Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,

MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2nd Storey, Singapore 179369

Tel: 837-9666

SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

NEWS RELEASE

Unlike previous General Elections, the announcement of the results of General Elections 2001 will be centralised at the Announcement Centre located at Elections Department, Prinsep Link. Poll results will be broadcast ‘live’ over public television channels and radio from the Announcement Centre. The Centre will not be open to candidates, their supporters or the general public.

Candidates and their supporters and other members of the public can gather at designated Assembly Centres to await the announcement of the results. An Assembly Centre will be allowed to operate from the close of polls at 8 pm on Polling Day until 30 minutes after the announcement of the last result of the General Elections.

The list of designated Assembly Centres is attached. These centres are grouped into 3 zones. Each Political Party or Independent Candidate contesting an Electoral Division within a Zone can apply to use only one Assembly Centre from among the list of designated Assembly Centres in that Zone. Allocation will be on a first-come, first-served basis. No other outdoor sites will be allowed to be used as Assembly Centres.

The Police Liaison Officer (Elections) will receive applications for Assembly Centre permits under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order And Nuisance) (Election Meetings) (Amendment) Rules 2001 on the eve of Polling Day - 2 Nov 2001 (8.30am to 2.30pm) - at the office of the Police Liaison Officer (Elections) at Police Cantonment Complex, 2nd Level. He can also be reached via telephone at 5573000 for enquiries. Permit applicants are advised to park at the public car parks available at the Singapore General Hospital or at Everton Park.

A candidate duly nominated on Nomination Day, or an Election Agent duly authorised by him or her, is required to apply in person to the Police Liaison Officer (Elections) for an Assembly Centre permit. Once a candidate of a Political Party is allotted an Assembly Centre for a particular zone, other candidates of the same Political Party will not be allocated any more Assembly Centres within that zone.

The written consent for the use of the designated site is required to be obtained from the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and given to the Police at the time of application of the permit. To facilitate this, SSC officials will be available at the Police Liaison Office (Elections) to grant consent for the use of the sites. SSC may levy appropriate charges for the use of the sites.

Instead of the designated Assembly Centres, a candidate may use an indoor venue as an Assembly Centre. An indoor Assembly Centre must also be approved by the Police Liaison Officer (Elections). In addition, the written consent of the respective authority responsible for or the owner of the indoor venue for use of the premises shall be given to the Police at the time of submitting the application for a permit to hold the assembly. For indoor meetings, no loudspeakers or public address systems shall be operated outside the premises where the assembly is to be held.

As in the case of designated Assembly Centres, the zonal system will be used for indoor Assembly Centres. Hence, the venue for each indoor Assembly Centre must be in the same Zone encompassing the Electoral Division which the candidate is contesting. Regardless of whether it is an indoor venue or one of the designated Assembly Centres, there can only be one Assembly Centre in each Zone for each Political Party or Independent Candidate.

Candidates and their Election Agents will be required to comply with the conditions which will be attached to the Police Permit issued by the Police Liaison Officer (Elections).

SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

27 OCTOBER 2001 @ 1500 HRS

Only the following parties are allowed to set up one and only one Assembly Centre within Zone A:

• DPP, PAP, SDA, WP and Independent Candidate for Joo Chiat SMC

Only the following parties are allowed to set up one and only one Assembly Centre within Zone B:

• PAP, SDA, SDP and WP

Only the following parties are allowed to set up one and only one Assembly Centre within Zone C:

• DPP, PAP, SDA, SDP and Independent Candidate for Bukit Timah SMC

DPP - Democratic Progressive Party

PAP - People’s Action Party

SDA - Singapore Democratic Alliance

WP - The Worker’s Party

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