Chiams retain seats in Singapore People's Party CEC

Singapore People's Party (SPP) chairman Lina Chiam (centre) speaks to reporters as she guides her husband, Chiam See Tong (far left), out of the SPP headquarters after an election meeting on Sunday, Jan 5, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: JASON
Singapore People's Party (SPP) chairman Lina Chiam (centre) speaks to reporters as she guides her husband, Chiam See Tong (far left), out of the SPP headquarters after an election meeting on Sunday, Jan 5, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Singapore People's Party (SPP) chairman Lina Chiam, 65, kept her place in the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) with the most number of votes at an election meeting on Sunday.

The Non-Constituency MP's husband and veteran opposition leader Chiam See Tong, 78, also retained his place in a party he has been closely associated with since the 1990s.

In a bid to inject fresh blood ahead of the next General Election, which is due by 2016, the 10-member CEC also has four new faces.

They include an accountant, a former teacher and a non-governmental organisation advisor. All are believed to have been with the party for about two years, and are in their mid-20s and 30s.

The election at the SPP's Sennett Estate headquarters was attended by 27 party members, all of whom voted in Mrs Chiam into the committee, a source said.

The SPP will convene another meeting later this month to decide on filling in positions within the CEC. Mr and Mrs Chiam were the party's secretary-general and chairman respectively, in the last committee.

Mrs Chiam declined to speak to reporters after the elections, adding only that a statement would be released in due course.

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