Monday, May 29, 2006

TODAY: A style out of fashion?

Veteran politician JBJ says that current WP should confront more

DERRICK A PAULO
derrick@newstoday.com.sg



ME, A STREET FIGHTER? Veteran Opposition politician J B Jeyaretnam prefers to describe his style of politics as "confrontational".

HIS fiercest opponent - Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew - has labelled his style as anything from "gutter politics" to "street fighter" tactics. Opposition veteran J B Jeyaretnam prefers to describe his methods as "confrontational" instead.

But there is one observation about his approach that Mr Jeyaretnam shares with MM Lee: That it is no longer a feature of the Workers' Party.

And, looking at the recent General Election (GE), Mr Jeyaretnam doubts it will make a comeback within the party he used to lead. He said: "I can't see it happening under (secretary-general) Low Thia Khiang. (He) hasn't shown himself ... willing or ready to take on the PAP on the most crucial issue of the system of government in this country."

Mr Lee had said last month at the 50th anniversary dinner of the Foreign Correspondents Association that Mr Low is moving in the right direction after having "got rid" of Mr Jeyaretnam and his "Third World" politics. The latter, though, is not making any concessions about his approach.

"I don't believe confrontational politics is wrong, which is what the PAP would seem to imply. They talk about constructive criticism. Of course, to them, constructive criticism is criticism within the parameters they've laid down," he said.

Which is why, he added, Mr Lee was pleased to see the back of someone like him who would challenge the system. But is the veteran Opposition politician
calling time on politics now?

"I haven't quite decided. A lot will, of course, depend on my health and if my strength will permit me to continue," said the 80-year-old, who had "great hopes" of getting discharged from his bankruptcy to contest the GE. He admitted that, with the polls over, the urgency to pay his debts from the lawsuits against him had passed. "Yes, I'd like to be discharged, but it's no longer a pressing matter," said Mr Jeyaretnam, who was speaking about the GE at an FCA luncheon last week.

These elections, with more media publicity of the Opposition in the lead-up to the polls than in previous elections, raised expectations that "some real issues would be debated", he said, citing issues about the widening wage gap, unemployment, workers' rights, healthcare, education and the cost of living. But he did not see this happen. If it had and the WP had a real go at the issues, "they might have captured Aljunied".

And Mr Jeyaretnam is not very optimistic about the Opposition's chances in a Group Representation Constituency at the next GE. "The flagship constituency didn't do as well as the flagship constituencies in the previous elections under the WP," he said, referring to the 1988, 1991 and 1997 polls.

In those elections, the WP got 49.11 per cent of the Eunos vote, 47.62 per cent in Eunos again and 45.18 per cent in Cheng San, respectively. In this GE, the WP won 43.91 per cent in Aljunied. Nonetheless, he does think that democratic ideals are on the rise among young Singaporeans.

"Going around, selling my book in Singapore, I've had hundreds of students buying the book," he related. "But, I've also noticed this: Once they leave the universities ... either their energies or their enthusiasm are sapped as a result, I suppose, of the seen and unseen pressures of society.

He cited family pressure and the climate of fear as the main counterbalances to the desire for change and greater freedoms. Although more young Singaporeans are joining the Opposition, it is not enough to convince him that the fear factor is ebbing. He has a sterner litmus test - one that is true to his style of politics.

"It's when you have people who are prepared to stand up, march through the streets of Singapore, hold a public rally. Then they can say 'we are no longer afraid'," he told TODAY.

By his own admission, it is a style that seems very much out of fashion.

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Straits Times: Gomez let off with a 'stern warning'

BY SUE-ANN CHIA

WORKERS' Party member James Gomez has been given a "stern warning" for what police said yesterday was his use of threatening words towards a public servant.

A police statement said that after reviewing the evidence, the Public Prosecutor was satisfied that he committed the offence against a public servant who was carrying out his duties.

He could have been slapped with a fine not exceeding $5,000 or jailed for a period not exceeding a year.

"However, having considered all the circumstances of the case, Mr Gomez's willingness to cooperate with the police and the absence of any previous criminal record, the Public Prosecutor has decided that a stern warning be administered to Mr James Gomez for the offence," the statement said.

Mr Gomez, part of the WP's team that contested and lost in Aljunied GRC, was told of the outcome yesterday when he was called to the Police Cantonment Complex in New Bridge Road.

His passport - taken last Sunday when he was stopped from leaving the country - was also returned.

Mr Gomez was at the centre of a controversy with the Elections Department over his non-submission of a minority candidate certificate.

He claimed to have submitted the form on April 24. He went to the department two days later and asked for the certificate. When told there was no record of him handing it in, he asked the officer to check again and warned of implications.

After being informed later that day that security camera footage showed he put the form into his bag - and following calls by People's Action Party leaders for him to come clean over the incident - Mr Gomez owned up and apologised on April 29.

But the department filed a complaint against him on May 6. A day later, he was stopped at the immigration counter as he was leaving the country at Changi Airport.

After the complaint, police began their probe into offences of criminal intimidation, giving false information and using threatening words and behaviour.

Mr Gomez was questioned three times. Also interviewed were department staff, WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang and chairman Sylvia Lim. Ang Mo Kio MP-elect Inderjit Singh and retiree Thiayagarajah Karthigesu, an assenter for PAP candidates contesting in Ang Mo Kio also spoke to investigators.

Mr Inderjit had said previously that on April 27 Mr Gomez told him that the minority certificate incident was just a "wayang", or Malay for theatre - comments Mr Thiayagarajah also heard.

The police said statements Mr Gomez gave "contained serious inconsistencies and discrepancies". When taken with statements of others - including Mr Singh and Mr Thiayagarajah - it "put into question the real truth".

Mr Gomez said yesterday he was told of the outcome and about the stern warning he would receive.

"I was agreeable to that," he said. He regarded the matter as closed and hopes "to move on".

He also said he had no plans to sue Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew who called him dishonest, and a liar.

Mr Gomez also told his employers - the Stockholm-based think-tank, International IDEA. He plans to remain here over the weekend and will arrange to return to work in Sweden next week.

Channel NewsAsia: Returning Officer names WP Chairman Sylvia Lim as Non-Constituency MP

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006

By S Ramesh


WP Chairperson Sylvia Lim

SINGAPORE : The Returning Officer for the recent General Election, Mr Tan Boon Huat has declared Workers' Party Chairman, Sylvia Lim as the candidate elected to be the Non-Constituency MP or NCMP.

The declaration was made in a Government Gazette announcement on Friday.

Under the Parliamentary Elections Act, the offer of the post of NCMP would be extended to the team which polled the highest percentage of votes among the unsuccessful opposition candidates.

In this case, the WP team obtained the highest percentage of nearly 44 percent in the Aljunied GRC contest.

The Workers' Party had announced on Tuesday (9 May) that it is naming Ms Lim for the post.

This is the third time the WP is taking up the NCMP post, the last being former Secretary General, Mr JB Jeyatertnam and Dr Lee Siew Choh from the party. - CNA /dt

Friday, May 12, 2006

Channel NewsAsia: WP says it will work the ground at East Coast GRC till next election

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006

By Pearl Forss


Brandon Siow

The defeated Worker's Party team that contested in the East Coast GRC in the recent General Election, has plans to engage residents there for the next 5 years.

It hopes to change the perception that the opposition only turns up in the constituencies only a few months before a general election.

The team members fielded in the 5-member GRC were Mr Perry Tong, Mr Eric Tan, Mr Chia Ti Lik, Mr Abdul Rahim and Mr Brandon Siow.

The rookie team, who collected 36 percent of valid votes in last Saturday's polls, was out and about on Friday morning thanking residents.

They said that they want to contest in the same GRC again at the next General Election, and will spend the next 5 years preparing for it.

Mr Perry Tong said: "We are organising a series of grassroots and community-based activities. The outline is in place, we'll firm up the details.

"We will establish a broad support base here and move on from there, depending on the requirements and needs of residents."

The team said that one main reason it lost in the GRC is that young voters chose the incumbents.

They felt that it was an irony since the young Workers' Party team fielded in the GRC was supposed to connect with the post-65 generation.

Mr Chia Ti Lik said: "Based on the younger voters' perspective, whenever they compare a team that is completely new, unfamiliar and relatively untested against a team where there are ministers from the ruling party, then however much they feel for us, they will tend to be more prudent and vote for the ruling party."

Looking ahead, the team said that it would be a challenge to continue the current momentum for the next five years.

Mr Eric Tan said: "We hope to recruit more people, and therefore build on our branding and offer an institutionalised approach. That means when people look at Workers' Party, it is not just Low Thia Khiang or Sylvia Lim but more an institution that can be an alternative in the future."

In the last few days, over a hundred people emailed the Workers' Party or approached its candidates personally requesting to join the party.

The Workers' Party says it is its responsibility to build up the party so that it can be a serious counter point to the People's Action Party. - CNA/ir

Thursday, May 11, 2006

TODAY: Probe unlikely to affect NCMP seat: Low

WP chief confident police will be fair; Gomez is called in for questioning a third time

LIN YANQIN
yanqinl@newstoday.com.sg



TIME TO GO: Workers' Party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang (right) gestures to his colleagues to leave after the counting of the overseas votes were finished.

ALTHOUGH the James Gomez controversy is far from settled, Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang said it's unlikely that ongoing police investigations will affect chairman Sylvia Lim's nomination to become a Non-Constituency MP (NCMP).

Speaking to reporters yesterday after observing the counting of overseas votes, Mr Low said he is confident that the police will be fair in dealing with this matter.

When asked what happened during his three-hour interview with the police at his Hougang Town Council office on Monday, he said: "They basically wanted to know of some of the statements I made in public, on what basis I made those statements, how I justify my assessment of Mr James Gomez during the election and things like that," he said. "I suppose they want to find out whether I had, in any way, covered up for James Gomez."

The police had spoken to him - along with Ms Lim and other party colleagues - as part of the ongoing investigations on Mr Gomez over allegations of criminal intimidation and providing false information to the Elections Department.

At WP's final rally last Friday, Mr Low had clarified that he had instructed all non-Chinese candidates, including Mr Gomez, to obtain a minority certification form.

The form was the subject of a controversy during the nine-day election campaign, when Mr Gomez first accused the Elections Department of misplacing it, before apologising when evidence was produced to show otherwise.

The Elections Department lodged a complaint against him on polling day on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Mr Gomez was called for the third time to the Police Cantonment Complex for more questioning yesterday evening at about 7pm. The session lasted around three hours.

"By now I have answered about 100 questions, in all," said Mr Gomez.

He said that from the line of questioning, it appeared that the police were also investigating him for giving false information and using threatening words and behaviour, apart from the accusation of criminal intimidation mentioned earlier.

He said he had heard that people were concerned about his case and added that he would continue to cooperate with the authorities. The police had still not given him a time-frame on how long the investigations would last, he said.

Apart from WP members, the People's Action Party's MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Mr Inderjit Singh and several officials from the Elections Department have also been interviewed in relation to the investigations.

Mr Singh had issued a public statement during the height of the controversy last week on a conversation he had with Mr Gomez on Nomination Day.

According to Mr Singh, Mr Gomez had told him then that the whole episode was a "wayang" (show).

Mr Gomez is part of the WP team led by Ms Lim that challenged the PAP in Aljunied GRC. The contest ended with the PAP team, fronted by Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, winning 56.1 per cent of the vote.

– WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY DERRICK A PAULO

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

TODAY: Police quiz Gomez again

WP man was asked to give 'detailed responses', PAP MP Inderjit Singh interviewed

LOH CHEE KONG
cheekong@newstoday.com.sg



PROBE: Mr Gomez (right) was yesterday asked to elaborate on questions that were raised during his first interview on Sunday. PAP MP Inderjit Singh was also interviewed by the police.

THE Workers' Party's (WP) James Gomez was summoned by the police for the second time yesterday, as investigations into his alleged offences of criminal intimidation and providing false information to the Elections Department gathered pace.

The People's Action Party's (PAP) MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Mr Inderjit Singh, was also interviewed by the police.

Yesterday, Mr Gomez arrived at the Police Cantonment Complex at about 9.30am and emerged from its premises some five hours later.

The researcher, 40, later told TODAY that he had received a call from the police late on Monday night for him to go down to assist in investigations.

"They were essentially elaborations and clarifications to questions asked in the first round (on Sunday). They wanted more detailed responses," he said.

According to Mr Gomez, the police also requested a copy of his minority certificate application form, which he gave them along with the letter of authorisation and submission that would enable a candidate to authorise another person to collect and submit the form on his behalf.

Mr Gomez was stopped at the airport on Sunday while leaving for Sweden to resume work at Idea International. His passport was seized and he was questioned for eight hours. While he was willing to cooperate fully with the investigations, he took the opportunity to convey to the police his concerns about his financial and work obligations.

Due to start work in Sweden yesterday, Mr Gomez managed to obtain a letter from the police to explain his predicament to his employers. But he had other concerns, such as getting his passport back so that he could get back to work.

"While I am involved in this, I need to get on with other aspects of my life as well," he said.

He added: "My ticket transiting from Bangkok to Sweden was a non-refundable ticket. And I run the risk of not receiving income for the days that I'm not at work. I also have bills and rents to pay in Sweden because I have an apartment there."

Mr Gomez said that the police were unable to put a time frame on the investigations. Nonetheless, they told him they would look into his concerns.

When contacted, the police said that the second interview was part of "the process of reviewing the evidence and interviewing all relevant persons". It added that it had also interviewed Mr Singh, who declined to comment when contacted by TODAY.

The MP, who is embarking on his third term following the elections, had issued a public statement during the height of the controversy on a conversation he had with Mr Gomez on Nomination Day. According to Mr Singh, Mr Gomez had told him then that the whole episode was a "wayang" (show).

On Monday, WP chief Low Thia Khiang was interviewed by the police at his office for more than three hours, while the party's chairman Sylvia Lim also gave a statement on Sunday night.

Officials from the Elections Department, the complainant, have also been interviewed.

The controversy started when Mr Gomez claimed to have submitted his application form for a minority candidate certificate to the Elections Department.

The department disputed the claim and made public its evidence such as security video footage and a transcript of a telephone conversation Mr Gomez had with a department official.

The Elections Department lodged a complaint against Mr Gomez on Polling Day last Saturday, and police are investigating the case as alleged offences of criminal intimidation and giving false information.

Though he did not submit his form, Mr Gomez was reported to have warned Elections Department officials of "consequences" when told that they did not have his certificate.

Speaking to 938Live, lawyer Edmund Pereira explained what might constitute "criminal intimidation".

"Whenever a person threatens another with injury - either to his own person or to that person's reputation - or to his property, like for example, I'm going to burn your house down, and causes that other person to be put in alarm, or fear," he said.

Mr Gomez is part of the WP team led by Ms Lim that challenged the PAP in Aljunied GRC. The contest ended with the PAP team, fronted by Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, winning 56.1 per cent of the vote.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Channel NewsAsia: Elections Dept asks WP to name NCMP from its Aljunied team

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006

By Dominique Loh

The Elections Department confirms it has asked the Workers' Party to name a member of its Aljunied GRC team to be declared as a Non-Constituency MP.

Either Goh Meng Seng, James Gomez, Sylvia Lim, Mohd Rahizan Yaacob or Tan Wui-Hua could be named as the next NCMP.

The party members are to meet on Tuesday night at their headquarters to make that decision.

The Parliamentary Elections Act allows a maximum of 3 NCMPs to be declared, minus the number of opposition MPs voted in.

Choosing the NCMP is determined by the highest percentage of votes garnered by a candidate among the opposition parties in descending order.

Since two opposition MPs were voted into Parliament after this year's election, the Act allows for another opposition MP to be inducted into Parliament as a NCMP.

The Workers' Party have until 15 May to make their decision and inform the Returning Officer. - CNA/ir

TODAY: NCMP seat to go to WP?

THE Elections Department said yesterday it has offered the role of Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) to the best performing loser in this General Election but did not reveal to whom it was offered.

The offer will most likely go to the Workers' Party (WP), whose team in Aljunied GRC obtained 43.92 per cent of votes. The party can choose one from among its five-member team to take up the NCMP seat.

If the WP rejects the seat, the Elections Department will then offer it to the second top loser, the Singapore Democratic Alliance's Steve Chia. - CHANNEL NEWSASIA

TODAY: Gomez investigation continues

JASMINE YIN
jasmine.yin@newstoday.com.sg




THE police have confirmed that they are investigating Mr James Gomez (picture) from the Workers' Party (WP) for alleged offences of criminal intimidation and providing false information to the Elections Department.

Several persons, including Elections Department officials, Mr Gomez and WP chairman Sylvia Lim, have been interviewed, but "no arrest has been made and no persons detained in police custody", said the police in a media statement released yesterday.

"The police are in the process of reviewing the evidence and interviewing all relevant persons."

This probe follows a complaint lodged by the Elections Department against Mr Gomez on Polling Day last Saturday.

The 40-year-old researcher became embroiled in controversy during the nine days of hustings when the Elections Department disputed - using evidence such as security video footage and a transcript of a telephone conversation he had with a department official - his claim about having submitted his minority candidate certificate to the department.

Late on Sunday afternoon, Mr Gomez was stopped at the airport where he was planning to catch a flight to Sweden to resume work at Idea International - a job he had taken up just a few weeks ago. He was asked to assist in investigations pertaining to this complaint and acceded to that request.

Emerging from the Police Cantonment Complex just past midnight after some six hours of questioning, he told the waiting media that his passport had been seized and impounded indefinitely.

Mr Gomez was part of a WP team led by Ms Lim that challenged the People's Action Party (PAP) in Aljunied GRC.

The contest ended with the PAP team, which is fronted by Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, winning 56.1 per cent of the votes.

Mr Gomez told TODAY he had not been called for further police questioning, but that he is "willing to cooperate with the investigations in any way possible".

When asked if he had been in contact with WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang and Ms Lim after he was released from questioning, Mr Gomez would only say: "I've been in touch with my party colleagues."

He said that the police had not reverted to him on his request for a letter that he could use to explain the situation to his employers at Stockholm-based think-tank Idea International, who are expecting him to report for work this week.

"I'll just wait, but I have informed them of the situation," he said.

While investigations are now underway, an online petition has been set up to protest against the probe on Mr Gomez.

Straits Times: WP offered NCMP seat, party to decide this week


TAKE IT OR NOT?: Ms Lim confirmed the Elections Department's offer was received yesterday.

THE Workers' Party (WP) has been offered the Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) seat in Parliament, because its Aljunied GRC team was the top scorer among defeated opposition candidates.

However, it has yet to decide if it would accept the offer from the Elections Department.

WP chairman Sylvia Lim told The Straits Times yesterday that a decision will be reached by this week. Ms Lim led the Aljunied team, which got 43.9 per cent of the valid votes cast in the GRC.

In the letter of offer issued to the WP yesterday, the Elections Department asked the party to propose who among the five Aljunied candidates would take up the NCMP post. It was given seven days to submit a name.

Under the NCMP scheme introduced in 1984, the highest-scoring opposition losers are admitted to Parliament if there are fewer than three elected opposition MPs.

An NCMP does not represent any constituency but can take part in all debates. However, such MPs cannot vote on major issues such as no-confidence motion, amendments to the Constitution, the Budget and other financial Bills.

If WP turns down the offer, the NCMP seat will be offered to the next best loser: Mr Steve Chia who received 39.6 per of the votes cast in single-seat Chua Chu Kang.

But the former NCMP said last night he would not take it up.

"Why should I?" said Mr Chia, who had announced that he was quitting politics after he lost in his third attempt at the polls.

He urged WP to accept the offer, as the chosen MP would gain from the higher public profile as well as the experience of debating in Parliament. He was an NCMP for the past five years.

But he cautioned: "It has been proven that the NCMP seat is not effective in winning elections."

However, Ms Lim, whom he expects to be the next NCMP, may fare better, he added.

SUE-ANN CHIA

Straits Times: Gomez saga: Police quiz WP chief

They wanted to know why Gomez applied for a minority certificate, says Low Thia Khiang

BY PEH SHING HUEI & KEN KWEK

POLICE officers yesterday interviewed Workers' Party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang at his Hougang office for more than three hours in connection with the James Gomez affair.

Two plain clothes officers who emerged from the Hougang Town Council office at 6.25pm told The Straits Times they were there to interview the Hougang MP-elect but did not provide other details.

Police said in a separate statement that they were investigating "a complaint from the Elections Department against Mr James Gomez for alleged offences of criminal intimidation and providing false information".

"Police have interviewed several persons, including Elections Department officials, Mr James Gomez and Ms Sylvia Lim," the statement said of the probe by the Criminal Investigation Department.

Mr Gomez has been at the centre of a controversy with the department over his non-submission of a minority candidate certificate.

Mr Low confirmed that police had a 3pm appointment with him to provide a statement as a witness in the case.

"They wanted to know what I told James as secretary-general of the party," he told The Straits Times.

"For instance, why he went to apply for a minority certificate. And also what I previously said to the press - that this was a mistake, that it was not something James purposely did, and it was not an intentional kind of thing."

He also told the officers that he had made it known previously that it has been standing practice in the party that non-Chinese candidates likely to be standing for election must apply for a minority certificate.

He told members "long ago" to do this, and he had also said the same thing before the 2001 General Election.

"There was also an election seminar which I held some time last year," he said, referring to an internal party event. "I told them, and James Gomez was present, that all of you (non-Chinese) should go and apply."

He said the complaint by the department against Mr Gomez was possibly for "criminal intimidation of a public servant".

Mr Gomez became a focal point of last week's election campaign, after claiming he submitted a minority candidate certificate to the department. When a security camera recording showed he did not hand in his form, he said he was "distracted" and apologised. But People's Action Party leaders said the apology was inadequate.

Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng issued an 11-page statement detailing how Mr Gomez "stage-managed" the incident to damage the Government and discredit the Elections Department.

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew called Mr Gomez a liar and challenged him and the WP leadership to sue him if that was untrue.

Mr Gomez was stopped from leaving the country on Sunday afternoon and taken to the Police Cantonment Complex where he was questioned for nearly eight hours. He was heading back to Sweden to resume work at the Stockholm-based think-tank, International IDEA.

Yesterday, Mr Gomez appeared relaxed when he visited the Hougang Town Council office with Ms Lim, who is the WP chairman. He said he was taking things in stride and waiting for the next development. He is unable to travel as his passport has been impounded and has not been told when or whether police intend to interview him again.

Ms Lim, who led the WP's team which included Mr Gomez that contested Aljunied GRC, was also interviewed on Sunday for about three hours as a witness in the case.

Mr Low said he was not aware of any other WP members being called up by the police.

The police statement yesterday said that "no arrest has been made and no persons detained in police custody. The police are in the process of reviewing the evidence and interviewing all relevant persons".

shpeh@sph.com.sg

kenkwek@sph.com.sg

Monday, May 08, 2006

TODAY: Young candidates a 'breakthrough' for WP

Low says Workers' Party will continue to attract young talent to contest in the next GE


ANSLEY NG
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES: Yesterday, Workers' Party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang was at his Hougang constituency to thank voters for their support.


ANSLEY NG
ansley@newstoday.com.sg


CONDUCTING a post mortem for reporters after a victory parade in Hougang yesterday, Workers' Party (WP) secretary-general Low Thia Khiang said that the WP's ability to find enough "capable" young candidates had been the key to the party's performance in the General Election (GE).

And despite winning only one seat in Parliament, the WP - the best performing Opposition party - scored more than 30 per cent of the votes in all the three Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) and four Single Member Constituencies (SMC) it contested.

Said Mr Low: "The breakthrough for the Workers' Party is that we were able to field capable young candidates. We could get the support from young voters."

Mr Low also singled out his lineup in Ang Mo Kio GRC for praise.

The six-man team - all first time candidates with five who are no older than 30 years old - managed to win 33.87 per cent of the votes against a People's Action Party (PAP) team helmed by PrimeMinister Lee Hsien Loong.

That showing, Mr Low said, demonstrated that there was "a level of trust" in his party. He also said that the party would keep attracting young talent, and would work on it immediately.

"The election is a politicising process - we politicise and raise the awareness of the young. (Whether) that awareness level will translate into the person joining a party or (becoming) just a supporter, we do not know," he said yesterday.

But Mr Low did reveal that some young people, "who are interested to join us" either as volunteers or just supporters, have approached his party. The profiles of spectators at his party's rallies also helped him gauge the WP's appeal to young Singaporeans.

"I noticed that there is a sizeable number of younger Singaporeans who are attending our rallies," he added. "When I speak, they listen."

"I also got feedback from party members that some of them (young Singaporeans) were prepared to join us during GE 2006 or after," Mr Low added.

Meanwhile, WP chairman Sylvia Lim confirmed that the party would be back to contest the Aljunied GRC again, despite the loss.

Her team had garnered 44 per cent of the votes at last Saturday's polls, losing the constituency to the PAP team helmed by Foreign Minister George Yeo.

Said Ms Lim: "It has been quite a gruelling campaign. And after that we will plan to work towards the next GE, probably in terms of the groundwork we intend to do and we'll probably carry on to work in Aljunied.

"Hopefully there won't too much redrawing of boundaries the next round." - ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LEE CHING WERN



LOWSPEAKS

Hougang residents want and need upgrading but they have character. If you threaten them to replace Low Thia Khiang with upgrading, it doesn't mean they would do it. Every time I see (SM Goh), I will ask him for the money. I will tell him: "This is a promise you made." He can't go back on his word. My priority - if I get the money - is to provide lifts that stop on every floor.

- Workers' Party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang

TODAY: James Gomez under police investigation

LEE CHING WERN
chingwern@newstoday.com.sg




WORKERS' Party candidate James Gomez (picture) is under investigation by the police.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr Gomez was at the airport to catch a flight when he was stopped by immigration officials. Police officers later took him to the Police Cantonment Complex where he gave a statement. His passport and boarding pass were confiscated.

Mr Gomez left the complex after midnight. He told reporters: "I remain relaxed as usual, you know, and cooperate with the police and see how I can help them."

Asked whether charges would be filed, he said: "No, er, I don't know and I can't answer that. But all I can say (is) I've given a statement ... that took me six hours to put together."

A police spokesman told TODAY that they are investigating a "complaint" by the Elections Department against Mr Gomez.

During the election campaign last week, Mr Gomez had blamed the department for losing his minority certificate form, warning them of "consequences".

After video footage of the incident emerged, proving that Mr Gomez had not submitted his form, he apologised, saying that he had been distracted due to his busy schedule. He was, however, still asked to give a fuller explanation by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, who said that Mr Gomez's actions did not seem to be an innocent mistake.

Yesterday morning, Mr Gomez went on a "thank you" parade around Aljunied GRC with his party colleagues to thank residents for their support after Saturday's polls, which the WP team lost to the PAP by 12 percentage points.

Before 4pm yesterday, Mr Gomez rushed to the airport to catch a flight to Sweden, where he works as a policy analyst. At the airport, he was stopped by an immigration officer who asked him to wait in order for them to "do some checks", said Mr Gomez, to TODAY.

"They took me to a corridor and asked me to sit on a chair and wait. My passport and boarding pass had been taken from me," he said.

According to the WP candidate, a police official had told him that he was being investigated for a case of criminal intimidation. At about 5pm, Mr Gomez was escorted by three police officers to the Police Cantonment Complex, where CID officers interviewed him.

Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim was also seen arriving at the Police Cantonment Complex shortly after 8pm. She emerged from the building after three hours at 11pm.

She said she was called in to make a statement as a witness and she did not see Mr Gomez. The police report by the Elections Department was dated yesterday, she revealed.

"We will try our best to cooperate within what we have to do under the law," she said. "The police have a duty to do, and we should follow the due process."

When asked if the party would issue a statement on the latest development, Ms Lim said: "I don't think in that sense it is a party issue, so we'll have to see."

Straits Times: S'poreans willing to give opposition a go: Low

ELECTION 06

WP chief says party did well despite many first-timers

BY KEN KWEK

THE election results show that Singaporeans are willing to give the opposition a chance and have provided the Workers' Party with an incentive to continue engaging the public - especially the young, party chief Low Thia Khiang said yesterday.

Assessing the results a day after being re-elected to a fourth term in Hougang, he said the 'greatest breakthrough' for his party was in putting up a credible team of young candidates, and getting the support of young Singaporeans.

This was critical to helping in the development of the opposition as a whole, reversing its decline in the past few years, he said.

'If the opposition did not have some credible new faces, there would be no real competition. And younger voters would have found it difficult to connect with the opposition. This would affect our future prospects,' Mr Low told reporters over a lunch of Teochew food after a three-hour tour of 'thank you' tour of Hougang.

He hoped that the younger members of the WP team who contested the election would serve as an encouragement to other young professionals to join the ranks of the opposition.

Having learnt 'how to fight an election, how to manoeuvre and manage on the ground', they would be able to pass on these skills to newcomers in the future, he added.

He said the WP did well compared to the 2001 election despite most candidates being first-timers. Its share of the vote at this election stood at 38.4 per cent.

"There's a level of trust in the WP though the candidates are new."

He highlighted the performance of the WP's Ang Mo Kio team which contested against the team led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and rookie candidate Lian Chin Way who stood in Nee Soon Central against PAP veteran Ong Ah Heng.

"The Ang Mo Kio team was a very young team, and yet, against the Prime Minister, they secured 33 per cent of the vote, which is remarkable to me. So yes, people have sent a signal."

Mr Low had cast the election as a referendum on the future of the opposition and had asked voters to signal that they wanted opposition politics to stay.

At the end of a separate procession in Aljunied, party chairman Sylvia Lim said similarly that the WP achieved a respectable and meaningful overall percentage.

This would enable the party to attract more credible candidates in the future.

"There is visible support for the WP, and of course, I think people would like to join organisations where they see some potential."

The future of politics and how young Singaporeans viewed politics was a theme for both the WP and the PAP in the election.

Mr Low observed that many young Singaporeans had attended WP rallies.

Their concerns about policies which affected their livelihoods might have contributed to the rise in votes for the opposition.

"If you look at the percentage, especially in Ang Mo Kio GRC, I believe the ground was not as sweet as the PAP thought.

"I think the younger generation do worry about their future. Some of them who voted for the PAP in 2001 have their own families now and they realise some policies are affecting their quality of life."

He also said the Government should do more to encourage young Singaporeans and cited the Internet as being a place which contained "sharp" and "creative" ideas from young Singaporeans. The Government should not over-regulate the use of the Internet for political reasons, he said.

"You want to stop them from doing that because of political reasons, because it can be a political threat? Come on. We believe in Singapore being a globalised city, so please don't do that."

As Mr Low made his way through the constituency on the back of a lorry yesterday, residents cheered and drivers tooted their horns.

A gentlemanly fight

'I think the Prime Minister has been gentlemanly in this contest, when he engaged the Ang Mo Kio team. This is the right spirit and the right direction for Singapore.

'We should move towards a more mature democracy in which the rules of engagement are more civilised, rather than look at each other as enemies.

'Whether you are from the opposition or the ruling party, there must be some common platform and goal for everyone to reach, for the good of the nation, for the betterment of society, for a better life. The WP is prepared to meet the PAP on those platforms.'

- WP CHIEF LOW THIA KHIANG, responding to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who said the WP put up a slate of credible candidates and thanked the party for giving voters a choice in Ang Mo Kio GRC

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Channel NewsAsia: WP wins Hougang, loses contests in 3 GRCs and 3 SMEs

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006

By Dominique Loh


Opposition leaders Low Thia Khiang (L) and Sylvia Lim (R) of Workers' Party

SINGAPORE : The Workers' Party had the best showing among the opposition parties in the General Election 2006.

It garnered 16.34 percent of the valid votes - a sharp improvement over its 2.7 percent showing in the 2001 elections.

The party challenged three Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and four Single Member Constituencies (SMCs), but was only able to win its stronghold of Hougang, held by incumbent Low Thia Khiang.

Despite having lost all their contests, save one, the Workers' Party teams were cheered by supporters when they turned up their gathering centre in Yio Chu Kang Stadium.

Its Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang retained Hougang with 62 percent of the valid votes, despite the PAP's pledge of a $100 million upgrading plan for the constituency if its candidate Eric Low was elected.

The WP team that contested Aljunied GRC had the best showing among all the opposition parties, garnering 43.9 percent of the votes.

Ms Sylvia Lim, Workers' Party candidate for Aljunied GRC, said: "I think the showing is a credible one, of course in your heart you sometimes harbour hopes that you might win but we know that winning a GRC is not an easy thing, so I think we are quite satisfied."

During the hustings, the Aljunied team was at the centre of a controversy involving the non-submission of a minority candidate certificate form by one of its members, James Gomez.

He has been accused of discrediting the Elections Department by claiming that he had submitted the certificate but was caught on security camera putting the form away in his bag.

Over at East Coast, its team bowed out to the PAP slate - taking only 36 percent of the votes.

And its team for Ang Mo Kio GRC received only 33.3 percent of the votes - losing to the PAP team anchored by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Despite the losses, Mr Low Thia Khiang is keeping up a brave front.

He said: "For the Workers' Party with the results and the election, even with 33 percent in Ang Mo Kio, it shows that we have a bright future and with the renewal process it's carrying on, I believe we are on the right track."

In other single seats, the Workers' Party failed to win Joo Chiat - with its candidate losing to the PAP's Chan Soo Sen with only 35 percent of the votes.

Its candidate Lian Chin Way secured only 34.6 percent of the votes in Nee Soon Central, losing to PAP's Ong Ah Heng.

Its candidate for Nee Soon East, Dr Poh Lee Guan, also lost to the PAP's candidate Ho Peng Kee - taking only 31.2 percent of the valid votes. - CNA/de/ls

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Weekend TODAY: Near D-Day, East Coast candidates emphasise different issues

GE2006

DERRICK A PAULO
derrick@newstoday.com.sg


THE final fusillade between the People's Action Party (PAP) and the Workers' Party (WP) teams in East Coast was fired on Friday as campaigning drew to a close.

Incumbent anchor Minister S Jayakumar issued his third press statement to counter his opponents' comments about upgrading in the area, whose boundaries have shifted for this General Election.

The shifts have not inflated the PAP's figures on upgrading, which were given on Wednesday as 97 per cent, Professor Jayakumar told reporters after a lunchtime walkabout at Block 58 in Bedok.

He was responding to WP candidate Perry Tong, who spoke to Channel NewsAsia on Thursday and asked if the figure included new intended upgrading facilities.

In addition, he noted that 40 blocks from Kaki Bukit have been moved from East Coast to Marine Parade which, he said, have not been upgraded.

To this claim, Prof Jayakumar said that 90 per cent have been or are being upgraded. Under the new boundaries, close to 100 per cent of precincts would have been or will be upgraded.

The WP team has been arguing in its campaign that it is providing the spark for upgrading to be awarded to the constituency, and Mr Tong had highlighted Blocks 213 and 214, in particular, where there had been none - although these were earmarked in March for lift upgrading.

"Mr Tong now changes the subject. He asked lamely why 'there are no signs of impending commencement of works'. Anyone with common sense and (who is) in touch with the ground will know that lift upgrading cannot be done within a month," said Prof Jayakumar on Friday.

"They will collapse just like Mr Tong's and the WP's baseless claims."

With that, the back-and-forth came to a close between both parties. Mr Tong did not comment further on Prof Jayakumar's latest rebuttal but told reporters: "The only thing we can be accused of is that we have been consistent.

"Prior to, and at the beginning of our campaign, we said that we would start campaigning on municipal issues and move on to national issues. We've moved on to national issues; our opponents have remained stuck."

In its final day stumping for votes, the WP team for East Coast distributed to residents a one-page write up - which it had prepared independently of its party leadership - which touched on policy proposals relating to employment, transport and healthcare - but nothing on upgrading.

These were raised by candidates in its team during the election rallies and to the press, but "were not given the due coverage" due to "distractions", said team leader Chia Ti Lik.

Among the proposals is the provision of free bus services within the CBD area to reduce private vehicle usage and congestion - a concept taken from authorities in the American city of Portland, Oregon.

On the PAP side, Mr Raymond Lim - the second minister in its East Coast team - described the WP as a party that "promises the sky because it knows it never has to deliver".

"I think they've been a terrible disappointment. They said when the campaign started that they'd like to raise the level of debate, but what's clear is they've tried their best to lower it," said Mr Lim.

Weekend TODAY: An unusual contest in Ang Mo Kio

GE2006

For PM, it's a rare electoral test, for young WP team, an indication for the future

JASMINE YIN
jasmine.yin@newstoday.com.sg



YOUNG FACES: WP's Ang Mo Kio team member Lee Wai Leng (left) and team leader Yaw Shin Leong face a tough challenge on PM Lee's turf.

IT IS a foregone conclusion to many: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will emerge victorious at Ang Mo Kio GRC today - his first test at the polls since assuming the leadership in 2004.

Nevertheless, when the Workers' Party (WP) announced their intention to contest the People's Action Party stronghold, many sat up.

After all, it is not every election that the Prime Minister faces a challenge in his own ward - and by a mostly young and well-educated team, no less.

As the nine days of hustings drew to a close yesterday, however, some have been left wondering: Has the promising Ang Mo Kio GRC contest been reduced to a mere sideshow?

Not only has the battle in the 159,872-strong ward been overshadowed by the James Gomez saga, the WP team led by 30-year-old e-business analyst Yaw Shin
Leong has also been keeping a quiet profile.

This is despite analysts' initial predictions that the team would enjoy the exposure just by challenging the PM. It has been dismissed by Ang Mo Kio incumbent Inderjit Singh as a "token team"; the People's Action Party (PAP) also does not seem to think much of the competition.

PAP chairman Lim Boon Heng has set a target of "at least 80 per cent" for Mr Lee's six-man team.

When asked about that target during a community walkabout yesterday, Mr Lee laughed and said: "He sets very high targets. It's his job to set stretch targets and we try our best."

While he did not want to be drawn into giving a figure, Mr Lee had said last Friday that he would "try our best to make sure it costs them some money".

Candidates who get less than 12.5 per cent of the vote will lose their $13,500 deposit.

Calling many of his constituents his "old friends", Mr Lee said yesterday: "I think the voters are supporting us. We've got our message across to voters that this election is about the future and I think voters understand the people they choose will help them to win, help Singapore to win, to move forward."

But the WP team, with an average age of 32.5 years despite the inclusion of 52-year-old Gopal Krishnan, has made clear from the beginning that they never thought they would win the ward.

During the WP rally at Ang Mo Kio GRC on Thursday, Mr Yaw only urged voters to give his team a mandate of a "decent percentage" of votes.

Political analyst Ho Khai Leong, however, believes that the results from Ang Mo Kio GRC would be significant, as it marks the first time that "Mr Lee's constituency has been challenged".

"This is a constituency of great interest because the challengers are so young. Mr Lee has been talking about the concerns of the young and the post-65ers, so having a young group to challenge him certainly creates some spark there," he added.

Added political observer Seah Chiang Nee: "I think this is a learning curve for them. I don't think anyone or the WP is expecting them to perform miracles. As long as they go in, do the best that they can, work hard from it, I think it will augur well for the party."

The PAP team is also taking no chances despite its opponent's inexperience.

Said PAP MP Mr Inderjit Singh: "I think for each one of us, it's very important. We're fighting it as if it's the most important battle and the reason is because this is the Prime Minister's GRC and we want to score as high a percentage of the votes as possible.

"I think it's a very significant battle."

Weekend TODAY: WP candidates, including Gomez, are clean: Low

GE2006

LEE CHING WERN
chingwern@newstoday.com.sg



OOI BOON KEONG
Mr Low and Mr Gomez at a recent rally.


WORKERS' Party chief Low Thia Khiang said that it was under his instructions that his embattled candidate, Mr James Gomez had applied for the minority certificate.

Apart from accusing Mr Gomez of trying to "fix" the Elections Department by claiming that his certificate had gone missing, the People's Action Party has asked why he needed to apply for one if the plan was to field him in Aljunied GRC. The constituency requires only a Malay candidate to be fielded on a slate, not an Indian one.

"I had asked all WP's minority candidates to apply for one, in case of strategy issues," said Mr Low. "This is the reason why James went to apply for the cert. As this episode caused much distress to the Elections Department unwittingly, I asked James to apologise and this, he did."

Mr Gomez did not submit his form but initially accused the Elections Department of misplacing it.

He then said that he did not submit the form because he had been distracted by his busy schedule in the run-up to Nomination Day.

In his final rally before the polls, Mr Low asserted that he had "spoken at length with James and found no evidence to prove that he is dishonest in this context".

Hitting out at Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo for comparing Mr Gomez to a thief stealing at a supermarket, Mr Low said: "It is unfair for George to use the analogy of a thief on James. What has James stolen from the Elections Department?"

He went on to criticise the PAP for making personal attacks on WP candidates.

"Right from the onset of the campaign, I have instructed all our candidates not to make any personal attacks or baseless allegations against the PAP. I believe we must have a more civilised political culture and political engagement must be based on facts and debate and not namecalling," he said.

The past nine days of campaigning has reinforced his confidence in his candidates, said Mr Low.

"The PAP is unable to dig up any skeletons on our WP candidates. Why? Because there are none. They are clean," he said. - ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LIN YANQIN

Weekend TODAY: Not a one-man team

GE2006

Low says WP seeing renewal and campaign was good

VAL CHUA
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
val@newstoday.com.sg



WEE TECK HIAN
Mr Low Thia Khiang leading the Worker's Party members saying the Singapore Pledge at the end of the rally.


FOR so long, Workers' Party (WP) has been associated with a lone voice in Parliament - that of party chief Low Thia Khiang.

Yesterday, the veteran politician said that his party was on the cusp of a renewal, with more capable candidates ready to take over the baton.

"I'm 50 this year, I've gone through a long journey in politics. How many more years do I have to contest?" he told a large crowd at the Serangoon Stadium on Friday.

Admitting his own shortcomings, Mr Low, who is Chinese-educated, said: "I don't mind telling you this, I got F9 in English for my O and A levels."

But his Aljunied team, which is helmed by law lecturer Sylvia Lim, is a "mature and strong" team, filled with passionate and public-spirited candidates who are at the peak of their careers, he said.

"I strongly believe that if you vote this Aljunied team into Parliament, they will perform better than me," he said.

He again warned that no party - no matter how strong - was infallible and that what Singapore needs is an effective Opposition to counter the Government.

"The only way to make the Government account to you is through the elections. What the PAP is most afraid of is your vote," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Aljunied WP team did its last walkabout at Kovan market to garner support. The team, led by Mr Low, walked around the estate to shake hands and chat with residents, holding a press conference outside a fast-food chain. It was reflective of the no-fuss approach of WP, which is gunning for three GRCs and four Single-Member Constituencies, its largest candidacy since 1988.

Unfortunately, the party still has to deal with the James Gomez incident, which has nearly dominated the hustings this time around. Although the saga may be re-opened after the election, Mr Low's stand on the issue remains unchanged.

"I never avoided the issue. We have already apologised for the stress caused to the elections department. Do they have anything new to show? Any more convincing evidence?" he asked.

Through the campaign, WP also fired back with some shots on its own - urging the PAP to clarify the criteria for means testing for C-class hospital wards.

WP also brought up the use of lift upgrading to entice voters, which it termed as "pork-barrel politics".

Describing the overall impact of WP's campaign as "very good", Mr Low is dismissive of the effects of the Gomez incident and the $100 million upgrading carrot that the PAP has offered to Hougang voters.

"I don't think there is an impact. I believe that Singaporeans are intelligent enough and sophisticated enough to be able to judge themselves," he said on Friday.

Indeed, with the frenzied campaigning period over, Mr Low just wants voters to remember his party's slogan: "You have a Choice."

"If there is no support for WP in these elections, it could derail our renewal process and we may not be able to provide you with such a strong choice at the next elections," said the veteran politician on Friday night.

"Before you go to the polling stand, reflect on what kind of Singapore you want. Workers' Party is pro-Singapore and we work for the interest of Singapore, above the interests of the party," he said. - ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LIN YANQIN

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Channel NewsAsia: WP's Low Thia Khiang calls for review of ministers' salaries

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006


Low Thia Khiang

SINGAPORE : Workers' Party Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang has called for a review of ministers' salaries.

Speaking at a WP rally in Ang Mo Kio GRC on Thursday, Mr Low said if Singaporeans pay their ministers high salaries, they should expect better results from them.

He suggested that ministers' salaries be pegged to the income of the lowest 20 percent of Singaporean households with a multiplier effect.

Mr Low said this would give the ministers more incentives to raise the average income of the poor.

He said this would also remind the ministers of their responsibilities to workers and make them strongly committed to raising their standards of living. - CNA/de

Channel NewsAsia: WP questions timing of PAP's upgrading plans in East Coast GRC

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006

By Farah Abdul Rahim

SINGAPORE : The Workers' Party on Thursday questioned Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar's comment that 97 percent of East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) had been upgraded.

Professor Jayakumar, who is heading the People's Action Party (PAP) team there, had said this on Wednesday in response to WP's earlier remarks in the day that the PAP had neglected East Coast Group GRC over the years.

On Thursday, while on a walkabout in the GRC, the WP also questioned PAP's claim that there had been an upgrading project almost every year for the past 13 years.

The WP team said residents had also told them they were being asked to consider lift upgrading in some areas in Bedok and Fengshan.

The team questioned the timing of the upgrading.

Perry Tong, WP Candidate, East Coast GRC, said, "My question would be why is upgrading only offered now during election period? Does it mean that only if they are returned to power, lifts will be upgraded? If not, how long will residents have to wait for? The PAP has been here for 15-18 years, it's been a walkover, I think, and they had all this time to do all the upgrading.

"My query now is the 97 percent claim by Professor Jayakumar. Does it include the new intended upgrading facilities, over and above that, many blocks have been 'so called' removed from electoral boundaries of East Coast GRC, including a good 40 blocks in Kaki Bukit, which have also not had upgrading. If we were to throw this in under original East Coast GRC, I am not so sure Professor Jayakumar can lay claim to the 97 percent." - CNA/ms

Straits Times: Bad eggs in Workers' Party? It's for voters to decide: Sylvia

ELECTION 06

WP chairman reiterates that there is no question of dropping Gomez from Aljunied GRC

BY PEH SHING HUEI, KEN KWEK

THE Workers' Party (WP) yesterday dismissed charges that there were "bad eggs" in the party, with chairman Sylvia Lim saying it was for voters to

decide if its leaders and candidates were people of integrity - not the People's Action Party (PAP).

Responding to sharp criticism from Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng over the James Gomez issue, she said the

party remained focused on the election and was proceeding with the hustings with a clear conscience.

Maintaining the position that the WP has taken since the issue first emerged, she said Singaporeans would be able to decide if the incident

involving Mr Gomez's application for a minority certificate 'is actually as important as the PAP makes it out to be'.

Mr Gomez himself refused to comment on being called a liar by both Mr Lee and Mr Wong.

Speaking after a walkabout at a hawker centre in Bedok Reservoir in Aljunied GRC, Ms Lim reiterated that there was no question of dropping Mr

Gomez from the five-member team contesting there. He had apologised for his mistake, she said.

"He thought he had submitted the form but it turns out that he hadn't. And as far as the party is concerned, we have not made any public

allegations against the Elections Department or anything of that nature. It is actually the PAP that is drumming this up."

Mr Gomez claimed on April 26 he submitted his minority form to the department two days earlier, but had not received any confirmation.

He asked the department to check and said there were "implications". But a security camera recording showed he had not handed in his form and had

instead put it in his briefcase.

At separate PAP rallies on Tuesday night, Mr Lee and Mr Wong accused Mr Gomez of being a "liar" who was out to set up the Elections Department

and smear the Government's reputation.

Mr Lee also criticised the leadership of WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang and Ms Lim, questioning their integrity and honesty. He was

disappointed with them for "shielding" Mr Gomez despite his actions.

On the PAP questioning the character of the WP leadership, Ms Lim said with a laugh that it was "quite normal for the PAP to do this".

"I think we have to disappoint MM Lee...I mean it is up to the voters to decide whether they think we are people of integrity or not. As far as

we are concerned, our consciences are clear."

As for Mr Gomez being a "bad egg", she added: "MM can say what he wants. As far as the party is concerned, all of us are making a very important

contribution towards getting this election going for the people. And I would say that there are no bad eggs, it's just the WP as one entity."

Prior to Mr Lee and Mr Wong's remarks on Tuesday, Mr Inderjit Singh, a candidate on the PAP team contesting Ang Mo Kio GRC, also released a

statement questioning Mr Gomez's character.

Mr Singh said Mr Gomez told him his application was a "wayang" (theatre in Malay), meant to mislead the media into thinking he was standing in

Ang Mo Kio GRC, which would need an Indian to be the minority candidate.

Ms Lim said she was surprised by Mr Singh's statement.

"We're surprised that Inderjit came out to say these things. It just shows that whatever transpired, you can't really have casual conversation

with the PAP."

Mr Gomez declined to comment on being called a liar by Mr Lee and Mr Wong.

As for Mr Singh's statement and whether he did say the episode at the Elections Department was a "wayang", he said: "I don't want to say anything

about it any more. I just want to repeat: I want to remain calm and focused.

"There are three more days of active campaigning and rallies. I feel very obliged to hit the street and get on with the campaign."

Yesterday, Ms Lim offered two reasons why she believed the PAP has been hammering away at the Elections Department incident.

One was that it hoped that WP leaders would be dragged down by the incident. But the party was "not going to fall into their trap".

The other was that the PAP was trying to distract voters because of their "lack of a track record in the last five years and (from) the fact that

Singaporeans' lives have not really improved since the last election".

"So Singaporeans should be aware of this and hold the PAP to account on their track record, which is what the election should be about."

kenkwek@sph.com.sg