PAP and Workers’ Party to contest Hougang by-election
SINGAPORE, May 16 — The Hougang by-election will be a straight fight between the Workers’ Party’s Png Eng Huat and People’s Action Party’s Desmond Choo after all.
At 12.35pm today, returning officer Yam Ah Mee announced the two candidates and said the poll would be conducted on May 26.
Addressing his supporters in Mandarin and English, Mr Choo thanked them for their “amazing support”. “You’ve given me confidence and strength,” he said, amid cheers. He added that his team had worked hard to serve the Hougang residents.
Mr Png, speaking in Mandarin, English and Teochew, called on residents to vote him into Parliament so that the WP “can continue to be your voice in Parliament”.
At noon today, when the deadline for nominations passed, only the names of Mr Png and Mr Choo were on the notice board outside the nomination centre.
Nominations had taken a surprising turn yesterday when the Elections Department announced that it had issued four political donations certificate. Other than to Mr Png and Mr Choo, retired acupuncturist Zeng Guoyan and WP’s Dr Poh Lee Guan had also collected the certificate.
Mr Zeng was disqualified earlier today after it emerged that he had been fined in 2008 for a public offence. Dr Poh did not file his nomination. He told TODAY that he only wanted to be the WP’s “unofficial spare candidate”.
Police have announced two sites for election rallies. They are the open field in front of Blk 837, bounded by Hougang Ave 4 and Hougang Central, and Hougang Stadium at 100 Hougang Ave 2. — TODAY
