WP frames town council issue as one about fairness

THE Workers' Party yesterday took up the cudgels against the Government, saying that if any evidence of wrongdoing is found at the town council it runs, the party will subject itself to the due process of the law.

The leaders of the opposition party also framed the issue of their town council's management as one about fairness, and said it had nothing to do with the state of politics in Singapore.

Calling on the Government to take action if it has proof, WP chairman Sylvia Lim said: "If they can bring evidence against us, we will subject ourselves to the necessary procedures."

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had said at the People's Action Party's (PAP's) rally in Tanjong Pagar that Singapore would be in a sad state if politicians consider they have done wrong only when they are jailed.

Around the same time, WP chief Low Thia Khiang declared at his Hougang rally that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau would have investigated the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) if there had been any wrongdoing.

Yesterday, the WP reiterated its criticism of the PAP applying double standards and unfair tactics against non-PAP town councils to stem the growth of opposition parties.

Ms Lim, at her walkabout in Jalan Besar with other WP candidates, said: "It's useful to also see how this situation came about. Who are the ones who are actually doing these things?"

Ms Lim said the WP had no choice but to address the matter at its Wednesday rally.

"Because of the publicity that has been brought to bear on the town council, and there has been some public confusion about what is happening, we thought it was important to spend some part of the first rally explaining those things.

"Otherwise, we would be accused of not being accountable again. Either way, we would be wrong," said Ms Lim who is AHPETC's chairman.

In February, the Auditor-General's Office released an audit report about AHPETC, flagging serious financial and governance lapses.

WP candidates on walkabouts in East Coast GRC and Nee Soon GRC yesterday told reporters they had received few questions from voters about AHPETC. When they did, it was mainly to say they hoped the WP had explained their side of the story more.

oliviaho@sph.com.sg

jianxuan@sph.com.sg

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