Polling Day for Hougang by-election on May 26

By Rachel Chang, The Straits Times, 9 May 2012

Hougang voters will go to the polls on May 26 in a by-election to fill former Workers' Party (WP) MP Yaw Shin Leong's seat in Parliament.

The writ of election was issued on Wednesday by the President of Singapore, stating that Nomination Day will be on May 16, after which nine days of campaigning will commence.

The Elections Department confirmed that if more than one candidate stands for election, polling day will be on May 26.

Despite rampant speculation, PM Lee did not call for a by-election in any other constituency, limiting it to Hougang's 25,000 voters.

The Hougang seat became vacant after Mr Yaw was expelled from the WP on Feb 14 for refusing to account to the party leadership for his behaviour, including allegedly having extra-marital affairs.

The WP has held Hougang since 1991.

Its likely candidate in the by-election is Mr Png Eng Huat, 50, an executive committee member who stood for last year's General Election at East Coast GRC.

The People's Action Party is likely to field its Mr Desmond Choo, 34, who heads its party branch there, for his second contest in Hougang.

He lost to Mr Yaw last year with 35.2 per cent of the vote.

PM Lee explains by-election call on Facebook
By Leslie Koh, The Straits Times, 9 May 2012

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has explained his decision to call a by-election in Hougang - on Facebook.

In his latest posting on a page he started just last month, he said the by-election opposition would give residents of the single-seat ward the chance to elect a new MP to serve them.

He added that he had advised the President of Singapore to issue the Writ of Election on Wednesday morning, and attached a copy of the writ on his Facebook page.

The ward was left vacant after its former MP Yaw Shin Leong was expelled by the Workers' Party in February.

Wrote the PM: 'I encourage Hougang voters to use this opportunity wisely, to elect the best candidate with commitment and integrity: someone they can rely upon to express their hopes and concerns, address their needs, and make a real difference to their lives.'

Mr Lee also gave a quick run-down of what had happened in Hougang.

The WP and Mr Yaw, he said, had not given Singaporeans 'a full and proper account of what happened'. He said: 'Both the WP and Mr Yaw have let down all those who voted for him.'

He stressed that while the Constitution does not require him to call a by-election within any fixed timeframe, he had said in Parliament earlier that he had intended to call a by-election in Hougang.

He added: 'I hope these events will not distract us from focussing on our national priorities, and building an inclusive Singapore.'

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's statement on Hougang by-election

"In the General Election in May 2011, nearly all seats were contested. Many important issues were aired and debated. In the outcome, Singaporeans gave the PAP team a clear mandate to form the Government.

Over the past year, the Government has worked hard together with Singa­poreans to implement its programme to build an inclusive Singapore, and improve the lives of all.

We set the broad directions when Parliament opened last October. In the Budget in February we followed up with effective schemes to help the poor, the elderly and the disabled. We are also upgrading our companies’ and workers’ skills, so that our economy can grow and Singaporeans can improve their incomes year by year.

However, much work remains ahead to translate good policies and programmes into actions on the ground, and to deliver the results that we all look forward to.

In January this year, news surfaced of personal indiscretions by Mr Yaw Shin Leong, the Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament for Hougang constituency. The WP first kept totally silent, then supported Mr Yaw, and then three weeks later suddenly expelled him from the party. Until now the WP has not given Singa­poreans a full and proper account of what happened, or why it acted in this way. Mr Yaw himself has said nothing, either to explain or to apologise for his behaviour, and has reportedly left the country. Both the WP and Mr Yaw have let down all those who voted for him. As a result of Mr Yaw’s expulsion from the WP, the Hougang constituency seat fell vacant.

I hope these events will not distract us from focussing on our national priorities, and building an inclusive Singa­pore. Although the Constitution does not require me to call a by-election within any fixed timeframe, I said in Parliament that I intended to call a by-election in Hougang. This morning I advised the President to issue the Writ of Election.

The by-election will give Hougang residents the chance to elect a new MP to serve them. I encourage Hougang voters to use this opportunity wisely, to elect the best candidate with commitment and integrity: someone they can rely upon to express their hopes and concerns, address their needs, and make a real difference to their lives."

LIKELY CANDIDATES

Contest will be tough, says Desmond Choo
He has launched various projects in the ward
By Teo Wan Gek, The Straits Times, 10 May 2012

WHEN Mr Desmond Choo was posted to Hougang during last year's polls, he was a brand-new face going up against the weight of political history.

The People's Action Party had been defeated in the ward no fewer than four times by the Workers' Party.

On his walkabouts, few recognised the PAP man who had inherited the mandate from predecessor Eric Low to win back Hougang.

Even his fluency in Teochew - a vital linguistic skill in a ward made up mostly of Teochews - proved to be no edge. The WP's Mr Yaw Shin Leong was just as fluent.

It thus came as no surprise when Mr Choo was trounced by Mr Yaw, losing by a record margin of almost 30 per cent.

But a year later, Mr Choo believes he has gained ground.

He is a more familiar face in Hougang these days, as he has launched project after project in what many see as a bid to win voters' hearts.

This year, the grassroots adviser for the ward stepped up his visits to the single-seat ward, launched a Job Hub to help residents find jobs, tied up with a temple to provide free Teochew porridge, and gave out free hearing aids to the elderly.

Mr Choo, a deputy director with the Industrial Relations Unit at National Trades Union Congress, maintains that the schemes are part of his long-term service to the community, not a vote-fishing endeavour.

'I've been working hard to serve residents before and after GE 2011. We haven't stopped,' he told The Straits Times yesterday. 'I have built some strong relationships here.

'Definitely, residents will be a lot warmer, compared to when I was there a year ago.

'When I participated in GE 2011, I had only three months with them. Now, I have an additional year with them. They are more ready to talk to me about issues.'

While he has not been officially introduced as PAP's candidate for the coming by-election, Mr Choo is widely expected to be fielded.

He has no illusions, however, about the task at hand. 'No matter who the PAP candidate to contest in Hougang is, it is always going to be tough,' he said.

His supporters agreed.

'Desmond is a very sincere man, he likes to help people,' said Mr Lee Noh Choon, a PAP branch vice-chairman. 'But it has only been one year, so we're not sure how wide his outreach has been, or how many residents have approached him on their part.

'But what I can say is that of those who have met him, they definitely like him.'

The 34-year-old got married two months after last year's GE.

One question that often comes up is whether the scandal over alleged extramarital affairs that had surrounded Mr Yaw's expulsion from the WP will swing votes towards the PAP.

Mr Choo, however, prefers to avoid talking about the issue. 'As far as I'm concerned, this by-election is really about selecting an MP for Hougang residents who will take care of them,' he said when asked about it. 'I think Hougang residents will focus on that.'

And while he hesitates to talk about his own chances - 'It's too early to talk yet... PM will have to decide if I'm the candidate to represent the PAP' - Mr Choo said the next few days will see him and his team busy gearing up for the campaign.

'I think we are in good hands... My guys are a seasoned crew so I have confidence that we will be ready.'

WP's Png Eng Huat quietly active in ward
Party stalwart a familiar face to residents
By Andrea Ong & Goh Chin Lian, The Straits Times, 10 May 2012

HOUGANG is a familiar stomping ground for the Workers' Party's (WP) likely candidate, Mr Png Eng Huat.

The 50-year-old businessman has been quietly active in the ward since joining the WP in 2006, when party chief Low Thia Khiang was still the MP there.

While it will be known only today if Mr Png is indeed going to be the WP man in Hougang, several signs appear to indicate that is so.

Last night, after the WP's election committee met to decide on the candidate, Mr Png stood shoulder to shoulder with Mr Low when they dropped by a Meet-the-People session in Hougang.

There is talk that the WP could still pull a last-minute switch. But Mr Png gave a hint when he said yesterday: 'I think tomorrow when we have our press conference, I'll answer all these questions... so let's leave it until tomorrow.'

Mr Low then cut in quickly to say that these questions would be better asked at today's press conference 'if (Mr Png) appears, if he is introduced as a candidate'. If this happens, it would be seen as a natural choice.

Until last year's general election, Mr Png had been in charge of welfare programmes for Hougang Constituency Committee, the WP's grassroots arm in the single-member constituency.

It was his task to ensure that needy and elderly residents were taken care of.

He and his team worked with several voluntary welfare organisations to provide these residents with food every day, as well as extra food rations and necessities every month.

The WP stalwart has also become a regular face at Meet-the-People sessions; his efforts include knocking on doors and giving out fliers to introduce himself to residents.

Sources said that Mr Png and other WP activists have already covered all 9,500 HDB units in the ward and have moved on to private housing.

Last month, he joined a one-day family tour with nearly 500 residents, visiting temples, farms, the Marina Barrage and the Air Force Museum.

It was thus no surprise that the WP appointed Mr Png to head the committee after the party expelled Mr Yaw Shin Leong.

The deputy webmaster on the WP central executive council will also be a somewhat familiar face at the polls, if he is fielded.

He made his debut at last year's general election, standing in East Coast GRC and scoring a respectable 45.2 per cent against the People's Action Party - the WP's third-best result in that GE.

During last year's rallies, he earned a reputation for his fiery speeches delivered in fluent Hokkien. Audiences even had a special cheer for him which played on his name: 'Huat ah!' - Hokkien for 'let's prosper'.

He also understands Teochew, which is spoken by many of Hougang's residents. His wife is Teochew, and the couple have two children.

Mr Png, who has a Bachelor of Science in radio, television and film from the University of Texas, has also contributed letters to The Straits Times' Forum page.

In a letter published on April 25 last year, he argued against having a Parliament that was '100 per cent controlled by the ruling party'.

The Non-Constituency MP scheme, he added, is 'no insurance'.

Hougang factfile

No. of voters

23,799

About the constituency

About 80 per cent of Hougang's 37,000 residents live in Housing Board flats. Of these, 33 per cent live in three-room flats, 40 per cent in four-room flats, and 27 per cent in larger flats.

Around 83 per cent of the voters are Chinese, and many speak the Teochew dialect.

Political history

The single-seat constituency was created in 1988. Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang took Hougang from the PAP in 1991, and held it through another three elections - in 1997, 2001 and 2006. Last year he moved to Aljunied GRC and handed the reins to Mr Yaw Shin Leong, who went on to beat the PAP's Desmond Choo.

1991: Mr Low (52.8%) beat PAP's Mr Tan Guan Seng (47.2%)

1997: Mr Low (58%) beat PAP's Mr Heng Chee How (42%)

2001: Mr Low (55%) beat PAP's Mr Eric Low (45%)

2006: Mr Low (62.7%) beat PAP's Mr Eric Low (37.3%)

2011: Mr Yaw (64.8%) beat PAP's Mr Desmond Choo (35.2%)

Why the by-election is being held

In January, rumours that Mr Yaw had had an alleged extramarital affair surfaced on the Internet. Approached by the media, he and his wife declined comment, as did WP chief Low.

But Mr Yaw later resigned from the WP's executive council - he was its treasurer - as more rumours swirled, linking him with various women.

On Feb 14 he was expelled by his party, a move that automatically caused him to lose his seat.

The Constitution requires an MP to vacate his seat if he ceases to be a member of the party on whose ticket he was elected.

Hougang was formally declared vacant on Feb 28 by the Speaker of Parliament.

By-election: Local focus or barometer of national issues?
Observers divided over impact of Yaw Shin Leong saga
By Goh Chin Lian, The Straits Times, 10 May 2012

WHETHER the Hougang by-election will turn out to be a barometer of Singaporeans' reactions to national issues bears watching, MPs and political watchers said yesterday.

To some, such as veteran People's Action Party (PAP) MPs Charles Chong and Teo Ho Pin, its focus will turn to local issues, as heat over national concerns has eased after the general election last May.

Said Mr Chong: 'I won't say national issues have been resolved, but many issues have been discussed.

'So this by-election is not emotional. It will be much more local, rather than national.'

One question is whether the Workers' Party (WP) can still count on the reservoir of political capital it has built up over the years among the more than 23,000 voters in Hougang.

This has given the WP five victories in a row at the single-seat constituency, starting in 1991 with 52.9 per cent of the votes and reaching a peak of 64.8 per cent last year.

Political observers, however, were divided on the impact of the Yaw Shin Leong saga, which saw the former WP MP flee Singapore after news broke about his alleged extra-marital affairs and expulsion by his party, resulting in him having to vacate his seat.

Said former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin: 'In the most rational circumstance, a party like WP would be punished in an election: You went for election and you got the wrong guy.

'But it could be a referendum of national issues. Why would the WP go into a by-election and concentrate on its sins?'

PAP MPs such as Mountbatten's Lim Biow Chuan and Chua Chu Kang GRC's Alvin Yeo were also unsure whether the Yaw saga would hurt the WP.

Mr Lim said: 'From a logical point of view, it should, since it suggests that he was the wrong choice. But emotively, it might not.'

Added Mr Yeo: 'It's not yet clear whether Yaw Shin Leong's behaviour will be seen as reflecting on the WP or not.'

But political analyst Derek da Cunha is convinced it will not have a great effect on the WP's chances at the polls.

'Any negative sentiment felt by some residents over that episode would be cancelled out by the fact that this is a by-election which, almost always, is disadvantageous to the party in government,' he said.

For Hougang resident Terence Seah, the Yaw saga has no impact on his desire for an opposition voice in Parliament.

'It's his private life. I vote for the party, not the person. WP is capable of controlling its members,' said the 57-year-old, who runs his own consultancy business.

Another resident, engineer Bel Lee, however, feels the episode justified his vote for the PAP. 'I think the PAP can do more for us than the WP,' said the 32-year-old.

The decision to hold the by-election only in Hougang quashed speculation that the Prime Minister would also call a by-election in his Ang Mo Kio GRC or other GRCs, in a move to bring in candidates who did not win at the last polls to boost further the fourth-generation leadership.

Mr Zulkifli reckoned that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had to balance between political convenience and demonstrating transparency and even-handedness to the opposition.

'It shows the PM is extremely gentlemanly about this whole thing,' he said.

But Dr da Cunha felt that to expand the polls could be risky.

Arguing that the national mood has darkened in the one year since the general election, he said that if a by-election had also been called for a GRC like in the PM's GRC, the PAP could face a serious slump in votes even if it retained the constituency.

'The Prime Minister's personal prestige would have taken a dent,' he said.

Restricting the contest to Hougang will also prevent the WP from gaining momentum in securing more support, he added.

Generally, MPs and political watchers welcomed the early polls for Hougang, which will be held on May 26 if contested.

This will be less than three months after Mr Yaw had to vacate his seat.

Although PM Lee had said the timing was at his discretion, an early date assures voters that he is not unduly delaying the polls, they said.

They felt that Mr Desmond Choo, the PAP's candidate in Hougang in the last general election and most probably its candidate again, will face an uphill battle against the WP man. He had 35.2 per cent of the votes last May.

Residents interviewed also noted the long relationship the WP had with Hougang residents, although many described Mr Choo as hardworking and sincere.

Said MP Chong: 'If he manages to make a dent in the majority (share of the vote), that would be a great showing.'

ON THE TIMING...

'The PM's decision could set a benchmark for a good practice. It's desirable particularly when it's very early on in the term of Parliament. If it were the fourth year of government, it could be different, but because it's still early, it's a good precedent to have it within three months.' - National University of Singapore law professor Thio Li-ann

'Because this seat became vacant so quickly after the GE, we can't say 'Let's wait until the next GE', that would be too long a time. So let's get this over with rather than let it drag out. I think delaying it any longer will not serve any advantage to either party, nor will it have a major impact on the outcome.' - Veteran MP (Joo Chiat) Charles Chong

'PM has called for the by-election in reasonably good time, he's not dragging it, and it's good that we'll have it done by the end of May... there's a whole lot of other government business that we have to get through.' - Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer, also MP for Punggol East

THE CHANCES...
'The Workers' Party will be the favourites - Yaw Shin Leong pulled a record high for WP during the GE. It won't be surprising if the (vote) share goes down, but I wouldn't read too much into it.' - Socio-political blogger and former Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong

'Desmond Choo is not bad. He has no airs. He's better than many other PAP MPs, but he's unlucky to be here. I think he'll poll higher than before though, because he has done a lot of useful things.' - Hougang resident Thomas Khoo, 53, carpenter

POLLING DAY NOT A HOLIDAY

The Elections Department said yesterday that Polling Day for the Hougang by-election is not a public holiday. But under the law, it said, employers have to give workers who are voting reasonable time off to cast their votes.

Hougang residents not shortchanged, Low maintains
By Andrea Ong & Tessa Wong, The Straits Times, 10 May 2012

WORKERS' Party chief Low Thia Khiang stood firm last night, insisting that Hougang voters have not been shortchanged even though they have been without an MP for nearly three months.

But now that a by-election has been called, he said voters have another chance to elect a new representative after the WP expelled former MP Yaw Shin Leong on Feb 14 for refusing to come clean about his alleged extramarital affairs.

Speaking to reporters at a Hougang Meet-the-People Session last night, Mr Low said the by-election 'proves to residents in Hougang that they will not be shortchanged'.

'If the MP is not up to the mark, the WP is prepared to give them another opportunity to make another choice. And this is what we stand for.'

Mr Low, who was MP for Hougang for 20 years before handing over the reins to Mr Yaw in last year's general election, also hit back at Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's criticism yesterday that the WP and Mr Yaw have let Singaporeans down.

PM Lee, who said the WP has still not given a 'full and proper account' of the events and its actions surrounding Mr Yaw's alleged indiscretions, also urged Hougang voters to choose a reliable candidate with 'commitment and integrity'.

Responding, Mr Low said he agrees that voters should elect a responsible candidate.

'That was exactly why the WP decided to remove Yaw Shin Leong, because he's not being responsible.'

He said the party had answered for its actions at the Feb 15 press conference where it announced Mr Yaw's expulsion, adding: 'I think we answered most of the questions. I suppose maybe (you) want to refer the PM to the footage?'

Mr Low said that since Mr Yaw's expulsion the WP has also ensured that Hougang residents have been looked after.

The five Aljunied GRC MPs have been helming Meet-the-People Sessions in Hougang, while Mr Low has also personally looked into some residents' problems and walked around the estate to 'make sure that things are all right'.

He said: 'I am satisfied that we have done our best to serve residents in Hougang in this period of time. And that's why I'm confidently saying that we have not shortchanged Hougang residents... Even without an MP, the WP has served them.'

Asked about the qualities Hougang voters seek in candidates after Mr Yaw's fall from grace, Mr Low said the WP has always produced quality candidates.

Even Mr Yaw served residents diligently and was hardworking on the ground after being elected, he said.

But if candidates or MPs are not up to standard or make serious mistakes, the party 'will not hesitate to make the sacrifice', said Mr Low in Mandarin.

'We must make sure the WP reputation is not tarnished,' he added, naming three traits that the WP emphasises in its candidates and MPs: quality, trustworthiness and performance.

While Mr Low said he is 'somewhat' surprised by the swiftness of PM Lee's decision to call the by-election in May, the party is ready.

The WP's by-election committee held a meeting last night and decided on the candidate to field. It was a 'clear-cut' decision with no disputes, said Mr Low.

Its man in Hougang is likely to be central executive council member and businessman Png Eng Huat, 50, who was put in charge of the WP's grassroots arm in Hougang after Mr Yaw was expelled.

Mr Low and Mr Png showed up at the Meet-the-People Session at 9.15pm last night, and were greeted with cheers by a crowd of 50 supporters. A long-time resident, Madam Tan, 71, hugged Mr Low, shouting 'hua hee, hua hee', a Teochew phrase for 'happy'.

The WP will unveil its candidate at a media conference today.

The by-election appears to be a straight fight between the WP and PAP, as several opposition parties and figures declared last night that they will stay away in the interest of opposition unity.

They include the National Solidarity Party, the Singapore Democratic Party and the Singapore Democratic Alliance.

Former presidential candidate Tan Jee Say, who had earlier expressed interest, indicated that he will not stand either.

In a media statement, he said: 'The best way forward is for all of us to support WP in its defence of the seat against the PAP.'

Related
Workers' Party expels Hougang MP Yaw Shin Leong
Yaw Shin Leong's Expulsion from WP: Reactions