court will review the application by a Hougang resident on the issue of a by-election in the single seat constituency on March 30.
This comes after Mdm Vellama Marie Muthu, 42, filed an application on March 2 with the High Court to hold the Prime Minister accountable for calling a by-election in Hougang, within three months.
Her application follows the Workers' Party's move to expel its Member of Parliament for Hougang Yaw Shin Leong amid allegations he had an extramarital affair.
Lawyer M Ravi, who is representing Mdm Vellama, told the media on March 13 that he is asking the High Court to clarify if Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong must call for a by-election and, if so, the timeframe within which a by-election should take place.
On March 9, PM Lee told Parliament that he intends to call a by-election for the vacated Hougang seat, but he has not decided when he will do so. The timing of the by-election is at the Prime Minister's discretion.
In his application, Mr Ravi said PM Lee had told Parliament he "intends" to call for a by-election, but that it is not a "must".
This, Mr Ravi said, suggests that PM Lee may call for a by-election, if he chooses to, only four years from now.
Mr Ravi argued that even if PM Lee has some discretion as to the timing of the by-election, he "cannot delay the by-election to the extent that the implied right to being represented by an MP of the voters' choice be rendered nugatory, for example, holding a by-election just before the end of the current Parliamentary term".
Mr Ravi said there therefore must be a sense of urgency when setting the time frame and by convention, three months is a reasonable time.
To force Hougang residents to go without a representative would be to treat them differently from constituents in Tanjong Pagar or any other constituency, said Mr Ravi.
