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
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 However he has now withdrawn entirely from the election,” said Mr Jeyaretnam.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
Blogger Roy Ngerng and his one-time lawyer, Mr M. Ravi, are said to be in the running to contest Ang Mo Kio GRC in the coming general election under the Reform Party (RP) ballot.
Sources familiar with RP said that Mr Ravi, Mr Ngerng and activist Gilbert Goh will probably be part of the opposition party’s six-member team that will be fielded in Ang Mo Kio at the next polls.
The three are said to have joined other potential candidates on Sunday to get their portrait photos taken for the campaign, which is expected to be held next month. This is even though they have yet to be confirmed as party members.
The constituency is helmed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who had successfully sued Mr Ngerng for defamation, with damages to be assessed. Mr Ravi represented Mr Ngerng until he was suspended in mid-February from practising law after concerns about his mental health. When contacted, Mr Ravi and Mr Ngerng declined to comment about their plans.
RP secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam had said that his party will contest Ang Mo Kio and West Coast GRCs as well as Radin Mas SMC. Yesterday, he put paid to rumours circulating last week that his party may not have the numbers to field candidates in those wards by revealing that he has seen a “surge in membership”.
A statement released yesterday said former RP member Osman Sulaiman has rejoined the party and could spearhead its Ang Mo Kio GRC team. He is likely to be joined by Ang Mo Kio resident Siva Chandran and RP treasurer David Tan to contest in the area.
Mr Sulaiman was fielded in Ang Mo Kio GRC when RP contested there in the 2011 General Election. The RP team managed to gain about 30 per cent of the votes.
Mr Osman, who runs a renovation business, quit RP last year for the National Solidarity Party but left it earlier this year. He then volunteered with the Singapore Democratic Party and Singapore People’s Party before returning to RP.
On Sunday, RP said in a post on its Facebook page: “Siva will be introduced at our press conference.” The comment was accompanied by a photo of Mr Ngerng, Mr Ravi, Mr Goh, Mr Siva and Mr Osman donning the party’s yellow shirts.
When asked if Mr Ngerng was a party member, Mr Jeyaretnam said: “Roy’s membership is expected to be approved shortly.” He added that Mr Ngerng would bring “much-needed knowledge” of Ang Mo Kio, where his father runs a hawker stall.
Mr Jeyaretnam also confirmed that RP chairman Andy Zhu, who stood in West Coast GRC in the last polls, will contest again.
Source: www.straitstimes.com
The Reform Party (RP) seeks the support of residents in Radin Mas so its candidate can speak up on issues relating to Central Provident Fund savings in Parliament.
Its secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam went on a walkabout in the single-member constituency yesterday.
It contains the old Anson ward that his father, the late opposition leader J. B. Jeyaretnam, represented in Parliament after winning the Anson by-election in 1981.
The RP team has been walking the ground in Radin Mas since 2010 but did not contest there in 2011 to avoid a three-cornered fight with the National Solidarity Party.
Hawker Philip Tan, 58, who has been selling fishball noodles at Block 163, Bukit Merah Central, for about 35 years, felt it would be a tough fight for the RP as “the PAP is deeply rooted here”.
Mr Tan said: “The current MP Sam Tan has done a lot for the hawkers. For example, he fought for lower rental for first-generation hawkers like me.”
Resident Annie Tan, 40, said: “The issues raised by the RP concern most Singaporeans. But it is not easy for an opposition party to be elected into Parliament.”
Joining the RP on its walkabout yesterday was lawyer M. Ravi, who said he is reconsidering his decision not to run in the upcoming general election after feedback from the public.
Mr Ravi and blogger Roy Ngerng have been joining the RP’s walkabouts in recent weeks, but both were also spotted at the Singapore Democratic Party’s 35th-anniversary dinner last Saturday.
Mr Ngerng was absent yesterday. When asked about Mr Ngerng’s application to join the party, Mr Jeyaretnam replied: “It’s always difficult to make the transition from blogging to being a politician.”
Source: www.straitstimes.com
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