Chee Soon Juan affirms intent to contest Bukit Batok SMC in upcoming general election

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) announced on 20 February that its secretary-general, Chee Soon Juan, will contest in Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency (SMC) in the upcoming general election. This marks Dr Chee’s second consecutive attempt in Bukit Batok SMC. He previously contested the seat in the 2020 General Election, where he lost to the People's Action Party's (PAP) Murali Pillai, securing 45.2% of the vote. This was an improvement from his 38.8% performance in the 2016 by-election, which was triggered by the resignation of then-MP David Ong due to a "personal indiscretion." A spokesperson from the SDP stated that the party remains focused on constituencies where it has established a presence. The party also indicated that it will provide further details on its electoral plans once the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) releases its report. Fundraising efforts and policy views On 19 February, Dr Chee posted a video on Facebook announcing fundraising efforts for his campaign. He is hosting a series of fundraising dinners at his café, Orange & Teal, from 18 to 26 February, with each seat priced at S$100.

Interested individuals can book via the café's website or contact 98767148 for enquiries. In the same video, Dr Chee discussed Singapore’s education system, criticising it for being too content-driven and exam-oriented. He referenced a 2014 SDP policy paper that proposed reforms such as reducing class sizes, eliminating the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), and fostering critical thinking. Dr Chee also addressed comments made by Manpower Minister Tan See Leng in a recent radio interview, where the minister stated that foreign talent is essential to Singapore’s survival. Dr Chee described this view as a "loud slap" to Singaporeans, asserting that political change is necessary for reform. Electoral developments and SDP’s past performance The next general election must be held by 23 November. However, electoral boundaries have yet to be finalised. On 22 January, the Elections Department (ELD) announced that the EBRC has been formed to review the number and size of Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and SMCs. In the 2020 General Election, the SDP contested two GRCs and three SMCs but failed to win any seats in Parliament. Dr Chee’s upcoming candidacy in Bukit Batok SMC signals the party’s continued commitment to challenging the PAP in areas where it has built support.