TOC understands that Mr Ng Teck Siong called an emergency meeting yesterday at 11.30am at the Reform Party’s office, where a vote of no confidence in the chairman was tabled. TOC understands the vote was passed by a majority of the CEC.
Mr Ng tendered his resignation this morning.
Speaking to TOC, Mr Ng said he has also tendered to resign from the party completely.
Below is the press release from the party:
The Reform Party
18A Smith Street Singapore 058932 Tel: 6534 9641
The Reform Party is delighted to announce that following a meeting of its Central Executive Committee on Sunday April 26th the following resolutions were passed.
- A vote of no confidence in Ng Teck Siong as Chairperson of the party was passed by a majority vote of the CEC
- Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam was appointed to the position of Secretary General of The Reform Party by a majority vote of the CEC
- Mr Edmund Ng was appointed to the post of chairperson of the Reform Party (interim) by a majority vote of the CEC
- Mr Teo Kian Chye was appointed to the post of Treasurer of the Reform Party ( interim) by a majority vote of the CEC
Edmund Ng, formerly Organising Secretary of the Reform Party said, “I’m honoured to have been selected for this role and to be working with the new senior officers of the CEC. Our new SG brings a breath of fresh air to politics in Singapore and a balanced and qualified voice to the opposition. Since joining the RP Kenneth has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Party bringing energy, direction and cohesion. His professional background, his academic qualifications and his immersion in the political issues of Singapore from a very young age enable him to bring to the Party a depth of knowledge and experience not often seen in opposition in Singapore. “
Teo Kian Chye, also stated that he felt honoured in the trust shown in him by the CEC on appointing him to the role of Treasurer. About his new SG he said, “We must remember that Kenneth has rejected a potentially lucrative career path in order to serve the people of Singapore. He had many options and we are delighted that he chose to join the Reform Party. He has been an example to all of us and I hope that many others will follow the path he has chosen.”
Kenneth Jeyaretnam said how pleased he was to have been appointed to the role of SG. “After choosing to go into politics various offers were put to me but the stated philosophy of the Reform Party,( ‘ that every member of the society is born with fundamental rights and that it is the paramount duty of the society to promote the human dignity of every single member’ ) most closely matched my own philosophy. I was touched by the public response to the announcement in the Press when I joined the Reform Party and the outpouring of support shown to me since. We have a lot of work going forward and it is humbling that so many people have demonstrated this level of confidence in me. I look forward to serving them. “
On Monday April 27th 2009 Mr Ng Teck Siong tendered his resignation as Chairperson to the new SG, Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam. Under Article 5 (vii) of the Party constitution this resignation will only become effective upon the acknowledgement in writing of the resignation by the Secretary-General of the Party.
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Wow ..this is really exciting news. God bless KJ and co.
Gosh, internal fighting even before work to get elected starts. Hope JBJ Jr has the stamina of his dad to see this through.
Good luck and congrats to K. Jeya anyway!
This is the real breaking news after days of being made aware of Aware. Now as all the ministers had already said to the effect – “Aware should take care of its own matters”, and guys -Singaporeans may well have a credible opposition moving ahead.
Congratulations.
Wonderful News Indeed! Now the Reform Party has a youthful team that can hopefully come up with some bright new visions to end the staleness of the political opposition in our country. Hopefully, it can field some candidates in the next GE!
I’m really putting alot of hope on the Reform Party. This is what many of us having been waiting for for a really long time: a credible opposition with the mettle to fight.
From sgpolitics.net, I gather that this is a cooperative move… something that is agreed upon by the CEC as well as Ng Teck Siong.
Nonetheless, the use of “vote of no confidence” sounds rather sinister, because it is typically used to forcing a resignation of a leadership or calling for a fresh election.
But hor, it seems still like a one man show leh, with KJ being the only star.
The rest like Edmund Ng (party hopper) are just old faces and unknowns.
And why only 3 people? To satisfy the minimum required? Isn’t the number a bit pathetic? Where are the rest?
Looks like KJ, despite his credentials, still has a lot of work ahead.
Hmm,
Agree with you. That’s why I said that I hope JBJ Jr has the stamina of his dad. If he has, he should be able to outlast Old Man, the pillar of the tyranny in Singapore. I believe LHL is not half as shrewd as his dad.
There is hope for change after all.
something caught my attention, a party chairman, one whom has walk with the late Mr JBJ for many years, one who did not forsake the party despite Mr JBJ demise, and the party is delighted to announce his vote of no confidence by the rest????????
I am sure if the late Mr JBJ is around, he wouldn’t be DELIGHTED to see this piece of news.
Congrat and best wishes to K Jeya. I hope the Reform Party would be the last new opposition party to be formed. The opposition parties should work towards solidarity and prepare for the next GE.
haha.. this is credibility for the opposition.
A amicable and simple handing over and taking over can be done instead of resorting to this type of action.
How on earth can you trust these people.
Scoreline.
PAP 1 Opposition -ve 1..
The Son also rises………..but the RP must explain why a stalwart like Ng Teck Siong was kicked out so easily and so fast? For over 20 years he was the side-kick of JBJ. When you see one, you always see the other!
The voting public must know the reasons before they decide whether to trust the RP and vote for their candidates in the next GE probably Dec 2009.
He must have been resigned voluntarily to make for a youthful team. Congrats to him. He led very good job after JBJ’s death. Perhaps he does want to be a Member Mentor.
Its was on record that Mr Ng was with JBJ for 8 years only. The new interim Treasurer knew JBJ for over 30 years and several council member may have known JBJ for the same time or longer.
Best wishes for Ng Teck Siong.
Knowing a person for 30 years is not the same as being with him almost daily for about 11 years (not 8 years), I also happen to know JBJ as a former member of the WP for 24 years but I seldom see him although we converse on the phone regularly.
Is James Teo closer to JBJ than Ng Teck Siong? I don’t think so.
Convening an EGM to take a vote of no confidence (on chairman NTS) is the same as calling the CEC to meet to sack NTS. It is a serious matter and shows the party’s internal conflict came to a dead-end and could only be resolved through this ultimate channel. If NTS wants to quit due to his age or his dislike of having to bei a mentor to KJ, he could have easily resigned without having to be voted out as if he had to be forced out!
Let’s hope Mr NTS’s upcoming press conference tomorrow will enlighten all S’porean voters keen on having more credible Opp MPs in Parliament!
jbj bless you
Maximillian Chan, you seemed to know what’s happening? Are you in the CEC? If you don’t know what’s happening, please don’t sprout nonsense.
It seemed you know more than we do. Why don’t you hold a press conference and enlighten us here.
Agree that the way Mr Ng Teck Siong was ousted from the Party he helped form is disturbing. That he stuck by Mr JBJ for years through thick and thin and did not abandon the Party even after the latter’s death says alot about his character. My best wishes to Mr Ng.
To 16 and 17………Pl read my postings again. No, I don’t know what’s happening, neither am I a CEC member now or before. That is the reason for my 2 posits asking for the CEC to come out with a clear statement for the ouster of stalwart Ng Teck Siong. We do not want a repeat of the “ouster” of Chiam See Tong by Dr CSJ giving bad publicity to the very few Opp politicians that we have.
And to 16……….Please learn to be civil and not rude. It shows up your upbringing and personality.The PAP are just waiting to pounce on such infighting amongst those who support Opp politicians. Unless of course you are with the other side…
Maximillian Chan,
Since when was Chiam See Tong oustered CSJ? You are just sprouting nonsense again. If you don’t know what really happened just be humble and ask, rather than act as if you know what’s happening.
Please go and read up on the history of Singapore politics before you make comments that make yourself look like a fool. You are giving the oppositions a bad name. What’s your motive? Divide and Conquer?
This will be my last response to you as I do not wish to waste precious time and effort on badly brought-up nicompoops like you. FYI, I contribute to many political/gossip/health blogs and have a good following of supporters and fans for my edification and general advice. Nobody is forcing you to read my entries….
In any case, as this is SWINE FLU time, I will no longer cast pearls before a swine like you…..Goodbye and please take up a course on how to be more civil and less ill-mannered. I forgive you as I never sweat the small stuff!
Dear MC,
Please post facts on d net. Get some advise from NTS. Even PAPA was in opposition years back. Wats wrong wid changing shirts.. hhmmmm, design change or material change..
cool….depending on weather….you cant wear a sweater on a hot weather…
29/4/09
This clearly shows the Singapore Opposition with exception of Worker’s Party, the rest are immature, power crazy and quarter baked or RAW.
I wish Kenneth all the best wishes in taking over the RP founded by his late dad JBJ whom I had the opportunity having coffee during my Singapore banking days.
Regards
Andrew Chuah