Channel NewsAsia: No confirmation whether Workers' Party contesting in Ang Mo Kio GRC

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006

By May Wong/Farah Abdul Rahim

SINGAPORE : There is no confirmation as yet whether the Workers' Party is contesting in the Ang Mo Kio GRC, but its members were seen in the constituency on Sunday morning.

When asked of this, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says he welcomes the challenge from the Workers' Party.

The Workers' Party has indicated that Ang Mo Kio GRC is one of its targeted areas in this coming General Election.

Its party member Yaw Shin Leong says it will not be surprising if the party decides to contest in this GRC.

However, he says taking on a GRC is no mean feat, as it requires a lot of planning and availability of resources.

Mr Yaw says: "The party leadership will decide. If it's in the name of national interest, to come here and if the Workers' Party leadership should decide upon that, my team mates and myself are prepared, we are prepared to be fielded."

The Ang Mo Kio GRC is under the PAP's team, headed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Mr Lee, who was in Ang Mo Kio meeting residents there, was asked if he knew the Workers' Party was doing a walk-about in his constituency.

He says: "I hope they come, they said they will come the last time but nothing happened, so this time I hear the thunder and I look forward to seeing the rain."

Apart from Ang Mo Kio GRC, the Workers' Party has said it is eyeing three other GRCs and three single-seat constituencies. - CNA/de