Sunday, July 20, 2008

GRC by-election constitutionality

Certainly, JBJ is very long winding. But this is understandable as each opportunity he obtained to speak in Parliament must have been so precious. He retains his sense of humor though as when he said, “… I am sorry [the then Senior Minister] has left the House as soon as I started to speak.” (August 19 1999)

One of his contentions is the constitutionality of the by-election rules for group representative constituencies (GRCs). The Constitution sets forth the any vacancy “shall be filled” after an MP resigned or lost his or her seat. What if a GRC lost one of its members? Should a by-election be held for the GRC? He thinks it should. Just such a case is in front of the people of this country as a member of the Jurong GRC passed away recently. No by-election is expected.

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