Reform Party to leave opposition alliance PAR by end of July
Formed in 2023, the People’s Alliance for Reform was originally a four-party opposition alliance, including the People’s Power Party.
Reform Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam. (Photo: Facebook/Kenneth Jeyaretnam)
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
SINGAPORE: The Reform Party (RP) announced on Monday (Jul 7) night that it has withdrawn from the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), the three-party opposition alliance with the Peoples Voice (PV) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
"Reform Party wishes to announce that regretfully we have resigned from People’s Alliance for Reform," said RP secretary-general Mr Jeyaretnam in a Facebook post.
"This will formally take effect at the end of July.
"We thank (PAR secretary-general) Lim Tean for his leadership and wish him and the other remaining parties in PAR all the best in the future."
The exit of RP leaves PAR with just PV and DPP.
Formed in 2023, PAR was originally a four-party opposition alliance, including the People’s Power Party (PPP). In February, the PPP withdrew from the alliance three months before the General Election, citing "irreconcilable strategic differences".
PAR lost in all six constituencies - Jalan Besar GRC, Tanjong Pagar GRC, Potong Pasir SMC, Radin Mas SMC, Queenstown SMC and Yio Chu Kang SMC - that it contested at the General Election on May 3.
RP treasurer Mahaboob Batcha, as the party's sole representative in GE2025, made his electoral debut under the PAR banner in Queenstown SMC. The People's Action Party's (PAP) Eric Chua secured 81.13 per cent of the vote against Mr Batcha.
After the electoral defeat of all 13 PAR candidates, Mr Lim had vowed that the alliance would “reorganise and come back much stronger in four to five years” for the next General Election.
In response to CNA's queries about RP's decision, he said on Tuesday morning that PAR will continue, and "we will go into the next GE a much bigger and stronger alliance".
"Many new members and volunteers have joined our alliance since the GE, which has greatly encouraged us and we intend to greatly increase our numbers in the coming years," Mr Lim added.
"Our principles and message resonate with many in these difficult times of extremely high cost of living and job insecurity. We wish the Reform Party well in their future endeavours and thank them for having been part of the alliance."
RP fielded six candidates in GE2020 - in Ang Mo Kio GRC and Radin Mas SMC - winning none.
CNA has contacted Mr Jeyaretnam for more information on RP's future plans.
