CANDIDATES BEGIN COLLECTING NOMINATION PAPERS FOR GENERAL ELECTION

SINGAPORE, April 21 (Bernama) -- Candidates have begun collecting their nomination papers at the Elections Department, a day after the Writ of Election was issued.

Five political parties were represented, as well as several likely
independent candidates, reported local television network Channel NewsAsia.

It said some were there to submit applications for political donation and minority candidate certificates before the deadline of 1pm on Saturday.

They include People's Action Party's new candidate Maj Gen (NS) Chan Chun Sing, who was there to obtain a CD containing the latest electoral roll for Tanjong Pagar GRC, where he is likely to stand.

Seven candidates from the National Solidarity Party (NSP) also turned up at the Elections Department.

Five were there to file their applications for the minorities certificates.

The husband and wife team of Tony Tan and Hazel Poa turned up to file their political donation certificates, which are required to be submitted for candidacy on nomination day.

The Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) turned up at the Elections
Department with 20 candidates and collected papers for two GRCs and three SMCs.

Abdul Karim Abdul Sattar, a potential candidate from the Singapore National Front said his party joined the SDA last week.
Should the Front contest this election, it would be the first time since the party was registered in 1991.

The Front, a Singapore-Malay based political party was formed from a faction of the Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS).