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AN APPLICATION by Jurong GRC resident Sri S. Vadivel Kounder to get the High Court to order a by-election there after the death of his MP Ong Chit Chung, was formally withdrawn this morning.
Mr Kounder, a 59-year-old part-time driver, was not in court when the application was heard.
He was represented at the hearing by Senior Counsel Philip Jeyaretnam.
The bid to get the High Court to order a by-election in the constituency was to have been argued by Mr Kounder's lawyer and veteran opposition politician J.B. Jeyaretnam.
But after Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam's death on Sept 30 from heart failure, Mr Kounder decided to withdraw his application.
Mr Philip Jeyaretnam, who is acting as legal manager to wind up his father's firm, agreed to represent Mr Kounder at the closed-door hearing.
The Attorney-General's Chambers, represented by State Counsel Shawn Ho, did not seek legal costs.
Mr Kounder, a Jurong GRC resident for 20 years, said today that he was relieved to hear that he would not have to pay any legal costs.
Mr Kounder, a former member of the opposition Workers' Party (WP), lodged his original application in early September, several months after the sudden death of Dr Ong in July.
He was hoping that it could pave the way for Mr Jeyaretnam to return to Parliament. Mr Jeyaretnam was the WP chief until 2001 and a former MP of the now-defunct Anson ward.
Although Mr Kounder said he was disappointed with having to withdraw his application, he is already looking ahead.
He said he is thinking about joining the Reform Party , which Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam set up earlier this year.
Said Mr Kounder: 'I respect Mr Jeyaretnam. I want to help build the party that he left behind.'
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Mr Kounder, a 59-year-old part-time driver, was not in court when the application was heard.
He was represented at the hearing by Senior Counsel Philip Jeyaretnam.
The bid to get the High Court to order a by-election in the constituency was to have been argued by Mr Kounder's lawyer and veteran opposition politician J.B. Jeyaretnam.
But after Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam's death on Sept 30 from heart failure, Mr Kounder decided to withdraw his application.
Mr Philip Jeyaretnam, who is acting as legal manager to wind up his father's firm, agreed to represent Mr Kounder at the closed-door hearing.
The Attorney-General's Chambers, represented by State Counsel Shawn Ho, did not seek legal costs.
Mr Kounder, a Jurong GRC resident for 20 years, said today that he was relieved to hear that he would not have to pay any legal costs.
Mr Kounder, a former member of the opposition Workers' Party (WP), lodged his original application in early September, several months after the sudden death of Dr Ong in July.
He was hoping that it could pave the way for Mr Jeyaretnam to return to Parliament. Mr Jeyaretnam was the WP chief until 2001 and a former MP of the now-defunct Anson ward.
Although Mr Kounder said he was disappointed with having to withdraw his application, he is already looking ahead.
He said he is thinking about joining the Reform Party , which Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam set up earlier this year.
Said Mr Kounder: 'I respect Mr Jeyaretnam. I want to help build the party that he left behind.'
[email protected]
