GE2025: People’s Power Party to contest Ang Mo Kio, Tampines GRCs; setting up potential multi-cornered fights

SINGAPORE: The People’s Power Party (PPP) plans to contest in Tampines and Ang Mo Kio GRCs at Singapore's upcoming General Election on May 3, party secretary-general Goh Meng Seng announced on Tuesday (Apr 22).

The opposition party will also be dropping out of the Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat SMCs which it earlier said it intended to field candidates in.

The PPP's decision sets up potential multi-cornered fights in Ang Mo Kio and Tampines GRCs, with the debutant Singapore United Party (SUP) staking claim to the former and the National Solidarity Party (NSP) - as well as possibly the Workers’ Party (WP) - looking to contest in the latter.

At a press conference, Mr Goh called it a "very difficult" conclusion, citing his friendship with SUP and NSP. But he said it was necessary because of PPP's "specific, unique agenda".

"I have to say sorry ... I have to apologise for this conflict," he said. "May the best party that provides the best manifesto or policies win the hearts and minds of the voters."

Mr Goh and 10 other party members later stood up and bowed in apology. 

In Ang Mo Kio GRC, PPP will also go up against an incumbent People’s Action Party (PAP) team anchored by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In Tampines GRC, the PAP team is led by Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli.

Mr Goh said the PPP had been in touch with the NSP since “the year before” with the suggestion of fielding a combined team. This was turned down by NSP. 

On whether a potential four-cornered fight in Tampines would give the ruling party an advantage, Mr Goh pointed to a Punggol East SMC by-election in 2013, where WP’s Lee Li Lian emerged victorious against PAP’s Koh Poh Koon, the Singapore Democratic Alliance’s Desmond Lim and Reform Party’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam.

There is no guarantee of a PAP victory, “as long as voters vote according to their hearts and minds of what is really needed for parliament”, said Mr Goh.

On the decision to bow out of Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat SMCs, Mr Goh said the PPP wanted to "give respect to the bigger parties" and hence would have to "disappoint" its potential candidates and supporters in the two single-seat wards.

The PPP backing away from Jalan Kayu follows in the footsteps of the People's Alliance for Reform and Red Dot United (RDU) party, setting up a likely showdown between labour chief Ng Chee Meng from the PAP and an as-yet-unknown WP candidate.

Mr Goh said the party only knew about WP’s possible intention to contest in Jalan Kayu from speculative media reports.

He said this was in stark contrast to how the WP used to operate when he was part of its Aljunied team in GE2006. Then, candidates were introduced early to allow voters to make informed decisions.

“This is always my belief … and I think most of the parties have the same (belief) - we will actually show our cards,” he said. “The Workers’ Party is becoming like PAP, like cat and mouse race … deployment is very opaque."

Singapore's largest opposition party has introduced 14 new faces but has not revealed where it plans to run.

With its current plans, PPP will look to field 10 candidates.

Mr Goh said party treasurer William Lim will lead its team in Ang Mo Kio GRC, alongside retired civil servant Martinn Ho, 64; construction professional Thaddeus Thomas, 43; central executive committee member Samuel Lee, 33; and horticulturist Heng Zheng Dao, 24.

The PPP's Tampines slate will comprise party chief Goh, 55; party chairman Derrick Sim, 44; landscaping executive Vere Nathan, 26; green tech firm founder Peter Soh, 65; and entrepreneur Arbaah Haroun, 50.

WILLIAM LIM LIAN CHIN

Mr Lim, 47, joined the PPP in 2015. He is currently a limousine service provider and also runs an e-commerce business.

Over the years, Mr Lim has focused his advocacy on transportation issues, including calls for fair competition, as well as income stability for taxi and private-hire drivers, the PPP said.

Mr Lim said he wishes to “fight for stronger protection for all Singaporeans who find themselves at the mercy of the powerful capitalist interest”.

He also described his team for Ang Mo Kio GRC as a group of “ordinary Singaporeans” who hope to “bring parliament back to the people and help the PAP understand how their decisions truly affect the lives of the common Singaporeans”.

MARTINN HO

Mr Ho formerly worked as a senior engineer at the National Environment Agency dealing with environmental protection and development control issues. He retired in 2023.

Through his 38 years in the public sector, he said he saw how “things went from good to bad”, with the culture in the public service becoming impersonal and less effective.

THADDEUS THOMAS

Mr Thomas joined politics in 2020 and was previously a member of the Reform Party. 

During the press conference on Tuesday, Mr Thomas highlighted the issue of job competition from foreign labour, adding that this concern was “often misunderstood as being xenophobic”.

“If elected, we plan to level the playing field in the working world for Singaporeans and for foreigners,” he said.

SAMUEL LEE

Mr Lee introduced himself as an IT engineer specialising in areas such as software deployment and system quality assurance.

He has been with the PPP since late 2023 and is currently a Central Executive Committee member handling media-related matters.

“Without job security and a sustainable career path, especially for the young, no responsible person (will) want to start a family under these circumstances,” he said.

HENG ZHENG DAO

Aged 24, Mr Heng is the youngest candidate fielded by the party. 

He “manages landscaping projects, coordinates workers and conducts plant workshops for both adults and children”, according to the PPP.

Mr Heng said he hopes to look into the practicality of the carbon tax policy and if it could contribute to an increase in cost of living.

He also questioned the potential deployment of nuclear power in Singapore, describing it as a possible “strategical risk”.

DERRICK SIM

Mr Sim began his career as an investigating officer with the Singapore Police Force before moving into the finance industry. He is currently an associate director at a financial advisory firm.

He said he was stepping up as a candidate because “politics is about policies, and policies actually affects our livelihoods”.

“If you see something wrong, you sense something wrong, it's time to stand up and speak up,” he said, adding that he hopes to push and shape policies if elected.

ARBAAH HAROUN

Ms Arbaah runs a small business selling clothes and gifts.

She is also the founder and leader of a grassroots charity group called “Friends Worldwide” where she regularly engages less privileged families and helps them to build home-based businesses, the party said.

Through her community work, she has encountered Singaporeans who are “barely making ends meet” and require help with housing bills and medical bills. 

Ms Arbaah added that if elected, she hopes to “look at the ordinary Singaporean’s ability to grow their wealth in Singapore and the average debt incurred … through the effects of the cost of living”.

VERE NATHAN

Mr Nathan introduced himself as having a “somewhat unorthodox upbringing” – he was homeschooled and began taking on various jobs at the age of 15.

He decided to join politics after he realised during the COVID-19 pandemic that the PAP government he had looked up to had “some flaws”. 

He added that Singaporeans need a “platform where their voices can be heard”.

“What it means is that accountability and transparency and the voice of the people have to come back into the parliament – front and centre stage. It cannot be 'ownself check ownself',” he said.

PETER SOH

Mr Soh is the chief executive officer and founder of two technology companies.

He was not present at the press conference on Tuesday. According to his bio provided by the party, Mr Soh hopes to “contribute meaningfully to society by joining politics”. 

Areas that he is championing include calling for stronger support schemes for small and medium-sized enterprises, enhancing grants, tax reliefs, research and development funding for startups with scalable green technologies, and initiatives to lower business operating costs.