Singapore Democrats
The SDP embarked on an extensive walkabout this morning covering all the five constituencies it contested in the last elections (Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Yuhua, Holland-Bukit Timah and Marsiling-Yew Tee).
During a media doorstop, Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan repeated the party’s call for the opposition to present a coordinated campaign in the coming elections.
“The differences between the parties are minuscule” Dr Chee said, compared to the common goal of breaking the PAP’s stranglehold of Parliament.
It is important that the opposition gives the people confidence in casting their vote for an alternative that is able to get its act together.
The SDP held a meeting for opposition parties in October last year to facilitate discussion on opposition cooperation and will continue to work to make such cooperation a reality.
In the meantime, the party will focus on engaging younger Singaporeans and bringing their concerns to the fore. We will do this through our Young Democrats.
One of the members Ms Min Cheong identified some of the issues that younger Singaporeans are worried about: meaningful jobs and job opportunities, the high cost of living especially high HDB prices, and the unfair competition of foreign PMETs.
Another Young Democrat, Mr Fadly Azad, outlined some of the initiatives and projects that the youth wing will be undertaking. These include posting vlogs and interviews of younger members on social media aimed at engaging and exciting younger Singaporeans about the SDP’s plans and ideas for Singapore.
CEC member Mr Damanhuri Abas who contested in the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC in the last elections, pointed out that the enthusiasm of the YD is a reflection of what’s happening on the ground.
“This is not just a strategic move but a reflection of what’s happening on the ground,” Mr Daman said. “The young are coming forward, they want to be heard.”
Speaking in Chinese, SDP Treasurer Mr Lim Boon Heng added that the party’s online communications strategy has resulted in young people being attracted to the SDP and coming forward to join us.
Following the doorstop, members boarded two buses which ferried them to the various constituencies to continue with our Sunday morning meet-and-greet with residents and selling our party newspaper, The New Democrat (TND).
The hot off the press issue of TND talks about the SDP’s 10-point plan to lower the cost of living for Singaporeans. It also hammers home the problem of expensive HDB flats and the 99-year lease problem.