People's Power Party (Singapore)

Last updated
People's Power Party
Malay nameParti Kuasa Rakyat
Chinese name人民力量党
Rénmín Lìliàng Dǎng
Tamil nameமக்கள் சக்தி கட்சி
Makkaḷ Cakti Kaṭci
Chairman Syafarin Sarif
Secretary-GeneralGoh Meng Seng
Founder Goh Meng Seng
Founded19 May 2015 (19 May 2015)
Headquarters24 Sin Ming Ln, #02-107, Singapore 573970
Ideology
Political position Left-wing
Colours  Light Purple
Parliament
0 / 104
Website
https://www.facebook.com/peoplespowerpartysg/

The People's Power Party (PPP) is a political party in Singapore. The party was formed by Goh Meng Seng in 2015. It participated in the 2020 Singaporean general election with Goh as the sole candidate.

Contents

History and political development

The party was formed by veteran politician Goh Meng Seng on 16 July 2015 just a few months prior to the election held that year. Goh had previously served as a member of the opposition parties Worker's Party and National Solidarity Party, in the 2006 and 2011, respectively. In the aftermath of the 2011 election, Goh resigned from his Secretary General post as well as his party membership following the party's defeat.

The party was perceived as lightweight and opposed to major opposition parties were believed to be reasons for its speedy registration approval being given in two instead of the typical three months set by the Election Department.

The party only contested in the Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency, a four-member GRC, which the team consist of Goh, and candidates Lee Tze Shih, Low Wai Choo and former NSP member Syafarin Sarif, faced against the ruling People's Action Party team of Gan Kim Yong, Low Yen Ling, Zaqy Mohamad and Yee Chia Hsing. The PAP team defeated the party with a vote share of 76.83%-23.11%, which was 84,731 and 25,460 votes, respectively. Low was notable for being convicted for public nuisance for her role in a Hong Lim Park protest rally in 2014, while Lee Tze Shih joined Progress Singapore Party in 2019.

Goh, despite being a veteran politician who was surprised of the number of voters that voted for them, as he claimed that his party lacked media coverage, he and his team's defeat was one of the worst performing candidates in this election. Goh shortly returned to Hong Kong to reside with his family after the election.

In 2018, the party was along with the six other opposition parties (Democratic Progressive Party, National Solidarity Party, Reform Party, Singapore Democratic Party, Singaporeans First and Singapore's Voice Party, a party formed by NSP chief Lim Tean) led by former People's Action Party member and presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock, on the possibility of forming a coalition for the next election. [1]

The party participated in the 2020 election, but Goh was the only candidate fielded this election, this time contesting in the MacPherson SMC. [2] On 27 June, Goh confirmed that this was his final election, reiterating his belief that he could contribute more to Parliament as an opposition member if elected, while praising the incumbent Tin Pei Ling for her involvement. [3] Goh was defeated to Tin by a 71.74%-28.26% vote share. [4]

Objectives and policies

PPP advocates the Separation of Five Powers (including Social, Culture, Politics, Economics) and a more balanced development of Singapore. [5]

The PPP has adopted and adapted with the Three Principles of the People and its system of having five branches of government espoused by Dr Sun Yat-Sen, founding father of the Republic of China (now administrating Taiwan and surrounding Island). It has modified the concepts of the Five Powers to stay relevant to modern contemporary political and social structures. The emphasis is on the separation of the Five Powers which means the separation of certain institutions from Executive branch's control.

The Power of Impeachment (originally under Control Yuan) has been expanded to include various contemporary functional government institutions. Examples: Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, advocacy of Ombudsman Commission, Equal Opportunity Commission, Free Press and Freedom of Expression.

The Power of Examination has been adapted and modified to modern concept of Selection for both political leaders as well as civil servants. This involves institutions like Elections Department and Public Service Commission.

PPP advocates that the institutions that fall under these two powers, namely Power of Impeachment and Power of Selection, be placed under the supervision of Singapore's Elected President, a separate branch of government.

PPP has also called for the introduction of a minimum wage in Singapore. [6]

Leadership

PPP's leader is its Secretary-General, Goh Meng Seng. Goh, a veteran opposition politician, who previously contested Tampines GRC in the 2011 General Elections when he was leading the National Solidarity Party. He also contested Aljunied GRC with Sylvia Lim, James Gomez and two others in the 2006 General Elections when he was with the Workers’ Party.

Central executive committee as at 5 December 2015: [7]

Vice-Chairman Sivakumaran Chellappa (also Head of Policy Research) and Organizing Secretary Augustine Lee left PPP in 2019 to join Peoples Voice and Progress Singapore Party respectively. Lee Wai Leng resigned as Head of Media Team in 2016 and subsequently left PPP in April 2020.

On 29 October 2023, a new CEC was announced as follows:

Leadership of People's Power Party

NoYearsName
12015-Incumbent Goh Meng Seng

Electoral performance

ElectionSeats up for electionSeats contested by partySeats won by walkoverContested seats wonContested seats lostTotal seats wonChangeTotal votesShare of votesPopular voteResulting GovernmentParty leader
2015 894004
0 / 89
Steady2.svg25,46023.11%1.13%No seats Goh Meng Seng
2020 931001
0 / 93
Steady2.svg28,56428.26%0.3%No seats

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Workers' Party (Singapore)</span> Political party in Singapore

The Workers' Party is a major centre-left political party in Singapore and one of the three contemporary political parties represented in Parliament, alongside the governing People's Action Party (PAP) and the opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP). It is currently the largest and oldest opposition party in Parliament, having contested every parliamentary election since 1959 against the dominant PAP. The WP is the only political party other than the PAP with elected Members of Parliament (MPs) since the 1991 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singapore Democratic Alliance</span> Alliance of political parties in Singapore

The Singapore Democratic Alliance is an opposition political coalition between Singapore Justice Party (SJP), Singapore Malay National Organization (PKMS), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), National Solidarity Party (NSP) and Singapore People's Party (SPP) in 2001. As of 2023, only SJP and PKMS are in the alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singapore Democratic Party</span> Political party in Singapore

The Singapore Democratic Party is a social liberal political party in Singapore. Having peaked at three seats after the 1991 general election, the party currently has no seats in Parliament since 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Solidarity Party (Singapore)</span> Opposition political party in Singapore

The National Solidarity Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Singaporean general election</span> Elections to the 10th Parliament of Singapore

General elections were held in Singapore on 3 November 2001. President S.R. Nathan dissolved parliament on 18 October 2001 on the advice of Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) won 82 of the 84 elected seats in Parliament in a landslide victory. Due to the large number (55) of uncontested seats, only 675,306 of the 2,036,923 eligible voters (33%) had an opportunity to vote. As of the recent election in 2020, this was the most recent, and fourth overall election PAP returned to power on nomination day with a majority of uncontested walkovers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jurong Group Representation Constituency</span> Electoral division in Singapore

The Jurong Group Representation Constituency is a five-member Group Representation Constituency located in the western area of Singapore. The GRC consists of a large section of Jurong, sections of Bukit Batok and areas near Upper Bukit Timah Road. The five divisions of the GRC: Bukit Batok East, Jurong Central, Taman Jurong, Jurong Spring and Clementi. The current MPs are Rahayu Mahzam, Tan Wu Meng, Xie Yao Quan and Shawn Huang from the People's Action Party (PAP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Singaporean general election</span> Elections to the 9th Parliament of Singapore

General elections were held in Singapore on 2 January 1997. President Ong Teng Cheong dissolved parliament on 16 December 1996 on the advice of Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. The results were released in the late evening that day and the ruling People's Action Party won a total of 81 out of 83 seats as well as a tenth consecutive term in office under the then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. Other major political parties contesting in the election were the Workers' Party, Singapore Democratic Party, National Solidarity Party, Singapore People's Party and the Democratic Progressive Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reform Party (Singapore)</span> Opposition political party in Singapore

The Reform Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Singaporean general election</span> Elections to the 12th Parliament of Singapore

General elections were held in Singapore on 7 May 2011. President S. R. Nathan dissolved parliament on 19 April 2011 on the advice of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Voting is mandatory in Singapore and is based on the first-past-the-post system. Elections are conducted by the Elections Department, which is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Office. Nomination day was held on 27 April 2011, and for the second election in a row, the PAP did not return to government on nomination day, but it did return to government on polling day. This election also marked the first and the only three-cornered fight since 2001 in Punggol East SMC before it increased to four-cornered fight on a by-election held two years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goh Meng Seng</span> Singaporean politician

Goh Meng Seng is a Singaporean politician who is a member of the opposition People's Power Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicole Seah</span> Former Singaporean politician

Nicole Rebecca Seah Xue Ling is a former Singaporean politician. A former member of the opposition Workers' Party (WP), Seah contested in the 2020 general election but lost to the governing People's Action Party (PAP) by a close margin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tin Pei Ling</span> Singaporean politician

Tin Pei Ling is a Singaporean politician and businesswoman. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), she has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing MacPherson SMC since 2015 and previously the MacPherson division of Marine Parade GRC between 2011 and 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazel Poa</span> Singaporean politician

Hazel Poa Koon Koon is a Singaporean politician and businesswoman. A member of the opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP), she has been a Non-Constituency Member of the 14th Parliament of Singapore since 2020 and the Vice-chairman of the Progress Singapore Party since 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singaporeans First</span> Defunct political party in Singapore

Singaporeans First (SingFirst) was an opposition political party in Singapore founded on 25 May 2014. The party was dissolved on 25 June 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Singaporean general election</span> Elections to the 14th Parliament of Singapore

General elections were held in Singapore on Friday, 10 July 2020 to elect 93 members to the Parliament of Singapore across 31 constituencies. Parliament was dissolved and the general election called by President Halimah Yacob on 23 June, on the advice of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. It elected members of parliament to the 14th Parliament of Singapore since Singapore's independence in 1965, using the first-past-the-post electoral system.

Mohamed Amrin bin Mohamed Amin is a Singaporean solicitor, lawyer and politician. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Woodlands ward of Sembawang GRC between 2015 and 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peoples Voice (Singapore)</span> Political party in Singapore

Peoples Voice is an opposition political party in Singapore.

List of notable events prior to the 2020 Singaporean general election:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Next Singaporean general election</span> Upcoming general election in Singapore

General elections are due to be held in Singapore no later than 23 November 2025 to determine the composition of the fifteenth Parliament. The elections will be the nineteenth in Singapore since 1948 and the fourteenth since independence.

References

  1. "7 opposition parties discuss forming a new coalition, invite former PAP MP Tan Cheng Bock to be leader". 28 July 2018.
  2. Wong, Cara (23 June 2020). "Singapore GE2020: People's Power Party to contest MacPherson and Radin Mas SMCs". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  3. Lau, Jean (27 June 2020). "Singapore GE2020: This election will be PPP's Goh Meng Seng's last". The Straits Times. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  4. Lau, Jean (11 July 2020). "GE2020 official results: PAP's Tin Pei Ling retains MacPherson with 71.74% of votes against PPP". The Straits Times. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  5. PPP's official Facebook site - 18 August 2015
  6. PPP's official Facebook site - 11 August 2015
  7. hermesauto (7 December 2015). "People's Power Party forms first central committee". StraitsTimes.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.