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"I have no intention of contesting in the Hougang by-election if it happens," National Solidarity Party (NSP) member Nicole Seah posted on her Facebook page. "Anyone else who does so is not taking into consideration the work of Workers' Party MP Low Thia Khiang in retaining one of Singapore's longest-serving opposition wards."

Seah's statement puts paid to speculation of her possible involvement in the contest. However, her party itself is keeping its options open. Its secretary-general, Hazel Poa, when asked by reporters in February about the NSP contesting in Hougang, said the party was "unable to give a definitive reply… as its Central Executive Committee needs to meet and decide on whether to contest."

"I think Singaporeans expect a high quality of debate from both sides of the House. In my view, this means more robust debate on the substance of policies that affect Singaporeans' lives, and less nit-picking on minutiae, which has little value-add." - WP NCMP, Gerald Giam, Straits Times, 17 March 2012.

Sometimes it is indeed the “minutiae” of policies which Singaporeans are concerned about. The so-called “fine print”, if you will. But Mr Giam’s point is noted – Singaporeans expect debates in the highest lawmaking institution in the land to be of the highest quality. And this is how it should be. Parliament is not kids’ play, or what one may call “masak masak” (child’s play), to use a local Malay term.

The following is Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's reply in Parliament to PAP MP Christopher de Souza's question on the by-election in Hougang:

The Hougang Single Member Constituency (SMC) seat is vacant after the Workers’ Party expelled Mr Yaw Shin Leong, following several weeks of media reports on Mr Yaw’s personal indiscretions. I intend to call a by-election in Hougang to fill this vacancy. However, I have not yet decided on the timing of the by-election. In deciding on the timing, I will take into account all relevant factors, including the well being of Hougang residents, issues on the national agenda, as well as the international backdrop which affects our prosperity and security.

As for the legal question of whether and when I must call a by-election, an application has been filed in court concerning this, so the matter is now sub judice, i.e. under the consideration of the court. While MPs enjoy parliamentary immunity in this House, our parliamentary convention is that we do not talk about matters which are sub judice, for good reason.

A resident of the Single-member Constituency (SMC) of Hougang has filed a request with the high court today, Friday, for the prime minister to call a by-election in the ward.

The Hougang seat was declared vacant by the Speaker of Parliament on 28 February, after its Workers' Party's Member of Parliament, Mr Yaw Shin Leong, was expelled from the party on 14 February for not explaining himself to the party over the alleged marital affairs allegations. The vacancy took effect from the date of Mr Yaw's expulsion, 14 February.

Mr Yaw had informed the Clerk of Parliament that he will not be contesting the expulsion, thus vacating his seat as MP.