A by-election will be held for Punggol East. According to a writ of election setting issued by Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Nomination Day will be on January 16th 2012 (next Wednesday) and polling day would be on Jan 26. This will be the second by-election in less then a year.
In a press release is published on Prime Minister's Office web site, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said:
According to AsiaOne, "the Workers' Party of Singapore has confirmed that it will contest the Punggol East by-election but will unveil its candidate at a later date, said WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang on Wednesday night".
On December 12 2012, Michael Palmer has resigned as an MP following his admission of affair with Laura Ong. Back in May 26th 2012, a by-election was held for Hougang Single Member Constituency in Singapore because of the expulsion of Yaw Shin Leong from the Workers' Party. His expulsion was triggered the news of rumored extramarital affair with a fellow member of the Workers' Party. Yaw has never responded to the rumors.
In a press release is published on Prime Minister's Office web site, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said:
After Mr Michael Palmer resigned on 12 Dec 2012 as Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Punggol East constituency, my first priority was to look after the residents of Punggol East. Minister of State/Mayor Teo Ser Luck has been overseeing the constituency, while Mr Zainal Sapari has been chairing the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council. DPM Teo Chee Hean has also taken a personal interest in the residents’ welfare.
We have a busy national agenda this year. The White Paper on Population will soon be debated in Parliament. Budget 2013 is around the corner. The Our Singapore Conversation is translating the views of citizens into programmes to improve our lives. Sustaining economic growth and raising workers’ incomes is a continuing preoccupation, especially in a weak global economy.
I have decided to hold a by-election in Punggol East to give the residents their own MP in Parliament, before we focus back on these national issues. So today I advised the President to issue the Writ of Election.
I hope Punggol East residents will vote for the candidate who can best represent them in Parliament, solve their problems and improve their lives.The announcement came just a day after the speculations started for potential PAP candidate. A Colorectal surgeon Koh Poh Koon had triggered the speculation after he has appeared at the Meet-the-People session in Punggol East on Tuesday.
According to AsiaOne, "the Workers' Party of Singapore has confirmed that it will contest the Punggol East by-election but will unveil its candidate at a later date, said WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang on Wednesday night".
On December 12 2012, Michael Palmer has resigned as an MP following his admission of affair with Laura Ong. Back in May 26th 2012, a by-election was held for Hougang Single Member Constituency in Singapore because of the expulsion of Yaw Shin Leong from the Workers' Party. His expulsion was triggered the news of rumored extramarital affair with a fellow member of the Workers' Party. Yaw has never responded to the rumors.
