Rilek1Corner

Tag: by-election

  • Chee Soon Juan: SPH And MediaCorp Editors Must Be Even-Handed In Coverage Of Bukit Batok By-Election

    Chee Soon Juan: SPH And MediaCorp Editors Must Be Even-Handed In Coverage Of Bukit Batok By-Election

    This was the front page of last night’s Lianhe Wanbao showing two very contrasting pictures of Mr Murali and I. Through the decades I’ve often been portrayed in a less-than-favourable manner (to put it mildly) whenever it comes to presenting me face-to-face with my opponents.

    I hope that this will not be the trend of reportage in the coming by-election.

    I appeal to the editors at SPH and MediaCorps to be even-handed.

    I do not consider Mr Murali as anything other than a worthy opponent and I hope that BB voters will get to see a fair representation of the both of us before they choose which person they want to be their MP.

    ‪#‎NowIsTheTime‬

     

    Source: Chee Soon Juan 徐顺全

  • Should Dr Chee Give Up His Candidacy Just To Prove to PAP That The GRC System Is Flawed?

    Should Dr Chee Give Up His Candidacy Just To Prove to PAP That The GRC System Is Flawed?

    It is amusing to see supporters of the ruling party start campaigning for their party before the actual candidate does so. As expected, they have brought up the bogeyman of a poorly-run town council if Dr Chee Soon Juan becomes the Member of Parliament for Bukit Batok. Of course, these claims do not have to be rational, but they are spouted anyway. The assumption that a ward would suddenly become a slum – especially a Single Member Constituency, which is much easier to manage than a GRC – when an opposition member takes over is, to be honest, quite laughable. Moreover, they (purposely) ignore other factors that could, if not should, be considered by voters: such as alternative representation in Parliament, having more checks against the ruling party, quality of candidate (which can be measured in many ways), and so on.

    But i digress.

    SDP has said that Dr Chee will be contesting in the by-election. Many observers have said that they would rather see A/Prof Paul Tambyah as the candidate instead, and i have to agree. For a very simple reason: the party has always opposed the GRC, and this is an opportunity to show that the GRC system is not needed, as minority candidates would be elected regardless (i do not necessarily subscribe to this view though).

    I remember watching a video of a debate between Mr Chiam See Tong and Encik Jufrie Mahmood, against senior PAP members including former Prime Ministers Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Goh Chok Tong, on the GRC. Encik Jufrie basically asserted that the system is not necessary, and that the ruling party should have the prerogative to place minority candidates in SMCs. Opposition parties would then have to field minority candidates in those wards as well. This obviously does not have to be entrenched in law, but could take the form of some sort of a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between the ruling and opposition parties.

    Now that PAP has announced it will field an Indian candidate, to bolster SDP’s calls for the abolition of the GRC system, i think it is only right that they too field a minority candidate. This would show that the party indeed believes in minority representation, without the aid of a GRC. Whatever the results of the by-election, the party could then truly boast that it was true to its democratic principles of both electoral fairness and representation. Otherwise, its calls would ring hollow, and the party would actually demonstrate that it just as opportunistic as any other political entity.

    The way i see it, the ball is really in SDP’s court.

     

    Source: Walid J. Abdullah

  • Kenneth Jeyaretnam: Why A By-Election Should Be Called In Tanjong Pagar

    Kenneth Jeyaretnam: Why A By-Election Should Be Called In Tanjong Pagar

    The death of Lee Kuan Yew leaves his seat in Tanjong Pagar GRC vacant.  Recently a Bloomberg journalist asked me to comment on the suggestion that  Lee’s seat in Tanjong Pagar be left vacant as a mark of respect. Her resultant article can be read here.  Some commentators have suggested that the Opposition should boycott any by-election, giving the PAP a walkover similar to the ones it has enjoyed ever since Lee Kuan Yew’s constituency was included as part of Tanjong Pagar GRC.  In addition a lot of people have been asking me whether I think a by-election will or even must be called.

    The fact that any one could even suggest that denying the democratic rights of the citizens of one ward to choose their representative is a way to show respect for the founder of our one-party authoritarian system goes a long way to explaining how far from being a democracy that system is and how far we have to go to become a developed nation in terms of our political and legal structures.

    LKY’s seat had of course been effectively vacant for some time. For many years other MPs in the GRC had performed his constituency duties. Ill-health and advanced years also meant that his appearances in Parliament after his unopposed re-election in 2011 were mostly perfunctory.  In a democracy an MP who was incapacitated by advanced years or ill-health would have resigned to allow a new and fitter incumbent to perform the duties that he was no longer able to.

    In addition because of LKY’s deliberate creation and reinforcement of a climate of fear, and the very real measures he took to crush anyone who stood up to him, the voters of his GRC have been denied the right to choose their representatives for several decades. Even in 2011, when every other seat was contested and our aim was to see Singapore’s first non-walkover GE , a team of independents ran out of time in filing their nomination papers and were disqualified.  The fact that the people of that ward have gone without choosing their representatives for so long means that there is a more urgent need to hold a by-election in his constituency now. But can the PM leave the seat vacant indefinitely in defiance of every democratic norm but as has been normal PAP practice until recently?

    The short answer  and the absolute legal fact is that it would be unconstitutional not to hold a by-election unless the Prime Minister decides to call a general election within the next three months or so.

    The argument ( thanks to Article 14) runs like this.

    Article 49 of the Constitution states:

    49.

    —(1)  Whenever the seat of a Member, not being a non-constituency Member, has become vacant for any reason other than a dissolution of Parliament, the vacancy shall be filled by election in the manner provided by or under any law relating to Parliamentary elections for the time being in force.

     It was established by the Court of Appeal decision in Vellama d/o Marie Muthu v AG (2013) that the calling of a by-election is mandatory and not discretionary and that it has to be held within a reasonable space of time, normally three months.

    The Parliamentary Elections Act (PEA) seems to contradict this requirement when it states in Article 24-2(A) that:

    (2A) In respect of any group representation constituency, no writ [for a by-election] shall be issued under subsection (1) for an election to fill any vacancy unless all the Members for that constituency have vacated their seats in Parliament.

    However this places Article 24-(2A) of the PEA at odds with the Constitution. Where this is the case the Constitution clearly overrides any laws enacted by Parliament, as stated in Article 4 of the Constitution:

    1. This Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic of Singapore and any law enacted by the Legislature after the commencement of this Constitution which is inconsistent with this Constitution shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.

    Article 24-(2A) of the PEA is clearly inconsistent with Article 49 of the Constitution. Therefore under Article 4 of the Constitution it is void.  Therefore the Prime Minister must call a by-election for Tanjong Pagar GRC, or at least for the constituency vacated by his father’s death, within the next three months.

    If the PM refuses to do so, I (and I know my Party members would join me) would support an application to the Court to declare that the PEA is inconsistent with the Constitution and that a by-election must be called. It should be easy for Lee Hsien Loong’s poodle, the Elections Department, to carve out Tanjong Pagar SMC from the GRC if the PM does not want to call a by-election for the whole GRC. However as it was uncontested in 2011 it would be right now to hold an election for the whole GRC.

    In the event that the PM observes the Constitution and calls a by-election, it would be good for the Opposition parties to come together and agree to field a joint “A” team against the PAP under an umbrella with all our strongest candidates combined. This would be an important step in the process of transforming the Opposition in the eyes of the electorate into a credible force that is ready to form an alternative Government.

    Screenshot 2015-04-23 13.00.44

     

     

    Source: http://sonofadud.com

     

  • WHY ARE MALAYS SPECIAL IN SINGAPORE?

    Parliament witnessed an intense Population White Paper debate recently with 77 members voted “For”, 11 voted ‘Against” and 1 “Abstain”. It was a learning experience for young PAP leaders and opposition MPs on political process in getting sensitive policy implemented for the benefit of Singaporeans at large. The debate brought up many issues affecting Singaporeans but there was one close to my heart that many might had missed – the need to maintain the percentage of minorities especially the Malays in Singapore’s population mix. In fact, Prime Minister Lee himself in closing the debate, highlighted the issue and gave assurance to Malays that they would not be diluted http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20130208-401106.html. Some might asked why was it important that Malays had to be singled out and assured that they would not be diluted, to a point that PM Lee had to reiterate PAP government’s commitment to do so?

    To shed light on the question and for the benefit of younger generation, leaders and new citizens in Singapore, we need to refer to Singapore’s Constitution that took effect on 9th August 1965 (the date we celebrate National Day every year). In the written constitution, I like to highlight Article 152 pertaining Minorities and Special Position of Malays that states:

    (1) It shall be the responsibility of the Government constantly to care for the interests of the racial and religious minorities in Singapore.
    (2) The Government shall exercise its functions in such manner as to recognize the special position of the Malays, who are the indigenous people of Singapore, and accordingly it shall be the responsibility of the Government to protect, safeguard, support, foster and promote their political, educational, religious, economic, social and cultural interests and the Malay language.

    I am very sure that not many young Singaporeans, even Malays, are well aware of this Article. Some may heard of it but not too sure why it is even written in the constitution especially in multi-racial and multi-religous society in Singapore. I feel the urge to highlight Article 152 as memory lapse may lead to our younger generation of PAP and Opposition leaders succumb to pressure to treat all races in Singapore equal and making poor decision in public policy. While every word in Singapore’s Pledge champions to treat everybody as equal, it may not be pragmatic and runs counter to the spirit of the constitution itself.

    Singapore’s constitution was written after Singapore was thrown out by Malaysia in 1965 and Malays who decided to stay on after the separation felt vulnerable. Article 152 is the pillar in the constitution to recognize Malays as the indigenous people and that the Government of the day has to protect their rights. Several interest groups and individuals – the recent one by NMP Viswa Sadasivan – attempted to challenge and question the need for Article 152 in today’s context to achieve equality for all races. The response was swift and succinct from Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew when NMP Viswa called for equal treatment for all races during one Parliament session in 2009 (http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=211512). I sense that he will not be the last individual or group calling for equal treatment for all races in Singapore and to abolish Article 152. It is important to highlight that Article 152 is not an Affirmative action and Malays do not want it to be one. They stand tall with other races to compete on all fronts, though not at the success rate that they like but they continue to strive harder and make steady improvement.

    As a Singaporean Malay, I felt reassured that PM Lee had pledged to ensure that the population percentage of Malays would not shrink in the long term. For the last 47 years PAP government had demonstrated their political willingness to uphold Article 152 and looked after the interest of Malays. And as the margin of support and votes for PAP suffers, the Malay votes will get more and more critical to determine that PAP remains as the government. Once again, the spotlight has fallen on the Malay community to decide the future of Singapore. The opposition parties, especially the Worker’s Party (WP) had their chance during the recent debate in Parliament to assure Malays of their existence in the long term, but not a word in the interest of Malays was uttered by either Low Thia Kiang or Sylvia Lim of WP . And when come to think of it, I have not heard any single manifestation or plan by WP to assure the Malays that they are special and their rights will be preserved.

    To Singaporean Malay community, I urge each and every one of you to consider carefully and support those who will continue to maintain Article 152. It is always easy to play politics to the gallery but at the end of the day, the government of the day needs to know and respect that Malays are the indigenous people of the country and that their rights will have to be preserved in the constitution.

    Source: http://uahmarican.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/why-are-malays-special-in-singapore/