Singapore Democratic Party turns 40, plans to expand its electoral footprint in Singapore

It has been 40 years since the establishment of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). As such, the party took to Facebook on Thursday (6 August) to pen an anniversary post where it highlighted its achievements in the last 10 general elections (GE).

The alternative party also pointed out that it has to expand its electoral footprint in Singapore in order to move forward and stay relevant in the political landscape of the country.

“As the Singapore Democratic Party turns 40 on 6 August on the back GE2020 and reviews a slew of initiatives to move forward, to stay relevant, the SDP needs to also expand its electoral footprint,” the party wrote.

SDP also detailed its progress in the last four decades, where it highlighted the number of seats it has won, number of members it fielded as well as number of constituencies it contested.

“Since its founding on 6 August 1980, the SDP has contested in all 10 general elections. Starting with 3 seats in 1980, it fielded 18 seats – the highest number in 1988. Since 1991, it has fielded an average of 10.3 candidates in the last seven general elections,” SDP said.

It added, “In the last 10 general elections the SDP has contested in a total of 44 SMCs and 12 GRCs and has fielded a total 97 candidates – 44 candidates in SMCs and 53 candidates in GRCs.”

“Out of the 44 SMCs, the SDP has scored above 40 percent in 21 SMCs and had won 5 SMCs – 3 times in Potong Pasir (1984, 1988 and 1991) and once in Nee Soon South and Bukit Gombak (1991).”

If that’s not all, the alternative party also noted that it had contested in two by-elections—the first being in 1992 in the 4-member Marine Parade GRC, while the second one was in 2016 in the Bukit Batok SMC.

SDP also asserted that it had been part of three or multi-corner electoral contests in seven different instances. “6 times in SMCs during general elections and 1 time in a 4-member GRC during the 1992 by-election,” the party explained.

It added that the party was placed second in all the seven occasions.

“Here is an interesting point, should the SDP choose to expand and inevitably ends up in a three or multi-corner fight, it remains a strong contender,” the party expressed.

It continued, “SDP’s secured its largest count of 158, 341 votes or a popular vote of 39.4 percent when it fielded 18 candidates in 1991.”

Following that, the party said that it went through “40 eventful years” so far, and it will turn 50 in 10 years’ time.

As such, SDP said that it needs to continue to expand its electoral footprint so it stays relevant and shape Singapore’s democratic history.

“To stay relevant and shape Singapore’s democratic history, the SDP needs to expand its electoral footprint,” the party concluded.