A statement by the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) asks why Mr Zaqy Mohamad, People’s Action Party Member of Parliament for Choa Chu Kang GRC, is being billed as a representative in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, given that he was not elected to replace Mdm Halimah Yacob as the minority representative in the GRC. Mdm Halimah Yacob had earlier resigned as a Member of Parliament to contest in the Presidential Election 2017.
SDP is filing a legal action to determine that a by-election must be called in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC to replace the vacated seat by Mdm Halimah.
Below is the statement in full
A banner showing Mr Zaqy Mohamad greeting residents in the Marsiling Yew-Tee GRC is being displayed. Mr Zaqy, however, is not the MP for the area. No one in the constituency voted for him in the last elections.
Mr Zaqy’s official title, as can be seen on the banner, is ‘Adviser to Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Grassroots Organisations’. There is no such organisation that contested for votes in the last general elections.
Mr Zaqy’s name and photo also appears under the heading ‘Our MPs’ in the Marsiling-Yew Tee Town Council website.
This is yet another example of the PAP playing fast and loose with the constitution and rules of this country. It shows a total disrespect for the people’s wishes.
It comes on the heels of the shambolic way Ms Halimah Yacob has become President, a move that continues to incur intense public anger.
The party is showing utter contempt to Singaporeans first by tailoring the Elected Presidency to favour its chosen candidate, then taking her out from her constituency and then refusing to call for a by-election to replace her.
To add insult, the PAP now announces that Mr Zaqy will replace Ms Halimah when he has absolutely no reason to be there. This is an abuse of power and a contravention of the democratic process.
The SDP has initiated action in court to determine that a by-election must be called in the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC to replace the vacated seat instead of having the PAP make up the rules as it goes along by arbitrarily appointing one of its members to fill the void.
The pre-trial conference for our lawsuit is scheduled for next Monday, 9 October 2017.
