SINGAPORE: The opposition People’s Power Party (PPP) has re-elected Goh Meng Seng as its secretary-general, while its founding chairman, Syafarin Sariff, has stepped down. This was announced by the party following the conclusion of its party congress, which also elected its fourth central executive committee (CEC) on Sunday (Oct 29).
Although Syafarin has relinquished his position as chairman, the party has decided to make him “Lifetime Honorary Chairman and Advisor to the CEC”. A new addition to the CEC, Peter Soh, will also serve as the party’s advisor to the CEC. Hobart Lee has been appointed chairman, George Chang organising secretary, and William Lim treasurer. There are seven other party members in the CEC. They are Chan Joon Kiang, Ho Loone Tat, Lee Yu Ru, Neo Kai Jie, Soh Guan Soon, Soh Ying Ping, and Tan Meng Lock.
In a media release, PPP’s secretary-general Goh said, “The People’s Power Party is determined to serve Singaporeans and the nation for a better future and will continue to build up our strength for the development of fully functional democracy with proper ‘Separation of Five Powers.’ The Party Congress has also mapped out our political route map as well as the direction and objectives for the party in the coming years.”
Goh added that they would continue to work towards a “grand alliance with other political parties so as to forge a long term commitment towards a viable alternative political option for Singapore.
“We have successfully forged a formal alliance with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), People’s Voice (PV) and Reform Party (RP). While the registration of our Alliance is awaiting formal approval from Registrar of Society, we will continue to convince other opposition parties to join our cause and Alliance. We are prepared to present a good slate of candidates for the next General Elections so that Singaporeans will have the real choice,” explained Goh.
Earlier, in June, the four parties (PPP, DPP, PV and RP) announced in a media release that they would be forming a new alliance called the People’s Alliance. They added that once registration of their proposed alliance was approved, they would call a press conference. Over the weekend, another set of four opposition parties — Red Dot United, Singapore People’s Party, Singapore United Party and the NSP — came together to form an informal political partnership called “The Coalition”.
The PPP was formed in 2015 by veteran politician Goh, who previously contested general elections with other opposition parties such as the Workers’ Party (WP) and the National Solidarity Party (NSP). Goh made his electoral debut in 2006 with the WP in Aljunied GRC, before making the switch to the NSP in the following election in 2011 when he stood from Tampines GRC.
The PPP has contested two general elections, putting up candidates in Chua Chu Kang GRC in 2015, and MacPherson SMC in 2020. Below are the results from their two elections.
GE 2015 – Chua Chu Kang GRC
PAP (76.91%) – Gan Kim Yong, Low Yen Ling, Yee Chia Hsiang, Zaqy Mohamad
PPP (23.09% – Goh Meng Seng, Lee Tze Shih. Low Wai Choo, Syafarin Syarif
GE 2022 – MacPherson SMC
PAP (71.74%) – Tin Pei Ling
PPP (28.26%) – Goh Meng Seng
/TISG
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