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(From http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/pdf/20120526/Speech2.pdf on 26 May 2012)

Must the PMO write in bullet points?? How come they released the statement so fast (less than 1 hr after results announced)? Have they known the results beforehand??

1.I called a by-election in Hougang constituency because the Workers’ Party 

(WP) expelled the previous Member of Parliament, Mr Yaw Shin Leong, from the 

party, causing the seat to fall vacant.

2.The PAP fielded Mr Desmond Choo as our candidate. Desmond had contested 

in Hougang in the general election last May. Even though he did not win, he 

continued to work hard in Hougang over the past year.

3.In this by-election, Hougang voters had to choose the best candidate to look 

after Hougang and represent them in Parliament. The PAP and Desmond offered 

Hougang a fresh start, a break from the last 21 years. Desmond promised to do 

his best, to work with residents to build a better Hougang.

4.Desmond and his team put up a strong fight, knowing that it was an uphill 

battle. Both because WP has been in Hougang for so long, and also because a 

by-election often puts the ruling party at a disadvantage. 

5.I am disappointed that Desmond did not win, but encouraged that the PAP 

obtained 37.9% of the votes this time. This improves on our results in the two 

previous general elections: 2006 (37.3%) and 2011 (35.2%).6.Clearly, many Hougang voters were impressed by Desmond’s sincerity, 

compassion, and commitment, and attracted by the PAP’s message of change 

and hope. But unfortunately there were not quite enough of them for Desmond to 

win.

7.I have spoken to Desmond, to thank him and his team for their hard work, and 

to commend them for fighting a vigorous and effective campaign. He is naturally 

disappointed by the outcome, but is in good heart. He is keen to continue serving 

in Hougang, and to contribute in any role that he can be useful.

8.I would also like to thank all those who voted for Desmond and the PAP.

9.I also congratulate the WP and Mr Png Eng Huat for winning this by-election. I 

look forward to Mr Png’s contributions in Parliament.

10.I respect the choice of Hougang voters. The PAP will continue to be present in 

Hougang, and I am confident that we will win back the constituency in a future 

election.

11.At the national level, we set a new direction last year. Since the general 

election in May 2011, the PAP government has done its best to address important 

national issues like housing and transportation, immigration and population, 

economic upgrading and workers’ incomes. We have made progress, but there is 

much more to be done.12.Now that the Hougang by-election is over, we should refocus on these longer 

term issues, and work together as one people to achieve the best for Singapore.

“

Apparently, it’s available “in all the computer shops” and is being touted locally as something of a big deal by a Russian blog operating within Pyongyang. Unfortunately, it’s void of any radios of any kind — no GPS, no WiFi, no cellular, no Bluetooth.

So really, it’s just an old school Windows CE (judging by the icons) PDA with an electronic dictionary, map of the country, games, media player, and word processor.

It also features a handy stylus for poking about the resistive touchscreen and to identify enemies of the state in a crowded room. The high-end 8GB model with microSD slot is said to cost $140 in a country where the average worker is estimated to earn about $1 per month. 

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