The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), led by Dr Chee Soon Juan, has renewed its call for electoral reforms following the 2025 General Election, highlighting issues related to the conduct of the polls.
Speaking at a press conference on 18 May 2025, held before an appreciation dinner for SDP volunteers, Dr Chee emphasised that the call for reform was driven by systemic electoral concerns rather than the party’s own electoral performance.
Concerns about election conduct
Dr Chee described the recent election as a “smash-and-grab” exercise conducted with “unseemly haste” by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
He argued that the short campaign period left voters with insufficient time to fully grasp the critical national issues at stake.
Many, particularly younger voters, expressed feeling rushed and overwhelmed, he noted.
“This whole campaign was just conducted in unseemly haste,” Dr Chee said.
“The electorate hardly had time to grasp the weighty national concerns that affect our society.”
He added that this sentiment was particularly strong among first-time voters who found the pace of the election disorienting.
According to Dr Chee, the challenges faced during GE2025 reflect deeper flaws within Singapore’s electoral framework.
He stressed that the call for reform is rooted in the desire to enhance transparency, fairness, and democratic integrity, rather than being a mere reaction to the election results.
Electoral boundaries and constituency changes
Dr Chee also addressed the impact of boundary changes ahead of the election.
He was compelled to move to Sembawang West SMC after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) dissolved Bukit Batok SMC—a constituency he had actively campaigned in for nine years.
In Sembawang West, Dr Chee secured 46.82% of the vote against PAP candidate Ms Poh Li San, narrowly missing a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) position.
The close contest was the third-closest race of the election.
Dr Chee highlighted that such abrupt changes left long-time residents and candidates alike struggling to adjust.
He argued that the dissolution of familiar constituencies undermines community engagement and continuity.
Launch of online petition for electoral reforms
During the press conference, Dr Chee unveiled the first of three major initiatives—the launch of an online petition advocating electoral reforms.
Hosted on Change.org, the petition lists six key changes aimed at improving transparency and fairness in Singapore’s political system.
Key proposals include:
- Removing the Elections Department from the Prime Minister’s Office to ensure impartiality.
- Abolishing the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system, which the SDP views as a tool for gerrymandering.
- Implementing a minimum three-week campaign period to allow voters sufficient time to understand candidates’ policies.
- Introducing a mandatory six-month interval between the announcement of new electoral boundaries and the dissolution of Parliament.
- Revising the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act to support a free and independent media.
- Establishing an independent Electoral Boundaries Review Committee to ensure fairness in constituency delineation.
Dr Chee stressed that the petition is a non-partisan effort and reflects long-standing concerns about Singapore’s electoral system. “These are foundational principles of good governance and democratic integrity,” he said.
Engaging the youth and building community-driven initiatives
Another major focus of the SDP’s future efforts is to engage younger Singaporeans who have shown a growing interest in political participation.
Dr Chee noted that social media platforms like TikTok have been instrumental in sparking political awareness among first-time voters.
The party aims to channel this energy into constructive action through the Young Democrats youth wing.
Ariffin Sha, SDP candidate for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, shared insights from his interactions with voters.
He noted that many people had “intuitive feelings” about the election, describing it as “too rushed” and “overwhelming.”
He observed that some felt an “innate sense of injustice” when Bukit Batok SMC was “wiped off the map” or when gerrymandering was perceived in certain areas.
Ariffin stressed that the electoral reform initiative is not just about addressing these feelings but about presenting institutional solutions to ensure fairness.
“It can be a case where we worked so hard for four or five years, and just before elections, all your hard work gets undone,” he said.
He emphasised that the petition is a non-partisan effort aimed at advocating for “free and fair elections.”
Ariffin also elaborated on the proposed changes, including requiring boundary changes to be announced one year in advance and extending the campaign period from the current nine days to at least three weeks.
“The whole idea is to start this important conversation about electoral reform,” he said, adding that the growing interest from young people, including those not yet eligible to vote, was particularly encouraging. “We want to encourage active citizenry as a whole.”
Launch of Orange and Teal Social Enterprise Co-operative
The second major initiative introduced at the press conference was the launch of the Orange and Teal Social Enterprise Co-operative (OTSEC).
This new co-operative aims to create an economic counterweight to the perceived PAP-NTUC (National Trades Union Congress) nexus, which Dr Chee argued has led to a top-down economic model.
The OTSEC seeks to support workers, freelancers, creatives, and small businesses through shared ownership.
Membership in the co-operative requires a S$100 fee, which will be refunded if the application is unsuccessful.
Dr Chee described the initiative as a ground-up effort to empower ordinary Singaporeans rather than relying on the government or large corporate entities.
Sustaining the reform momentum
SDP chairman Paul Tambyah highlighted that the petition is just the starting point.
The party is exploring further legal avenues to challenge perceived electoral inconsistencies and plans to keep the conversation on political reform alive through public forums and educational initiatives.
“Our goal is not just to collect signatures, but to build a sustained movement,” Dr Tambyah said.
“We want to engage more Singaporeans in this conversation and ensure that electoral reforms are seen as a necessary step for political maturity.”
The SDP plans to leverage its growing support base, particularly among younger voters, to advocate for systemic changes.
Dr Chee reaffirmed the party’s commitment to renewing, rebuilding, and reigniting its vision for a more inclusive and fair political environment.
“This is not just about the election outcome,” Dr Chee concluded. “It’s about ensuring that our political system reflects the highest standards of democratic integrity.”
To sign the petition, visit https://www.change.org/sg_ge_reform
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