GE2025: Singapore United Party to make election debut at upcoming contest in Ang Mo Kio

The Singapore United Party (SUP) has said it will contest Ang Mo Kio GRC at the upcoming general election.

SUP secretary-general Andy Zhu announced this on April 6 after a walkabout at Chong Boon Market and Food Centre, adding that he would most likely lead the SUP team against a PAP team anchored by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

This sets the stage for a three-cornered fight, as the People's Power Party (PPP) had announced a day earlier that it would also field a team in the five-member GRC.

SUP was formed in December 2020, which means this is the party's first electoral outing. But its core members had contested Ang Mo Kio GRC at GE2020 under the Reform Party (RP) banner, with the team receiving 28.09 per cent of the votes.

Three members of that team are now in SUP: Mr Zhu, the party's deputy secretary-general Darren Soh and Ms Noraini Yunus, who is SUP's treasurer. All three were present at the walkabout, alongside SUP chairman Ridhuan Chandran.

Speaking to reporters on April 6, Mr Zhu, a 42-year-old property agent, said: "From my past experience being a candidate here in Ang Mo Kio, I would say that there is support for the alternative parties, and I do not really see contesting in (SM Lee's) ward as a difficulty, because what I'm doing is to represent the residents of Ang Mo Kio GRC."

Mr Zhu said SUP had spoken with PPP as recently as the past week to avoid a three-cornered fight in Ang Mo Kio GRC, but that no conclusion has been reached.

"The only thing I can say now is that we will call them and speak to them to avert a three-corner fight," he added.

Mr Zhu said he had spoken to RP treasurer Mahaboob Baatsha, who "sent us his blessing", saying that RP will not be contesting Ang Mo Kio.

At the walkabout, SUP announced its election slogan "Moving forward, together", with Mr Zhu saying it symbolises unity between the party and residents.

The party will reveal its election manifesto and slate of candidates when the Writ of Election is issued, he added.

While SUP had earlier indicated its interest to contest some single-member constituencies, Mr Zhu said it came to the decision to contest only Ang Mo Kio GRC after a discussion with other members of its coalition.

SUP is one of four parties which came together in a coalition in 2023. They had agreed, among other things, to avoid three-cornered contests and explore the possibility of sharing candidates during the election.

The other parties in the coalition are the National Solidarity Party, Red Dot United and Singapore People's Party.