Ooi Boon Ewe

Ooi Boon Ewe is a Singaporean politician. He is most notable for attempting to contest various elections, general and presidential.

Life

Ooi is a former private tutor and property executive.^[1]

Politics

Ooi entered the politicial arena in the presidential elections in 1999. He submitted eligibility forms to the Elections Department who later declined to issue a certificate of eligibility.

Ooi contested Joo Chiat SMC in the 2001 General Elections as an independent candidate, against People's Action Party incumbent Chan Soo Sen. He garnered 3,038 votes (16.45%).

Ooi attempted to seek candidacy for the second time in the presidential elections in 2005. His application for the Certificate of Eligibility was rejected by the Presidential Elections Committee due to his lack of experience and ability required by the Constitution.^[2]

In 2006, he formed the People's Liberal Democratic Party, four days after Nomination Day of the 2006 general election. He was thus unable to contest the election.

In 2011, Ooi sought to contest Sengkang West SMC in the 2011 General Elections. One of his assentors did not turn up on Nomination Day and was unsucessful in attempting to seek a replacement from the crowd. He then left the nomination center without submitting his nomination papers.^[3]

Ooi decided on a third run for the presidential election in 2011. As the constitution requires presidential candidates to be nonpartisan, Ooi had to resign from the PLDP. He submitted his forms on 11 July,^[4] and was found to be ineligible because his application was incomplete and he had asked for a waiver from certain requirements set forth by the constitution, which the Elections Department claims it has no power to do.^[5]

References

1. ^ "Presidential hopeful: Ooi Boon Ewe". Asiaone. http://www.asiaone.com/News/Elections/Story/A1Story20110810-293786.html. Retrieved September 27, 2011. 
2. ^ Press Statement by the Presidential Elections Committee on Applications for Certificates of Eligibility, Singapore Presidential Elections Committee, August 13, 2005, http://www.elections.gov.sg/pressrelease%5CPreE2005%5CPE2005%20-%20Press%20Statement%20by%20PEC.pdf 
3. ^ "Two major upsets at Deyi nomination centre". The Straits Times. http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_661732.html. Retrieved September 27, 2011. 
4. ^ Chan, Rachel (5 August 2011). "2.27m voters to go to the polls". My Paper. http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110805-292785.html. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
5. ^ "CERTIFICATES OF ELIGIBILITY ISSUED FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2011". Singapore Elections Department. http://www.elections.gov.sg/pressrelease/PreE2011/2011%20-08-11%20Certificates%20of%20Eligibility%20for%20Presidential%20Elections%202011.pdf#zoom=100. Retrieved 12 August 2011.