All 87 seats likely to be contested
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SINGAPORE - It is "most likely" that all 87 seats will be contested - that is what Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) acting secretary-general Mohd Nazem Suki told MediaCorp last night after chairing Round 1 of Opposition negotiations to avoid three-cornered fights.
And almost all the claims on constituencies by the respective Opposition parties have been resolved, he added, ahead of the second round coming up on Saturday.
The big surprise: Potong Pasir may see a three-cornered fight, with the news that incumbent Member of Parliament Chiam See Tong intends to pull out his Singapore People's Party from the SDA, which had included the ward in its line-up.
While Mr Nazem gave little away about which were the remaining seats still in a tug-of-war between parties, the Single Member Constituency (SMC) of Pioneer could well be one of those.
Former Non-Constituency MP Steve Chia told MediaCorp that he has thrown his hat in the ring.
The Reform Party had gone public with its interest in the ward earlier.
One three-cornered fight that seems bound to happen is at Joo Chiat, as former presidential hopeful Andrew Kuan is not wavering in his declared intention to contest there.
Mr Kuan, who was not at last night's meeting, told MediaCorp that Joo Chiat SMC was the place where he had developed many "meaningful friendships".
Other constituencies under contesting claims heading into the meeting had been Whampoa and Yuhua, between the National Solidarity Party and the Singapore Democratic Party.
The two newly formed Group Representation Constituencies have also attracted interest. Singapore Democratic Party had contested Sembawang GRC previously, while the Workers' Party had contested Ang Mo Kio GRC and the single wards in Nee Soon in 2006. These areas now come under a new Nee Soon GRC.
Moulmein-Kallang is the other new GRC to have garnered Opposition attention.http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110303-0000260/All-87-seats-likely-to-be-contested
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Opposition parties meet to avoid three-cornered fights
SINGAPORE: Singapore's opposition parties said they have agreed on about 80 to 90 percent of seats to contest in the coming General Election.
This comes after an inter-party meeting on Wednesday night to avoid three-cornered fights.
The parties also came to some resolution on what will happen in Potong Pasir after MP Chiam See Tong sent in a notice to withdraw his party from the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA).
The alliance is made up of the Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS), Singapore Justice Party, and Mr Chiam's Singapore People's Party which is the group's founding member. Mr Chiam is also the Chairman of the SDA.
Singapore's opposition parties were all represented in Wednesday's negotiations.
All eyes were on whether Mr Chiam would attend. But he was a no-show.
In his place was SPP's Central Executive Committee member Hamim Aliyas.
He confirmed that Mr Chiam's wife, Lina Chiam, would contest Potong Pasir under the SPP banner.
Mr Mohd Nazem Suki, Assistant Secretary-General of SDA, said: "We have settled that. We don't say that we are giving but it's an honour. It's the honour to Mr Chiam itself. But then names are not mentioned."
Mr Chiam had won the Potong Pasir seat under the banner of the SDA.
In the latest turn of events, Mr Chiam has pulled his party out of the alliance. The rift started after an abortive bid by Mr Chiam to bring The Reform Party into the alliance.
Despite earlier talk of of no shows by some political parties, all major opposition parties were present. The aim is to avoid three-cornered fights because such an event would dilute the chances of the opposition winning a seat.
The parties gave little away - only to say the meeting was friendly and cordial.
But some hard bargaining took place.
Wards like Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency (GRC) saw five parties expressing interest to contest it.
Mr Goh Meng Seng, Secretary-General of the National Solidarity party, said: "No comments. This is consensus of the council of the meeting that we will not reveal which are the ones not resolved."
Mr Nazem added: "We managed to settle most of the constituencies and we managed to get out of the three-cornered fight."
Mr Chia Ti Lik, Secretary-General of the Socialist Front, said: "Certainly this round there's a lot more interest in contesting a lot of seats then in the past. It's going to make for a vibrant election."
One thing's for sure - all 12 single member constituencies will be contested, and most of the 15 GRCs.
The parties will meet again on Saturday to finalise their battle plans.http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1113995/1/.html
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wondering who is coming to Tg pagar GRC?
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
wondering who is coming to Tg pagar GRC?
DPP.
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Originally posted by tranquilice:
DPP.the slipper man.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
the slipper man.
He super rich business man.
Even deposit forfeit also nvm.
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Originally posted by Taiyaki:
托�党？？？The one whose son got killed?
yalor.
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TOC say got 3 GRC no fight wor
Tanjong Pagar
Sembawang
Marine Parade
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/03/ge-2011-some-grcs-may-go-uncontested/
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dunno
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the slipper man very rich business man live in pte propety.
His deposit even if forfeited also nvm.
But based on ground sentiment, I believe if no 3 corner fight, opposition will not lose their deposit.
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Originally posted by Taiyaki:
the slipper man very rich business man live in pte propety.
His deposit even if forfeited also nvm.
But based on ground sentiment, I believe if no 3 corner fight, opposition will not lose their deposit.
No problem, he have my support.
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already Chiam See Tong is showing his true colours as a PAP mole...............
pulling out of Alliance.....................
seems that this old fool always sabotage opposition before elections..................
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Originally posted by SevenEleven:
TOC say got 3 GRC no fight wor
Tanjong Pagar
Sembawang
Marine Parade
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/03/ge-2011-some-grcs-may-go-uncontested/
The second round of discussion this Saturday will get things clearer. -
Originally posted by tranquilice:
The second round of discussion this Saturday will get things clearer.
Hope so. -
avoid 3 corner fights. One target.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
avoid 3 corner fights. One target.
Agreed. -
Originally posted by SevenEleven:
TOC say got 3 GRC no fight wor
Tanjong Pagar
Sembawang
Marine Parade
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/03/ge-2011-some-grcs-may-go-uncontested/
Walkover expected for these 3 and Ang Mo Kio.21 seats may be uncontested.
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My wish is to vote only.
Pls come my area !!!
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Originally posted by Taiyaki:
My wish is to vote only.
Pls come my area !!!
Your area? -
Newspaper will have more to report if all 87 seats contested.
They have enough reporters or not to cover all the GRCs and SMCs?
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Originally posted by charlize:
Newspaper will have more to report if all 87 seats contested.
They have enough reporters or not to cover all the GRCs and SMCs?
hmm....a free lance job opportunity?
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Originally posted by SevenEleven:
hmm....a free lance job opportunity?
Job creation.
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1 ultraman is enough to do the job
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contest all the way.....................
contest even LKY's toilet seat.....................
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Originally posted by Asromanista2001:
contest all the way.....................
contest even LKY's toilet seat.....................
What's the pt of contesting but cannot win .