By Fayen Wong
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A candidate from the opposition Singapore Democratic Party has appealed to the court to annul the results of the May 6 parliament election, which it says was undemocratic.
Chee Siok Chin, sister of SDP leader Chee Soon Juan, submitted an application to the High Court on Tuesday, asking that "the results of the General Elections, 2006, be declared null and void" on the basis that it was not free and fair.
"During the time of polling, there were many threats and vote-buying tactics that are clearly unconstitutional. All these have been going on since 1997 and it is about time someone checks on how this government uses taxpayers' money for its own electioneering purpose," Chee told Reuters.
In court documents seen by Reuters, Chee accused the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) of intimidating opposition voters by warning them that wards which elect an opposition candidate will be last in line for state-subsidised improvements, after all PAP-held wards are attended to.
The government has repeatedly said that upgrading housing estates is a PAP-initiated program, so those who support the PAP would be accorded higher priority, given budget constraints.
Opposition politicians have criticised the upgrading programme as an unfair tactic and say that development projects, such as housing upgrades, are paid for with public funds and should be for all citizens rather than doled out as privileges to party supporters.
DOLING OUT MONEY
Chee's application also accused the PAP of doling out money ahead of the past two elections.
In February, Lee launched a S$2.6 billion ($1.65 billion) budget spending package, including S$800 in cash for almost half the nation's households and a bonus for army conscripts. The handouts were deposited in Singaporeans' bank accounts on May 1, five days before the election was held.
The government has repeatedly denied the budget package was a vote-winning ploy, and has said the payout was meant to prepare Singapore citizens for the long-term challenges of globalisation.
Chee also asked the court to declare the recent ban on political podcasts and videocasts during the election period as unconstitutional, because the law violated individuals' rights to free speech as guaranteed under the constitution.
"I believe that such acts are tantamount to intimidation, bribery and censorship, which contravenes the Parliamentary Elections Act," Chee said in the court application.
The PAP -- led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, son of the modern city-state's founding father Lee Kuan Yew -- won 66.6 percent of the votes cast in the recent poll, down from 75.3 percent in the previous election in 2001.
The party, which has dominated parliament since independence in 1965, won 82 out of the 84 seats in parliament, the same number of seats it had in the outgoing parliament.
The SDP has no seats in parliament and won 23 percent of the vote in the wards it contested.
A 41-year old civil activist, Chee and her brother are facing a defamation lawsuit launched by Lee and his father over what the Lees say are accusations of corruption in an article in the SDP's newsletter.
19 comments:
I am still having a problem with understanding how a political party (WP) can win 33% of the votes and yet only gain two seats out of 84. I know some were walk overs but even when you remove them from the sum it still doesn't add up.
The electoral systems used in Singapore & Malaysia & Thailand is based on first past the post, ie whichever party activist wins the majority wins the seat. This is not the same system in Australia/New Zealand & Ireland which is both first past the post & proportional representation.
First past the post is the system that operates here in the UK. and yet all three major parties are well represented in the House of Commons.
So it is basically gerrymandering that skews the results. Gerrymandering was I believe a British invention and in my home country NI the issue created a civil rights movement, with the slogan. ONE MAN ONE VOTE.
The opposition can NEVER win.
In fact sometimes I think that all opposition parties should refuse to take part in the sham elections. All it does is give legitimacy to an unjust state.
Finally, something to show that some can learn from the phrase 'fight fire with fire'. When someone comes to a knife fight with a gun, you don't go back to that same knife fight 5 years hence with a knife, you bring a gun. The PAP use the court and the justice system to beat down the opposition with defamation suits, about time the opposition used the court and justice system to beat down the PAP.
Too bad that in this case, the PAP pretty much owns the justice system and judges. So, while the opposition has the right idea, still seems to me that they are going up to the PAP and asking them if the DP can borrow the PAP's gun for this knife fight.
Still, I applaude Chee Siok Chin and the DP for their backbone. Think the rest of the 66.6% of the population might grow one now?
another typical SDP over reach
PAP does not need to gerrymander; in fact, it deliberately tries to distribute votes evenly so the opposition gets 33% everywhere; it is unevenness that causes opposition majorities in hougang and potong pasir
we all know that using taxpayers' money for partisan purposes is unconstitutional. so, elections aside, i wonder whether there is a case for class action suit against the PAP for misuse of public funds.
further, the HDB, which supposedly manages the flats and decides which estates are upgraded, are supposed to be, as all other Public Services are, beyond fear and favour, i.e. while they serve the government of they day, they are supposed to serve the nation's interest, rather than be a tool of any political party. however, in using upgrading to buy votes, PAP has made HDB into a tool of the party. where then is the much vaunted impartiality of the public/civil service? is that not trampling one of the great principles of governance that our nation prides itself on?
next, PAP's use of upgrading effectively shows that they are only interested in their own victory, not the welfare of Singaporeans. because if they are, then they would decide which estates to upgrade based on a transparent set of guidelines that would not include whether that estate voted for them nor who the MP of the estate is. because regardless of whether the people in that estate voted for PAP, they are still Singaporeans and the government has a duty to take care of those people. and if the HDB and any public service is to be truly beyond fear and favour, then they have to be seem as being non-partisan, with fair and reasonable guidelines that dictate their decisions, guidelines which are known to all and seen to be fair and strictly non-partisan to the reasonable Singaporean on the street. speifically for upgrading, it won't be too difficult to come up with such a set of guidelines.
also, the PAP's use of upgrading is trite. is that the best that they can do? if they think that that will win Singaporeans over, then they have underestimated us. i am sure we care a lot more than whether our estates get upgraded. i'm sure we are more concerned about whether the candidate will further our national interests, contribute to discussion that will bring our country forward, bring up ideas that will help the nation meet the challenges of the future. so perhaps the reason why the PAP is using upgrading as a tool to win votes is because they cannot think of better ways to win votes. if that is the case, then perhaps they do not deserve our vote.
having said that, i don't think SDP presented any convincing case to win votes either. they sound too airy fairy, full of hot air but having no concrete substance whatsoever. i think that they give the opposition a bad name.
the WP on the other hand. i think they have the right moves. if they keep up the momentum, they should be able to get the foothold in parliament that would allow them to truly give Singaporeans a choice, a voice.
so for people who support the opposition, i say that the best bet is to give up on the SDP and perhaps even the SDA. rally behind WP.
anyways. i digress. what i wanted to say is that there is not a snowflake's chance in hell that the High Court would declare the GE null and void. however, if anyone really wants to do anything about it, perhaps some Singaporeans should file a class action suit against the PAP for misuse of public funds. i am no lawyer. i don't know whether there's indeed a case for it. any lawyers like to comment?
Predicted outcome of case: Thrown out of court before it even gets a hearing due to some (insert lame government reason here).
I'm sure LHL and LKY are having secret meetings with the judge on how to throw it out right now.
this is one whole thing abt sg is that the govt controls even the judiciary which, in my opinion, is not correct bec they are supposed to be an independent party - to uphold fairness and justice. In in our system, it isn't. That's why i feel the citizens do not seem to have anybody to "talk to or complain to" when one suffers - no recourse at all.
Look at this GE, everything seemed to be done in favour of the garmen esp the newspaper reporting and the media, etc. So frustrating to read or to listen to the news in fact!!
they'll call it implanting a 'timebomb' or deem this arrangement a 'sacred cow' that is a pillar of our society that cannot be negotiated. yes,
this is their country
this is their land
this is their future
this is their home
...
we are merely guests,
guests in leeleeland
I am not sure why SDP, of late, is turning suicidal. My personal opinion is that they are doing a kamikaze, as they know they are going to be over very soon anyway. Even I wouldn't vote for the SDP, rebel that I am.
so... let's do something to get it back! i'm sure with the collective brainpower of everyone here, surely something can be done!
for a start, i wonder how many Singaporeans know about the constitution? i bet there are people who don't even know what the hell that is, let alone know what's inside it. let's do something to educate these people. perhaps a lesson in Constitutional Law delivered in Malay, Tamil and the various dialects at kopitiams (not the foodcourt chain, but real neighbourhood kopitiams).
perhaps instead of just talking about freedom and rights in English in the WWW, bring it to the people, the masses, to the ah peks and ah sohs in the wet markets in a language that the common man on the street can understand in a place that they cannot fail to take notice (unlike the internet, where one can only find something if one wants to find it in the first place).
and best of all, use the Gahmen's money to do it. for more details, see my blog or shine.youth.sg
pleinlune, u r dumb, u mean u would hv voted pap over SDP?!! hmmm....
did anyone else notice that sembawang had the highest percentage of spoilt votes out of all the constituencies?
Soci
The main issue is that in UK , there are the main supporters amalmagated within certain localities which results in the opposition winning the seats, plus the geographical areas are wider. However, in Singapore, noting that geographical area is small and due to the good economics and safe environment as compared to the "rough neighbourhood",it is unlikely for the opposition to win power if they were to follow the SDP mode, however, if the WP which is following the PAP mode but also being more politically savvy could win further seats in line with the percentage. Bluntly, rabble rousers turn off the overall slightly more conservative voters.
"pleinlune, u r dumb, u mean u would hv voted pap over SDP?!! hmmm...."
If I may say so myself, it only demonstrates that I am aware of the political situation, and am not a blind follower of the opposition or a politically-unaware PAP-voter.
I WOULD vote for WP over PAP, if I were ever eligible, as they seem a lot more sane and focused.
Anyway, back to topic: Is this the end of SDP? Are they going to continue this kamikaze?
of course sdp is finished; it is down to chee & sister, and the lawsuit would make sure it gets de-registered
further, given their poor organizational record, the chees would not be able to start a new one
Politics invariably ends up as legalised gang warfare.
PapaLee says he likes it "rough"...
Jews were once encouraged to move from all over the world to Isreal, before its 1948 creation.
WP supporters move your residency to the north-east - Aljunied, etc !
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