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Business Times - 16 Feb 2012
Sacking of WP's Yaw opens door to by-election
PM Lee to decide if and when to hold the polls for the Hougang ward
By LEE U-WEN
(SINGAPORE) The Republic could have its first by-election since 1992 after the opposition Workers' Party (WP) yesterday sacked Yaw Shin Leong - the Member of Parliament for Hougang - over his alleged extra-marital affair.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will make the call on whether and when to hold this by-election, although there is no fixed timeframe that requires him to do so. Under the law, an elected MP who loses membership of the political party that he contested on is deemed to have vacated his seat.
'On whether and when to hold a by-election in Hougang, I will consider the matter carefully. There are many other issues on the national agenda right now,' Mr Lee said in a statement.
WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang told a news conference that it was a 'difficult and painful' decision to make, though PAP chairman Khaw Boon Wan pointed to the 'sudden U-turn' by the opposition party, which had appeared to stand by its man till a few days back.
Mr Low said that the step was necessary in order for the WP and its other MPs to 'stand tall and hold their head up' in order to make good on its promise of taking the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) to account.
'Although he has made his contributions to the Workers' Party in the past, the party believes in transparency and accountability. We cannot compromise the basic fundamental principles,' said Mr Low, who heads the five-member WP team in Aljunied.
Party chairman Sylvia Lim noted that by continuing not to account to the party and the people, especially the residents of Hougang, Mr Yaw had 'broken the faith, trust and expectations' placed in him.
Mr Yaw has been in the spotlight ever since allegations of an extra-marital affair with a fellow party member first surfaced online on Jan 20. He refused to comment on the rumours when pressed on numerous occasions.
Eyebrows were raised when Mr Yaw unexpectedly resigned as party treasurer without giving a reason. He was last seen in public four days ago at a Chinese New Year dinner celebration with over a thousand Hougang residents.
News of the troubled 35-year-old's sacking went viral on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter barely minutes after the shock announcement.
Some netizens praised the WP for taking action early rather than risk a greater defeat at the next polls, while others described the incident as a major setback for the opposition in general.
Mr Yaw - who has been a core member of the WP leadership for over 10 years - was not present at the hastily convened press conference held at the party's Syed Alwi Road headquarters.
Ms Lim revealed that she had told Mr Yaw's wife about the decision yesterday morning, given that she had been unable to contact Mr Yaw directly.
Weighing in on the saga, Mr Khaw, who is also National Development Minister, expressed surprise at the 'sudden U-turn' by the WP, which had appeared to stand by Mr Yaw over the weekend only to expel him days later and pin the blame on him.
'Why did WP take so long to investigate? . . . The people need to know. WP needs to come clean with the people, what information have they got about him, and in particular what did they know about him prior to the May elections (last year). And if they knew what they did, why did they field Mr Yaw?' said Mr Khaw, adding that Hougang residents had been 'misled' by the party.
When asked if the PAP's losing candidate in Hougang, Desmond Choo, would be fielded at the by-election, were it to take place, Mr Khaw would only say that Mr Choo was the PAP's current Hougang branch chairman and that the party would always be ready once any election is called.
The last time Singapore had a by-election was back in 1992 in Marine Parade. A four-member PAP team led by then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong enjoyed a landslide victory in a four-cornered fight. The last single-seat ward to have a by-election was Anson in 1981, won by then-WP leader JB Jeyaratnam.
Business Times - 16 Feb 2012
Sacking of WP's Yaw opens door to by-election
PM Lee to decide if and when to hold the polls for the Hougang ward
By LEE U-WEN
(SINGAPORE) The Republic could have its first by-election since 1992 after the opposition Workers' Party (WP) yesterday sacked Yaw Shin Leong - the Member of Parliament for Hougang - over his alleged extra-marital affair.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will make the call on whether and when to hold this by-election, although there is no fixed timeframe that requires him to do so. Under the law, an elected MP who loses membership of the political party that he contested on is deemed to have vacated his seat.
'On whether and when to hold a by-election in Hougang, I will consider the matter carefully. There are many other issues on the national agenda right now,' Mr Lee said in a statement.
WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang told a news conference that it was a 'difficult and painful' decision to make, though PAP chairman Khaw Boon Wan pointed to the 'sudden U-turn' by the opposition party, which had appeared to stand by its man till a few days back.
Mr Low said that the step was necessary in order for the WP and its other MPs to 'stand tall and hold their head up' in order to make good on its promise of taking the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) to account.
'Although he has made his contributions to the Workers' Party in the past, the party believes in transparency and accountability. We cannot compromise the basic fundamental principles,' said Mr Low, who heads the five-member WP team in Aljunied.
Party chairman Sylvia Lim noted that by continuing not to account to the party and the people, especially the residents of Hougang, Mr Yaw had 'broken the faith, trust and expectations' placed in him.
Mr Yaw has been in the spotlight ever since allegations of an extra-marital affair with a fellow party member first surfaced online on Jan 20. He refused to comment on the rumours when pressed on numerous occasions.
Eyebrows were raised when Mr Yaw unexpectedly resigned as party treasurer without giving a reason. He was last seen in public four days ago at a Chinese New Year dinner celebration with over a thousand Hougang residents.
News of the troubled 35-year-old's sacking went viral on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter barely minutes after the shock announcement.
Some netizens praised the WP for taking action early rather than risk a greater defeat at the next polls, while others described the incident as a major setback for the opposition in general.
Mr Yaw - who has been a core member of the WP leadership for over 10 years - was not present at the hastily convened press conference held at the party's Syed Alwi Road headquarters.
Ms Lim revealed that she had told Mr Yaw's wife about the decision yesterday morning, given that she had been unable to contact Mr Yaw directly.
Weighing in on the saga, Mr Khaw, who is also National Development Minister, expressed surprise at the 'sudden U-turn' by the WP, which had appeared to stand by Mr Yaw over the weekend only to expel him days later and pin the blame on him.
'Why did WP take so long to investigate? . . . The people need to know. WP needs to come clean with the people, what information have they got about him, and in particular what did they know about him prior to the May elections (last year). And if they knew what they did, why did they field Mr Yaw?' said Mr Khaw, adding that Hougang residents had been 'misled' by the party.
When asked if the PAP's losing candidate in Hougang, Desmond Choo, would be fielded at the by-election, were it to take place, Mr Khaw would only say that Mr Choo was the PAP's current Hougang branch chairman and that the party would always be ready once any election is called.
The last time Singapore had a by-election was back in 1992 in Marine Parade. A four-member PAP team led by then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong enjoyed a landslide victory in a four-cornered fight. The last single-seat ward to have a by-election was Anson in 1981, won by then-WP leader JB Jeyaratnam.
