PPP eyes Chua Chu Kang GRC

The People's Power Party (PPP), whose registration was approved only last month, will contest Chua Chu Kang GRC at the next general election. And its founder Goh Meng Seng is likely to lead the team.

Mr Goh announced his party's plans at a walkabout around Lot One Shoppers' Mall yesterday. The area is part of Chua Chu Kang GRC, where Health Minister Gan Kim Yong is the anchor minister.

Mr Goh said the party decided to contest the GRC because the opposition won considerable support in the western part of Singapore in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, "voters in the west are not really familiar with the opposition any more", he added.

In the 2011 General Election, the PAP team won 61.2 per cent of the vote against the National Solidarity Party (NSP). Mr Goh is the former secretary-general of the NSP.

At yesterday's walkabout, Mr Goh, 45, was accompanied by Mr Syafarin Sarif, 39, who stood in Tampines GRC under the NSP banner with Mr Goh. Three party activists dressed in purple, the party colour, were also with them.

The party has been tight-lipped about its potential candidates. Yesterday, Mr Goh would only say its likely line-up has been "more or less" decided. "I believe my choice of candidates will convince the voters that we are really a serious party."

As a small party, and the newest of the lot, the PPP can at most join the fight in Chua Chu Kang GRC, and one single seat, Mr Goh added. He did not want to name that seat.

This article was first published on August 3, 2015.
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