The Reform Party is a political party in Singapore. It was registered on 18 June 2008 and inaugurated the following month on 11 July.[1] The founder and first secretary-general of the party was J. B. Jeyaretnam, who was formerly the secretary-general of the Workers’ Party from 1971 to 2001.[2] After his death on 30 September 2008, his son, Kenneth, took over as secretary-general in April 2009.[3]
The main objectives of The Reform Party as spelt out in its constitution are: to maintain and promote an independently appointed judiciary and a fully elected and sovereign parliament; to ensure that every member of society is entitled to political, social and economic rights; and to eliminate poverty by enforcing a fairer and just distribution of wealth.[4]
The first election that The Reform Party contested was the 2011 parliamentary general election. The party fielded two teams to contest in the West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) and the Ang Mo Kio GRC. Both teams lost to the People’s Action Party (PAP).[5]
References
1. Au Yong, J. (2008, June 19). JBJ’s Reform Party registered. The Straits Times, p. 27. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Au Yong, J. (2008, July 11). JBJ marks political comeback with dinner party. The Straits Times, p. 56. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Kor, K. B., & Au Yong, J. (2009, April 28). Kenneth Jeyaretnam is Reform Party’s sec-gen. The Straits Times, p. 22. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. The Reform Party. (2013). Our Constitution. Retrieved September 19, 2013, from The Reform Party website: http://thereformparty.net/about/ourconstitution/
5. Lim, L. (2011, April 27). GE 2011; PAP faces biggest polls battle since ’72: Walkover is expected only in Tanjong Pagar GRC. The Straits Times. Retrieved from Factiva; Zuraidah Ibrahim. (2011, May 8). 81-6: Workers’ Party wins Aljunied GRC; PAP vote share dips to 60.1%. The Straits Times. Retrieved from Factiva; Reform Party chief will still move to West Coast. (2011, May 9). Today. Retrieved from Factiva.
The information in this article is valid as at 2013 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.