~by: Kumaran Pillai~
The Workers' Party (WP) has summarily expelled an elected Member of Parliament Yaw Shin Leong with immediate effect for refusing to attend internal Party hearings to account for the alleged indiscretions in his private life. This is the first time the Party has taken such a drastic step on any member according to its Party's chief Low Thia Khiang.
WP's chairman Sylvia Lim at the media conference held to announce the dismissal of the Hougang MP from the Party, said that the party CEC has the powers to remove any member from the party. When asked about the alleged indiscretions, Ms Lim said that Mr Yaw has failed “to account to the party and the people.”
Mr Yaw however, can appeal to be reinstated into the membership of the Party.
Mr Yaw failed to ‘show-up' at the party meeting held on Tuesday 14th of February 2012 to account to the CEC about his personal life. Since then, the party has not been able to contact him but has however informed Mrs Yaw of the party’s decision to expel him.
Mr Yaw could not be reached at the time of reporting and based on his last statement; the allegations were ‘nothing but rumours.’
The Hougang MP has several options of either appealing to the party and/or commencing legal action for unfair dismissal on account that WP’s decision to expel him was merely based on rumours of his extramarital affairs and the lack of accountability.
It remains unclear at the time of publishing this article if WP hadn’t formerly notified Mr Yaw of its decision. Mr Yaw Shin Leong has a case for legal recourse.
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With so many lawyers on the WP CEC. I dont think there is a legal recourse. It’s a watertight case.
Certain informations are privy to the CEC which public may be unaware of. Such a drastic action will never be based on rumours. Dare Yaw take such a recourse and remove all doubts about him in court?
I wonder why extra marital affairs are points good enough to remove an mp…
we are too conservative.
Best option is to join PNP. They will protect this rotten egg with a new coat of protective paint, just like the others.
It is likely mr Yaw will respect WP decision for his own good and the residents of hougang.
Worst case scenario: YSL turns against WP and wash all dirty laundry in public.
Public divided and all the whos who is oppossition camp come to the party. By election call, PAP wins hands down because of split vote
Best case: YSL admit mistake and sing praise of WP. Oppostion stay united. LTK go on a tour around hougang and Aljunied and win over them, possibly with YSL along and admitting mistake. By election call, WP wins with bigger margin.
looking at how things have evolved over the last few weeks, I fear former scenario more likely. Hougang residents – you are in limelight again.
The best thing is to hold a By-Election, and YSL can stand as an independent candidate, and let the voters of Hougang decide.
Why is it that the PM had to decide as to whether to the timing of the By-Election. What is the Election Department for, and is it independent. Can't the Election Department decided on the By-Election, freeing our PM from this task.
There must be some accountability and transparency in all areas of the government, as what Dr Khaw says of being clean.
fpc
I wonder why extra marital affairs are points good enough to remove an mp…
That's a good point. It's obvious that WP is doing this partly to appease the 'noise' that has been going on in TRE and MSM. With the way the internet media goes, no one is happy until blood is seen. Sometimes I think most ppl just want to see drama and they don't really care if it's more damaging to themselves in the long run.
oute
Can't the Election Department decided on the By-Election, freeing our PM from this task.
There must be some accountability and transparency in all areas of the government, as what Dr Khaw says of being clean.
……………………………………………………….
when the ole pap mp of jurong west dropped DEAD..the primeisterdid NOTHING as though the ghost of the ole pap mp is doin a matethepeasant$ session…. neither the ERECTION board did anythinggie @ all xcept to disqualified the alternative party of tanjong pagar grc for 35seconds too late..
WHAT A JOKE for an advance DEMOCRATIC state liked singapoor
@fpc..
Its not a matter of extra-marital affairs than the lack of accountability.
PM – the wriggling dragon alike a tail-off lizard – hold great power but cannot speak /handle decisively on by-election matter. PM says, "many issues on national agenda"? don't we have the GaoXinBuChang (high pay ministers) to handle?
Boon should go and take care of national housing instead of echoing what you say. PM you appointed GXBC waste time and yet say no time
Boon – the extra mouth-piece should help PM to clear some of the "many issues on national agenda". Bu yao cho re nao (don't join in the heat).
As the ruling party would often say – "Move on". So let's all move on and let YSL lick his own wounds. Huge mistakes on his part that destroys his entire political career. At the end of the day, what for? Women, where one isn't enough.
PM wants high pay. No Problem.
But can he handle all "the other issues on national agenda"? No? Wee, It's ok, just cut the jobs / resposibilities but CUT his pay too.
After paying his ministers so so much, yet he cannot trust to give them the free hands to handle all "the other issues on national agenda", fail.
WP Did the right thing.So too will YSL. No need for legal recourse. Let YSL and family move on with their life.
The matter at hand is for pinky to call a by election without furthur WAYANG
the latest news is that since yaw shin leong is out of town he is now a fugitive on the run. he has joined the ranks of farncis seow- yet another former wp candidate for eunos grc in 1988 and tan wah piow who remains on the wanted list of the internal security dept. i will not be surprised that yaw shin leong migrates to another country for good. so much for accountability from the wp.
Ahyoh, please lah
"The Hougang MP has several options of either appealing to the party and/or commencing legal action for unfair dismissal on account that WP’s decision to expel him was merely based on rumours of his extramarital affairs and the lack of accountability."
I think it's well known. Just don't know how WP didn't notice that! This kind of people see CB all responsibility gone lio.
Ysl treasure your family.your have a really good wife.. whatever the outcome do take care and move on..can make mistakes but dun repeat agin. Your wife is really a brave woman! Eventually we are accountable to God
Hougang and Aljunied are brethren wards. Whatever politicking others play, Hougangites and Aljuniedians will become more determined as one. And their solidarity will showcase islandwide with profound emulation by the rest.
Given the kind of attitudes many Singaporeans have, it may be in the interests of all for Mr Yaw to step down.
It is rather unfortunate that he had to vacate office in this way. But legal action doesn't appear to achieve anything meaningful for Mr Yaw.
Sympathy to Mrs Yaw. Poor thing. Hope she muster enough courage and strength to press on, and overcome this episode.
Why all the fuss? There is this guy Bill Cliton…
LHL should recruit YSL and make him stand in HG. Remeber the age-old adage – Know your enemy, a hundred battles, a hundred victories!
@ usha s – why should YSL be on the run? He didn't break any laws nor is CPIB running after him. Give the man some space away. He may be hiding from the ferocious media running after a juicy story. CNA reporters afterall, staked out outside his home!!
YSL should just go and disappear quietly. WP had worked so hard to be what they are today and YSL follies had tainted WP's image but luckily, by this event, WP had demonstrated that they do not tolerate and accept nonsense, whether private affair or not, whether his personal life affect his ability to perform as MP. Simply, his silence to the rumours against him is not acceptable to WP.
I read the comments from PM Lee and Mnister Khaw – they should be careful.
Are they saying that NONE, abosutely NO PAP Members of Parliament – has had Extra Marital Affairs ? None of them had, no one will ever have ?
What if next month – or next year, it happens? With the MSM behind the curve in any of these expose, they must be careful.
I certainly would not have said the things PM Lee and Minister Khaw have said – they are setting themselves up for a fall.
He won't take the legal course,as many now believe the rumours are not without grounds,and more sordid details will be ferret out if he goes to court to appeal.He would want to avoid that.
He did not reveal all his past to the WP central committee when they courted him in the beginning.That's the problem.
Staying silent on the matter was a patently dumb strategy,but he erroneously thought that was being wise.It would seem now that he was also not wise,in addition to being not forthright.
What will happen to his future now?
Now you know why many successfu people do not wish to enter politics.You won't know what dirt will be dug out your private life which will signal the end of you.
No private life?
No thanks,even if I get multiples of LHL'scompensation…..
He has a legal right to appeal and that has got no bearing to whether he had extra marital sex or not. The question is whether it is wise for him to do so.
In a civil case, the matter will be throughly examined and it will purely deal with how the termination procedure took place. The fact that he had sex outside marriage is irrelevant. It will only examine on whether the CEC acted with due care.
He can win the case and then resign or choose to stay on. Either way, WP will have to deal with a PR disaster. So far, they have come on top. It is good for them.
legal recourse for extre-marital sexual intercourse?
i guess not,it will be painful for himself ,his beloved wife and family as well as for the other party.
extra-marital activities is not a 'NEW' thing;it is a 'HAPPENNING ' thing.
even,many MPs and officials form the ruling elites must have engaged in extra-marital and other nocturnal activities but they just managed to keep them 'secret'?
what is truly important here is that the WP LEADERSHIP,unlke other LEEderships,dare to take bold action for the sake of integrity and justice so crucial for moral authorithy.
WP LEADERS WALK THEIR TALK whereas other LEEders just 'TALK TALK'?
Questions remain :
1. Why coincide with sexual investigation of civic servants?
2. Who disclosed ysl alleged thingie with gal?
Why such timing?
3. Did he voted for pap before?
4. How can it be such coincidence?
Ever questioned or living in the dark n be cuckoo?
Personally I think Singaporeans are a bit too conservative. Or maybe this is what the politicians would have us believe.
The idea of taking legal recourse is being planted in Yaw’s mind for him to just take this route. I smell something fishy here. There is probably a benefactor to pay all his legal costs and more. And in return, Yaw would take on WP by standing as an independent candidate. The calculated outcome – he would swipe away for himself a sizable number of opposition votes paving the way for PAP to retake Hougang.
No point speculating further on Yaw Shin Leong. His is out of the picture. Respect his privacy. He has not broken any laws. Just leave him alone.
Time and effort better spent on finding a new MP for Hougang. Singaporeans should pressure LHL and PAP to promptly hold by-election. Keep up the pressure on PAP and LHL. Issues raised during GE2011 are still not resolved.
There is news that this idiot has fled the country.
You have let down your supports, the women and the unborn child.
GET LOST!
What about of news articles of Bill Clinton or Soekarno ?
Ladies….?
Standards, lah !
Halowien, copy or imitate too ?
What is holding LHL to decide for a by-election? Many scenarios automatically come to the inquiring minds collectively.
1. He is trying to "pull up his pants" in colloquial speak.
2. Too busy with national agenda issues his ministers are working on. So no time to think about by-election.
3. Waiting for his spies to gather info inside the Opposition parties.
4. Reading and gathering new media sentiments.
5. Fretting over over WP's bold and decisive act of accountability and responsiblity!
6. Waiting for apa to decide and instruct.
7. Reflecting if no by-election is or good or bad in Opposition ward like what he did in 2 other PAP GRC wards!
8. Needs time because he can't handle too many things together like Obama and his team can.
9. Any more chaps ….?
9. Ah Long Long Loong, as his name suggests likes to take a long long time to decide; he is well known for indecisiveness – because he needs to consult this chap and that chap before he makes a decision;
10. The Lizard may also be very busy counting his salary, pay, income, allowances, bonuses, perks, etc. and also calculating how to maximize his investments since he has cut his own pay.
11. The Pinky may be waiting for his wife to tell him what to do, now that his father is too old to be of any use, except to make an incoherent speech here and there once in a while.
12. The PAPa Party is now in disarray. So, he has to sidestep this By-Election issue; otherwise those within his party might not be happy because he did not hold by-elections for his own members in the past.
.
Does Shin Leong have a legal recourse?
This question is now irrelevant. He has skipped town. No need to discuss further.