On 21 April 2025, former chairman of the Singapore People’s Party (SPP), Jose Raymond, publicly questioned the preparedness of the alternative party alliance People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR) to contest Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency (SMC) in the upcoming general election.
In a Facebook post published the same day, Raymond alleged that he had received multiple messages from members of PAR requesting assistance in finding assentors to support their nomination for the Potong Pasir contest.
The post included a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation, purportedly between Raymond and a PAR member.
Concerns over nomination readiness
The shared conversation, which allegedly involved a PAR candidate, indicated that the alliance was “short of assentors in Potong Pasir”.
According to Singapore’s electoral rules, prospective candidates must be accompanied by a proposer, seconder, and at least four assentors from the electoral roll of the constituency they wish to contest.
Nomination papers and the election deposit of S$13,500 must be submitted by noon on Nomination Day.
Raymond claimed that three individuals from PAR had contacted him on 21 April seeking help with securing assentors.
He highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that only 48 hours remained before the nomination deadline.
“While I am expecting that I will get attacked from its party members or supporters (and I am ready for it) for making this public, I think it’s important that this is made visible for the voters of Potong Pasir,” Raymond wrote.
He questioned how a party that claims to have been active on the ground for years could be struggling to secure assentors, calling the situation “rather incredulous”.
Lim Tean dismisses claim, says PAR has more than 10 assentors ready for nomination
In a swift response, PAR secretary-general Lim Tean issued a Facebook statement within an hour of Raymond’s post.
He denied the claims outright, asserting that PAR had “more than enough assentors” for Potong Pasir.
“There is a post going around suggesting that PAR does not have enough assentors for Nomination Day for Potong Pasir! I am laughing at this suggestion!” Lim wrote.
He added that the alliance had “more than 10” assentors and claimed they had lunch with him that very afternoon at Avenue 2.
“As Nomination Day approaches, we can expect to see all sorts of wild claims and stories being flung around,” Lim said.
“Don’t fall prey to rumours. PAR shall remain calm because we intend to TAKE BACK Potong Pasir!”
Three-cornered fight looms in Potong Pasir as both SPP and PAR signal intent to contest
On 18 April, PAR announced its intention to field 14 candidates across seven constituencies.
These include Jalan Besar and Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs), and the Mountbatten, Potong Pasir, Queenstown, Radin Mas, and Yio Chu Kang SMCs.
The alliance confirmed it would not be contesting Marymount, Jalan Kayu, and Kebun Baru SMCs.
Lim said this decision was made “after careful deliberation and also taking into account the interest of the other parties and their movements”.
Comprising the Reform Party (RP), People’s Voice (PV), and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), PAR has yet to publish a full manifesto.
However, it has identified five key issues for the election: cost of living, public housing affordability, job insecurity, institutional reform, and what it terms “taking back our Singapore identity”, a theme associated with immigration policy.
The People’s Action Party (PAP) confirmed that lawyer Alex Yeo will be its candidate for Potong Pasir SMC, as incumbent Sitoh Yih Pin steps down after over a decade in the seat.
Yeo, 46, previously contested in Aljunied GRC in the 2020 general election as part of a five-member PAP team.
Sitoh first won Potong Pasir in 2011, narrowly defeating SPP’s Lina Chiam with 50.36 percent of the vote.
He widened his margin in subsequent elections, securing 66.39 percent in 2015 and 60.67 percent in 2020 against Raymond.
Meanwhile, SPP has signalled its intention to return to Potong Pasir. Its secretary-general Steve Chia confirmed he will stand in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, though he did not specify where the rest of the slate—Melvyn Chiu, Williamson Lee, Muhammad Norhakim, and Lim Rui Xian—will contest.
Potong Pasir SMC has undergone boundary changes, with two precincts moved to Marine Parade GRC.
The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee cited new housing developments in Bidadari as the reason.
As of 1 February 2025, the number of registered voters in Potong Pasir SMC has increased to 30,897, up from 19,731 in 2020.
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