Lim Tean: People’s Alliance for Reform to contest 8 SMCs, 2 GRCs in GE2025

SINGAPORE: Lim Tean, chief of People’s Voice (PV) and Secretary-General of the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), announced on Tuesday (11 March) that the opposition alliance will contest eight Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) and two Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) in the upcoming General Election 2025. The constituencies include Jalan Besar GRC, Tanjong Pagar GRC, and the SMCs of Jalan Kayu, Potong Pasir, Mountbatten, Radin Mas, Queenstown, Kebun Baru, Marymount, and Yio Chu Kang. Lim made this announcement shortly after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee 2025 released its report on Tuesday afternoon. He assured that PAR is ready for the election and called on voters to support the alliance to "take back what belongs to them." The upcoming GE must be held by 23 November this year.

In a video message on 9 March, Lim highlighted that Jalan Besar GRC is a constituency PV knows "very well," stating that since PV’s formation in 2018, party members have consistently engaged residents across the area. He said the upcoming election would see PV joining forces with Reform Party (RP) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) under the PAR alliance. Unlike previous informal coalitions, Lim emphasised that PAR is a "proper alliance" with a structured approach to contesting seats. Lim criticised the state of maintenance in Jalan Besar GRC, citing "dreadful" conditions in areas such as Bendemeer Crescent. He accused People’s Action Party (PAP) Minister Josephine Teo of failures across various ministries, referencing her handling of the COVID-19 dormitory crisis, declining fertility rates, and National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) policy confusion. Additionally, he strongly opposed the hiring of foreign auxiliary police officers, arguing that these roles should be reserved for Singaporeans due to security concerns. He also condemned PAP ministers for prioritising cheap foreign labour over fair wages for locals, asserting that the government is unwilling to invest in Singaporean workers.

People’s Power Party’s withdrawal from PAR in February 2025

PAR was officially registered on 7 December 2023, following nearly a year of negotiations. The alliance aims to function as a unified coalition, contesting GE2025 under a single banner and common manifesto. PAR has centred its campaign on key issues, including the rising cost of living, affordable public housing, job security for Singaporeans, and immigration policies. Last month, the People’s Power Party (PPP) announced its withdrawal from PAR, citing strategic differences ahead of GE2025. Despite playing a key role in forming PAR, PPP stated that irreconcilable differences made further collaboration impossible. However, the party remains committed to contesting GE2025 and is open to future cooperation with other opposition parties. Lim responded to PPP’s departure in a Facebook post, stating that a major point of contention was PPP’s insistence on contesting Tampines GRC, which was opposed by other alliance members. Lim also noted policy disagreements between PPP and PAR, particularly regarding PPP’s stance on the COVID-19 vaccine, though he did not provide further details. Tampines GRC has traditionally been contested by the ruling PAP and National Solidarity Party (NSP) since 2011. In that election, Goh Meng Seng, then NSP’s Secretary-General and now PPP’s leader, led NSP’s campaign in the ward, securing 42.78% of the vote against PAP. However, after leaving NSP and founding PPP, Goh contested Chua Chu Kang GRC in GE2015, receiving 23.11%, and later ran in MacPherson SMC in GE2020, securing 28.26%. Beyond NSP, the Workers’ Party (WP) has also been actively engaging Tampines GRC residents and is widely expected to contest the ward in GE2025.

Potential multi-cornered fights

While Lim announced PAR’s plan to contest 8 SMCs and 2 GRCs, the alliance could potentially face multiple three-cornered fights with other opposition parties in the upcoming GE. For instance, the Workers’ Party (WP) is reportedly eyeing Jalan Besar GRC, having actively engaged residents in at least eight constituencies. In June last year, WP leaders, including Secretary-General Pritam Singh, Party Chair Sylvia Lim, and former WP Chief Low Thia Khiang, were seen walking the ground and distributing their ‘Hammer’ newsletter. Jalan Besar GRC is currently represented by four PAP politicians—anchor minister Josephine Teo, Mayor Denise Phua, Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How, and Town Council Chair Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah. In GE2020, they defeated PV candidates Lim Tean, Leong Sze Hian, Nor Azlan Sulaiman, and Michael Fang Amin, who secured 34.63% of the vote.