What is happening in Yishun?

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) is challenging the incumbent People's Action Party (PAP) in the five-person Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC) this 2020 General Election.

Who drew first blood?

K Shanmugam, the PAP's treasurer, took the fight to PSP following the successful submitting of nomination papers by candidates on June 30.

What is Shanmugam pressing Bowyer on?

Shanmugam, who is Minister for Home Affairs and Law, is asking Brad Bowyer, one of the PSP candidates for Nee Soon GRC, to categorically state if his party had offered to let the Reform Party (RP) contest in Nee Soon GRC as part of a "horse trading" deal, referring to an exercise before the commencement of election where parties decide where to stand.

First day of exchange

On July 1 morning, at a virtual press conference on the PAP team’s manifesto for the GRC, Shanmugam called PSP's interest in contesting Nee Soon GRC, "half-hearted".

He said:

“The PSP has come, but seems to be very half-hearted about it."

"As you will recall, a week ago they were offering to trade Nee Soon for some other constituency.”

“It’s like, ‘Do you want Nee Soon? You can have it’."

"So that's why I say it’s half-hearted, it appears and I’m not sure how much interest there is, commitment there is. I'm saying this just based on the fact that a week ago they seem to be unsure, they wanted to give it up.”

Bowyer responds on Facebook

Bowyer responded to Shanmugam in a Facebook post that afternoon.

He wrote that there were “online rumours” that PSP had given up Nee Soon GRC to RP.

Bowyer added that his team has been preparing on the ground since March, after the electoral boundaries report came out.

“This suggests to me that someone is very afraid of our campaign in Nee Soon and is trying to pull the wool over the voters eyes,” Bowyer also wrote.

Shanmugam responds

In response to this post by Bowyer, Shanmugam took to Facebook and pointed to a Straits Times report from June 25.

The article had included a statement by RP secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam, who reportedly said PSP had offered Nee Soon to the RP.

RP, however, decided not to contest the GRC.

Shanmugam wrote: “Today, however, Mr Bowyer has responded to my comments and has said that the news about PSP offering Nee Soon to RP is just a ‘rumour’."

"What exactly does this mean?"

"Mr Bowyer should be honest with Nee Soon voters."

"Did PSP in fact offer Nee Soon to the RP?"

"Mr Jeyaretnam said so.”

Shanmugum urged Bowyer to “give a straight answer”, and noted that the Nee Soon opponent “was handpicked” by PSP secretary-general Tan Cheng Bock, a former PAP MP.

Asking Bowyer for an answer, Shanmugam wrote: “He will agree that honesty is important. You shouldn’t play with words with voters.”

Bowyer responds again

Before July 1 came to a close, Bowyer responded to Shanmugam in another Facebook post.

He wrote that he was assigned to Nee Soon GRC since mid-April and he and his team have, more than two months ago, "spent countless hours, resources and not an inconsiderable sum of money" into "giving the best we can for the residents of Nee Soon".

Bowyer also admitted that he was "not privy to the highest level negotiations",

Day 2: Shanmugam calls Bowyer's explanation 'dishonest'

In a Facebook response on July 2, Shanmugam called Bowyer's explanation on whether the party offered to let another party to contest as “dishonest” and an “avoidance” tactic when found out.

This was the first time Shanmugam labelled Bowyer as "dishonest".

Shanmugam also directed a barb at Tan, the chief of PSP.

Shanmugam wrote:

And this is a message to Dr Tan: I think Nee Soon voters and the voters in Singapore need to know: why this candidate, whom you hand picked, say something which was so obviously untrue?

If no answer is given, it will speak volumes.

It will also tell Singaporeans whether Dr Tan values honesty in his candidates.

Bowyer and party leadership respond

In response, Bowyer said Shanmugam “can have his opinion” about discussions between different opposition parties, a quote he provided to Today.

PSP leaders Tan and Leong Mun Wai also responded to Shanmugam.

Leong wrote on Facebook: "There is no horse-trading agreement or negotiation between RP and ourselves with regards to Nee Soon or any other constituencies."

Shanmugam responds to Leong

Shanmugam responded to Leong on July 2 evening in a Facebook post, saying the assistant secretary-general of PSP "is not being truthful".

Shanmugam also characterised Leong's intervention in the back-and-forth as helping Bowyer out.

Shanmugam wrote: "The Assistant Sec-Gen of the PSP, Mr Leong Mun Wai, has now tried to rescue Mr Bowyer."

Shanmugam then proceeded to call out both Bowyer and Leong in the same post.

He wrote: "Mr Leong was negotiating, discussing which constituencies can be traded."

"In itself there is nothing unusual about the negotiations. Some parties do that."

"But what is unusual is the way Mr Bowyer, and Mr Leong are prepared to be dishonest, and dig a deeper hole for themselves, each time they speak. Neither seem to check what they have said previously, before saying whatever is convenient in the present."

This was the second time Shanmugam labelled Bowyer as "dishonest".

Bowyer responds again

In response to this accusation by Shanmugam, Bowyer told Today: “No one ever offered Nee Soon to RP. At no point have we wanted to trade. Just because something is being widely reported, it doesn’t mean it’s factually correct.”

He added that he was not involved in any of these talks.

Bowyer also shared Leong's Facebook post, and said: "Hope this finally puts the matter to rest."

Reform Party response

RP chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam posted a response on Facebook on July 2, but avoided addressing the matter of negotiations with PSP, and whether PSP offered Nee Soon to RP.

Instead, he wrote that he was “glad Shanmugam is telling Singapore that he reads my Facebook page”.

Tan Cheng Bock reponse

Tan told Today on July 2 in response to Shanmugam's prodding: "This is politics."

“They will poke at you but I tell my men, we always stay high. There shall be no gutter politics because we have to show PSP is a party that represents compassion and also we want to make sure we follow the rule of law.”

Top photo via K Shanmugam & Brad Bowyer