4 political parties contest by-election in Singapore

Four political parties in Singapore filed nomination papers on Wednesday for a by-election to fill a seat left vacant by former lawmaker and parliament speaker Michael Palmer, who resigned recently over an extra- marital affair. It means that voters in the Punggol East will head to the polls on Jan. 26. It was the fourth election in the city state since the general election in May 2011. It also had a presidential election and a by-election in another ward left vacant by an opposition lawmaker. The People's Action Party, which has been the ruling party over the past decades, nominated Dr. Koh Poh Koon, hoping him to secure the ward for the party. Palmer was a member of the People's Action Party, too. The returning officer Yam Ah Mee also declared that Kenneth Jeyaretnam will be standing for the Reform Party, Desmond Lim for the Singapore Democratic Alliance, and Lee Li Lian for the Workers ' Party. In brief remarks after the announcement, Koh urged supporters and residents to work together with him for a better Punggol East. Lee asked voters to send her into parliament, and pledged to serve them wholeheartedly and continue to stand up for their rights. The political parties can campaign in the nine days before Jan. 25, which will be the cooling-off day. There are about 32,000 voters in the ward, and Palmer won nearly 54.5 percent of the votes cast in the general election in May 2011. Lee had 41 percent of the votes in a three-cornered fight then. The People's Action Party, which has been ruling the city state over the past decades, has 81 of the 87 elected seats in the parliament, despite losing a five-member group constituency for the first time in the general election in May 2011. The Workers' Party had the other six seats. Nevertheless, both Koh and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said they expected a tough fight in the by-election. Teo urged voters to choose the candidate who can represent them in parliament, look after their future, make Punggol East a better place and help them when they need assistance.