Asia-Pacific News
Singapore politician loses seat for failing to deny affair
Feb 16, 2012, 4:15 GMT
Singapore - An opposition member of Singapore's parliament has been expelled from the Workers' Party for an alleged extramarital affair and lost his seat as a result, in a first for the country.
Yaw Shin Leong was booted out of the party late Wednesday for his silence over rumours of an affair with a married female party member.
The Workers' Party is the first to kick out a member of parliament. Yaw's expulsion means he is automatically ousted from his parliamentary seat, as laid down in the constitution.
The party said on Wednesday that Yaw 'has been accused of several indiscretions in his private life. By continuing not to account to the party and the people ... he has broken the faith, trust and expectations of the party and people.'
Yaw, a 35-year-old divorced businessman, had been a rising star in the opposition party and was fielded in the opposition stronghold of Hougang ward in general elections last year.
Rumours of Yaw's alleged affair surfaced on a website about three weeks ago. He maintained a wall of silence and refused to speak with party leaders on the matter.
The date for the by-election was to be decided by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
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