With New Electoral Boundaries, Opposition Parties Weigh Their Next Move

Singapore’s opposition has long struggled against a political system that has kept the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) firmly in power for more than six decades. Often fragmented and disorganized, opposition parties have at times inadvertently reinforced this dominance by failing to unite or present a compelling alternative.

In recent years, however, the opposition has adopted a more strategic approach—not necessarily posing a serious challenge to the PAP, but securing parliamentary representation and focusing on tactics to maintain their foothold. By doing so, they have gradually increased their number of seats. Now, with major changes to electoral boundaries, opposition parties that see themselves as disadvantaged are refusing to lose hope. Several are reassessing their strategies to navigate the new electoral map. Positioning themselves as underdogs, they are rallying support ahead of an election expected by mid-year.

WP Steps Up

Workers’ Party (WP), Singapore’s main opposition party, member Harpreet Singh Nehal, who has been actively engaging residents in Marine Parade GRC and is expected to contest the upcoming elections, remains unfazed by the redrawing of MacPherson SMC into the newly formed Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. Rather than discouraging the party, he stated that the change has only strengthened its resolve.

In the 2020 General Election, PAP MP Tin Pei Ling secured MacPherson with 71.74 percent of the vote. Despite this, Singh, a senior counsel, emphasized that WP has never backed down from a challenge. He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to engaging Singaporeans, strengthening its grassroots presence, and advocating for a more balanced political landscape—regardless of how electoral boundaries shift.

For now, WP has kept its electoral strategy under wraps. After the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) released its report on March 11, the party recognized the significant changes in areas where it has been active in recent years. It assured supporters that it will soon announce further details on its targeted constituencies and potential candidates.

PSP to Oppose

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP), which narrowly lost West Coast GRC in 2020 with 48.32 percent of the vote, acknowledged on March 12 that major electoral boundary shifts in western Singapore have made its path to Parliament more challenging. The party intends to review the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report before finalizing its decision on where to contest.

In response, PSP has launched a fundraising and volunteer campaign, emphasizing that contributions will help finance fliers, posters, and other campaign materials to ensure a more level playing field. PSP secretary-general Hazel Poa described the upcoming general election as an uphill battle, citing the difficulties posed by the new electoral landscape.

Poa highlighted that more than 40,000 new voters from over 100 HDB blocks have been added to the newly formed West Coast-Jurong West GRC. To strengthen its outreach, the party plans to intensify ground efforts in the coming weeks, engaging these residents directly. The new GRC will incorporate Taman Jurong ward and parts of Jurong Spring from the existing Jurong GRC.

SDP to Reassess 

Chee Soon Juan, the veteran leader of Singapore’s liberal opposition and chief of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), announced on March 12 that he is revising his electoral strategy in response to recent boundary changes. He pledged to outline his next steps soon. The redistricting absorbed his Bukit Batok SMC constituency into the newly formed Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, forcing him to navigate a sharply altered political landscape after securing 45.2 percent of the vote there in the 2020 General Election.

In a pre-recorded video on social media, Dr. Chee urged supporters to volunteer or buy seats for a series of fundraising dinners set for early April. The SDP said it is consulting its central executive committee and working groups to map out its next steps. Meanwhile, the party will continue its groundwork wherever needed.

RDU Steps In

Red Dot United (RDU) announced that its election committee convened for internal discussions immediately after the release of the EBRC report on March 11. While the party has expressed interest in contesting six constituencies where it has established a presence, it emphasized that its plans remain preliminary.

An RDU spokesperson said the party needs more time to assess the boundary changes. He acknowledged that the dissolution of Jurong GRC, which RDU contested in 2020, has put the party at a disadvantage. However, he expressed confidence in RDU’s ability to adapt, noting that nearly 70 percent of Jurong GRC’s voters are now part of the newly formed Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC and Jurong Central SMC.

Can the Opposition Unite?

In most democracies, opposition parties seek to challenge the ruling administration. In Singapore, however, that challenge has remained elusive. Without a united front, dislodging the entrenched People’s Action Party (PAP) is widely seen as nearly impossible. Yet, opposition parties have made no concrete moves toward unity, focusing instead on avoiding multi-cornered contests that have historically favored the PAP.

In the northeast, the Workers’ Party (WP) has long shown interest in Punggol, having contested Punggol West in 2020. With the single-seat constituency now absorbed into the newly formed four-member Punggol GRC, WP’s potential candidacy could lead to a multi-way contest against the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), which has fielded candidates in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC since 2006. SDA chairman Desmond Lim confirmed plans to discuss the matter with WP but said his party would first focus on understanding residents’ concerns.

Red Dot United (RDU) has stated its intent to avoid such three-way battles, saying it will engage other opposition parties “when the time is right.” The party remains confident that longstanding relationships between opposition leaders will help facilitate agreements.

Goh Meng Seng, secretary-general of the People’s Power Party (PPP), plans to engage other parties but believes that larger players like the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) should lead discussions. While his party has expressed interest in contesting five wards, Goh remains open to a three-cornered fight if no resolution is reached.

Whether these discussions lead to meaningful cooperation or devolve into political maneuvering remains to be seen. If opposition parties fail to coordinate, the PAP is poised to secure another supermajority in Parliament, further cementing Singapore’s status as a one-party-dominant state.