Chitchat Operation Halimah Begins

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

The biggest makeover exercise in Singapore's political history commenced early this morning at 4am.

Big shoes to fill for Halimah’s successor: Analysts

BY
LOUISA TANG
[email protected]ISHED: 4:00 AM, AUGUST 7, 2017
SINGAPORE — Madam Halimah Yacob will leave big shoes to fill as she steps down as Speaker of Parliament, and political analysts expect an experienced replacement in the form of one of her current deputies, amid a leadership transition in Government.

The analysts also reiterated that a by-election need not be called in Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency, even though Mdm Halimah was the minority Member of Parliament on the slate.

Mdm Halimah, who first entered Parliament in 2001, announced yesterday that she will contest next month’s Presidential Election (PE). She will resign as Speaker and MP today, as is required in order to run in the PE. She will also have to leave the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

National University of Singapore political scientist Bilveer Singh said the remaining three MPs would be able to take care of Mdm Halimah’s Marsiling ward.

“It will also be disruptive and financially costly to hold a by-election, especially in a ward where the ruling party is very strong,” he added.

Mdm Halimah was part of the PAP’s four-member GRC team that won Marsiling-Yew Tee in the 2015 General Election with 68.7 per cent of the vote. The other MPs are National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, Mr Alex Yam and Mr Ong Teng Koon.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan noted that while it would be ideal for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to call a by-election — especially as the minority MP is the one who is stepping down — the Government “has other pressing matters”, and needs to “focus on the economy”.

In 2013, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Prime Minister must call a by-election to fill a seat vacated by an MP, but only in single-seat wards. The court also noted a provision requiring all MPs of a GRC to vacate their seats before an election can be held.

In February, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing said in Parliament that a by-election will not be called, should a minority MP leave his or her GRC.

Responding to a question tabled by Workers’ Party Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh, Mr Chan said the key goals of the GRC would not be affected by the departure of a minority MP.

He also noted that one fewer minority MP would still mean 27 per cent of Parliament is made up of minority MPs, “more than what you’d expect proportionately from adding up the percentage of Malays, Indians and other minorities”.

On potential replacements as Speaker of Parliament, the analysts cited incumbent Deputy Speakers Mr Charles Chong and Mr Seah Kian Peng.

They noted that Singapore has had three successive minority Speakers: Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, Mr Michael Palmer and Mdm Halimah. “I don’t think it really matters now as the President will be from the minority community,” said Dr Singh.

Assoc Prof Tan said he “wouldn’t be surprised if the Government opts for an experienced MP” to take over as Speaker, given that the Government leadership is in transition. He felt that Mr Chong would be a frontrunner for the job.

Political analysts had previously said that Mdm Halimah — whose name had been thrown up months before she confirmed her intention to contest — would be the strongest candidate in the coming PE, as she has been in the public service for more than 40 years and voters are familiar with her.

Assoc Prof Tan said: “People will be watching how she transitions from a PAP member and Speaker of Parliament, and how she performs her role as elected President should she win. Expectations of her will be high.”


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