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Tambyah elected as new SDP chairman

SINGAPORE — Professor Paul Tambyah has been elected as the new chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), taking over from Dr Wong Souk Yee, who is now its assistant treasurer.

Prof Paul Tambyah has been elected as the Singapore Democratic Party's new chairman. TODAY file photo

Prof Paul Tambyah has been elected as the Singapore Democratic Party's new chairman. TODAY file photo

SINGAPORE — Professor Paul Tambyah has been elected as the new chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), taking over from Dr Wong Souk Yee, who is now its assistant treasurer.

Prof Tambyah, a medical specialist, was elected at the SDP’s conference last weekend, along with other members of its central executive committee.

In a statement posted on its website on Tuesday (Sept 26), the SDP said that Prof Tambyah had “strong support of party cadres”, including Dr Wong.

“I’m proud to support Paul’s chairmanship and I’m sure the rest of my colleagues look forward to his leadership in the party,” Dr Wong said.

Prof Tambyah works at the Department of Medicine at the National University of Singapore, and is a senior consultant at the Division of Infectious Diseases at the National University Hospital.

Prof Tambyah, who had previously said that he decided to enter politics because of his dissatisfaction with the financing of Singapore’s healthcare system, was fielded alongside Dr Chee Soon Juan as part of the SDP team in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC in the 2015 General Election (GE). Dr Chee remains the party’s secretary-general.

In the SDP statement, Prof Tambyah said that he hopes “that more academics, professionals, and young people in particular will step up to be involved in civil society and politics in Singapore”.

“This is a particularly important time for our country when there are uncertainties about the economy and also serious questions about governance issues including the elected presidency.

“The SDP has never shied away from holding the Government accountable to the people and I am happy to be a part of the SDP’s efforts for the good of Singaporeans,” Prof Tambyah added.

According to the SDP post, Dr Chee told party members at the conference “to keep their eyes” on the build-up to the next GE, even though the polls are “still a couple of years away”. “We must continue our work to raise important issues and get the party ready for the next contest,” he said.

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