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Tag: Kenneth Jeyaretnam

  • There Will Still Be A Contest In West Coast GRC

    There Will Still Be A Contest In West Coast GRC

    A team of PAP candidates and supporters at the nomination centre at Keming Primary School in Bukit Batok spotted an error in the nomination forms put up by the Reform Party (RP) on Tuesday (Sept 1) to contest West Coast GRC in the Sept 11 General Election.

    West Coast GRC candidate S. Iswaran pointed it out to RP leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam. “It isn’t an easy thing to fix,” he said.

    Contacted by The Straits Times at the nomination centre shortly after the incident, Mr Iswaran explained what had happened. The Reform Party candidates had not stated whether they were contesting as a party or as independents on the form, which had been signed by the Commissioner of Oath.

    “They were supposed to cross one out, but they didn’t delete anything, and it was under oath,” he said. A member of the People’s Action Party (PAP) team spotted it and Mr Iswaran decided to point out the error to Mr Jeyaretnam.

    Mr Iswaran said: “It was grounds for disqualification. But we felt it was important to point this out and give them opportunity to rectify the mistake in good time. We are not looking to win by default on a technicality – we want a fair fight.”

    This required the Reform Party candidates to take down the form, and correct the entry and have it certified by the Commissioner of Oath at the centre.

    They managed to do this within about 10 to 15 minutes, and not miss the 12 noon deadline when nominations close.

    Asked how the Reform Party responded, Mr Iswaran said: “They were surprised and appreciated the fact that we pointed it out in good time.”

    He added: “We did this in the spirit of being fair.”

    In the 2001 General Election, a Workers’ Party team was disqualified from contesting when its nomination papers were found to be incomplete, as it had not filled in a blank for the name of the ward it wanted to contest, which was Aljunied GRC.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Kenneth Jeyaretnam To Lead Reform Party Team Contesting In West Coast GRC

    Kenneth Jeyaretnam To Lead Reform Party Team Contesting In West Coast GRC

    The Reform Party (RP) on Thursday (Aug 27) announced its slate of candidates for the West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) and the Radin Mas single-seat ward.

    Leading the four-man team is the party’s chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam. The other three candidates are chairman Andy Zhu, Darren Soh and Noraini Yunus.

    Party member and businessman Kumar Appavoo will be fielded in the Radin Mas Single Member Constituency (SMC).

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Reform Party Will Contest Pioneer SMC – Should NSP Pull Out

    Reform Party Will Contest Pioneer SMC – Should NSP Pull Out

    The Reform Party (RP) wants to contest Pioneer Single Member Constituency (SMC) – but not if it means entering a three-cornered fight, party Secretary-General Kenneth Jeyaretnam said on Wednesday (Aug 26).

    The National Solidarity Party (NSP) was previously set to contest the SMC after a series of talks between most of the Opposition parties in early August. Mr Steve Chia – who took 39.27 per cent of the votes in Pioneer in the 2011 General Election – was originally expected to contest again under the NSP banner, but he has since pulled out of contesting the 2015 General Election entirely.

    The People’s Action Party incumbent Cedric Foo will be defending his seat in the single-seat constituency in the coming General Election.

    On Wednesday, Mr Jeyaretnam said RP had initially pulled out of Pioneer only because Mr Chia was contesting the SMC, but should now be given the chance to contest if NSP is unable to field a “strong candidate” there.

    “We agreed to relinquish our interest in Pioneer only because Steve Chia from NSP said he would be standing again. We felt he was a strong candidate and had a good chance of winning, having done well in 2011. However he has now withdrawn entirely from the election,” said Mr Jeyaretnam.

    “If NSP withdraw entirely or are unable to field a strong candidate then we feel that we should be given the chance to contest as we have many excess candidates. However, in the interests of unity and solidarity among the Opposition, we will not enter a three-cornered fight.

    “We hope that NSP will clarify its intentions shortly.”

    The RP chief said his party is declaring its interest publicly as it has been trying to contact NSP President Sebastian Teo and Organising Secretary Spencer Ng, but with no success.

    Pioneer was formerly part of West Coast GRC, but was carved out for the 2011 General Election. RP is set to contest West Coast GRC again in the 2015 General Election, having done so four years ago. The party has been visiting residents in Pioneer SMC since 2011, RP said.

    The RP added that in “similar spirit of Opposition solidarity”, they have contacted independent candidate Tan Lam Siong to offer him a place in one of their GRC teams or in an SMC to avoid a three-cornered fight in Potong Pasir SMC, but have been unable to dissuade him.

    Mr Tan confirmed that RP tabled an offer for him to contest Radin Mas SMC, but he did not accept it.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • M Ravi: I Will Not Stand In Upcoming GE

    M Ravi: I Will Not Stand In Upcoming GE

    Following my presence in a recent walkabout in AMK GRC with the Reform Party (RP) and a short interview I gave, speculation has been rife that I will run as a candidate for the RP.

    I knew Mr J B Jeyaretnam, the founder of the RP, both as a friend and a colleague at the Bar. He was a man who always fought for the common man and dedicated a life of service to his fellow man. I am indeed honoured to have worked with him. He set up the Reform Party before his passing and it’s indeed wonderful to see his work and vision carried on by Kenneth in trying circumstances.

    I am grateful that Kenneth allowed me to volunteer my services in some small way. I have seen his dedication and commitment to the people of AMK GRC.

    I see the same spirit in Roy Ngerng in wanting to serve the people and being the voice for the under-privileged in society.

    I have been a lawyer for 18 years and I have always tried to serve my clients to the best of my ability. It’s a calling I take very seriously.

    These few days, I have given considerable thought as to what my role and service to society must be. It is to the calling of service to the legal and judicial system but most of all a calling of service to my clients who depend on me to fight for them.

    It is therefore prudent and crucial that I continue to maintain my focus on this and serve my clients diligently when I resume my legal practice shortly. It is here that my focus and service must lie.

    Accordingly I have decided that my service now is best rendered in this role.

    I thank the Reform Party for allowing me to witness its work and outreach up close.

    I wish them, and Roy Ngerng, well in their service to the public.

    Thank You

     

    Source: Ravi MRavi

  • Roy Ngerng Joining Reform Party, Considering Running For Elections

    Roy Ngerng Joining Reform Party, Considering Running For Elections

    Blogger Roy Ngerng, who is being sued by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for defamation, is considering standing in the upcoming General Election.

    In a blogpost on Tuesday (Aug 4) titled Should I Run for Election, the 34-year-old mulled over reasons he would contest the GE and asked readers to help him decide in a poll.

    The activist said that if he were to run for election, it would not be for “fame, power or money”.

    “I want nothing of that,” he said. “I want to be able to enter government, to debate about these issues and allow policies to be passed to protect Singaporeans. This is all I want.”

    As of Wednesday afternoon 1pm, he had garnered 592 votes, with 79.56 per cent (471 votes) agreeing that he should run.

    Mr Ngerng has previously met with Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam. He also announced on Facebook and Twitter that he will be joining the Opposition party on a walkabout at Telok Blangah on Wednesday evening.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com