Tag Archives: Opposition Unity

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. Ravi Philemon, the Secretary-General of Red Dot United (RDU), wrote a heartwarming Facebook post to congratulate SDP. Ravi Philemon also praised Dr Chee Soon Juan for being the right person who would be able to lead an opposition coalition.

On 25 June, the Secretary-General of Singaporeans First (SingFirst) Party Tan Jee Say announced its dissolution. In a statement posted on Tan Jee Say's Facebook page, the SingFirst Central Executive Committee (CEC) said it made this decision "in the best interests of Singapore."

West Coast residents and all Singaporeans will remember the Reform Party for graciously giving up their ward to make things easier for PSP who is seeking to contest in West Coast GRC. It definitely was not easy for RP to come to this decision given the party's "strong emotional connection" to West Coast, as written by Kenneth Jeyaretnam in RP's Facebook announcement, but they are doing this for the greater opposition unity. Talks between the leaders of both parties over claims to West Coast GRC had previously been unsuccessful.

Progress Singapore Party member Kumaran Pillai was asked by a few journalists about the state of opposition unity in the upcoming General Elections (GE). He answered that there is a loose alliance among the larger parties. These parties have a mutual respect and understanding to avoid 3-cornered fights. Kumaran Pillai also said that certain "fringe parties" have been very reckless by going on a head-on collision course. However he believes in democracy, and having a plurality of voices is a good thing. Therefore he still encourages all parties to contest in the GE if they really feel that they are bringing something extra to the table.

The Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) Secretary-General Abu Mohamed told the Straits Times on 11 June that the membership applications from four parties have been put on hold. The parties were named as People's Power Party (PPP), Reform Party (RP), Singaporeans First (SingFirst) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). PPP Secretary-General Goh Meng Seng clarified in a Facebook post that the PPP has never submitted any membership application to join SDA. What happened instead was PPP just asked for a preliminary discussion with the SDA leaders about the possibility of forming an alliance to strengthen Opposition Unity.

Opposition supporters in GE2015 was too naive and hopeful for an opposition unity. In reality, the PAP wasn't the common enemy to every Opposition Party. The game was to maintain a canvass of white with a dash of blue was the final objective. GE2015, WP kept all other opposition parties at length from the start and that is the way they like it in Parliament. After all, WP MPs sits in most parliamentary select committees, unlikely they would want it diluted. Now, the question is, can SDP lead a third force in GE2020?

On Monday (17 Aug), the Central Executive Council of NSP decided to support its member Steve Chia’s wish to contest MacPherson SMC, resulting in a 3-cornered fight against WP and PAP. NSP Acting Secretary-General Hazel Poa strongly disagreed with the CEC’s decision. However, she was outvoted and hence decided to resign from the party. She announced her resignation from NSP to the press on Wednesday

Looking at the wave of criticism against the NSP for wanting now to contest in Macpherson despite giving up Marine Parade, it is apparent that contrary to what some political observers say about GE 2015 being about political party diversity, the political landscape in Singapore is shaping up increasingly to resemble a lop-sided two-party hegemony. The way both the PAP and WP have conducted their preparations for this coming hustings indicates quite clearly that there will be little or no space in the future for other political parties.

Read the news about NSP decision to contest in Macpherson SMC. I think this is a reasonable request from NSP since they already graciously gave up contesting in Marine Parade to give WP a better chance. Especially after WP insisted on contesting in Marine Parade, some quarters of the Opposition have grumbled about WP's arrogance and high-handedness in their handling of the horse trading meetings. This is a good chance for WP to show they are a constructive leader of the Opposition movement.

In a Facebook post this evening, long time opposition leader Steve Chia from the National Solidarity Party (NSP) has written about his party's decision to contest MacPherson Single Member Constituency (SMC) and why he finds it frustrating to work with the WP for a compromise over the ward.