GE2020: The Singapore Democratic Alliance

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PARTY

• Founded in 2001 by veteran opposition politician Chiam See Tong

• The alliance was originally a four-party coalition comprising the Singapore People’s Party, National Solidarity Party, Singapore Justice Party (SJP) and Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS)

• It had its best showing in the 2006 polls, where it fielded 20 candidates, although only Mr Chiam won a seat

• SDA, which is now made up of just SJP and PKMS, is under the charge of SJP leader Desmond Lim Bak Chuan, who plans to step down after the 2020 elections

• People's Power Party, Reform Party, Singaporeans First (SingFirst) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) were in talks with SDA to form a new alliance before the 2020 General Election was announced. However, the deal has since fallen through, with SingFirst and DPP no longer taking part in the polls

NEW CANDIDATES UNVEILED SO FAR

Kelvin Ong, 34

A facilities management manager, Mr Ong works for a firm that does conservancy work for a town council. He has been volunteering with SDA since 2018.

He is interested in policies related to jobs, education, transport and housing, and is concerned about cost-of-living issues.

"The People’s Action Party’s policies for the poor is one-size-fits-all. I met some elderly who do not qualify for social assistance because of the bureaucratic levels in the different agencies and departments during the application. I hope to simplify these processes. We can only make a change by getting into Parliament.” 

Mr Kuswadi Atnawi, 57

Mr Kuswadi is an electrical engineer who has been part of SDA’s central executive committee since the last election in 2015. He is also the head of information for PKMS, a constituent party of the alliance.

In the past eight years, Mr Kuswadi has been actively involved in SDA’s events and charity work.

“I want to contribute more to Singaporeans and the situation is not getting easier with the influx of foreign talents. The only place I can fight for the people is in Parliament. We can talk at the coffee shop, we can lament but there's nothing much we can do. If we really want a concrete change, Parliament is the place to change things."

WHERE IT’S EXPECTED TO CONTEST

• Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC)

RESULTS IN GE2015

• Lost in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC with 27.11 per cent of the vote