Taking a leaf out of United States President Barack Obama's playbook, several opposition parties unveiled a campaign badge carrying the words "Vote for Change" to signal their common goal in the Sept 11 General Election.

The seven parties - excluding the Workers' Party (WP) and Singapore People's Party (SPP) - also renewed their commitment to unity yesterday during the event, held at the Singaporeans First party headquarters in Tras Street.

The red badge was launched by representatives from the SingFirst party, Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), Democratic Progressive Party, Reform Party and People's Power Party (PPP).

"Vote for Change" was Mr Obama's campaign slogan during the 2008 US presidential elections.

The National Solidarity Party and Singapore Democratic Party were also part of the effort but they did not attend the launch yesterday due to prior engagements, said PPP chief Goh Meng Seng.

It appears that another objective of the badge is to help raise funds. Mr Goh said some of the parties, including his, would be selling the badges for $5 each during their election rallies.

He added that the badge would be "a sign of unity among the opposition parties", and that their supporters would wear it during the upcoming campaign period.

Mr Goh told reporters he hoped the badge would end the in-fighting and disagreements that have dogged the opposition parties.

"We will move on to the real battlefield, one that is based on our policy views," he said.

Mr Goh added that invitations to this unity effort were extended to all nine opposition parties but the WP and SPP did not respond.