Updated: Sunday, 27 January 2013 10:21
李丽连：首要任务是确保榜鹅东市镇理事会交接顺利
®Copyright MediaCorp
新当选榜鹅东单选区议员的工人党党员李丽连说：她的首要任务是确保榜鹅东市镇理事会的交接事宜顺利进行。
李丽连在工人党总部举行的记者会上说：现有的榜鹅东市镇会在人民行动党的白沙榜鹅市镇会旗下，因此她在完成交接事宜后，将着手设立榜鹅东市镇会，然后再招募志愿者，协助主办基层和社区活动。
李丽连也答谢榜鹅东选民对她的信任，并表示不排除成为一名全职议员的可能性。
"我必定会尽全力，为您服务，在国会里，维护您的权益，我也会把市镇会给管理好。除了胜利的喜悦，我也知道有很多工作在等着我去做，我期待在选区内见到大家，让我们共同打造一个团结，充满活力的榜鹅东。"
李丽连宣布，将从下个月4号起，晚上7点半到9点半，在河谷街第135座组屋楼下，接见选民。
针对政府在补选期间宣布的各项新措施是否影响选情，李丽连回应说：
李丽连认为，这些新措施是受欢迎的，而这些课题也是工人党议员曾经在国会中提出的。她说，榜鹅东的选民通过选票表达了他们的心声，他们希望国会里有更多把声音，希望工人党向政府施加更多压力，以便能看到更多更好的改变。
- wong chee tat :)
Sunday, January 27, 2013
时事分析员: 李丽连和许宝琨之间的得票率差距 令人感到意外
27/1/2013
时事分析员: 李丽连和许宝琨之间的得票率差距 令人感到意外
®Copyright MediaCorp
受访的时事分析员说，当选榜鹅东单选区议员的工人党候选人李丽连和人民行动党候选人许宝琨之间的得票率差距，令人感到意外。
政策研究学院的分析员张俪霖告诉记者余慧慧，多数选民会选择李丽连，是因为他们比较认识她，并且认同工人党议员在国会所扮演的角色。
“李丽连是他们熟悉的，而许宝琨就是一个新人的姿态，虽然他代表执政党，他的成绩是百分之43，就是类似当初李丽连以新的候选人的成绩。这只是一个补选，而不是一个大选，有些选民可能会认为，有多些问责的声音，他们有做一些调整，他们就认为能多送一个进去。”
张俪霖也指出，这次的补选显示本地选民的思想模式和考虑因素，已经改变。
“榜鹅东是新单选区，而选民是夹心层比较多，36岁以上的选民占了投票的百分之51，所以未来的选民是否会往中间选民的方式发展，就是会给各政党不同的挑战。不是说每个课题就是会支持某个政党，而是中间选民就是会看个别候选人的策略和应变能力等。”
另一名分析员赖涯桥说，李丽连是我国自1965年以来，首位赢得单选区议席的反对党女议员，具有历史意义。
“她年纪非常轻，只有34岁，她是一个新手，但很有亲和力，就是在接下来4年，就是好好利用亲和力，还有就是女性的优势，在同选民的接触，和国会的辩论，她应该丰富政治语言和政治智慧，才不会辜负选民的期待。”
- wong chee tat :)
时事分析员: 李丽连和许宝琨之间的得票率差距 令人感到意外
®Copyright MediaCorp
受访的时事分析员说，当选榜鹅东单选区议员的工人党候选人李丽连和人民行动党候选人许宝琨之间的得票率差距，令人感到意外。
政策研究学院的分析员张俪霖告诉记者余慧慧，多数选民会选择李丽连，是因为他们比较认识她，并且认同工人党议员在国会所扮演的角色。
“李丽连是他们熟悉的，而许宝琨就是一个新人的姿态，虽然他代表执政党，他的成绩是百分之43，就是类似当初李丽连以新的候选人的成绩。这只是一个补选，而不是一个大选，有些选民可能会认为，有多些问责的声音，他们有做一些调整，他们就认为能多送一个进去。”
张俪霖也指出，这次的补选显示本地选民的思想模式和考虑因素，已经改变。
“榜鹅东是新单选区，而选民是夹心层比较多，36岁以上的选民占了投票的百分之51，所以未来的选民是否会往中间选民的方式发展，就是会给各政党不同的挑战。不是说每个课题就是会支持某个政党，而是中间选民就是会看个别候选人的策略和应变能力等。”
另一名分析员赖涯桥说，李丽连是我国自1965年以来，首位赢得单选区议席的反对党女议员，具有历史意义。
“她年纪非常轻，只有34岁，她是一个新手，但很有亲和力，就是在接下来4年，就是好好利用亲和力，还有就是女性的优势，在同选民的接触，和国会的辩论，她应该丰富政治语言和政治智慧，才不会辜负选民的期待。”
- wong chee tat :)
Singapore Ruling Party Loses Parliament Seat in Setback for Lee
By Shamim Adam -
Jan 27, 2013 1:24 AM GMT+0800
Singapore’s opposition extended its
record presence in Parliament after winning a by-election, as
support for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s ruling party
falters even as his government boosts efforts to help citizens.
The Workers’ Party’s Lee Li Lian won 54.5 percent of 29,415 valid votes in a four-way race yesterday, defeating the ruling People’s Action Party’s Koh Poh Koon, who came second with 43.7 percent, the televised results showed. A by-election was called after the PAP’s representative, who previously held the seat, resigned after admitting to an extramarital affair.
Prime Minister Lee is struggling to win back support lost in the 2011 general elections as record-high housing and transport costs, public discontent over an influx of foreigners and infrastructure strains weakens approval for his party. Last year, Lee’s administration cut ministerial pay, speeded up construction of homes and made permanent a program to provide cash, utility rebates and medical funds for elderly and low- income households.
“It’s a devastating loss for the PAP and it comes as a huge shock,” said Bridget Welsh, a political science professor at the Singapore Management University. “They aren’t going far enough to address the fundamental disconnect with society and the people’s grievances.”
A total of 29,832 voted in Punggol East, a suburb in northeastern Singapore, of which 417 were disqualified ballots, the results showed. The seat fell vacant after Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer stepped down in December. He won 54.5 percent of the vote in 2011.
Lee, who has led the country since 2004, has raised foreign-worker levies and salary thresholds to cool the inflow of non-Singaporeans. The clampdown on an island smaller than New York City has driven the jobless rate to an 18-month low of 1.9 percent, pushing up manpower costs and constraining the central bank’s scope to combat an economic slowdown with monetary easing.
“The results show that the effect has not been trickled down to the ground,” Low Thia Khiang, secretary-general of the Workers’ Party, said in a televised press conference yesterday. “People still feel the pressure of the high cost of living and many other things as well, so I expect the government will work harder on that.”
Voters in Punggol East account for about 1 percent of the Singapore electorate. The by-election won’t change the balance of power in government; the PAP has 80 of 87 seats in Parliament.
“Despite this victory, the Workers’ Party is still a small party with much to do and improve upon,” Sylvia Lim, chairman of the Workers’ Party, said in the televised press conference. “If you think it’s a step toward a two-party system, I think we’ve still got quite some way to go.”
The island’s population has jumped by more than 1.1 million to 5.3 million since mid-2004, driving up property prices and stoking social tension as the government used immigration to make up for the low birth rate.
Ranked by the World Bank as the easiest place to do business, Singapore had cut taxes in past years to spur investment. Located at the southern end of the 600-mile (965- kilometer) Malacca Strait and home to one of the world’s busiest container ports, the country has remained vulnerable to fluctuations in overseas demand for manufactured goods even as the government boosts the financial services and tourism industries to become less reliant on exports.
Lee from the Workers’ Party, a 34-year-old sales trainer, will be the second elected woman opposition member of Parliament after Lim. The other candidates were surgeon Koh Poh Koon from the PAP, Desmond Lim from the Singapore Democratic Alliance and Kenneth Jeyaretnam of the Reform Party.
To contact the reporter on this story: Shamim Adam in Singapore at sadam2@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Stephanie Phang at sphang@bloomberg.net.
- wong chee tat :)
The Workers’ Party’s Lee Li Lian won 54.5 percent of 29,415 valid votes in a four-way race yesterday, defeating the ruling People’s Action Party’s Koh Poh Koon, who came second with 43.7 percent, the televised results showed. A by-election was called after the PAP’s representative, who previously held the seat, resigned after admitting to an extramarital affair.
Prime Minister Lee is struggling to win back support lost in the 2011 general elections as record-high housing and transport costs, public discontent over an influx of foreigners and infrastructure strains weakens approval for his party. Last year, Lee’s administration cut ministerial pay, speeded up construction of homes and made permanent a program to provide cash, utility rebates and medical funds for elderly and low- income households.
“It’s a devastating loss for the PAP and it comes as a huge shock,” said Bridget Welsh, a political science professor at the Singapore Management University. “They aren’t going far enough to address the fundamental disconnect with society and the people’s grievances.”
A total of 29,832 voted in Punggol East, a suburb in northeastern Singapore, of which 417 were disqualified ballots, the results showed. The seat fell vacant after Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer stepped down in December. He won 54.5 percent of the vote in 2011.
‘Tougher Fight’
“In a by-election, the governing party candidate always has a tougher fight,” the premier said in a statement. “Our plans and programs are already in progress, but they are geared towards the longer term and will take time to show results.”Lee, who has led the country since 2004, has raised foreign-worker levies and salary thresholds to cool the inflow of non-Singaporeans. The clampdown on an island smaller than New York City has driven the jobless rate to an 18-month low of 1.9 percent, pushing up manpower costs and constraining the central bank’s scope to combat an economic slowdown with monetary easing.
“The results show that the effect has not been trickled down to the ground,” Low Thia Khiang, secretary-general of the Workers’ Party, said in a televised press conference yesterday. “People still feel the pressure of the high cost of living and many other things as well, so I expect the government will work harder on that.”
Second Loss
This is the PAP’s second by-election loss in less than a year. The Workers’ Party, the only elected opposition in Parliament, retained its seat in a May poll after it expelled its representative for the Hougang district for “indiscretions in his private life.”Voters in Punggol East account for about 1 percent of the Singapore electorate. The by-election won’t change the balance of power in government; the PAP has 80 of 87 seats in Parliament.
“Despite this victory, the Workers’ Party is still a small party with much to do and improve upon,” Sylvia Lim, chairman of the Workers’ Party, said in the televised press conference. “If you think it’s a step toward a two-party system, I think we’ve still got quite some way to go.”
The island’s population has jumped by more than 1.1 million to 5.3 million since mid-2004, driving up property prices and stoking social tension as the government used immigration to make up for the low birth rate.
Economic Growth
Singapore’s growth eased to a three-year low of 1.2 percent in 2012 and gross domestic product is forecast to increase 1 percent to 3 percent this year. The island is in a “new phase” where it must adjust to a slower expansion than it has become accustomed to, the prime minister said in a New Year’s speech. GDP climbed an average of 6 percent in the decade through 2012.Ranked by the World Bank as the easiest place to do business, Singapore had cut taxes in past years to spur investment. Located at the southern end of the 600-mile (965- kilometer) Malacca Strait and home to one of the world’s busiest container ports, the country has remained vulnerable to fluctuations in overseas demand for manufactured goods even as the government boosts the financial services and tourism industries to become less reliant on exports.
Lee from the Workers’ Party, a 34-year-old sales trainer, will be the second elected woman opposition member of Parliament after Lim. The other candidates were surgeon Koh Poh Koon from the PAP, Desmond Lim from the Singapore Democratic Alliance and Kenneth Jeyaretnam of the Reform Party.
To contact the reporter on this story: Shamim Adam in Singapore at sadam2@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Stephanie Phang at sphang@bloomberg.net.
- wong chee tat :)
WP’s margin of victory ‘devastating’ for PAP: analysts
- Yahoo! Newsroom/Yahoo! Photos / Christine Choo - A sombre Dr Koh and DPM Teo at the PAP post election press conference
Political observers say the Workers Party’s win in
Punggol East has dealt a huge blow to the PAP and indicates rapidly
growing resentment on the ground.
Describing PAP’s loss as "devastating" for the party,
associate professor Bridget Welsh said that it showed a "massive
downturn in support".
“It is not just about demographics but a national erosion of support sustained over the last four elections. The trends indicate that the PAP is in deep trouble – it’s efforts to win over the electorate are not working,” said Welsh, who is from Singapore Management University’s Political Science faculty.
“This is more than a wake-up call, it’s a fire alarm.”
In the end, Workers' Party candidate Lee Li Lian finished with 16,038 votes against PAP's Dr Koh Poh Koon’s 12,856 to become the first female opposition member to win a single member constituency since 1965.
Former Nominated Member of Parliament Siew Kum Hong was also surprised at the nearly 11 per cent winning margin, saying that it sent out a clear message that the ground was shifting – and not in favour of the PAP.
“The size of the margin emphasises how unhappy voters continue to be. It’s clear that voters continue to be angry about issues like housing prices, public transport, COE prices, and the AIM issue,” he said.
He admitted that he had thought it would be too close to call but "the size of the swing was a surprise”, considering that WP's Lee Li Lian managed only 41 per cent of votes when she contested the same ward at the 2011 General Elections.
Eugene Tan, assistant law professor at Singapore Management University, said the "stunning" margin of victory would have surprised the WP itself.
"A 13% increase in votes for the WP in a mere 20 months does suggest that all is not well for the PAP," said the current NMP.
“It is not just about demographics but a national erosion of support sustained over the last four elections. The trends indicate that the PAP is in deep trouble – it’s efforts to win over the electorate are not working,” said Welsh, who is from Singapore Management University’s Political Science faculty.
“This is more than a wake-up call, it’s a fire alarm.”
In the end, Workers' Party candidate Lee Li Lian finished with 16,038 votes against PAP's Dr Koh Poh Koon’s 12,856 to become the first female opposition member to win a single member constituency since 1965.
Former Nominated Member of Parliament Siew Kum Hong was also surprised at the nearly 11 per cent winning margin, saying that it sent out a clear message that the ground was shifting – and not in favour of the PAP.
“The size of the margin emphasises how unhappy voters continue to be. It’s clear that voters continue to be angry about issues like housing prices, public transport, COE prices, and the AIM issue,” he said.
He admitted that he had thought it would be too close to call but "the size of the swing was a surprise”, considering that WP's Lee Li Lian managed only 41 per cent of votes when she contested the same ward at the 2011 General Elections.
Eugene Tan, assistant law professor at Singapore Management University, said the "stunning" margin of victory would have surprised the WP itself.
"A 13% increase in votes for the WP in a mere 20 months does suggest that all is not well for the PAP," said the current NMP.
'Demographics helped swing votes'
The demographics of Punggol East voters, mostly young families with children, drew crucial votes to the Worker’s Party, said the analysts.
“The fact that the electorate in this constituency is young only highlights the serious gaps the party faces in connecting with the electorate in future. The policy tinkering and elitist materialist approach is not working,” said Welsh.
Tan said many Punggol East residents are also part of the post-independence generation and therefore "less enamoured of the PAP".
"The message of a strong opposition as a safety net appealed strongly. And then there is the by-election effect in which voters were less constrained in their choices because the outcome would not result in any change of government," he added.
On the other hand, Singapore Democratic Alliance Desmond Lim's and and Reform Party K Jeyaretnam's poor vote shares, at 168 and 353 votes respectively, was "not a surprising result" for Siew.
“I think the fact that SDA and RP also contested didn’t make a difference,” he said.
What now?
All three analysts also said PAP will have to have a good, hard think about the policies they have lined up since their poor showing at the General Election in 2011.
“They still have up to three years until the next GE, so there is definitely enough time for them to make a difference. The question is whether they have learnt the right lessons from GE2011 and this by-election,” said Siew, who added that key issues like public housing and transport would have to be tackled and solid policies introduced.
Tan said the PAP had much to do to stem the "political bleeding" and that the ruling party had to find a way to "excite" the voters vis-a-vis their vision and policies for the country.
"How to stop the PAP's political vulnerability from being seen as normal is a key matter that it needs to deal with. Once electoral defeats of the PAP become normalised and are seen as no big deal, then the PAP's political longevity will be severely challenged," cautioned Tan.
WP, on the other hand, will need to step up to make sure that they give their voters what they promises – a louder and alternative voice in Parliament. With Lee joining their ranks, WP will now have a total of nine representatives -- six from Aljunied and Hougang, one from Punggol East and two NCMPs.
It also "shortened the runway" for the WP to grow to contest in every seat in future elections, said Tan.
“They will have to be more active on issues, and this boost will likely give WP more confidence to set the agenda and engage issues,” said Welsh.
- wong chee tat :)
WP's Lee Li Lian wins Punggol East by clear margin
- Workers' Party holds a briefing after election win in Punggol East 26 January 2013. (Yahoo! photo)
Lee Li Lian of the opposition Workers’ Party won the
Punggol East by-election by a comfortable margin Saturday, delivering a
big blow to the ruling People’s Action Party.
The 34-year-old sales trainer garnered 16,038 votes against PAP candidate Dr Koh Poh Koon’s 12,856 to become the first female opposition member to win a single member constituency since 1965.
Reform Party’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam got 353 votes while Singapore Democratic Alliance’s Desmond Lim got 168 votes.
A total of 29,832 votes were cast, of which 417 were rejected votes.
But more than just the win, it was the margin of victory of nearly 11 per cent between Lee and Dr Koh that surprised many.
After polls had closed at 8pm and ballot boxes had been delivered from polling stations to the counting centre at North Vista Secondary School, word soon began to trickle that WP was edging the contest by a narrow margin.
Right up until the official announcement made by Returning Officer Yam Ah Mee shortly before 11pm, the margin of victory was expected to be close.
The 34-year-old sales trainer garnered 16,038 votes against PAP candidate Dr Koh Poh Koon’s 12,856 to become the first female opposition member to win a single member constituency since 1965.
Reform Party’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam got 353 votes while Singapore Democratic Alliance’s Desmond Lim got 168 votes.
A total of 29,832 votes were cast, of which 417 were rejected votes.
But more than just the win, it was the margin of victory of nearly 11 per cent between Lee and Dr Koh that surprised many.
After polls had closed at 8pm and ballot boxes had been delivered from polling stations to the counting centre at North Vista Secondary School, word soon began to trickle that WP was edging the contest by a narrow margin.
Right up until the official announcement made by Returning Officer Yam Ah Mee shortly before 11pm, the margin of victory was expected to be close.
During a press briefing at the party's headquarters at Syed Alwi Road, WP's Lee thanked voters for their confidence in her and said her top priority would be ensuring a smooth handover.
She promised to manage the estate diligently and "stand up for you when you need to be heard", immediately sharing that her Meet-the-People sessions would start on 4th February, a sign perhaps that she and the party had come fully prepared, expecting to win.
WP chairman Sylvia LIm noted that the impact of the campaign had the ruling party scrambling in the eleventh hour and showed "the value of political competition in getting the government to sit up and take notice".
However, she said WP remained a small party and there was still much to do and improve upon, dimissing the notion Singapore was close to being a "two-party system" when over 90 percent of Parliament was still in PAP hands.
She added that the party would continue to engage the government on issues close to Singaporeans but said she hoped that Lee's victory would encourage more women to join politics.
WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang said the results of the by-election show Singaporeans still expect the government to work harder.
"The results show that the effect (of new government policies responding to citizens' concerns) has not really trickled down on the ground," he said, noting that there were still a lot of pressures in the area of cost of living.
"I expect the government will work harder on that and the Workers' Party will assist whenever it can," he said.
In a statement, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he respected the choice of Punggol East voters, and congratulated the WP for its victory.
He added that the PAP fielded a good candidate in Koh, whom he said showed character and courage in contesting the election.
In a press conference after the results were announced, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, with candidate Koh beside him, said the government would continue with programmes for the long-term good of Singaporeans.
DPM Teo singled out the "circumstances leading to the by-election" as well as issues like the stalled construction at Rivervale Plaze as being central to the PAP's defeat.
"I hope the voters can give us their support the next time," Teo said.
Koh, meanwhile, thanked all those who helped them in the campaign and said he would be ready to serve if called upon by the party.
SDA's Lim, who conceded defeat before the election results were officially announced, said it had been a "fast and hard" race, and that entering the content he was well aware of the risks and challenges.
Lim, who was criticised for joining the race and perhaps diluting opposition votes, said the move was something the SDA had to do to keep its political flame alive.
The by-election, which came after then Parliament Speaker and MP for Punggol East Michael Palmer resigned last month in disgrace after admitting to an extra-marital affair, was closely watched by Singaporeans .
The win brings to seven the number of MP seats held by the WP, aside from the two places garnered for NCMPs. One more NCMP seat is held by Lina Chiam of the Singapore People's Party.
She has been with the party for six years and has held various posts including president of the youth wing and is its current deputy webmaster.
Lee has campaigned on the promise she would fight to make the voices of worried young parents raising children heard, as well as those elderly Singaporeans facing rising costs and medical care.
Lee said she would fight tirelessly to make the voices of worried young parents raising children heard if elected to Parliament, as well as elderly Singaporeans facing rising costs of medical care.
- wong chee tat :)
WP's Lee wins Punggol East by-election
WP's Lee wins Punggol East by-election
Posted: 26 January 2013 2301 hrs
SINGAPORE: Ms Lee Li Lian of the Workers' Party (WP) has won the Punggol East by-election.
Returning Officer Mr Yam Ah Mee announced the results at about 11pm on Saturday.
Ms Lee won 16,038 or 54.52 per cent of the valid votes, while Dr Koh Poh Koon of the People's Action Party received 12,856 or 43.71 per cent of the votes.
At a news conference following the announcement of the by-election results, chairman of WP Ms Sylvia Lim said the party's message to the voters was to get the government to pay more attention to them.
She also said the party is very encouraged by the results, taking it as a sign to have WP in Parliament and that they endorse the party's brand of politics.
Ms Lee said she knows that there is a lot of work to be done and will make sure there is a smooth handover and wants to build a strong community in Punggol East.
She also added that most immediate task is to build up the town council and increase the number of grassroot leaders in Punggol East.
She also shared that her Meet-the-People session will start on 4 February at Block 135 Rivervale Street.
WP's secretary-general Mr Low Thia Khiang said the results show that people still want the government to work harder. He said people still feel pressure from the high cost of living.
Reform Party's Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam took 353 or 1.20 per cent of the votes and Singapore Democratic Alliance's Mr Desmond Lim had 168 or 0.57 of the votes.
Both Mr Jeyaretnam and Mr Lim will lose their S$16,000 election deposit as they have garnered less than 12.5 per cent of the votes cast.
Total number of votes cast was 29,832, with 417 rejected votes.
This was 94.26 per cent of the 31,649 registered electors in the Single Member Constituency.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Ms Lee and the Workers' Party for winning the by-election.
"I respect the choice of Punggol East voters," he said in a statement.
Mr Lee said the PAP will continue to work to improve the lives of Singaporeans, and present its report card for voters to judge in the next general election.
He added that he intends to field Dr Koh again in a future election, so that he can be part of the PAP's team to serve Singapore.
RP's Mr Jeyaretnam also congratulated the Workers' Party, saying that the by-election was mainly fought on local issues.
He said that irrespective of the results, the party "has taken the first step in mending the broken promise of all, which is the promise to build a democratic society."
- CNA/al/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 26 January 2013 2301 hrs
SINGAPORE: Ms Lee Li Lian of the Workers' Party (WP) has won the Punggol East by-election.
Returning Officer Mr Yam Ah Mee announced the results at about 11pm on Saturday.
Ms Lee won 16,038 or 54.52 per cent of the valid votes, while Dr Koh Poh Koon of the People's Action Party received 12,856 or 43.71 per cent of the votes.
At a news conference following the announcement of the by-election results, chairman of WP Ms Sylvia Lim said the party's message to the voters was to get the government to pay more attention to them.
She also said the party is very encouraged by the results, taking it as a sign to have WP in Parliament and that they endorse the party's brand of politics.
Ms Lee said she knows that there is a lot of work to be done and will make sure there is a smooth handover and wants to build a strong community in Punggol East.
She also added that most immediate task is to build up the town council and increase the number of grassroot leaders in Punggol East.
She also shared that her Meet-the-People session will start on 4 February at Block 135 Rivervale Street.
WP's secretary-general Mr Low Thia Khiang said the results show that people still want the government to work harder. He said people still feel pressure from the high cost of living.
Reform Party's Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam took 353 or 1.20 per cent of the votes and Singapore Democratic Alliance's Mr Desmond Lim had 168 or 0.57 of the votes.
Both Mr Jeyaretnam and Mr Lim will lose their S$16,000 election deposit as they have garnered less than 12.5 per cent of the votes cast.
Total number of votes cast was 29,832, with 417 rejected votes.
This was 94.26 per cent of the 31,649 registered electors in the Single Member Constituency.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Ms Lee and the Workers' Party for winning the by-election.
"I respect the choice of Punggol East voters," he said in a statement.
Mr Lee said the PAP will continue to work to improve the lives of Singaporeans, and present its report card for voters to judge in the next general election.
He added that he intends to field Dr Koh again in a future election, so that he can be part of the PAP's team to serve Singapore.
RP's Mr Jeyaretnam also congratulated the Workers' Party, saying that the by-election was mainly fought on local issues.
He said that irrespective of the results, the party "has taken the first step in mending the broken promise of all, which is the promise to build a democratic society."
- CNA/al/ck
- wong chee tat :)
PM Lee congratulates Workers' Party on by-election win, calls on people to come together as one
PM Lee congratulates Workers' Party on by-election win, calls on people to come together as one
Posted: 26 January 2013 2327 hrs
Singapore: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has congratulated the Workers' Party and MP-elect Ms Lee Li Lian for winning the Punggol East by-election.
He said in a statement issued just after the by-election results were announced that he respects the choice of Punggol East voters.
"Now that the Punggol East by-election is over, we should re-focus on national issues" said Mr Lee in his media release.
He said Singapore has a heavy agenda coming up, such as The White Paper on Population that will soon be debated in Parliament, and Budget 2013 which is less than a month away.
"Let us come together as one people to do our best for Singapore" said PM Lee.
He said the PAP fielded a good candidate and Dr Koh Poh Koon had showed character and courage in contesting this election, and did the PAP proud.
Mr Lee noted that many voters were impressed by Dr Koh's sincerity and commitment. But unfortunately there were not enough of them for him to win, as he went on to thank all those who voted for Dr Koh and the PAP.
- CNA/sf
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 26 January 2013 2327 hrs
Singapore: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has congratulated the Workers' Party and MP-elect Ms Lee Li Lian for winning the Punggol East by-election.
He said in a statement issued just after the by-election results were announced that he respects the choice of Punggol East voters.
"Now that the Punggol East by-election is over, we should re-focus on national issues" said Mr Lee in his media release.
He said Singapore has a heavy agenda coming up, such as The White Paper on Population that will soon be debated in Parliament, and Budget 2013 which is less than a month away.
"Let us come together as one people to do our best for Singapore" said PM Lee.
He said the PAP fielded a good candidate and Dr Koh Poh Koon had showed character and courage in contesting this election, and did the PAP proud.
Mr Lee noted that many voters were impressed by Dr Koh's sincerity and commitment. But unfortunately there were not enough of them for him to win, as he went on to thank all those who voted for Dr Koh and the PAP.
- CNA/sf
- wong chee tat :)
New premises for Singapore Pools from Feb 6
New premises for Singapore Pools from Feb 6
Posted: 25 January 2013 1717 hrs
SINGAPORE : Singapore Pools will operate from its new premises at Middle Road from February 6.
It will move its office and main branch in PoMo, Selegie Road, to the new Singapore Pools Building.
Services at PoMo will cease on February 5, after 8pm.
The 12-storey Singapore Pools Building will house its office departments, main branch, draw hall, sports entertainment, as well as other office tenants.
The first draw at the new premises will be held at 6pm at the draw hall on Level One.
- CNA/ms
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 25 January 2013 1717 hrs
SINGAPORE : Singapore Pools will operate from its new premises at Middle Road from February 6.
It will move its office and main branch in PoMo, Selegie Road, to the new Singapore Pools Building.
Services at PoMo will cease on February 5, after 8pm.
The 12-storey Singapore Pools Building will house its office departments, main branch, draw hall, sports entertainment, as well as other office tenants.
The first draw at the new premises will be held at 6pm at the draw hall on Level One.
- CNA/ms
- wong chee tat :)
Polyclinics see more cases of diarrhoea
Polyclinics see more cases of diarrhoea
By Lim Wee Leng | Posted: 25 January 2013 2226 hrs
SINGAPORE: The number of diarrhoea cases in Singapore has hit the epidemic level.
Last week, polyclinics saw a daily average of 569 cases of patients with diarrhoea.
This is lower than the previous week, when the average was 596.
Compared with the same period last year, the number of cases increased about 6 per cent.
The number of cases in the same period last year was 539.
Doctors say this could be because of the current Norovirus infections in countries such as the United States and United Kingdom.
Singaporeans who have visited these countries may have contracted it and spread it back home in schools or at work place.
Doctors have reminded the public to practise good hygiene and healthy eating.
- CNA/de
- wong chee tat :)
By Lim Wee Leng | Posted: 25 January 2013 2226 hrs
SINGAPORE: The number of diarrhoea cases in Singapore has hit the epidemic level.
Last week, polyclinics saw a daily average of 569 cases of patients with diarrhoea.
This is lower than the previous week, when the average was 596.
Compared with the same period last year, the number of cases increased about 6 per cent.
The number of cases in the same period last year was 539.
Doctors say this could be because of the current Norovirus infections in countries such as the United States and United Kingdom.
Singaporeans who have visited these countries may have contracted it and spread it back home in schools or at work place.
Doctors have reminded the public to practise good hygiene and healthy eating.
- CNA/de
- wong chee tat :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)