Reform Party’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam questions “minority certificate” and wonders about “three-cornered fights” on Nomination Day

Reform Party’s secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam took to Facebook at 9am to share his experience leading up to Nomination Day today (30 June), and thoughts on the announcement of all candidates for General Elections (GE). 

“Nomination Day has come around at last. Congratulations to all my fellow members of the (alternative parties),” he began. 

“It’s tough being in alternative parties. The government tries its best to keep (us) out of parliament. At least in this election, we can see the “opposition” being less of a dirty word; perhaps we are getting closer to the normalisation of a democratic process.”

While paperwork has “gone smoothly with no glitches” as this is their “second or third elections”, Mr Jeyaretnam called to attention one particular rule that he found “strange”. 

“I had to file a “minority certificate”. (Do I) need to prove I was minority enough or (that I) was a member of the minority?” he questioned. 

As per the outcome of the candidacy nominations, he said that this nomination will be “a bit of a wild card”. 

He elaborated on why these are his sentiments. “Normally before an election, the alternative parties come together to have a “powwow” which serves two functions: to discuss the avoidance of three-corner fights, or the prevention of it at least, and to ensure all seats are contested. In this year’s GE, 93 seats are up for contest – an addition of four from the GE 2015. 

“However we didn’t do it this year, (so) we’ll see what happens.”

One and the half hours after he posted this video, Mr Jeyaretnam said in a tweet that the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (under the Ministry of Home affairs) came to check up on him at his hotel room to ensure he was observing his Stay-Home Notice rules which disallowed the quarantined to leave their homes or rooms at all times. 

“I tried joking with them that they were checking to see if I (had snuck) down to the Nomination Centre” but the officers were not humoured, he recounted. He added that they seemed to have only visited him and did not “knock on any other doors”.