SDP Bryan Lim: Important to have meaningful conversations and build trust with residents

Singapore Democratic Party vice-chairman Bryan Lim has been spending his Saturday afternoon at the Orange & Teal outlet at Marina Square, catching up with party supporters or anyone that is keen to strike up a conversation with him.

While he is used to walking the grounds in another part of Singapore, having contested in Marsiling – Yew Tee GRC in the last two Singapore general elections, he felt that the café in Marina Square presents him with an opportunity to meet with people from other areas.

“This cafe is easily accessible to those in the North and the East, and even those living in the West. I feel that I want to use this opportunity to catch up with more people and to understand more issues in-depth. They were able to get to know me better as a person. As you know I am personable and have an affable character,” said Lim in an interview with The Independent Singapore.

It has been more than two months since the 46-year-old started his chit-chat session at the café, and over that period many talking points were brought up, and not necessarily politics.

“I met people with different personalities over the last nine weeks. We discussed topics ranging from mental health, bullying at school and the workplace. Of course we discussed politics and democracy too,” added Lim who became SDP’s first elected youth wing president in 2002.

The SDP’s vice-chairman feels that it is not a must to discuss politics. For example, during their walkabout or when they meet with residents at the market or at the hawker centre, sometimes the way to open up a conversation is not through politics.

“It is about them, their life. When you take an interest in their life, you would be able to get their attention and stretch the conversation further. They will open up to you and the level of trust will increase,” explained Lim who was SDP’s youngest candidate during the 2001 election when he was fielded in Hong Kah GRC, alongside former member of parliament Cheo Chai Chen and ex-Workers’ Party chairman Wong Hong Toy.

“When we do our house visits, we don’t straightaway go into the subject of GST, POFMA or politics. We ask about their wellbeing, how are they coping with their livelihood, the amenities surrounding the estate, their children, pets, then they will feel comfortable talking to us and we will have a meaningful conversation.”

Lim remarked that it is important because politics is all about making personal connections and building the party’s branding with residents, which they hope will translate into votes during the elections.

“We have made many friends and support in Marsiling and Yew Tee over the years, although we would like that support to be greater. The results in 2022 were an improvement from 2015, about six percent increased. But in order to tip that scale and get that defining 14% to go past the post (beyond 50%), we need to work very hard in certain areas that might not be familiar to us.”

The SDP received 31.27% and 36.82% of the votes in the 2015 and 2020 elections respectively. In the most recent elections, Lim was fielded with Damanhuri Abas, Khung Wai Yeen and Benjamin Pwee who contested Bishan Toa Payoh GRC with Singapore People’s Party in previous elections. They were up against the team from People’s Action Party; Alex Yam, Zaqy Mohamad, Hany Soh, and Lawrence Wong who is slated to be the country’s next Prime Minister.