People's Power Party (Singapore)

History and political development

Formed in 2015 by Goh Meng Seng, the PPP is the youngest political party participating in GE2015. The party was formed just a few months before the elections, adding yet another number to the myriad Opposition parties already in existence in the country.

Objectives and policies

PPP advocates the Separation of Five Powers (including Social, Culture, Politics, Economics) and a more balanced development of Singapore.

The PPP has adopted and adapted with the Three Principles of the People and its system of having five branches of government espoused by Dr Sun Yat-Sen, founding father of the Republic of China (1912–49). It has modified the concepts of the Five Powers to stay relevant to modern contemporary political and social structures. The emphasis is on the separation of the Five Powers which means the separation of certain institutions from Executive branch's control.

The Power of Impeachment (originally under Control Yuan) has been expanded to include various contemporary functional government institutions. Examples: Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, advocacy of Ombudsman Commission, Equal Opportunity Commission, Free Press and Freedom of Expression.

The Power of Examination has been adapted and modified to modern concept of Selection for both political leaders as well as civil servants. This involves institutions like Elections Department and Public Service Commission.

PPP advocates that the institutions that fall under these two powers, namely Power of Impeachment and Power of Selection, be placed under the supervision of Singapore's Elected President, a separate branch of government.

PPP has also called for the introduction of a minimum wage in Singapore.

Leadership

PPP's leader is its Secretary-General, Goh Meng Seng. Goh, an opposition veteran, contested Tampines GRC in the 2011 General Elections when he was leading the National Solidarity Party. He also contested Aljunied GRC with Sylvia Lim, James Gomez and two others in GE2006 when he was with the Workers’ Party.

Central executive committee as at 5 December 2015:

- Chairman: Syafarin Sarif
- Vice-Chairman: Sivakumaran Chellappa (Head of Policy Research)
- Secretary-General: Goh Meng Seng
- Assistant Secretary-General: Muhamad Faizal Razali
- Treasurer: Nazryn Azhar Samat
- Assistant Treasurer: Janet Low Wai Choo
- Organizing Secretary: Augustine Lee Tze Shih
- Assistant Organizing Secretary: Goh Toh Mui
- Head of Media Team: Lee Wai Leng
- Assistant, Media (New Media): Tan Yeh Wei (Assistant for Policy Research)
- Members: Tan Peng Swee; Peh Siew Choo; Thamilselvan Karuppaya

General Election 2015

People's Power Party contested in the Singapore General Election 2015 as the youngest party to date. It only contested the four-seat Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency. People's Power Party fielded its party leader, Goh Meng Seng, Lee Tze Shih, Low Wai Choo and Syafarin Sarif. Even as she contested the elections, Low Wai Choo was facing a public nuisance charge for her role in a Hong Lim Park protest rally in 2014. Syafarin Sarif was an ex-member of NSP.

The team lost to the People's Action Party team, which consisted of Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, Low Yen Ling, Zaqy Mohamad and Yee Chia Hsing. People's Power Party garnered 25,460 or 23.11% of the valid votes. PAP fared better, and garnered 84,731 or 76.89% of the valid votes.

Although the People's Power Party had lost, party chief Goh Meng Seng was surprised of the number of voters that voted for them, as he claimed that his party lacked media coverage. Still, Goh being a veteran politician, he and his team was one of the worst performing candidates in this election.

After GE 2015, despite being the party leader, Goh returned to Hong Kong where his family lives.