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Tan Jee Say hopes to set up opposition 'coalition' in time for next GE
SINGAPORE - Almost a month after his failed bid, former Presidential Election (PE) candidate Tan Jee Say has set his sights on forming a "coalition" of opposition parties in time for the next General Election (GE) in 2016.
Announcing this at a lunch yesterday (picture) to thank helpers and supporters, Mr Tan, 57, said he intends to build a "potent and cohesive force" comprising opposition parties, like-minded individuals and "disillusioned" members and supporters of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).
Mr Tan, an investment adviser, was a Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the May GE, He resigned from the party to contest the presidency.
Adding that he will not be joining any political party in the next one or two years, Mr Tan said that for now he has "no fixed idea" on the structure of his proposed coalition.
A possibility is an alliance among various opposition parties, he added. Mr Tan said: "We must work towards being in a position to offer ourselves as a credible alternative government in the next GE."
When asked by journalists whether he had the credentials to initiate an alliance, Mr Tan pointed to his showing in the PE ,where he garnered 530,441 votes - or 25 per cent of the total number of valid votes cast - despite coming in third out four candidates.
He said: "People do look upon my support ... they say I got half a million votes ... Even the Workers' Party (WP), with a slate of 23 candidates managed to get 280,000 votes (in the GE) - so it is something that they bear in mind when they talk to me."
In 2001, veteran opposition figure Chiam See Tong formed the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) with four component parties. Within three elections, Mr Chiam himself left the alliance and the composition of the SDA has whittled down to only two political parties. The SDA was also the worst performing Opposition party in the recent GE.
On the potential obstacles that his proposed alliance would face, Mr Tan said: "Differences in opinion will always exist. But the point about a coalition ... is that you make concessions here and there always with the central objective in mind."
He also said he would be studying previous alliances and noting the "pitfalls" to avoid.
When contacted, WP media chair Gerald Giam said the party "remains open to working with other political parties and organisations to further the interests of Singaporeans and Singapore".
Mr Giam added: "However, with just six elected seats in Parliament, forming a coalition government is not currently on the cards for us."
The Singapore People's Party, too, said it supported "Opposition unity" and was not "averse" to being part of an alternative coalition government.
Asked whether Mr Tan was in a position to lead this initiative, National Solidarity Party secretary-general Hazel Poa said: "If he's willing to put time and effort to bring the alliance to fruition, then I'm open to him giving it a go."
At the lunch yesterday, Mr Tan also said he plans to set up a non-partisan community foundation - understood to be funded by private donations - to fund the setting up of amenities such as tuition centres, childcare centres, legal and medical clinics for the needy.
Mr Tan added that he and the SDP candidates who contested in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC in the GE will be publishing a book on their experiences. The book will include Mr Tan's experiences during his presidential campaign.
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapor...t-up-opposition-coalition-in-time-for-next-GE
SINGAPORE - Almost a month after his failed bid, former Presidential Election (PE) candidate Tan Jee Say has set his sights on forming a "coalition" of opposition parties in time for the next General Election (GE) in 2016.
Announcing this at a lunch yesterday (picture) to thank helpers and supporters, Mr Tan, 57, said he intends to build a "potent and cohesive force" comprising opposition parties, like-minded individuals and "disillusioned" members and supporters of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).
Mr Tan, an investment adviser, was a Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the May GE, He resigned from the party to contest the presidency.
Adding that he will not be joining any political party in the next one or two years, Mr Tan said that for now he has "no fixed idea" on the structure of his proposed coalition.
A possibility is an alliance among various opposition parties, he added. Mr Tan said: "We must work towards being in a position to offer ourselves as a credible alternative government in the next GE."
When asked by journalists whether he had the credentials to initiate an alliance, Mr Tan pointed to his showing in the PE ,where he garnered 530,441 votes - or 25 per cent of the total number of valid votes cast - despite coming in third out four candidates.
He said: "People do look upon my support ... they say I got half a million votes ... Even the Workers' Party (WP), with a slate of 23 candidates managed to get 280,000 votes (in the GE) - so it is something that they bear in mind when they talk to me."
In 2001, veteran opposition figure Chiam See Tong formed the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) with four component parties. Within three elections, Mr Chiam himself left the alliance and the composition of the SDA has whittled down to only two political parties. The SDA was also the worst performing Opposition party in the recent GE.
On the potential obstacles that his proposed alliance would face, Mr Tan said: "Differences in opinion will always exist. But the point about a coalition ... is that you make concessions here and there always with the central objective in mind."
He also said he would be studying previous alliances and noting the "pitfalls" to avoid.
When contacted, WP media chair Gerald Giam said the party "remains open to working with other political parties and organisations to further the interests of Singaporeans and Singapore".
Mr Giam added: "However, with just six elected seats in Parliament, forming a coalition government is not currently on the cards for us."
The Singapore People's Party, too, said it supported "Opposition unity" and was not "averse" to being part of an alternative coalition government.
Asked whether Mr Tan was in a position to lead this initiative, National Solidarity Party secretary-general Hazel Poa said: "If he's willing to put time and effort to bring the alliance to fruition, then I'm open to him giving it a go."
At the lunch yesterday, Mr Tan also said he plans to set up a non-partisan community foundation - understood to be funded by private donations - to fund the setting up of amenities such as tuition centres, childcare centres, legal and medical clinics for the needy.
Mr Tan added that he and the SDP candidates who contested in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC in the GE will be publishing a book on their experiences. The book will include Mr Tan's experiences during his presidential campaign.
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapor...t-up-opposition-coalition-in-time-for-next-GE
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