GE2025: Three-way fight set for Potong Pasir’s single seat between PAP, PAR and SPP
Meanwhile, straight contests are set for Jalan Besar GRC and Mountbatten SMC
[SINGAPORE] Peoples Voice (PV) party chief Lim Tean, who is also secretary-general of the opposition coalition People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), will be going head to head with Singapore People’s Party (SPP) treasurer Williiamson Lee and Alex Yeo of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) for Potong Pasir SMC.
Yeo previously contested in Aljunied GRC at the 2020 polls, and replaces Sitoh Yih Pin in Potong Pasir, who has stepped down after serving three terms since 2011. In GE2020, Lim led a PV team to contest Jalan Besar GRC, but lost to PAP after garnering 34.64 per cent of the votes.
Lee, who is self-employed, is said to have been a “steadfast member” of SPP for two decades.
At the previous general election, PAP beat SPP in Potong Pasir with 60.69 per cent of the votes – although this was down from the 66.4 per cent vote share in GE2015. The ward was formerly an opposition stronghold, held by ex-SPP chief Chiam See Tong for 27 years.
PAR comprises PV, the Reform Party and the Democratic Progressive Party. It previously included the People’s Power Party, which withdrew from the coalition in February over irreconcilable strategic differences.
Before entering Kong Hwa School, one of nine nomination centres for the general election, Lim told reporters: “The whole of Singapore is like an orchard with fruit trees, bearing very sweet fruit for the opposition this year, so we are very confident. On the other hand, I think the ground is not so sweet for the PAP.”
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He added that people should not worry about the so-called “splitting of opposition votes” in multi-cornered fights. “We have seen from past history that... opposition supporters and those... who do not want the PAP gravitate towards the strongest candidate, because people all want to back a winner.”
Over at Jalan Besar, PAR will be fielding four candidates to contest the Group Representation Constituency. They will be going up against the incumbent PAP team helmed by Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo.
The PAR candidates are private tutor Chiu Shin Kong; businessman Hamim Aliyas; preschool teacher Vigneswari Ramachandra; and nurse Sarina Abu Hassan.
The PAP team led by Teo comprises incumbent Jalan Besar GRC MPs Denise Phua and Dr Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah, as well as political newcomer Shawn Loh. Loh, a former Ministry of Finance director, replaces Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How in the Whampoa ward.
The PAP team won with over 60 per cent of the vote share in the last two general elections. In 2020, it secured 65.37 per cent of the votes against a team from PV.
At Mountbatten SMC, independent candidate Jeremy Tan will be challenging PAP new face Gho Sze Kee for the single seat. Tan claims to be Singapore’s first “Bitcoin candidate” and a retiree.
Gho, who is an associate director of boutique law firm AsiaLegal, replaces four-term MP Lim Biow Chuan, who is stepping down after nearly two decades of serving the area. In 2020, Lim won against Sivakumaran Chellappa of PV with 73.84 per cent of the votes.
Gho said she has been working the ground for 13 years, understanding the needs of residents and advocating for them. “That’s why I hope I will be given a chance,” she added.
At the close of nomination proceedings at Kong Hwa School, Tan brought up challenges plaguing the country, such as the cost of living, housing affordability and inflation.
He said: “This is not a red, white or blue party issue. This is a Singaporean issue... We need people from all the different parties, sincere and hardworking, inside the Parliament in order to (address these issues).”
Singapore goes to the polls on May 3. For more election coverage, visit our GE2025 microsite
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