Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan has announced his candidacy for the newly established Sembawang West Single Member Constituency (SMC) in the 2025 General Election, while party chairman Paul Tambyah will once again run in Bukit Panjang SMC.
This move aligns with the SDP’s broader “northern strategy” to strengthen its presence in Singapore’s northern constituencies, said Chee.
Chee’s decision to contest in Sembawang West SMC comes after his previous electoral ward, Bukit Batok SMC, was merged into the new Jurong East–Bukit Batok Group Representation Constituency (GRC) following recent electoral boundary adjustments. In the 2020 General Election, Chee secured 45.2 per cent of the votes in Bukit Batok SMC, marking his best electoral performance to date.
Chee Soon Juan to Reevaluate Strategy After Bukit Batok SMC Disappears from Electoral Map
Prior to contesting at the 2020 General Election, Chee had first contested Bukit Batok in the 2016 by-election, securing 38.8 per cent of the vote.
The formation of Sembawang West SMC is part of the latest electoral boundary review, which introduced six new SMCs to better represent Singapore’s evolving demographic landscape. The constituency was carved out from the existing Sembawang GRC and comprises 24,153 registered voters.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who anchors Sembawang GRC, had earlier said the change in electoral boundaries was not surprising as more residents have moved into the area, and the population has expanded considerably over the past few years.
It is not yet known if incumbent MP Poh Li San, who oversees the Sembawang West ward, will helm the new SMC.
Sembawang GRC has five MPs: Mr Ong, Ms Poh, Mr Vikram Nair, Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Ms Mariam Jaafar.
Chee’s candidacy in Sembawang West SMC reflects the SDP’s strategic efforts to expand its influence and engage more effectively with residents in Singapore’s northern regions.
As the election approaches, voters in Sembawang West can anticipate active campaigns and engagements from the contesting parties.
