MP Yaw Shin Leong expelled from WP, Hougang by-election

15.02.2012

Opposition Workers' Party (WP) has expelled Hougang MP Yaw Shin Leong over his alleged extramarital affairs and is prepared for a by-election to be held in the single-seat ward.

Party chief Low Thia Khiang told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that the party made the decision on Tuesday night because it felt Mr Yaw had fallen short of its expectations in being transparent and accountable to the party and to his constituents.

The WP and Mr Yaw had maintained silence since allegations about the MP's personal life appeared on Jan 20. On Feb 7, Mr Yaw resigned from his post as the WP treasurer.

Under the Constitution, the seat of an elected Member of Parliament shall become vacant if he ceased to be a member of, or is expelled or resigned from, the political party for which he stood in an election.