Every party have their own interest. WP have their own agenda. They have people in Parliament and they too have good candidates to choose from and will want to use their own.

If there is unity in the opposition SDP and other opposition parties should merge. But the issue is that each party have their own agenda and ideas. The only similarity is they are opposition to the PAP government.

Probably it is very selfish for SDP to ask WP to back its candidate and keep off. What does WP gain in return?

I will suggest that each opposition party should take this chance to put in as many candidates to represent them, even if it mean losing. This is still a PAP stronghold. Regardless if WP or SDP put the candidate, PAP will still win back this. They have to.

But SDP, not it alone but all opposition should take the opportunity of election to hold rallies, give their ideas , question the government etc.

This is the only period where all parties can legally do so. No one party should deny the other parties the right to campaign. It gives us citizens choice and a chance to hear from all parties.

All parties should use this opportunity to campaign, do their best, regardless of whether they win or lose. The voters will decide the best they want in parliament.

But even if the parties won little votes and lose their deposit, the deposit is a worthwhile fee to pay to get their voice heard and be in the Spirit of being opposition parties.

Hougang election is different because it is WP's seat and turf. But this PAP ward is free for all opposition. Which I believe all parties, despite slim chance of winning, should put forth their candidates, rather than going for unity for just a single candidate.

If the candidate that SDP proposes is that good, he will win the election regardless of competition.

The other compromise is that all opposition candidates participate, but in their rally, for unity to get another opposition in parliament, support the choice consensus opposition candidate during their rallies and political broadcast.

The fact that it is the SDP which is making all the effort to engage the WP shows that the SDP is the party to vote for. While the WP is sounding more like the MIW everyday, SDP remains the true opposition. The voters in PE must be made to see this.

SDP I feel sorry for your naivety as there is no such as Opposition Unity in Sg and will not be. Stop looking at Msia and make comparison as our make up is different. Focus on your goals and offerings and stadn your ground to fight any election Vs talking to WP who is not going to talk to you. GE2016 is rite ground and you should work your side as a credible party and contest. That is all.

I'm a supporter of alternative parties because we really need 40% opposition MPs in parliament so that the ruling party cannot rubber stamp laws.

As such, if PAP (being the ruling party) contest any alternative party 1-to-1, I will vote any alt party, regardless of how good or bad they are.

However, in a multi-party fight, I would vote for the party which is closer in ideology to me. In this case, it would be SDP.

Currently, of all the alt parties, only SDP and WP has distinct ideology. SDP sounds more like a true opposition while WP seems like the older generation PAP who are no-nonsense and sincere.

If a PAP-WP-SDP 3 corner fight comes, I will vote SDP but it will depend on who the candidate is.

SDP must not look weak and have opposition unity just for the sake of unity because opposition unity is a false hope.

It would be better if SDP can carve out a good grass root.

The future of Singapore would be like the "3 kingdoms" era with a PAP-WP-SDP (the other party ideologies are frankly very vague)

So please have the guts to go alone and fight the hard fight. SDP needs to strategise and think if running for the upcoming punggol east BE will benefit them in the long term or not.

I will forever support the SDP as I think they are possibly the biggest threat to the PAP's regime and have come up with detailed manifestos and proposals and actually do something about the current situation but this isn't what I would call a fair deal. To the eyes of Singaporeans, it's like you're trying to get all the perks and high position while the WP does your dirty work. Dr Chee, if you wanna avoid a 3-cornered fight, I'd say withdraw from the by-election. That's pretty much your best bet for now. If you still insist on participating in this by-election, I'd say just accept the fact that a 3-cornered fight is inevitable and may the best man win. Your choices are simple: either enter the by-election and compete against both the PAP and WP or withdraw from it.

In 1981 ANSON BE, the late JBJ was able to swing MORE THAN 30 % OF THE VOTES IN HIS FAVOR in a 3-cornered fight; the other 2 candidates were Chinese. It was ONLY about 10 months after the 1980GE. At that time, the ground was still very sweet for PAP. Why are the WP IB’s so scare??? Dare not to face competition!!!

@ #20, Joanna,
The useless WP will field one of the NCMP. According to the constitution, if less than 9 elected MP, will co-opt the best loser to make up the number.
There will be no change in the opposition make-up if the voters choose the incompetent WP. It will only
WP richer to play MONEY politics – attending funeral & give S$200/= pek kim, wedding dinner at least S$100/= ( that was many years ago)…

Reply to Fany Sica fallacious statement: This article is from SDP facebook under “SDP to contest in Punggol East by-election” appear after my comments.
@ Fany Sica, are you the official spokesman for WP? We are waiting for your reply!
1) Of course, SDP lead by example in unity – party participate in the opp unity meeting to carve out territories; WP set out to destroy unity by reject the participation (as you said: WP are not interested in unity, they have stepped into other people's turfs) & forcefully banging into Punggol East SMC in 2011GE. SDP is compassionate & are listening in order to work out a solution.
2) WP didn’t complain/That's CONSISTENT because WP have money to pay IB’S to create online confusion; like yourself to sing one tune while the others sing another tune. If you truly believe in what you say then you should tell the other online IB’s to stop advocating only WP turf as you claim “WP has never said they are against 3CF or against going anywhere previously contested by other opposition”
3) show proof which turf did SDP cry foul when other opposition step into their turf, and then step into other people's turfs and ask other people to get lost. PLEASE SHOW PROOF!!!!!!!!
4) quote you words: How can I guarantee everything SDP stands for (abolish ISA, NOM flats, credible alternatives) they will be steadfast to hold them?
Equally why don’t you question WP manifesto: From the WP 2011 manifesto: (Chapter 1, section C, clause #2) Ministers’ remuneration should be benchmark internationally against the political office of developed countries. Their remuneration should also take into account all associated benefits (e.g. benefits-in-kind) under the total remuneration or total employment costs.
**When they argued on the Ministerial salary debate, they used medium salary of top earners in S’pore. WHY? It is totally irresponsible & complete betrayal of voters trust. WP don’t even believe in their own manifesto! How can TRUST THE WAYANG WP? Go read WP2011 manifesto, if you are honest you will find a few more contradiction to what WP say & do.
Fany Sica, you are just a BABY fanny FOX PRACTISING DOUBLE STANDARD, don’t know the reality of POLITICS; similar to Pappy Tan who sprout lies, fearing of competition.

Fany Sica @Emeritus Robox, you are the earwax one. Do you know what is called LEADING BY EXAMPLE? If SDP advocate unity, they should be the FIRST to follow it! We are not talking about WP. They are not interested in unity, they have stepped into other people's turfs, they are also not complaining when other opposition showed interest in Hougang and PE. That's CONSISTENT. We are talking about here SDP. They advocate unity, cry foul when other opposition step into their turf, and then step into other people's turfs and ask other people to get lost. Since you say SDP has decided to drop unity if others do not reciprocate, I hope we will never have to hear the 2 words "opposition unity" from SDP again.
Fany Sica @ER, Clarence. You still don't get it. WP has never said they are against 3CF or against going anywhere previously contested by other opposition. It's not about WP. It's about SDP. They said it but went back on their own principles. How can I guarantee everything SDP stands for (abolish ISA, NOM flats, credible alternatives) they will be steadfast to hold them?

If SDP continues to insist on diluting votes for WP. SDP credibility will drop to rock bottom, the voters will remember and give even less votes for SDP in GE 2016. Back off and wait for GE2016

I support opposition and neutral between SDP and WP. However, I think the ground sentiments is there should not be 3-corner fight. Although SDP is championing the housing and healthcare alternative policies, it may not work this round. MND had just announced yesterday tough measures on housing policies and voters of Puggol East are mainly young voters whom are not so concern about healthcare currently.

I think the voters will rather get WP elected for the BE as WP have the "track record" and they are the biggest and only opposition party in parliament now. Thus the Puggol East residents will be well represented in parliament and taken care of as a constituency.

To WP, there will not be any real benefit to jointly campaign with an SDP candidate. It's like they do the hard work and SDP take the Credit. If SDP insist to participate after communication with WP fails, this will be tragic not just for the Puggol East voters but to all citizens of Singapore. The repercussion will be SDP will receive backlash in 2016 for causing the opposition to lose an additional seat in parliament.

We know SDP is working hard on paper but I think groundwork on the field is more important. If you start doing it on Bukit Panjang, Holland-Bukit Timah, Yuhua and Whampoa , there will. be more success as the respect and votes will be gained.

Please give a serious thought and look at the bigger picture.....bravo to all oppositions especially SDP......

What if SDP end up like SDA in GE 2011 if it enters the multi-cornered Punggol East BE??

SDP will be doomed forever and all your hard work will be in vain.

Think it over. Be patient, work your ground for GE 2016.

I read this from netizen Asterix and thought it was a good thought. I quote here: WP does not need an extra seat. They already have how many? One extra is going to make a difference? You mean they can be bolder in scrutinising and checking the PAP government with 9 seats but not with 8. Who will seriously believe such an argument? On the other hand, this one seat will make a huge difference to SDP’s standing, if they manage to win it fair and square.