The SDP had a formidable team with very strong professional credentials in Dr Vincent, Tan Jee Say, Dr Ang & Michelle Lee. But they had themselves to blame mostly for their defeat in Holland-Bukit Timah.
Firstly, they chose the wrong constituency to contest in. Holland-Bukit Timah is a stronghold of the upper middle to wealthy class. Most of these residents are generally immune to the nitty-bitty issues of high living costs (GST, COE, ERP, etc). Moreover, many of these residents are also wealthy Chinese emigrants who would not resonate with SDP's continued attack on foreigners. Worst, many Holland-BT's wealthy folks have ministers & MPs as neighbors. Their kids attend the same schools, families go to the same churches, belonged to the same country clubs, etc. It is thus naive to think that such residents would find SDP's speeches appealing.
Secondly, given the demographic profile of Holland-BT, these sophisticated residents would certainly scrutinize Tan Jee Say's grand economic regeneration plan for Singapore carefully. While the plan was well thought out, had good points & substance and even endorsed by Lord Butler, a Cabinet adviser to three British Prime Ministers, it was not properly positioned politically. In fact, it was disastrously presented. For example, it is true that Singapore should move towards services industry as this sector consume less land, etc. However, Tan JS publicly declared that we should not promote manufacturing because it requires a lot of land and labour.... It is political suicide to present it in this way. The slimy PAP instantly distorted his message to say SDP wanted to close down factories which scare off many factory bosses, MNC management. Although he rebutted and clarified it the next day, it was too late. Indeed, his rebuttal created more openings for PAP to attack. For example, he proposed to keep the profitable factories, but helped the unprofitable ones relocate to neighboring countries. He should have said something like: Singapore should do much more to promote the service sector and not mention the word manufacturing at all. If he must do so, then try this: We should not promote manufacturing MORE THAN service sector.. Saying it this way denies the enemy any opening to shoot at you. Not surprisingly, PAP's nefarious propaganda, together with the compliant local media, leap at once to claim that SDP wants to close factories and even moved people to Malaysia.
Thirdly, Chee Soon Juan's negative image sticks due to the local media's biased coverage of him in the past. There are segments of the community who still won't touch him with a ten-foot pole. Goh Chok Tong's dastardly attack on Tan Jee Say also dragged up Chee Soon Juan controversial past via innuendos.
So, wrong choice of constituency, inept political positioning of an otherwise fine economic manifesto and CSJ's still tainted image added to ruin the hopes of a fine group of Opposition candidates, and the hopes of many Singaporeans who dearly wanted to see the hated Vivian Bala booted out. A pity, a pity indeed!