A Hougang resident is withdrawing her bid to get the courts to order the Prime Minister to hold a by-election within three months, citing the ?dramatic developments of the last 48 hours?. While the withdrawal of the bid means that the case will not proceed, constitutional lawyers said they were disappointed with the latest development as they were hoping the court can clarify its position on two issues ? whether the PM had the discretion to call a by-election or leave a seat vacant until the next GE; and whether any rules indicating how soon a by-election should be called during a term of Parliament. SMU Assistant Law Professor Jack Lee said: ?On the matters of Constitution, the court is the ultimate interpreter. Unless you hear the court's view, you would never know the right legal position, though the Government may say otherwise.?
The Straits Times