Photo: facebook.com/ChanChunSing.SG/photos

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing has said that the Elections Department (ELD) cannot “prematurely” announce the rules and regulations relating to the next General Election as these may be “overtaken by events”.
This was said at a media briefing on Saturday (30 May), where he noted that the ELD is fully aware of the competing needs.
“On one hand, ELD would like to make available the information to the parties and the candidates as early as possible for them to make the preparations…On the other hand, ELD has to work under the challenging constraint that there are many scenarios.”
“I’ve asked ELD to walk through the various scenarios and to see when possible we can share the rules and regulations with the parties and the candidates, to give them sufficient time, yet at the same time not have rules that may become invalid by the evolving situation,”
Mr Chan, who is also the People’s Action Party’s second assistant secretary-general and a possible Prime Minister candidate, said that the ELD must make sure that the measures announced are cognisant and in sync with the prevailing health situation based on when the election will be called by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
“So this is the reason that ELD has to work through various scenarios to see how best to do this.”
Parties such as the Workers’ Party and Singapore Democratic Party have asked for clarity in the election campaign rules in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and better access to electorates in the upcoming GE in recent days.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had earlier said in an interview with CNA on 27 May, “I would say that, yes, elections are coming nearer by the day,” when asked if Singaporeans will have to wait until Phase 3 after Singapore exits the “circuit breaker period” for the General Election to be held.
The sooner we get it done, the earlier we can rally everybody together to deal with these very significant challenges ahead, and also to deal with these very significant uncertainties in the months and years ahead,” said Mr Heng. 
Singapore has been expecting for an early election this year after the announcement of the election boundaries review on 13 March, however, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a spanner into the cogs of such a plan with the announcement of the Circuit Breaker measures on 3 April.
Now, the question that people have to ask is, if there are already rules and regulations firmed up for the election by ELD with consideration of the existing social-distancing measures, shouldn’t the it announce the existing form so that the parties can make their preparation for the worst case scenario?

Subscribe
Notify of
16 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

余振忠反讽王瑞杰未来五至10年走向 包括最迟2025年上调消费税

副总理兼财政部长王瑞杰,本周一宣称来届选举不仅是决定未来三至六个月,甚至是未来五到十年的走向。 对此,工人党前非选区议员余振忠不忘揶揄,提醒大家未来五到10年,民众预计会看到: 即使2021年不调消费税,最迟也要在2025年上调。 人口预计到2030年,或增至650万至690万人。 新一代公路电子收费系统(ERP)启用 至于王瑞杰称,在政党政治和选举之外,也呼吁国人要聚焦如何团结一致,共克时艰。 余振忠直言自己也这么希望,但即时从政前,作为普通公民,眼见包括选区划分杰利蝾螈(gerrymandering)、集选区制度等现象,都一再使他对支持执政党不敢恭维。2017年总统选举也让国人失望。 若你要新加坡人都同心同力,就不应只是在对行动党有利的时候。他也希望未来五到10年,能看到我国在朝向更建设性政治体制有更大的进步。

10 double decker buses featuring USB charging ports to hit the road on 1 Sept

The Land and Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT)…

PTC: Public transport operators may increase their fares by up to 4.3 percent

The Public Transport Council (PTC) has announced that public transport operators may…

有会员确诊 “维珍活力”健身俱乐部展开清洁与消毒

健身俱乐部传出一名会员确诊感染,俱乐部已展开彻底清洁与消毒工作。 一家位于丹绒巴葛(Tanjong Pagar)的健身俱乐部“维珍活力”(Virgin Active)日前传出一名会员确诊,在得到消息后,俱乐部也发给丹绒巴葛分行会员电邮通知。据电邮指出,该名会员是在16日最后一次到访,之后就没再前往该处。 同时,也有网友在社交媒体上将电邮内容公开,提醒各位网友和健身俱乐部会员。 而俱乐部昨日也展开彻底消毒和清洁工作,并且根据卫生部指南,为电梯和厕所等公共区域消毒。 电邮内还提及,卫生部正在追踪所有和该名患者紧密接触的人,目前仍允许丹绒巴葛分行如常运作,而俱乐部也会密切关注此事,保障会员、工作人员的健康与安全。 而俱乐部所在的国浩大厦(Guoco Tower),也已向所有租户发出内部通告。