The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is a political party that was formed on 6 August 1980, officially registered on 8 September and inaugurated on 12 September.[1] Engineer Fok Tai Loy and lawyer Chiam See Tong were the founding chairman and secretary-general respectively.[2] The party’s current chairman and secretary-general are Jeffrey George and Chee Soon Juan respectively.[3]
At the time of its formation, the objectives of the SDP were to: 1) eliminate all forms of colonialism and feudalism as well as safeguard parliamentary democracy and uphold the principles of democracy, socialism and the constitution; 2) build a prosperous, industrial and culturally advanced nation; 3) establish a social system that would protect the labour force and the individual; and 4) establish an economic union with Malaysia and its neighbours.[4] Today, the objectives of the SDP have been revised to: 1) eliminate all forms of authoritarianism and to uphold democratic principles and institutionalise democratic practices; 2) build an economically stable and progressive nation based on the free market system where private entrepreneurship is encouraged; 3) foster a vibrant and dynamic society based on pluralism and diversity; and 4) restore a proper system of checks and balances in the polity, ensure the independence of the judiciary, and to foster a caring and pluralistic society.[5]
The SDP has contested every parliamentary general election since 1980.[6] In its first general election, the party unsuccessfully contested in the three wards of Potong Pasir, Cairnhill and Joo Chiat.[7] Chiam, who contested and lost the Potong Pasir seat in 1980, was elected as a member of parliament for Potong Pasir following his win in the 1984 general election.[8] He resigned from the SDP in December 1996 but held the Potong Pasir seat till 2011.[9] In the 1991 general election, SDP candidates Ling How Doong and Cheo Chai Chen won the Bukit Batok and Nee Soon Central seats respectively. They held the seats until their defeat to the ruling People’s Action Party candidates in the 1997 general election.[10]
References
1. Singapore Democratic Party. (2009, February 22). Where we came from. Retrieved January 20, 2014, from Singapore Democratic Party website: http://yoursdp.org/publ/about_the_party/where_we_came_from/7-1-0-4; Chiam gets registrar's approval to form party. (1980, September 17). The Straits Times, p. 7. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Lee, P. (1980, August 7). Chiam forming new party. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Singapore Democratic Party, 22 Feb 2009, Where we came from.
4. The Straits Times, 7 Aug 1980, p. 1.
5. Singapore Democratic Party. (2009, February 22). What we stand for. Retrieved January 20, 2014, from Singapore Democratic Party website: http://yoursdp.org/publ/about_the_party/what_we_stand_for/7-1-0-5
6. Singapore Democratic Party, 22 Feb 2009, Where we came from.
7. ‘Show’ goes on for SDP 3. (1980, December 25). The Straits Times, p. 11. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. PAP wins all but two. (1984, December 23). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
9. Singapore Democratic Party, 22 Feb 2009, Where we came from; Fernandez, W. (1996, December 18). Chiam quits, warns SDP not to contest his ward. The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
10. Fernandez, W. (1997, January 9). Ling ‘shocked, disappointed’ by polls defeat. The Straits Times, p. 41; Zuraidah Ibrahim. (1997, January 4). Nee Soon Central: PAP man worked very hard, says Cheo. The Straits Times, p. 25.
The information in this article is valid as at 2014 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.