Bukit Batok independent candidate will not contest by-election
PUBLISHED ONMarch 16, 2016 9:10 AM
SINGAPORE - Mr Samir Salim Neji, who contested in Bukit Batok as an independent candidate in last year's General Election, has said that he will not contest the upcoming by-election in the single member constituency.
Replying to Lianhe Zaobao yesterday (March 15), he said that he made the decision after much consideration.
The parliamentary seat in Bukit Batok is now vacant after its Member of Parliament, Mr David Ong from the People's Action Party (PAP), resigned from the PAP on Saturday (March 12). He was allegedly involved in an extramarital affair with a PAP grassroots volunteer.
In last year's election, Mr Samir Salim, who was in a three-way battle against Mr Ong and Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP's) Mr Sadasivam Veriyah, received only 150 votes. He lost his election deposit of $14,500 as a result, Zaobao reported.
Two opposition parties have said that they intend to contest the by-election in Bukit Batok - SDP and the Democratic Progressive Party.
The Workers' Party has previously said that they will not contest the by-election.
sinsh@sph.com.sg