GE2025: Williamson Lee named SPP candidate for Potong Pasir SMC ahead of nomination day

SINGAPORE: The Singapore People’s Party (SPP) has officially announced Williamson Lee as its candidate for Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency (SMC) in the upcoming General Election. The announcement was made via the party’s official Facebook page on 22 April 2025, just one day before Nomination Day. Lee previously contested in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC during the 2020 General Election as an SPP candidate. In its post, SPP described Lee as a “steadfast member” who has been with the party for nearly two decades. He is “no stranger to the campaign trail,” having run alongside current party chairman and secretary-general in the previous GE. According to SPP, Lee’s bilingual abilities, experience, and commitment to community service make him a strong candidate. The party highlighted his years of ground engagement in Potong Pasir—walking the estate, listening to concerns, and offering assistance to residents. His campaign, SPP said, is centred on the core values of Support, Security, and Equality. “No one is left behind, families feel safe and heard, and everyone is given a fair shot at a better life,” the statement read. The party expressed confidence that, with residents' support, Lee would “continue the legacy of sincere, people-first leadership in Potong Pasir.”

Jose Raymond Endorses Lee, Flags Risk of Three-Cornered Contest

The first public endorsement actually came from former SPP chairman Jose Raymond, who backed Lee’s candidacy in a personal Facebook post made about an hour earlier. He urged residents to support Lee, calling him a “working class hero” and a “self-made, decent human being.” Raymond recalled Lee’s longstanding service to the party, noting that he was Lina Chiam’s election agent in 2015 and had supported the party behind the scenes for many years. Lee later stepped forward to contest in GE2020, further proving his commitment. “He has never once asked for recognition. He is a servant of the people with no airs,” Raymond wrote. However, Raymond also sounded a note of caution over a possible three-cornered fight in Potong Pasir. He warned that this could cost Lee his election deposit and dilute the opposition’s chances. He pointed to the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR) as a potential challenger and remarked that “this is the price the SPP will have to potentially pay for not having invested enough time and effort over the last five years in the people of Potong Pasir.” He added that this was an issue that “should be debated after the election.”

PAP Introduces New Face in Potong Pasir

Potong Pasir SMC—once a stronghold of the opposition under Chiam See Tong—is now set for an electoral shake-up. The People’s Action Party (PAP) has confirmed that lawyer Alex Yeo, 46, will be contesting the seat, replacing long-time incumbent Sitoh Yih Pin. Yeo previously ran in Aljunied GRC in 2020. Sitoh, who first won Potong Pasir in 2011 by narrowly defeating Lina Chiam with 50.36% of the vote, has held the seat for over a decade.

PAR Denies Struggles with Nomination Requirements

On 21 April, a day before his endorsement of Lee, Raymond questioned PAR’s preparedness to contest the seat. He claimed that multiple PAR members had reached out to him seeking help to secure assentors required for their nomination papers. Raymond even posted a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation allegedly showing a PAR member asking for assistance. According to him, three individuals had contacted him, suggesting that the party was scrambling just before the deadline. He expressed disbelief that a party claiming to be active in Potong Pasir “for years” would be struggling with such basic requirements, calling the situation “rather incredulous.” In response, PAR secretary-general Lim Tean issued a strong denial on Facebook within an hour. He insisted that the party had more than enough assentors and dismissed the rumour with a touch of humour. “There is a post going around suggesting that PAR does not have enough assentors for Nomination Day for Potong Pasir! I am laughing at this suggestion!” Lim wrote. He added that the alliance had “more than 10” assentors and claimed they had lunch with him that very afternoon at Avenue 2.

Boundary Changes and Rising Voter Numbers

In the lead-up to GE2025, Potong Pasir SMC saw boundary adjustments, with two precincts moved to Marine Parade GRC. The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee cited new housing developments in Bidadari as the reason for the shift. As of 1 February 2025, the number of registered voters in Potong Pasir has increased significantly—from 19,731 in 2020 to 30,897 in 2025. The larger electorate adds another layer of complexity to what is shaping up to be a tightly contested race.