By Tessa Wong
REFORM Party (RP) chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam has dismissed speculation that his party lacks candidates to contest in constituencies it has earmarked for the next general election.
He told The Straits Times on Monday that the party is, in fact, also thinking of contesting in an additional ward - Yuhua.
Last month, after new electoral boundaries were drawn up, the RP announced that it would contest the single-seat wards of Hong Kah North, Pioneer and Radin Mas; and in two five-member group representation constituencies - West Coast and Chua Chu Kang.
This meant it has to field at least 13 candidates.
However, talk that the RP is short of candidates has circulated since last month when at least 20 members - including more than half its nine-member central executive committee and a number of potential candidates - quit the party.
Four former RP members - Tony Tan, Hazel Poa, Jeisilan Sivalingam and Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss - have since joined the National Solidarity Party (NSP) and were unveiled as potential candidates earlier this month.
The RP has announced its candidates for only two wards: Mr Jeyaretnam in Pioneer, and central executive committee member Alec Tok in Radin Mas.
Its pre-election activities and walkabouts have also been largely confined to these two areas.
Good effort.
If they have the money for deposits, have talented pple willing to work for them, why not? Go all out and contest.
must ask him double confirm anot.later not enuff candidates then jialat lor