Politics
Dr Chee Soon Juan completes 120km island walk, raising S$50,000 for SDP’s political campaign
Dr Chee Soon Juan concluded a three-day, 120km walk around Singapore, raising S$50,000 for the SDP. At the finale, Dr Paul Tambyah called for electoral reform and praised growing youth support for a more inclusive and democratic society.
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Dr Chee Soon Juan concluded a three-day, 120km walk around Singapore on 8 June 2025, marking the revival of the party’s long-standing fundraising event, Walk The Talk.
The initiative, first launched in 2007 and last held in 2015, returned with a renewed focus on engaging youth and promoting political participation. The walk concluded with a gathering at Hong Lim Park, a site often associated with Singapore’s limited avenues for public protest and free speech.
SDP chairman Dr Paul Tambyah announced at the event’s conclusion that S$50,000 had been raised over the three-day period. The funds are intended to support the party’s organisational efforts, including youth training and campaign activities.
Throughout the walk, Dr Chee was greeted by members of the public who took photos, videos, and spoke with him.
The walk attracted attention from various communities, highlighting both grassroots support and curiosity surrounding the SDP’s continued role in Singapore’s political landscape.
Speaking at Hong Lim Park, Dr Chee described the walk not as a conclusion, but a symbolic beginning. “Although I’ve just completed my walk, it’s just the beginning of a campaign—a campaign to rebuild, to renew, and reignite,” he said.
In his speech, Dr Tambyah highlighted the historical importance of Hong Lim Park, referring to it as a space whose existence is largely owed to Dr Chee’s past acts of civil disobedience.
“Even the mainstream media acknowledges that,” he said, recalling how the park was established in response to growing public pressure for free speech venues.
Dr Tambyah also discussed the restrictive nature of permits for public assemblies in Singapore, describing how regulations continue to constrain civic action.
“One person standing alone with a smiley face is considered an illegal assembly,” he remarked, calling the situation “a bit ridiculous.”
However, he credited social media for empowering political messaging today. “We don’t need to do civil disobedience… you can sit down in your own home and a hundred thousand people can see it,” he said, noting that the SDP no longer relies solely on public demonstrations.
Dr Tambyah praised the public for contributing modest but meaningful donations, reflecting ordinary Singaporeans’ commitment to democratic values.
“Where your treasure is, there your heart is also,” he said, affirming that the funds would support youth training, campaign operations, and advocacy work.
He framed the event as part of a broader electoral reform movement. “We need to ensure that every Singaporean’s voice counts equally,” he said, criticising gerrymandering practices such as the removal of Bukit Batok SMC weeks before GE2025. He also denounced the use of state resources and handouts—sometimes in S$1 bills—as vote inducements.
The media environment was another focus. Dr Tambyah lamented the lack of mainstream coverage for alternative political visions, arguing that tighter controls and misinformation have undermined public understanding.
“Thank God again for social media,” he reiterated, although he acknowledged its limitations due to government regulations.
He positioned the SDP’s electoral reform campaign as a non-partisan effort, calling for transparent and fair elections. “Even the PAP should welcome clean contests,” he said, asserting that greater integrity would benefit all parties.
Dr Chee, in his own address, stressed that the walk signalled a new beginning. “It’s just the beginning of a campaign—to rebuild, renew, and reignite,” he said.
He was especially heartened by the support from young Singaporeans and reiterated the party’s commitment to training future leaders, not just electoral candidates.
Dr Chee called on Singaporeans to continue supporting the SDP through donations and by signing an ongoing petition on their website.
He expressed optimism despite the challenges, saying, “If I can just continue to inspire them to love the country they’re living in and to dream of a better society… we can do it.”
The SDP has consistently campaigned on social justice, democratic reform, and transparency, although it has not won a constituency seat since the 1990s. Dr Chee narrowly entered Parliament as a non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) in GE2025, following his showing in Sembawang West SMC.
The return of Walk The Talk comes amid increasing political interest from younger voters. While structural barriers remain, including strict media controls and electoral constraints, the SDP’s renewed efforts may mark a new chapter in its ongoing political journey.
