People's Power Party (Singapore)

People's Power Party
People's Power Party
Malay name	Parti Kuasa Rakyat
Chinese name	人民力量党; Rénmín Lìliàng Dǎng
Tamil name	மக்கள் சக்தி கட்சி; Makkaḷ Cakti Kaṭci
Chairman	Syafarin Sarif
Secretary-General	Goh Meng Seng
Founder	Goh Meng Seng
Founded	19 May 2015
Headquarters	24 Sin Ming Ln, #02-107, Singapore 573970
Ideology	Democratic socialism; Three Principles of the People; Populism;
Political position	Left-wing
Colours	Light Purple
Parliament	0 / 104
Website
	https://peoplespowerparty.sg/
	Politics of Singapore; Political parties; Elections;

The People's Power Party (PPP) is a political party in Singapore. The party was formed by Goh Meng Seng in 2015. It participated in the 2020 Singaporean general election with Goh as the sole candidate.

History and political development

The party was formed by veteran politician Goh Meng Seng on 16 July 2015 just a few months prior to the election held that year. Goh had previously served as a member of the opposition parties Worker's Party and National Solidarity Party, in the 2006 and 2011, respectively. In the aftermath of the 2011 election, Goh resigned from his Secretary General post as well as his party membership following the party's defeat.

The party was perceived as lightweight and opposed to major opposition parties were believed to be reasons for its speedy registration approval being given in two instead of the typical three months set by the Election Department.

The party only contested in the Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency, a four-member GRC, which the team consist of Goh, and candidates Lee Tze Shih, Low Wai Choo and former NSP member Syafarin Sarif, faced against the ruling People's Action Party team of Gan Kim Yong, Low Yen Ling, Zaqy Mohamad and Yee Chia Hsing. The PAP team defeated the party with a vote share of 76.83%-23.11%, which was 84,731 and 25,460 votes, respectively. Low was notable for being convicted for public nuisance for her role in a Hong Lim Park protest rally in 2014, while Lee Tze Shih joined Progress Singapore Party in 2019.

Goh, despite being a veteran politician who was surprised of the number of voters that voted for them, as he claimed that his party lacked media coverage, he and his team's defeat was one of the worst performing candidates in this election. Goh shortly returned to Hong Kong to reside with his family after the election.

In 2018, the party was along with the six other opposition parties (Democratic Progressive Party, National Solidarity Party, Reform Party, Singapore Democratic Party, Singaporeans First and Singapore's Voice Party, a party formed by NSP chief Lim Tean) led by former People's Action Party member and presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock, on the possibility of forming a coalition for the next election.^[1]

The party participated in the 2020 election, but Goh was the only candidate fielded this election, this time contesting in the MacPherson SMC.^[2] On 27 June, Goh confirmed that this was his final election, reiterating his belief that he could contribute more to Parliament as an opposition member if elected, while praising the incumbent Tin Pei Ling for her involvement.^[3] Goh was defeated to Tin by a 71.74%-28.26% vote share.^[4]

Objectives and policies

PPP advocates the Separation of Five Powers (including Social, Culture, Politics, Economics) and a more balanced development of Singapore.^[5]

The PPP has adopted and adapted with the Three Principles of the People and its system of having five branches of government espoused by Dr Sun Yat-Sen, founding father of the Republic of China (now administrating Taiwan and surrounding Island). It has modified the concepts of the Five Powers to stay relevant to modern contemporary political and social structures. The emphasis is on the separation of the Five Powers which means the separation of certain institutions from Executive branch's control.

The Power of Impeachment (originally under Control Yuan) has been expanded to include various contemporary functional government institutions. Examples: Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, advocacy of Ombudsman Commission, Equal Opportunity Commission, Free Press and Freedom of Expression.

The Power of Examination has been adapted and modified to modern concept of Selection for both political leaders as well as civil servants. This involves institutions like Elections Department and Public Service Commission.

PPP advocates that the institutions that fall under these two powers, namely Power of Impeachment and Power of Selection, be placed under the supervision of Singapore's Elected President, a separate branch of government.

PPP has also called for the introduction of a minimum wage in Singapore.^[6]

Leadership

PPP's leader is its Secretary-General, Goh Meng Seng. Goh, a veteran opposition politician, who previously contested Tampines GRC in the 2011 General Elections when he was leading the National Solidarity Party. He also contested Aljunied GRC with Sylvia Lim, James Gomez and two others in the 2006 General Elections when he was with the Workers’ Party.

Central executive committee as at 5 December 2015:^[7]

Chairman: Syafarin Sarif
Secretary-General: Goh Meng Seng
Assistant Secretary-General: Muhamad Faizal Razali
Treasurer: Nazryn Azhar Samat
Organizing Secretary: Goh Toh Mui
Members:
- Tan Peng Swee
- Peh Siew Choo
- Thamilselvan Karuppaya

Vice-Chairman Sivakumaran Chellappa (also Head of Policy Research) and Organizing Secretary Augustine Lee left PPP in 2019 to join Peoples Voice and Progress Singapore Party respectively. Lee Wai Leng resigned as Head of Media Team in 2016 and subsequently left PPP in April 2020.

On 29 October 2023, a new CEC was announced as follows:

Advisor: Syafarin Sarif
Chairman: Hobart Lee
Secretary-General: Goh Meng Seng
Treasurer: William Chin
Organizing Secretary: George Chang
Members:
- David Ho
- Samuel Lee
- Jonathan Soh
- Tan Meng Lock

Leadership of People's Power Party

No	Years	Name
1	2015-Incumbent	Goh Meng Seng

Electoral performance


Election	Seats up for election	Seats contested by party	Seats won by walkover	Contested seats won	Contested seats lost	Total seats won	Change	Total votes	Share of votes	Popular vote	Resulting Government	Party leader
2015	89	4	0	0	4	0 / 89		25,460	23.11%	1.13%	No seats	Goh Meng Seng
2020	93	1	0	0	1	0 / 93		28,564	28.26%	0.3%	No seats	Goh Meng Seng

References

^ "7 opposition parties discuss forming a new coalition, invite former PAP MP Tan Cheng Bock to be leader". 28 July 2018.
^ Wong, Cara (23 June 2020). "Singapore GE2020: People's Power Party to contest MacPherson and Radin Mas SMCs". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
^ Lau, Jean (27 June 2020). "Singapore GE2020: This election will be PPP's Goh Meng Seng's last". The Straits Times. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
^ Lau, Jean (11 July 2020). "GE2020 official results: PAP's Tin Pei Ling retains MacPherson with 71.74% of votes against PPP". The Straits Times. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
^ PPP's official Facebook site - 18 August 2015
^ PPP's official Facebook site - 11 August 2015
^ hermesauto (7 December 2015). "People's Power Party forms first central committee". StraitsTimes.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.

[1] "7 opposition parties discuss forming a new coalition, invite former PAP MP Tan Cheng Bock to be leader". 28 July 2018.

[2] Wong, Cara (23 June 2020). "Singapore GE2020: People's Power Party to contest MacPherson and Radin Mas SMCs". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 June 2020.

[3] Lau, Jean (27 June 2020). "Singapore GE2020: This election will be PPP's Goh Meng Seng's last". The Straits Times. Retrieved 27 June 2020.

[4] Lau, Jean (11 July 2020). "GE2020 official results: PAP's Tin Pei Ling retains MacPherson with 71.74% of votes against PPP". The Straits Times. Retrieved 11 July 2020.

[5] PPP's official Facebook site - 18 August 2015

[6] PPP's official Facebook site - 11 August 2015

[7] rmesauto (7 December 2015). "People's Power Party forms first central committee". StraitsTimes.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.

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