RP chief slams Han Hui Hui for adopting ‘creative approach to truth’
Roy Ngerng, Han Hui Hui and Kenneth Jeyaratnam pictured during a Reform Party walkabout at Ang Mo Kio on Aug 8, 2015. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Reform Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam today (Sept 4) repudiated independent candidate Han Hui Hui’s reason for contesting in Radin Mas Single Member Constituency, accusing her of adopting a “creative approach to truth”.
At her rally yesterday, Ms Han had said there was a risk the constituency would have seen a walkover because the RP’s candidate Kumar Appavoo was lacking an assentor for his nomination until the 11th hour.
Discrediting her today, Mr Jeyaretnam described Ms Han’s account as a “character assassination” on Mr Kumar in a press release, and gave his version of what had happened yesterday. Mr Kumar’s paperwork was in order and he had arrived ahead of nominations opening, he added.
“There were two returning officers seated at the counters. Ms Han went to one and was observed by our candidate to be taking a very long time to put in her paperwork. This may well be because she was assisted by Socialist Front Chairman Mr Ng Teck Siong who notoriously failed to get his nomination papers in on time for Tanjong Pagar in (the 2011 General Election),” said Mr Jeyaretnam.
He was referring to how a team of independents fronted by Mr Ng was disqualified from standing in Tanjong Pagar GRC after submitting their nomination papers late, making the constituency the only walkover that time. Mr Ng also took to the podium during Ms Han’s rally.
Ms Han’s account, Mr Jeyaretnam added, was “wholly fabricated from start to finish”.
He said: “Her reasons for failing to find a place within an opposition party and therefore her reason for being sent by Socialist Front into a three-cornered fight are just a smear. It is ironic that this team is now fabricating a story in order to take credit for preventing a hypothetical walkover in Radin Mas.”
While the RP had been “very supportive” of Ms Han and her rallies on the Central Provident Fund system, Mr Jeyaretnam said her “creative approach” to the truth was a reason why RP had decided not to field her.
Earlier this month, Ms Han was seen taking part in RP’s walkabouts in the Teck Ghee ward under Ang Mo Kio GRC, but did not say outright if she had intended to join the party.
