革新党竞选梦幻或难圆

Translated by Donaldson Tan

This is a non-verbatim translation of Zaobao report 《革新党竞选梦幻或难圆》 dated 18 March 2011.

(2011-03-18) ● 游润恬 报道

肯尼斯和一名前准候选人

肯尼斯和一名前准候选人

一度声势浩大的革新党,继多名重量级党员离去后,现在连是否能组成团队参加一个集选区的竞选都成了疑问。

据反对党人士所透露的消息分析,目前摆在秘书长肯尼斯眼前的三个选择,一是找人组队角逐耕耘多时的西海岸集选区;二是和新加坡人民党秘书长詹时中联手角逐碧山—大巴窑集选区;三是到拉丁马士区孤军作战。

随着多名中委和准候选人陈礼添和潘群勤这对曾获得政府奖学金的夫妇上个月集体退党之后,革新党目前几乎陷入真空状态。

本报记者获知的消息显示肯尼斯为凑足人数,甚至不惜放下身段,邀请曾因詹时中力邀革新党加盟新加坡民主联盟一事而与他撕破脸皮的人民党前助理秘书长林睦荃等反对党领袖加入他的西海岸集选区阵容。

但是,据知林睦荃已决定角逐榜鹅东区议席,因此回绝了他的邀请。

当本报记者昨晚向林睦荃求证时,他对这个消息被传出感到惊讶,表示不愿多谈,只说:“我祝肯尼斯好运。”

据知肯尼斯也找上一名在离开革新党后与他公开闹翻的革新党前领导人,邀请他回巢,但也遭到拒绝。

他至今甚至还没放弃与决定离开波东巴西区的詹时中组成“梦之队”的念头,并在前天邀约他一起到西海岸集选区走动。

不过,据知情者透露詹时中已很肯定不要到西海岸集选区竞选。他早在去年接受本报记者访问时,就把西海岸集选区形容为“西伯利亚”,离他的大本营波东巴西区太远。

他昨晚接见选民后受访时说:“我一开始就说过,我倾向去碧山—大巴窑集选区。” 

从以上种种迹象看来,肯尼斯要实现他的“第一志愿”,组队角逐西海岸集选区似乎非常困难。

他的第二个选择是走出西海岸,到詹时中最有可能角逐的碧山—大巴窑集选区与他联手组成“梦之队”。

不过,这对肯尼斯来说将是个十分痛苦的决定。因为西海岸集选区是他过去一年投入了大量心思耕耘的田地。

至于他的第三个选择,是放弃角逐集选区的念头,退而求其次只身转攻单议席选区。

他的已故父亲惹耶勒南曾在1977年角逐拉丁马士区议席,只得到29.4%的选票。自选区划分报告上个月公布后,拉丁马士区再次成为单选区,肯尼斯当时曾表示有意到那里竞选。

革新党原本也有意角逐丰加北区。不过,人民党主席沈克栋昨天向本报证实它已同意让步,不与人民党争这个单议席选区。

他说:“肯尼斯上星期主动来找我谈和詹时中组成梦之队一事。我也跟他谈丰加北,希望他能尊重我,不要跟我在那里打三角战。他没有抗议,就是默许我角逐丰加北。”

丰加北是已有五次竞选经验的沈克栋所要角逐的选区。在最新的选区划分报告出炉之前,最靠近丰加北的单议席选区是蔡厝港区。

沈克栋和革新党去年都表示要角逐蔡厝港区。革新党当时立场非常强硬,肯尼斯当时还对本报记者说:“沈克栋若还是要去蔡厝港,我们就来个三角战。”

现在肯尼斯愿意作出让步,意味着人民党将如愿以偿,得到在来临大选所要角逐的波东巴西区、丰加北区和碧山—大巴窑集选区,得以避开和人民行动党及其他反对党的三角战。

Will the Reform Party contest?

Once awe-inspiring, the Reform Party (RP) is currently facing doubts on its prospects to contest at this coming General Election (GE) since the mass exodus of key members last month.

According to analysis by Opposition sources, RP Secretary-General Kenneth Jeyaretnam now faces three options: (1) form a team to contest West Coast GRC; (2) partner with Singapore People’s Party (SPP) Secretary-General Chiam See Tong to contest Bishan-Toapayoh GRC; (3) contest Radin Mas SMC unilaterally.

The RP seems to have befallen into a state of vaccuum. after the departure of half the Central Executive Committee and GE candidates Mr Tony Tan Lay Thiam and Madam Hazel Poa.

Zaobao understands in order to make up the number of candidates required to contest at a GRC, Mr Jeyaretnam has even humbled himself to approach Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) Secretary-General Desmond Lim to join his West Coast GRC team. When the latter was the SPP Assistant Secretary-General, he had objected Mr Jeyaretnam’s party from joining the SDA.

However, Mr Lim spurned Mr Jeyaretnam’s invitation because he had already made up his mind to contest Punggol-East SMC. Last night, Zaobao sought Mr Lim’s verification on this news. However, Mr Lim expressed he was surprised, refusing to comment more, he added, “I wish Mr Jeyaretnam good luck.”

According to sources, Mr Jeyaretnam also approached a former RP leader who publicly fell out with him and was rejected.

Till today, Mr Jeyaretnam hasn’t given up on the idea of forming a dream team with Mr Chiam and even invited Mr Chiam to join him at a RP West Coast Walkabout 2 days ago. However, insiders revealed to Zaobao that Mr Chiam would not contest at West Coast GRC. Mr Chiam told reporters last year that he considers West Coast GRC as an electoral “Syberia” as it is too far from his party base at Potong Pasir.

“I have always yearned to contest at Bishan-Toapayoh GRC,” said Mr Chiam at an interview after last night’s Meet-the-People Session at Potong Pasir.

The aforementioned factors all point out Mr Jeyaretnam faces a substantial challenge in realising Option (1) to contest West Coast GRC. Under Option (2), Mr Jeyaretnam would join Mr Chiam’s dream team to contest Bishan-Toapayoh GRC. However, this would be a painful decision for Mr Jeyaretnam as he had spent the last one year sweetening the ground at West Coast GRC.

Option (3) requires Mr Jeyaretnam to give up the idea of contesting at any GRC while focusing every resource on a SMC. Mr Jeyaretnam’s father Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretam (JBJ) contested Radin Mas SMC in 1977 and won 29.4% of the votes. When the Electoral Boundary Review Committee announced the new electoral boundaries last month, Mr Jeyaretnam noted that Radin Mas has been restored as a SMC and expressed his interest to contest there.

The RP also had intentions to contest Hongkah North SMC, but SPP Chairman Sin Kek Tong told Zaobao yesterday the RP has backed off from contesting there and would not be competing against SPP there.

“Last week, Mr Jeyaretnam came to Mr Chiam and I on his own accord to discuss the formation of a dream team. We spoke about Hongkah North SMC and asked him to respect me and to avoid a three-cornered fight with me at the Hongkah North SMC. He didn’t object, so it must be a silent consent,” Mr Sin said.

Mr Sin, who participated in 5 GEs as a candidate, intends to contest Hongkah North SMC. Hong Kah North SMC is the SMC closest to the old Choa Chua Kang SMC under the previous electoral boundary map.

Last year, both RP and Mr Sin declared their interest to contest the old Choa Chu Kang SMC. At that time, RP held a very tough stance. RP Secretary General Kenneth Jeyaretnam even told reporters, “If Sin Kek Tong wants to come to Choa Chu Kang, there will be a three-cornered fight.”

Considering that Mr Jeyaretnam has given in to Mr Sin, this implies that the Singapore People’s Party has achieved its objectives in negotation of the allocation of constituencies for the coming General Election while avoiding a three-cornered fight: Potong Pasir SMC, Hongkah North SMC and Bishan-Toapayoh GRC.