The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) unveiled its “Baby OTICA” keyring plushies on 18 March as part of its fundraising efforts to support its campaign activities ahead of the upcoming General Election (GE2025).
OTICA was quickly recognised as PSP’s otter mascot when it was first introduced in 2020. PSP said that the plushie symbolises the party’s “hope, progress, and community spirit.”
“In the spirit of the upcoming election, we are inviting Singaporeans to adopt a baby OTICA,” the party stated in a Facebook post.
Each Baby OTICA plushie is priced at S$15, with a bundle offer allowing supporters to purchase a set of four for $50, according to the website hosting the sale.
PSP stated that each “adoption” of a Baby OTICA not only helps support the party but also represents a commitment to “building a brighter, more inclusive future together” for the nation.
“These adorable little companions represent the next generation of our shared journey, embodying the same enduring values that OTICA first introduced – openness, transparency, independence, compassion and accountability,” it stated.
The party had previously appealed for donations from supporters to help fund “flyers, posters, and other campaign materials” in an effort to “level the playing field.”
While PSP has yet to confirm the specific constituencies it will contest in the upcoming GE, the party has said that the EBRC changes in the West Coast have made its electoral battle more difficult this year.
“Compared to who we are contesting against, PSP has less finances and manpower. We need your help to give our candidates a fair chance at winning,” it said on 12 March.
Leadership reshuffle
The fundraising initiative also comes at a pivotal time for the party, as it undergoes a leadership reshuffle.
PSP members are expected to vote for its top leadership body on 20 March, with 24 candidates vying for 12 elected seats on the central executive committee (CEC).
The party’s cadres will vote for 12 members of a new CEC, which will later co-opt two additional cadres to form a 14-member body.
The CEC will then decide on leadership positions, including the key role of secretary-general, who will lead the party into the next general election.
The current CEC, elected in 2023, includes secretary-general Hazel Poa, former party chief Leong Mun Wai, chairman Tan Cheng Bock, and 11 others.
Assistant Secretary-general Ang Yong Guan has previously announced that he would not contest the CEC elections or the general election following a three-year suspension of his medical licence.
The outcome of the CEC elections will determine the party’s leadership structure heading into the national polls, making the coming weeks a significant period for PSP’s political future.
Boundary changes
In the 2020 General Election, PSP contested five GRCs and five SMCs, securing 48.31% of the vote in West Coast GRC, its strongest performance. This result granted the party two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats.
Given the changes to West Coast GRC—now renamed West Coast-Jurong West GRC—the party is expected to reassess its strategy for GE2025.
The EBRC report, released on 11 March, introduced significant changes to Singapore’s electoral map, with only five Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and four Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) left unchanged.
PSP has echoed the concerns of other opposition parties, stating that the EBRC’s justification for the boundary changes was insufficient.
While the party acknowledged the need for some adjustments due to population growth, it argued that these could have been made without significantly redrawing established electoral divisions.
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