Another personal indiscretion, another by-election

[Sammyboy RSS Feed]

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

WTF is happening to PAP MPs? Bukit Batok David Ong just resigned, citing a personal indiscretion, and triggering a by-election.

SDP has said it will contest. RP undecided. Goh Meng Seng posted on FB saying he will discuss with SDP but added he will respect their decision - meaning of course he does not feel confident of putting even one man on stage.

__________________________________________________

SINGAPORE - People's Action Party (PAP) politician David Ong, 54, is resigning as the Member of Parliament for Bukit Batok, and from his party, due to personal indiscretion.
A by-election will be held for the single-seat ward, said the Prime Minister's Office in a statement on Saturday (March 12) afternoon.


The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) said it will be contesting the by-election.



The statement from the Prime Minister's Office read: "David has worked hard as an MP and served his residents diligently. I thank him for his contributions.


"I intend to hold a by-election in Bukit Batok SMC in due course. In the meantime, Mr Desmond Lee, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development and MP for Jurong GRC, will take care of Bukit Batok residents."


When contacted, Mr Ong told The Sunday Times: "I feel that it’s the right thing to do to step down for the best interests of the party, my constituents and family.


"There is personal indiscretion on my part which I deeply regret. I would appreciate if you can give me and my family the privacy to heal and rebuild."


In a press conference held less than an hour after the news broke, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam told reporters that the PAP's first priority is to make sure that Bukit Batok is in good hands until the by-election.


Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com.