The Reform Party (RP) sent an email request half an hour before its constituency political broadcast recording slot on July 2 asking to postpone, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) revealed in a statement on July 6.

IMDA, responding to assertions by RP secretary-general Kenneth Jeyeratnam that the authority had not given due notice to RP, called his claims untrue.

IMDA also said it was not possible to reschedule, as this would impact the recording for other parties and candidates.

"Two RP representatives were already present on location, and they proceeded with their CPB recording," said IMDA.

All other parties and candidates were able to record their political broadcasts in accordance with the allocation rules and their allocated slots, it added.

What happened

RP's constituency political broadcast that aired on July 3 only featured two candidates in the Ang Mo Kio team: Charles Yeo and Noraini Yunus.

The other three candidates, Jeyaretnam, chairman Andy Zhu and Soh Guan Soon, were not present.

IMDA said in its statement that it is "not true" that Jeyaretnam was not allowed to record a constituency political broadcast because he was serving a stay-home notice.

IMDA said it "never received any request to do so".

RP's team is contesting in the five-member Ang Mo Kio GRC in the General Election.

Jeyaretnam had returned from the United Kingdom at the end of June.

He is still serving a 14-day stay-home notice.

He had asked for a waiver of the stay-home notice issued to him upon his return to Singapore, but was rejected by the Ministry of Health, citing public health reasons.

IMDA's other clarifications

IMDA said in its statement that the recording schedules were sent to all political parties the day after Nomination Day.

Prior to that, all political parties were briefed on the format and recording schedules on June 26 -- four days before the June 30 Nomination Day.

The recordings for the broadcasts took place over three days from July 2 to 4.

The parties were also informed that the recording slots would be confirmed after Nomination Day, said IMDA.

"Representatives from RP were present and no concerns were raised," the authority said.

RP representatives even acknowledged receipt of the schedules after they were contacted via email and phone call.

"No queries or concerns were raised," said IMDA.