Singapore ruling party retakes seat in by-election

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s ruling party on Saturday, May 7, comfortably retook a parliamentary seat vacated by a member who quit over an extramarital affair.

The People’s Action Party (PAP) victory in a by-election dealt a fresh blow to opposition candidate Chee Soon Juan, who has endured jail and bankruptcy in his long campaign for a more liberal Singapore.

Ruling party candidate Murali Pillai, a lawyer, won 61.2% of the votes against the 38.8% of Chee, the leader of the Singapore Democratic Party.

The PAP now holds 83 out of 89 seats in parliament after a landslide victory in last September’s general election, which saw the party take 70% of votes.

Co-founded by late strongman Lee Kuan Yew, the party has governed Singapore continuously since the city-state gained self-rule from Britain in 1959, prior to full independence in 1965.

Its leaders say the PAP’s strong stand against corruption and track record in guiding the city-state into one of Asia’s most advanced economies have enabled it to stay in power.

Critics however say that uninterrupted one-party rule has stifled dissent and curbed civil and political liberties.

The contested seat in the suburban district of Bukit Batok was vacated in March when the elected MP David Ong, 54, resigned over an extramarital affair.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked Singaporeans for voting in the ruling party’s candidate.

Lee said in a Facebook post that Murali’s win showed that “the government and people are united in building a better nation together”.

Chee, an internationally known dissident who has fought the PAP for greater civil and political rights, said: “I will bow, not in defeat, but… with grace.” – Rappler.com