Singapore Democratic Party

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) was constituted in 1980. It believes in, and is working towards restoring human, civil, and political rights in Singapore; fostering a vibrant and dynamic society based on pluralism and diversity; cultivating a transparent and accountable political system; establishing an economic system based on free competition and equal opportunity for all; removing all policies and practices that discriminate against the less fortunate, women, and minorities; and cooperating with democratic parties and organizations in Asia to achieve peace and sustainable development in the region.

The SDP is widely recognized as the party in Singapore that is most adept in using the Internet to bypass the state-controlled media in the
city state. It uses blogging, political videos, and social media to reach out to the people. It is the first opposition in Singapore to have a youth wing (Young Democrats).

The party is in the process of crafting a policy pertaining to the protection of the environment, its latest in a series of policy papers it has drew up in the last several years. The Central Executive Committee (CEC) governs the party with Prof. Paul Tambyah as Chairman and Dr. Chee Soon Juan as its secretary general.

Party leaders and members have had to endure a series of court cases, and even imprisonment, for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly in the recent past.

In the past two general elections, the party was seen to be the most “improved” opposition party, in terms of making the largest gain in the share of votes among opposition parties.