Election season is always a chance to crank out petitions.

It makes sense as more people are invested in such a political climate, and would thus, be more likely to engage in these petitions.

There is already an online petition encouraging the presidential election to be an open one, instead of being a reserved one for Malays.

Offline door-to-door petition in Marsiling

But most of those petitions exist, first and foremost online, which is absolutely fine, but this following particular petition might capture ground sentiments slightly better.

Former National Solidarity Party candidate in the 2011 election, and current Singapore Democratic Party volunteer, Abdul Salim Harim, posted his plans to start a house-to-house petition in Marsiling ward this coming Saturday, Aug. 12.

Here is his post.

"All prepared and ready for Petition drive this coming Saturday, 12th August 2017.

We will be doing house to house visit in the Marsiling ward of former MP, Halimah Yacob, and explain to residents on the importance to call for a By-Election.

If you are a resident and a voter under Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, and wants to sign the petition to call for a By-Election, do pm me for further details.

This is an initiative by residents for residents.

Thank You!"

[related_story]

Government stance

The current stance on this issue by the government has been quite clear.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing said in Parliament on Feb. 6, 2017, that if a minority candidate leaves the group representation constituency (GRC), a by-election will not be called.

Chan said there are 25 minority MPs out of 89, “more than what you’d expect proportionately from adding up the percentage of Malays, Indians and other minorities”.

“Even if we have one less, that is 24 out of 89, which is 27 percent of Parliament,” he said.

The ruling party further doubled down on this stance recently with MP Zaqy Mohamad taking over from Halimah's role to be the adviser to Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.

Here are some equally interesting but totally unrelated stories:

5 types of NDP-goers you’ll see on public transport

NS last time vs NS now, explained in GIFs

Related article:

Someone started a petition to open Presidential Election in S’pore to all races