Election digest

SPP reports Swami Home to Registry of Societies

SINGAPORE People's Party member Ravi Philemon has reported the Swami (Sunshine Welfare Action Mission) Home in Sembawang to the Registry of Societies for allowing the People's Action Party (PAP) to introduce its candidates there last week.

Mr Philemon noted that Swami's Constitution states that it should not "indulge in any political activity or allow its funds and/or premises to be used for political purposes".

The PAP had unveiled its candidates for Sembawang GRC at the home on Aug 14.

Over 3,000 register to vote abroad

THERE are 3,104 Singaporeans who have registered to vote overseas at the next general election as at end-July, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in a written parliamentary reply on Monday.

This makes up 0.1 per cent of the total number of electors in the registers, added Mr Teo, who was responding to a question from Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Lina Chiam of the Singapore People's Party. At the last polls in 2011, 78 per cent of registered overseas electors cast their votes at polling stations abroad.

MDA issues reminder on rules governing party political films

THE Media Development Authority (MDA) has reminded political parties about the prohibitions on party political films in the run-up to the general elections.

It cited, for instance, the Singapore Democratic Party clip Pappy Washing Powder and noted that such films are banned under Section 33 of the Films Act. MDA said, however, that it would not be taking action as parties may have not been fully aware of the requirements under the Act.

Still, it added that it "will not hesitate to enforce the law firmly" if parties or candidates continued to publish such films.