SINGAPORE: The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) on Sunday (Apr 13) unveiled its candidates to contest in Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC) for the upcoming General Election.
They are the party’s organising secretary Jufri Salim, founder of alternative news site Wake Up Singapore Ariffin Sha, theatre director Alec Tok and Dr Gigene Wong.
SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan introduced the candidates on Sunday after a walkabout at Marsiling Lane Market and Food Centre.
He said the party “feels very at home here”, having contested in the constituency in the 2020 and 2015 General Elections.
They lost both times to the People’s Action Party (PAP), getting 31.27 per cent of the votes and 36.82 per cent respectively.
Three of the four are former members of other opposition parties. Mr Ariffin was the assistant secretary-general of the Singapore People’s Party before he resigned in 2020.
Mr Tok ran under Red Dot United’s banner in the 2020 General Election, while Dr Wong contested under the Progress Singapore Party’s flag in the same year.
Earlier, the four candidates greeted residents at the Block 20/21 Marsiling Lane Market and Food Centre, flanked by SDP volunteers.
Former chairman of the SPP Jose Raymond was spotted during the walkabout and was seen speaking to Mr Ariffin and other members of the SDP.
PAP VS SDP
Since Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC’s formation in the 2015 General Election, it has been a straight fight between the SDP and PAP – no other party has contested in the constituency.
Last month, Dr Chee announced that the SDP would again contest the GRC. Since then, no other opposition party has announced plans to run in the constituency.
Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC is currently anchored by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, with Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, North West District Mayor Alex Yam and Member of Parliament Hany Soh.
The PAP on Saturday announced that its line-up in the GRC would remain unchanged.
Mr Wong, who is going into his first election as leader of the PAP, said on Saturday that he does not take the contest in his constituency lightly.
Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC’s boundaries remain unchanged from GE2020. It will have 119,352 voters in the upcoming election.