MP Yaw Shin Leong expelled from The Workers' Party ( WP )

MP Yaw Shin Leong expelled from The Workers' Party ( WP )
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The Workers' Party (WP) has expelled Mr Yaw Shin Leong for failing to account to the party and the people for allegations of "indiscretions in his private life", party chairman Sylvia Lim announced yesterday.

"WP believes strongly in transparency and accountability, and expects no less from our party members, especially our MPs," said Ms Lim, reading from the party's English press statement.

WP's decision means that residents of Hougang Single Member Constituency may have to re-elect their Member of Parliament in a by-election.

According to the Constitution, an MP vacates his seat if he ceases to be a member of the political party for which he stood during the election.

Ms Lim made the announcement at a media briefing - called less than three hours earlier - at WP's headquarters in Syed Alwi Road.

A sombre Mr Low Thia Kiang, the party's secretary-general, media-team chairman Gerald Giam and media-team vice- chairman Pritam Singh co-hosted the briefing.

Mr Yaw's expulsion comes a week after he resigned as treasurer from the party's Central Executive Council. Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong took over the position.

Rumours that Mr Yaw was involved in an extra-marital affair with a female member of WP started surfacing online last month.

When asked to clarify whether the party had expelled him based on the nature of those allegations, Ms Lim replied that the party's assessment is that "he has fallen short of the standards we expect for responsible behaviour".

"In the face of these allegations, we would expect, especially our elected members, to come forward to address the allegations, not only to the party leadership, but also to the public," she said.

"And that is the reason why we feel that he has not met what we expect."