GE Top Five: Aug 26
Five election related matters
1. MORE CANDIDATES
NAMED
The People's Action Party revealed its candidates for Marine Parade GRC, led by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin, first-term MP Edwin Tong, and veteran backbenchers Fatimah Lateef and Seah Kian Peng.
Also unveiled was the team for Nee Soon GRC. Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam introduced new faces animal-rights activist Louis Ng, 37, and food-supply company Foodtraco Supplies executive director Henry Kwek, 39.
They will join two-term MP Lee Bee Wah and Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Transport Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim to form the five-member team.
The Workers' Party unveiled four potential candidates at its Syed Alwi Road headquarters.
Daniel Goh, 42, an associate professor of sociology at the National University of Singapore, RHB Bank wealth manager Dylan Ng, 40 and engineer Redzwan Hafidz, 30, were the new faces. Also introduced was Koh Choong Yong, 42. Mr Koh, a software engineer had previously contested Sengkang West SMC in 2011.
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) unveiled two more candidatesat its party headquarters in Yio Chu Kang. They are Ms Jaslyn Go and Dr Paul Tambyah.
2. NO DRONES
If you are thinking about getting an awesome aerial shot of the crowds at upcoming GE — don't.
No drones will be allowed at political rally sites, nomination centers says Police. Public safety will be top priority at upcoming GE.
3. ELECTION PAPERS COLLECTED
The Elections Department HQ at Prinsep Link saw a stream of potential candidates turn up to collect nomination papers.
Of those looking to stand as independent candidates were Uber driver Shirwin Eu, 32, real estate executive Ooi Boon Ewe, 74, and former businessman Zeng Guoyuan, 63. Also seen collecting papers was blogger Han Hui Hui. She refused to talk to media after she collected papers but later announced on her blog of her intention to contest Radin Mas
The election deposit has been set at $14,500 and it will be forfeited if a candidate in a single-member constituency or a team in a group representation constituency receives less than 12.5 per cent of the votes in their constituency.
4. NEW RULES
Two new rules that will be enforced: no concealing of faces on stage and Central Executive Committee members of each political party will not be allowed to speak at rallies or election meetings held by other political parties.
This could have an impact on the Democratic Progressive Party. This will mean that apart from the candidates running under the Singapore People's Party banner to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC - other SPP leaders will not be able to speak at any rallies organised by DPP.
5. 'NOMADS'
ESM Goh described the opposition as nomads who “come and go”.
“Nomads do not have an interest in people’s welfare — they are looking for plunder,” he said.
When asked about Mr Goh's comments, Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim fired back: “Sometimes, the public, maybe the PAP, likes to say the opposition only likes to appear at election time and they compare it to themselves when they are there…
“But you see, in many of these constituencies they are the incumbent, and they are supposed to be there all the time.”
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