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The Constitution does not provide any specific time frame within which a by-election must be called should an MP vacate his seat for any reason.
From the looks of it, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is not enthusiastic about calling for a by-election in Hougang. He told the media that he would consider the matter carefully, but that there were “many other issues on the national agenda right now“.
This sounds evasive, and indeed, irresponsible. The fact that Hougang residents are no longer being represented in Parliament, even if Aljunied MPs and their own council are ready to serve their needs as residents, is an important issue that must be addressed quickly.
PM Lee also ungraciously took the opportunity to take a swipe at WP, saying: “… the Hougang SMC is vacant, as a result of what Mr Yaw Shin Leong has done, and the way the WP has handled the matter … the WP has let down the voters of Hougang.”
This statement is nothing more than petty politicking. It is royally unfair as WP has made it abundantly clear that the episode was the fault of one man, and not the fault of collective party leadership.
And as a Sammyboy forummer so eloquently put it: “PM, do not forget that Yaw broke NO law of your PAP government and contravened NOTHING in the penal code, unlike your Teh Cheang Wan, Wee Toon Boon, and Choo Wee Khiang who were retained as MPs until the day they were charged. Choo WK, the uncle of Hougang’s Desmond Choo, was even speaking at PAP rallies while under police investigation. WP has a moral ground your PAP can never meet.”
- http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=7349
From the looks of it, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is not enthusiastic about calling for a by-election in Hougang. He told the media that he would consider the matter carefully, but that there were “many other issues on the national agenda right now“.
This sounds evasive, and indeed, irresponsible. The fact that Hougang residents are no longer being represented in Parliament, even if Aljunied MPs and their own council are ready to serve their needs as residents, is an important issue that must be addressed quickly.
PM Lee also ungraciously took the opportunity to take a swipe at WP, saying: “… the Hougang SMC is vacant, as a result of what Mr Yaw Shin Leong has done, and the way the WP has handled the matter … the WP has let down the voters of Hougang.”
This statement is nothing more than petty politicking. It is royally unfair as WP has made it abundantly clear that the episode was the fault of one man, and not the fault of collective party leadership.
And as a Sammyboy forummer so eloquently put it: “PM, do not forget that Yaw broke NO law of your PAP government and contravened NOTHING in the penal code, unlike your Teh Cheang Wan, Wee Toon Boon, and Choo Wee Khiang who were retained as MPs until the day they were charged. Choo WK, the uncle of Hougang’s Desmond Choo, was even speaking at PAP rallies while under police investigation. WP has a moral ground your PAP can never meet.”
- http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=7349
