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[h=2]WP says no to SDP’s proposal, Benjamin Pwee pulls out[/h]
January 13th, 2013 |
Author: Editorial
Punggol East SMC
WP has stated categorically that its focus continues to be fulfilling its promise to offer a choice to voters in Punggol East.
In a brief statement yesterday (12 Jan), Mr Gerald Giam, who is in charge of WP’s media team, said,
Not surprisingly, the SDP’s proposal drew flak from numerous bloggers and netizens on the Net.
Lucky Tan, a popular blogger said (‘Opposition politics gets messy in Punggol East By-Election‘):
“There are ample precedents for collaboration between diverse political parties in the UK, Canada, Germany and Australia. Closer to home, the DAP in Malaysia chose to support the PAS candidate in Kedah despite vast ideological differences in order to defeat the governing Barisan Nasional.”
SDP added, “The SDP was open to all possibilities including supporting the WP candidate and running the Town Council ourselves or any other creative solutions. We look forward to a healthy contest of ideas in this by-election.”
Dr Chee said SDP would now continue with its own campaign, going “full steam ahead”, but will still remain open to talks with the WP.
It will approach other parties as well to avoid having a multi-cornered fight, he added.
Benjamin Pwee, former Singapore People’s Party member has pulled out of the Punggol East by-election contest.
Mr Pwee told the media that he was in “deep negotiations” to take over the helm of “a major longstanding party” and contest the by-election, but “there was just not enough time” to hold a party congress to bring him into the party before Nomination Day, which is on Wed.
Earlier, Mr Seow Khee Leng, secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said he would be letting Mr Pwee to helm the party.
After GE 2011, Mr Pwee with 5 others left the Singapore People’s Party, citing differences in the party’s leadership style and direction.
Meanwhile the media also reported that Kenneth Jeyaretnam, RP’s Secretary-General, said he had made an offer to WP too.
Mr Jeyaretnam proposed that WP fields him as its candidate. If elected, he would likewise be the MP in Parliament while WP runs the Punggol East Town Council.
He said that whether the WP agreed or not, he would stand in Punggol East.
.
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WP has stated categorically that its focus continues to be fulfilling its promise to offer a choice to voters in Punggol East.
In a brief statement yesterday (12 Jan), Mr Gerald Giam, who is in charge of WP’s media team, said,
“The Workers’ Party has noted SDP’s proposal. Our focus continues to be fulfilling our promise to offer a choice to voters in Punggol East.”
Earlier, SDP’s Secretary-General Dr Chee Soon Juan, had proposed to WP to run a joint campaign in the Punggol East by-election. SDP wants to field a “unity candidate” from its party in the joint campaign and said that if the opposition wins, the SDP’s candidate will become the MP in Parliament while WP will run the Punggol East Town Council.
Not surprisingly, the SDP’s proposal drew flak from numerous bloggers and netizens on the Net.
Lucky Tan, a popular blogger said (‘Opposition politics gets messy in Punggol East By-Election‘):
“The recent proposal by SDP for WP not to participate in the by-election is ludicrous and self-damaging – they lost some of the credibility they gained during GE2011…
the best thing they can do now is not to make things worse for themselves by joining a contest they will certainly lose due to lack of time to work the ground and be blamed for causing the loss of a seat that could have been won by another opposition party. Unfortunately, based on what they have done in recent days, I’m not sure if they are able to stop damaging their own reputation further.”
Andrew Loh, Editor of Pubichouse.sg, criticised (‘SDP’s political naivete‘):the best thing they can do now is not to make things worse for themselves by joining a contest they will certainly lose due to lack of time to work the ground and be blamed for causing the loss of a seat that could have been won by another opposition party. Unfortunately, based on what they have done in recent days, I’m not sure if they are able to stop damaging their own reputation further.”
It is stupidity of the highest order, and unbelievable naivete, I m sorry to say. The only saving grace, if any at all, about the SDP’s intention behind the proposal is that it is perhaps borne out of an honest desire to avoid a 3-cornered fight. But that’s about it.
Ex-Director of ISD (in the early 70s), Yoong Siew Wah, also couldn’t believe his ears when he heard of the proposal from SDP (‘Ex-ISD Director: The Main Breaker of Opposition Unity‘):
Could anyone in his right mind have come out with such a preposterous and bizarre proposal?…
It will be a rude awakening of the SDP from its illusion that it has a strong standing among Punggol East voters. As a corollary, SDP will have credibility problem when it faces the electorate in GE 2016, all because of the iniquitous antics of Dr. Chee Soon Juan.
Yesterday night, SDP Dr Chee said its proposal had been “misinterpreted”. SDP issued a follow-up statement to clarify its “unity proposal” (‘The SDP’s unity proposal to the WP explained‘). In the statement SDP said, “The SDP’s proposal for cooperation with the Workers’ Party was an attempt to explore all possibilities to avoid a three-cornered fight.”It will be a rude awakening of the SDP from its illusion that it has a strong standing among Punggol East voters. As a corollary, SDP will have credibility problem when it faces the electorate in GE 2016, all because of the iniquitous antics of Dr. Chee Soon Juan.
“There are ample precedents for collaboration between diverse political parties in the UK, Canada, Germany and Australia. Closer to home, the DAP in Malaysia chose to support the PAS candidate in Kedah despite vast ideological differences in order to defeat the governing Barisan Nasional.”
SDP added, “The SDP was open to all possibilities including supporting the WP candidate and running the Town Council ourselves or any other creative solutions. We look forward to a healthy contest of ideas in this by-election.”
Dr Chee said SDP would now continue with its own campaign, going “full steam ahead”, but will still remain open to talks with the WP.
It will approach other parties as well to avoid having a multi-cornered fight, he added.
Benjamin Pwee, former Singapore People’s Party member has pulled out of the Punggol East by-election contest.
Mr Pwee told the media that he was in “deep negotiations” to take over the helm of “a major longstanding party” and contest the by-election, but “there was just not enough time” to hold a party congress to bring him into the party before Nomination Day, which is on Wed.
Earlier, Mr Seow Khee Leng, secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said he would be letting Mr Pwee to helm the party.
After GE 2011, Mr Pwee with 5 others left the Singapore People’s Party, citing differences in the party’s leadership style and direction.
Meanwhile the media also reported that Kenneth Jeyaretnam, RP’s Secretary-General, said he had made an offer to WP too.
Mr Jeyaretnam proposed that WP fields him as its candidate. If elected, he would likewise be the MP in Parliament while WP runs the Punggol East Town Council.
He said that whether the WP agreed or not, he would stand in Punggol East.
.
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