By Evelyn Choo | Posted: 06 March 2011 1421 hrs
SINGAPORE: Several Major Opposition parties have agreed not to contest Opposition MP Chiam See Tong's seat of Potong Pasir.
This is one outcome of a meeting of some 30 representatives on Saturday - which was described as "friendly".
They
also agreed to avoid three-cornered fights in Group Representation
Constituencies (GRC), and to try to contest all seats available.
The
three-hour talks yielded a key agreement - that the Singapore
Democratic Alliance will not contest Potong Pasir Single-Member
Constituency SMC).
This will prevent a three-cornered fight for
incumbent MP Chiam See Tong, whose Singapore People's Party has been
involved in a public spat with the Alliance.
Singapore
Democratic Alliance secretary-general Desmond Lim said: "We give due
respect to Mr Chiam, and we think he is the right person to decide his
own choice. We will fully support his decision."
Although there
is a general consensus among opposition parties to avoid three-cornered
fights, what's left to be seen is whether independent candidates would
show up on Nomination Day to contest for the SMCs.
One of them could be Andrew Kuan, who attended the session briefly.
Mr
Andrew Kuan and Mr Karim Sattar from the Singapore National Front, have
both separately said they are interested in the Joo Chiat SMC.
Singapore
Democratic Alliance's Mohd Nazem Suki said: "He wanted to be in the
meeting to justify his seat as an independent candidate in one of the
SMCs.
"Then, as a consensus, we decided, and I as the chairman, have to agree to the majority of the members to relieve him."
The Worker's Party looks to be fielding the largest team - 24 members for four GRCs and five SMCs.
Singapore
Democratic Alliance chairman Gandhi Ambalam said: "The parties have
come, and they feel they have the resources. They have the manpower. And
it's a healthy sign, in fact.
"I think I would consider that it is a turning a point for the democratic process in Singapore".
If
the opposition does field 87 candidates, it will mean the People's
Action Party will not be returned to power on Nomination Day.
-CNA
some gud news
at least some peace.