SINGAPORE: The Reform Party (RP) announced on 7 July 2025 that it will be withdrawing from the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR).
The decision was revealed in a Facebook post by RP secretary-general Jeyaretnam, who stated that the resignation from PAR would formally take effect at the end of July.
“Reform Party wishes to announce that regretfully we have resigned from People’s Alliance for Reform,” he said.
Jeyaretnam also expressed gratitude towards PAR’s secretary-general Lim Tean for his leadership and extended well wishes to the remaining member parties.
PAR left with two parties following RP exit
RP’s departure leaves PAR with only two remaining members — the Peoples Voice (PV) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
PAR was officially registered on 7 December 2023 as a four-party opposition coalition after nearly a year of negotiations.
Unlike previous opposition arrangements, it aimed to function as a true coalition by contesting GE2025 under a single banner and a common manifesto.
However, in February 2025, the People’s Power Party (PPP) withdrew from the alliance, citing “irreconcilable strategic differences.”
The exit of RP marks the second departure from the bloc in under six months.
PAR fielded 13 candidates in the General Election held on 3 May 2025.
The alliance contested six constituencies: Jalan Besar GRC, Tanjong Pagar GRC, Potong Pasir SMC, Radin Mas SMC, Queenstown SMC, and Yio Chu Kang SMC.
None of the candidates won.
RP’s treasurer, Mahaboob Batcha, made his electoral debut in Queenstown SMC under the PAR banner.
He lost to the People’s Action Party’s Eric Chua, who secured 81.13 per cent of the vote.
Following the widespread defeat, Lim Tean, chief of People’s Voice (PV) and Secretary-General of PAR, said that PAR would “reorganise and come back much stronger in four to five years” for the next General Election.
Speaking to CNA on 7 July 2025, Lim confirmed that the alliance will continue and that efforts are already underway to expand.
“Many new members and volunteers have joined our alliance since the GE, which has greatly encouraged us,” Lim said.
He added that PAR’s principles continue to “resonate with many in these difficult times of extremely high cost of living and job insecurity.”
Lim also wished the Reform Party well, thanking them for their past contribution to the alliance.
In the 2020 General Election, RP fielded six candidates in Ang Mo Kio GRC and Radin Mas SMC but did not win any seats.
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