SINGAPORE : Former Reform Party (RP) vice—chairman and member of its Central Executive Committee (CEC) Alec Tok has said he is considering rejoining the party.

He said he received a call from an RP member asking him to return.

Secretary—general Kenneth Jeyaretnam confirmed this with Channel NewsAsia, adding that " some Reform Party members are keen that he returns" .

Mr Tok had previously resigned as he disagreed with certain clauses in the party’s protocol for CEC members.

The 46 year old said he was told on Tuesday afternoon that the protocol would be " done away with" .

Mr Tok said for him, it was a matter of principle that no one is required to sign the protocol. He did not want to be the only one exempted from signing it.

Mr Jeyaretnam, however, said the protocol will not be terminated, but " certain clauses may be negotiable" .

Mr Jeyaretnam said Mr Tok resigned because the party could not guarantee that he could stand in the single seat of Radin Mas — something Mr Tok was keen on.

The New York—based theatre director was active in Radin Mas and had told Channel NewsAsia on Monday that he was still keen to contest there either as an independent candidate or under the banner of another opposition party.

Mr Jeyaretnam said if Mr Tok rejoined, he would have to sign the party’s candidate pledge as well as abide by its collective decisions. And he could not confirm where Mr Tok would stand if he rejoined the party.

Mr Jeyaretnam also said he had called the former chairman of the Reform Party, Mr Ng Teck Siong, to rejoin the party.

There is no confirmation whether Mr Ng will do so. He is currently the chairman of The Socialist Front, which recently announced it was pulling out of the General Election.

Mr Jeyaretnam said Mr Ng was always keen to take part in the elections.

— CNA/al

SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party said its candidate Chen Show Mao has enough commitment and local connection, having attended schools here and done National Service as an Infantry Officer.

WP chairman Sylvia Lim was responding to a forum letter from Education Minister and PAP organising secretary, Dr Ng Eng Hen — questioning Mr Chen’s commitment and motivations.

She added that Mr Chen’s parents have been here since 1972, and he has kept in touch with Singapore, coming back four to five times a year.

She said: " For example, he’s serving on the SMU Law School advisory board. So since 2007, four years ago till now, he’s been in touch with WP, our activities and also coming back and learning more about how he can contribute.

" He’s also made known to the public that his wife and children will be moving back permanently to Singapore with him and that he intends to carry on his political work in Singapore regardless of the outcome of the GE."

Ms Lim also responded to the PAP’s Indranee Rajah’s criticism of the WP’s vision of a first world parliament.

She said: " She mentioned that we said that our vision of a first world parliament is not modelled after any particular country and she finds it astonishing. But I am surprised that she finds it astonishing.

" The PAP itself has always claimed itself to be a first world government and I do not believe they claim to model themselves after any particular government of a developed country.

" In fact, they like to claim that they would be a model for others to follow. So similarly for (the) Workers’ Party, our vision of a first world parliament, we’ve explained in detail, is one where we have (an) opposition party performing a robust check function in the House itself.

" And it doesn’t have to be similar to any other country’s parliament, so long as it works for Singapore and it is effective for accountability, I think that’s the most important thing."

Ms Lim added that the Workers’ Party has always said it puts national interest before the party’s.

" I mean Ms Rajah mentions that she doesn’t think it’s possible for any opposition party to act other than in their own party’s interest. But let’s not forget that the People’s Action Party was once an opposition before, so is she saying that at that time, the PAP also did not act in the national interest?"

When asked about the timing of the letters from the PAP, she said: " I think they are looking towards the campaign and perhaps how Singaporeans might support the Workers’ Party or otherwise. So they would want to shape public opinion in their own fashion.

" But I think it’s important for Singaporeans to look at the facts and look at our candidates in terms of what they have been doing and how they’ve been connected to Singapore and look at the reality rather than the rhetoric."

— CNA/ac/al