Chiam wins Potong Pasir again

By Ahmad Osman
May 6, 2006
AsiaOne Special Political Correspondent

Veteran opposition leader Chiam See Tong, 71, scored his sixth straight win today (May 6) against the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in the battle for Potong Pasir, the single-member constituency held by him since 1984.

His victory underlined the popularity of the avuncular politician who fought hard to defeat the determined effort by the PAP which offered an $80 million upgrading plan to entice Potong Pasir voters to oust him.

The PAP’s campaign was spearheaded by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong who was assigned to help its Potong Pasir candidate, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, 42, to win back the single-seat electoral ward for the party.

During his campaign in the run-up to the general election today, Mr Chiam, the leader of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), accused the PAP of using money politics to get Mr Sitoh elected into Parliament.

He also said none of the residents in the ageing constituency that he met were interested in the PAP’s plan.

In the last general election, Mr Chiam beat Mr Sitoh by just 751 votes. His victory margin today is 1724 votes.