[h=2]The longer PAP delays calling a by-election, the more it alienates voters.[/h]
Political Analyst: The longer PAP delays calling a by-election, the more it alienates voters
Bridget Welsh, Associate Professor in Political Science at Singapore Management University (SMU), gave her views while speaking to the media. She was commenting on the case of a Hougang resident filing an application with the High Court on Friday (2 Mar) requesting the Prime Minister to call for a by-election in the ward within 3 months.
Professor Welsh said, “This case brings the by-election issue to the courts, widening the call for representation and illustrates a broadening of the increasing contestation for political rights in Singapore to the courts.”
“This legal initiative reflects the reality of new politics in Singapore, where citizens not only expect engagement but are angered by an approach that shows disrespect to their voices.”
She said there are four possibilities for this case’s outcome: (1) A by-election is called and the legal case is withdrawn, (2) Questions will be raised about judicial independence if the People’s Action Party delays calling the by-election, (3) the case is thrown out “for some reason” or buried, and (4) the legal case is won and “PAP faces another public defeat and goes into a by-election further weakened”.
There is a definite dilemma for the Prime Minister now, but Professor Welsh warned that the longer PAP delays calling a by-election, “the more it sends a signal that it does not respect voters in Singapore, particularly those in Hougang”.
She added, “Questions may be asked whether the PAP is afraid of facing the polls again, which will weaken the perception of the government.”
The parliamentary seat for Hougang has been left vacant after former Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament, Yaw Shin Leong, was expelled from WP last month for his alleged extra-marital affairs and after he informed parliament that he has decided not to appeal against WP’s decision.
A by-election for Hougang is expected to be called but the prerogative for calling the by-election lies with PM Lee Hsien Loong. However, PM Lee has said that “there are many other issues on the national agenda right now” and noted that Singapore just had a General Election less than a year ago. He said that there is no fixed time within which he must call for a by-election.
It then resulted in the Hougang resident, Mrs Vellama Marie Muthu, filing the High Court application via her lawyer M Ravi.
The application called for the grant of declaration by the Court that the Prime Minister does not possess the “unfettered discretion to decide when to announce by-elections in Hougang SMC and must do so within three months or within such reasonable time the Court deems fit”. The application also stated the plaintiff be granted a mandatory order by the Court enjoining the prime minister “to advise the president to issue a writ of election, mandating a by-elections in the Hougang SMC within three months or within such reasonable time as the Court deems fit”.
The WP has also asked the Government to call a by-election in Hougang “as soon as practicable” because it is compulsory by law to hold one. The party said it is not a question of whether a by-election should be held in Hougang. “The Constitution is very clear that you need to hold a by-election for an SMC,” WP secretary general, Mr Low Thia Khiang, said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Vellama Marie Muthu has become a folk heroine of sort with many netizens supporting her actions:
Quote:
Wake Up Singapore: Bravo Mrs Vellama Marie Muthu. My fullest respect to you and your lawyer Mr M Ravi.
Wolfe: Thank you Mrs Vellama. You are a true Singaporean.
Simle a Lot: This woman is truly a ‘Citizen Action Party’! She is more ‘Men’ then many uncles around.
TheEqualizer: It’s time to STAND UP. It’s time for Singaporeans to rally around Mrs Vellama Marie Muthu.
singaporean ah lian: Wah wah wah, so who says we r scared of zeng-hoo?! 100 thumbs up to Ms Muthu!
LemonLime: Wow, wow, wow, I admire your guts! I like your guts! Many Singaporeans are supporting you, to see how PM is going to how to squirm his way out of this! I salute you, Mrs Muthu!
Wolverine_X: Hail Hail!!! Mrs Vellama Marie Muthu is Singapore’s very own Rosa Parks!!!
Bridget Welsh, Associate Professor in Political Science at Singapore Management University (SMU), gave her views while speaking to the media. She was commenting on the case of a Hougang resident filing an application with the High Court on Friday (2 Mar) requesting the Prime Minister to call for a by-election in the ward within 3 months.
Professor Welsh said, “This case brings the by-election issue to the courts, widening the call for representation and illustrates a broadening of the increasing contestation for political rights in Singapore to the courts.”
“This legal initiative reflects the reality of new politics in Singapore, where citizens not only expect engagement but are angered by an approach that shows disrespect to their voices.”
She said there are four possibilities for this case’s outcome: (1) A by-election is called and the legal case is withdrawn, (2) Questions will be raised about judicial independence if the People’s Action Party delays calling the by-election, (3) the case is thrown out “for some reason” or buried, and (4) the legal case is won and “PAP faces another public defeat and goes into a by-election further weakened”.
There is a definite dilemma for the Prime Minister now, but Professor Welsh warned that the longer PAP delays calling a by-election, “the more it sends a signal that it does not respect voters in Singapore, particularly those in Hougang”.
She added, “Questions may be asked whether the PAP is afraid of facing the polls again, which will weaken the perception of the government.”
The parliamentary seat for Hougang has been left vacant after former Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament, Yaw Shin Leong, was expelled from WP last month for his alleged extra-marital affairs and after he informed parliament that he has decided not to appeal against WP’s decision.
A by-election for Hougang is expected to be called but the prerogative for calling the by-election lies with PM Lee Hsien Loong. However, PM Lee has said that “there are many other issues on the national agenda right now” and noted that Singapore just had a General Election less than a year ago. He said that there is no fixed time within which he must call for a by-election.
It then resulted in the Hougang resident, Mrs Vellama Marie Muthu, filing the High Court application via her lawyer M Ravi.
The application called for the grant of declaration by the Court that the Prime Minister does not possess the “unfettered discretion to decide when to announce by-elections in Hougang SMC and must do so within three months or within such reasonable time the Court deems fit”. The application also stated the plaintiff be granted a mandatory order by the Court enjoining the prime minister “to advise the president to issue a writ of election, mandating a by-elections in the Hougang SMC within three months or within such reasonable time as the Court deems fit”.
The WP has also asked the Government to call a by-election in Hougang “as soon as practicable” because it is compulsory by law to hold one. The party said it is not a question of whether a by-election should be held in Hougang. “The Constitution is very clear that you need to hold a by-election for an SMC,” WP secretary general, Mr Low Thia Khiang, said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Vellama Marie Muthu has become a folk heroine of sort with many netizens supporting her actions:
Quote:
Wake Up Singapore: Bravo Mrs Vellama Marie Muthu. My fullest respect to you and your lawyer Mr M Ravi.
Wolfe: Thank you Mrs Vellama. You are a true Singaporean.
Simle a Lot: This woman is truly a ‘Citizen Action Party’! She is more ‘Men’ then many uncles around.
TheEqualizer: It’s time to STAND UP. It’s time for Singaporeans to rally around Mrs Vellama Marie Muthu.
singaporean ah lian: Wah wah wah, so who says we r scared of zeng-hoo?! 100 thumbs up to Ms Muthu!
LemonLime: Wow, wow, wow, I admire your guts! I like your guts! Many Singaporeans are supporting you, to see how PM is going to how to squirm his way out of this! I salute you, Mrs Muthu!
Wolverine_X: Hail Hail!!! Mrs Vellama Marie Muthu is Singapore’s very own Rosa Parks!!!
