SINGAPORE - The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) unveiled two more candidates on Thursday (Aug 27), psychologist John Tan and auditor Sidek Mallek.
At a press conference at its party headquarters in Ang Mo Kio, SDP candidate Dr Paul Tambyah introduced the two candidates to the media, without revealing where they will be standing.
Mr Tan, 54, is the vice-chairman of SDP. He is married with three children. Mr Sidek, 55, is a compliance auditor, and is married with four children. While Mr Sidek is a political newcomer, Mr Tan was part of SDP's Sembawang GRC team in 2011. SDP's Sembawang team won 36.1 per cent of the vote, losing to the PAP team led by Minister Khaw Boon Wan.
Mr Tan said that he has been looking forward to the election, as he wishes to speak out for the people of Singapore.
Mr Sidek, who has been with the SDP since 2011, said he thinks the SDP has good alternative policies and it is time for them to be heard.
"Dr Chee (Soon Juan) is compassionate and determined to address all issues," he said.
They spoke about championing the poor and narrowing the income gap, which Mr Tan said was "getting from bad to ridiculous".
Mr Tan also said he was against educational policies that is "built to train people for the job market".
He proposed to scrap national examinations such as the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
The party has already introduced four other candidates for the polls: healthcare administrator Chong Wai Fung, 45; accounts manager and former Navy staff sergeant Khung Wai Yeen, 34; sales director Jaslyn Go, 42; and National University of Singapore Yong Yoo Lin School of Medicine professor Paul Tambyah, 50.
This means the SDP, which will contest Holland-Bukit Timah and Marsiling-Yew Tee GRCs, and the single-seat wards of Bukit Panjang, Bukit Batok and Yuhua, has revealed six of its 11 candidates.
The SDP, which launched its campaign in January, has said that it would champion issues relating to the cost of living, the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Minimum Sum, as well as the country's growing population.
The September 11 election will also be the first that Dr Chee is set to contest since 2001. He was unable to run in 2006 and 2011 as he was declared bankrupt after failing to pay $500,000 in damages for defaming then-Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong during the 2001 General Election. He was cleared of bankruptcy in 2012.
Several opposition parties have begun making formal introductions of their candidates.
The Singapore People's Party (SPP) has confirmed its line-up for the single-seats of Hong Kah North, Mountbatten and Potong Pasir.
The Workers' Party (WP) has introduced eight candidates at its headquarters at Syed Alwi Road, while the Reform Party (RP) introduced its slate for West Coast GRC and Radin Mas SMC on Thursday.
