GE2015: NSP enters 3-way fight in MacPherson SMC with WP; contests 12 seats in all despite party woes

The Tampines GRC team will be led by National Solidarity Party president Sebastian Teo (left).
National Solidarity Party (NSP) candidates for Tampines GRC: (from left) Lim Tean, Sebastian Teo, Nor Lella Mardiiiah Mohamed, Reno Fong, and Choong Hon Heng. ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
People's Action Party's Tin Pei Ling, National Solidarity Party's Cheo Chai Chen and Workers' Party's Bernard Chen. ST PHOTOS: LIM YAOHUI , KEVIN LIM
National Solidarity Party's Ms Kevryn Lim (second from left).

SINGAPORE - The National Solidarity Party (NSP) has managed to produce 12 candidates in its four battlegrounds at the Sept 11 polls, despite speculation that recent party turmoil had derailed its electoral preparations.

The Tampines GRC team will be led by party president Sebastian Teo, and also include Mr Lim Tean, Ms Nor Lella Mardiiiah Mohd, Mr Reno Fong and Mr Choong Hon Heng.

Mr Spencer Ng, Ms Kevryn Lim, Mr Abdul Rasheed, Mr Eugene Yeo and Mr Yadzeth Haris are its confirmed candidates for the Sembawang GRC.

Former Nee Soon Central MP Cheo Chai Chen is standing in the MacPherson single-member constituency, where he will face off in a three-cornered fight against Mr Bernard Chen of the Workers' Party and Ms Tin Pei Ling of the ruling People's Action Party.

Mr Elvin Ong is contesting Pioneer SMC against Mr Cedric Foo of the PAP.

Acting secretary-general Hazel Poa quit the NSP on Aug 19 over its decision to enter a three-cornered fight in MacPherson SMC with the WP.

Central executive committee member Steve Chia, who had pushed to reconsider contesting MacPherson, dropped out of the polls, citing the emergence of a website that listed details about a 2003 nude photo scandal he was embroiled in. Another committee member, Mr Mohamed Fazli Talip, quit the party last Monday.

In addition, the party lodged a police report over an alleged trespassing incident at a member's office located in the Katong/East Coast area last Monday night.

In a Facebook post last Friday titled "KATONGGATE GE2015", the NSP said four people had intruded into the office.

"An eyewitness who happened upon them approached them and asked what they were doing. They claimed that they were from the mainstream media.

"Obviously, this was trespassing in order to steal information regarding NSP's strategy in the upcoming GE2015," it added.

The NSP said the "four intruders were captured on CCTV and police reports have been made regarding the incident".

The party said it is also conducting its own investigations and will keep the public and its supporters informed of the ongoing investigations.

- Additional reporting by Audrey Tan, Ahmad Zhaki and Nur Idayu Suparto

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.