Non-constituency Member of Parliament for the Workers' Party, Leon Perera has fallen victim in yet another incident where the PAP has cast aspersions onto the character of an opposition party member.

Kudos to NCMP Dennis Tan Lip Fong for suggesting to build a better footpath for Bedok residents! Earlier, he raised the issue in Parliament to Minister Ng Chee Meng to widen the footpath along Bedok North Avenue 4. He proposed the idea after seeing that there are many pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooters there and saw the need to make things convenient for residents.

The improvement works, which have recently started, will include the area opposite St Anthony's Canossian Secondary School and Fengshan SMC. If completed, the footpath will be at least 2 times wider and will definitely add to a safer environment.

Warmest greetings to all of you after returning from Bt Gombak stadium in the wee hours penning my thoughts, where I traveled from Marine Parade just to lend support to the SDP and its candidate, Dr Chee. Though the SDP lost in this by-election, I felt everything except despair especially after witnessing the conceding speech by the man himself. Even though majority of you remain confused over the smear campaign against Dr Chee and did not elect him but enough of you stood out and pressed the "reset" button to send a clear message! If the NCMP seat did not fall on Daniel Goh, it would have gone to Dr Chee!

While the spirit of the NCMP scheme is to offer a seat in parliament to the best performing opposition candidate who lost, performance is relative. All else being equal, opposition performance should be better against a weaker PAP candidate like Charles Chong as compared to against stronger PAP candidates like Minister Lim Swee Say and Minister of State Lee Yi Shyan.

Last Friday marked the new chapter of our nation's 51st anniversary with the opening of the 13th Parliamentary session. Notably absent was the presence of 1 more NCMP which the PAP dominated parliament has blatantly refused to fill, going by the non-binding opinion of the AGC which the High Court has earlier ruled does not represent any interpretation of our laws!