Two Independents fail to file their papers so will not contest in by-elections

Independents Ooi Boon Ewe and Zeng Guoyuan, will not contest the Punggol East by-election. 

They arrived at the Nomination Centre without any supporters, and did not file their papers. 

Ooi Boon Ewe was the first Independent to arrive. 

But he gave the media the slip after making his way up to the school assembly hall. 

That's when an upbeat Zeng Guoyuan entered the school gates. 

"As long as you have $14,500, you can contest!"

Shortly after however, his mood changed. 

Zeng assumed he was not eligible to contest because of a previous conviction and would lose his electoral deposit if he tried to. 

In 2008, Zeng had used abusive language on police officers. 

He felt that incident led to his alleged disqualification from the 2012 Hougang By-election. 

At the 2011 General Election, he tore up his nomination papers.

As for Ooi Boon Ewe, he was later found at a bus stop. 

He said he spent part of the morning looking for assentors. 

Mr Ooi claims his political donations certificate had gone "missing". 

"Of course disappointed, what to do! People don't want you to be a candidate." 

He said his deposit money was in the car that he had arrived in. And the driver was no where to be found. 

Mr Ooi also attempted but failed to run in the 2011 General and Presidential Elections. 

-By Chan Eu Imm