Singapore's ruling party considers "strong candidates" for by-election for Bukit Batok

Singapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) is currently looking at several "strong candidates" to contest the vacant Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency (SMC) seat, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Monday.

Tharman Shanmugaratnam declined to provide more details, but the deputy prime minister said the candidate will be someone who is committed to the interest of Bukit Batok residents. He assured residents that PAP has their interests at heart.

David Ong, former Member of Parliament for Bukit Batok, resigned due to "personal indiscretions" on March 12. Local media reported that Ong quit over an extramarital affair with a married woman.

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that a by- election will be held for Bukit Batok SMC "in due course", which is triggered by David Ong's resignation.

The opposition Workers' Party (WP) will not be contesting the by-election in Bukit Batok SMC, announced WP chairman Sylvia Lim at a Meet-the-People Session in Serangoon on Monday.

While Singapore Democratic Party, Democratic Progressive Party, as well as independent candidate Samir Salim Neji, have shown their interest in running for the by-election.