1992 Marine Parade by-election

none March 2025 1992 Marine Parade by-election Singapore Parliamentary no 1981 Anson by-election 1981 19 December 1992 2012 Hougang by-election 2012 68,436 (92.50%) 1.07% GohChokTong-WashingtonDC-20010614.jpg Goh Chok TongOthman bin Haron EusofeTeo Chee HeanMatthias Yao People's Action Party 48,965 72.94% 4.31% Dr Chee Soon Juan.jpg Chee Soon JuanLow Yong NguanMohamed Shariff bin YahyaAshleigh Seow Singapore Democratic Party 16,447 24.5% N/A Ken SenTan Chee KianSarry bin HassanYong Choon Poh National Solidarity Party (Singapore) 950 1.42% N/A Theng Chin EngYen Kim KhooiSuib bin Abdul RahmanLim Teong Howe Singapore Justice Party 764 1.14% 21.61% MPs Goh Chok TongLim Chee OnnOthman bin Haron EusofeMatthias Yao People's Action Party Elected MPs Goh Chok TongOthman bin Haron EusofeTeo Chee HeanMatthias Yao People's Action Party 73,986 A parliamentary by-election was held in the Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency in Singapore on 19 December 1992. It was called by Goh Chok Tong, who was the MP of the Marine Parade division and had become prime minister the previous year. He had decided to hold a by-election in his own constituency to get people of "ministerial calibre" to join the government under the People's Action Party (PAP). This was the first and only time that a Singaporean prime minister had vacated their own constituency to stand for a by-election, thereby producing a risk of Goh losing the premiership in under two years in the event he lost the by-election. On nomination day, the incumbent PAP was challenged by three opposition parties, namely the Singapore Democratic Party, the Singapore Justice Party and the National Solidarity Party; it was the first time in any election a multi-cornered contest occurred inside a Group Representation Constituency (GRC). On polling day, the PAP team of four were re-elected as the MPs for Marine Parade GRC with 72.94% of the votes against SDP's 24.50%. The remaining two teams did not met the 12.5% threshold required to retain their election deposits of $24,000, four times of that $6,000 election deposit per candidate. Background At the time of this by-election, both deputy prime ministers, Ong Teng Cheong and Lee Hsien Loong, were suffering from cancer. Goh decided to hold a by-election in his own constituency for "political self-renewal" and to get people of "ministerial calibre" to join the government under the PAP. While Goh, Othman bin Haron Eusofe and Matthias Yao were running again in the same constituency, Lim Chee Onn was replaced with Teo Chee Hean, the former chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), for the by-election.PM tells why he picked his own ward https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/biztimes19921210-1.2.9.1 1 July 2020 NewspaperSG5 December 1992 Lim Chee Onn quits as MP https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19921205-1.2.3 15 January 2026 The Straits Times 1 NewspaperSG 0585-3923 8572659 Similarly, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), then the largest opposition party with three seats in Parliament, also introduced a charismatic National University of Singapore (NUS) psychology lecturer Chee Soon Juan who led his team into the election.A mandate in Marine Parade https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/a-mandate-in-marine-parade 17 February 2025 The Straits Times At the 1991 general election, Goh promised to hold a by-election in 12 to 18 months' time to allow Workers' Party (WP) secretary-general, J. B. Jeyaretnam, to contest a seat in parliament as an act of political goodwill. Jeyaretnam was unable to contest in that general election at the time as his five-year parliamentary ban was to expire two months after.Daylight mugging of the justice system https://theindependent.sg/daylight-mugging-of-the-justice-system/ 17 February 2025 The Independent Singapore10 December 1986 Jeya's disqualification came into effect on Nov 10 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/biztimes19861210-1.2.11.3 18 November 2021 Business Times NewspaperSGCrossette Barbara 16 November 1986 OPPOSITION LEADER IN SINGAPORE JAILED AND LOSES HIS SEAT https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/16/world/opposition-leader-in-singapore-jailed-and-loses-his-seat.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20170814103754/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/16/world/opposition-leader-in-singapore-jailed-and-loses-his-seat.html 14 August 2017 14 August 2017 The New York Times 0362-4331Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1379_2008-11-21.html 1 July 2020A politically shrewd manoeuvre https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/biztimes19921204-1.2.38.1 1 July 2020 However, the party failed to participate as one candidate turned up late on nomination day on 9 December.By-election in Marine Parade GRC https://www.wp.sg/timeline-post/by-election-in-marine-parade-grc/ 3 October 2024 The Workers' PartyDecember 1992 Parliamentary By-election https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=e2bbac23-0619-4167-9fab-1e98c3fc3700 3 October 2024 www.nlb.gov.sg Candidates On 9 December 1992, the four political parties were nominated, as follows: Candidates Party BackgroundGoh Chok Tong Othman bin Haron Eusofe Teo Chee Hean Matthias YaoPeople's Action PartyThe PAP team for the GRC was led by Prime Minister Goh, as well as the two incumbent MPs Othman and Yao. Lim Chee Onn did not stand for the by-election, citing work and health reasons, and was replaced by debuting candidate Teo Chee Hean, a 37-year-old reservist commodore of the Republic of Singapore Navy.Chee Soon Juan Low Yong Nguan Ashleigh Seow Mohamed Shariff bin YahyaSingapore Democratic PartyThen the largest opposition party at the time, the SDP party comprises electoral debutant Chee, a 30-year-old neuro-psychology lecturer of the National University of Singapore, and three other candidates Low, Seow and Shariff, who had contested in prior elections before. Low was also a former PAP MP in Crawford Constituency in the 1968 election before retiring a term later, then joined SDP sometime before the 1988 elections.Sarry bin HassanKen SenTan Chee KianPaul Yong Choon PohNational Solidarity PartyThe NSP team comprises three returning candidates, and electoral debutant Yong, a 42-year-old businessman.Lim Teong Howe Suib bin Abdul RahmanTheng Chin EngYen Kim KhooiSingapore Justice PartyThe SJP once contested Marine Parade GRC in the preceding 1991 general election, where they lost to PAP with a vote of 22.75%-77.25%. Their team consist of returning candidates Suib and Theng, Yen, an independent candidate for Mountbatten SMC from the same election, and electoral debutant Lim, a 43-year-old businessman. Results By-election 1992: Marine Parade GRC1992 PARLIAMENTARY BY-ELECTION RESULT https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_by1992.html 1 July 2020 People's Action Party Goh Chok TongOthman bin Haron EusofeTeo Chee HeanMatthias Yao 48,965 72.94 4.31 Singapore Democratic Party Chee Soon JuanLow Yong NguanMohamed Shariff bin YahyaAshleigh Seow 16,447 24.5 N/A National Solidarity Party (Singapore) Ken SenTan Chee KianSarry bin HassanYong Choon Poh 950 1.42 N/A Singapore Justice Party Theng Chin EngYen Kim KhooiSuib bin Abdul RahmanLim Teong Howe 764 1.14 21.61 30,804 48.44 6.06 68,436 92.5 1.1 People's Action Party 4.3 Aftermath and legacy Following the by-election, Chee Soon Juan had received acclaim in public interest towards their supporters of Singapore Democratic Party, but on the following year, a party dispute ensued between him and Chiam See Tong; Chiam was expelled from the party's CEC but won a lawsuit to retain his Potong Pasir SMC seat and his position on procedure grounds, which lead to the formation of Singapore People's Party (SPP) in 1994;The Straits Times 24 Nov 1993 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19931124-1.2.32.1728 August 1993 The sacking of Chiam See Tong https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19930828-1.2.44.1 The Straits Times NewspaperSGStraits Times, 18 Nov 93 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19931118-1.2.28.9 Chiam also later formed the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) in 2001 along with the two teams who also contested the by-election: the National Solidarity Party (NSP) and Singapore Justice Party (SJP), as well as Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS). However, the SDA was left with PKMS and SJP after the NSP later left the alliance in 2007,February 2018 followed by SPP in 2010.GE: SDA says Chiam pulling SPP out of alliance https://web.archive.org/web/20110305035304/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1113966/1/.html 5 March 2011 , channelnewsasia.com, 2 March 2011Chiam pulls party out of alliance https://web.archive.org/web/20110306133237/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110303-0000259/Chiam-pulls-party-out-of-alliance 6 March 2011 , Today, 3 March 2011 In SDP, Chee then became the party's Secretary-General till this day, though the party were unsuccessful on winning seats in subsequent attempts, including MacPherson SMC where he publicly challenged Matthias Yao in the next election.29 August 2024 Part 4: Taking the SDP forward Singapore Democratic Party Dr Chee Soon Juan https://cheesoonjuan.com/the-truth-about/part-4-taking-the-sdp-forward/ 4 September 2024 en-USGE2025: SDP's 28-year wait for an elected MP continues after losses to the PAP https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-results-sdp-chee-soon-juan-5107181 Channel NewsAsia 4 May 2025 The PAP's team was re-sworn in Parliament a month later on 18 January 1993; Goh would continue to hold his premiership until 2004, and remained as MP for Marine Parade until his retirement in 2020.Lim Joyce 2 June 2020 Singapore GE2020: Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong retires from politics after 44 years as MP https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/ge2020-emeritus-senior-minister-goh-chok-tong-to-retire-from-politics-after-44-years-as-mp 25 June 2020 The Straits Times en Teo Chee Hean left Marine Parade GRC to contest in the brand-new Pasir Ris GRC in the subsequent election until 2025, where he was the last MP in the team to retire.From navy chief to a key pillar of PAP’s 3G team: SM Teo to retire after 33 years in politics https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/from-navy-chief-to-a-key-pillar-of-paps-3g-team-sm-teo-retires-after-33-years-in-politics The Straits Times 28 April 2025 en 23 April 2025GE2025: Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean retires from politics after 33 years https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-teo-chee-hean-retirement-5077971 CNA 28 April 2025 en Subsequent elections Marine Parade's next electoral competition was in 2011, 19 years later, where the NSP challenged there.Chow Jermyn 9 May 2011 SM Goh: The tide was very strong Straits Times A6 Similarly, the next by-election where SDP would be involved with was in 2016, with Chee facing against Murali Pillai in the seat of Bukit Batok SMC.7 May 2016 Bukit Batok by-election: PAP's Murali Pillai leads with 61% of votes in sample count http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/bukit-batok-by-election-paps-murali-pillai-leads-with-61-of-votes-in-sample-count live https://web.archive.org/web/20160508125834/http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/bukit-batok-by-election-paps-murali-pillai-leads-with-61-of-votes-in-sample-count 8 May 2016 9 May 2016 The Straits Times Goy Priscilla Lee Pearl 20 March 2016 SDP's Chee Soon Juan to contest Bukit Batok by-election http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/sdps-chee-soon-juan-to-contest-bukit-batok-by-election live https://web.archive.org/web/20160320091222/http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/sdps-chee-soon-juan-to-contest-bukit-batok-by-election 20 March 2016 20 March 2016 The Straits Times The WP would eventually contest Marine Parade GRC in 2015, 23 years later, which was led by former Non-constituency Member of Parliament Yee Jenn Jong, who previously contested Joo Chiat SMC in 2011, which was redrawn back into Marine Parade GRC in that election.GE2015: The top battles to watch https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ge2015-top-battles-watch-045301358.html Yahoo News 25 February 2026 en-SG 16 August 2015 However, they did not contest in the 2025 election citing limitation of resources and the extensive boundary changes of the constituency (among which Joo Chiat was redrawn into East Coast GRC), which resulted in Marine Parade GRC, now Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC, to become uncontested for the first time since 2006.Mohan Matthew 23 April 2025 GE2025: PAP clinches Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC in first walkover since 2011 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-marine-parade-braddell-heights-grc-walkover-nomination-day-tan-see-leng-out-5080761 24 April 2025 CNAGE2025: Pritam Singh rebuts opposition criticism of WP not contesting Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-workers-party-wp-opposition-marine-parade-braddell-heights-5085691 24 April 2025 CNA en24 April 2025 'Nothing untoward' about WP decision not to contest Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC: Pritam https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/nothing-untoward-about-wp-decision-not-to-contest-marine-parade-braddell-heights-grc-pritam The Straits Times en The next time a Group Representation Constituency witnessed a multi-cornered contest was in 2020, where a three-way race unfolded in Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC between the PAP, whose team coincidentally included Teo, the SDA, and the new Peoples Voice.Straits Times 30 June 2020 Singapore GE2020: All 93 seats to be contested at July 10 election; 192 candidates from 11 parties file papers on Nomination Day https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/singapore-ge2020-all-93-seats-to-be-contested-at-july-10-polls-192-candidates-from-11Straits Times 30 June 2020 Singapore GE2020: Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC to see three-cornered fight for first time since 1992 https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/singapore-ge2020-pasir-ris-punggol-grc-to-see-three-cornered-fight-for-first-time A similar four-cornered contest in a Group Representation Constituency would occur again 33 years later in the 2025 election where PAP, WP, NSP and the new People's Power Party (PPP) challenged Tampines GRC,GE2025: Stage set for four-way fight in Tampines GRC; PAP and WP go head-to-head in Tampines Changkat SMC https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/stage-set-for-four-way-fight-in-tampines-grc-pap-and-wp-go-head-to-head-in-tampines-changkat-smc The Straits Times 23 April 2025 en 23 April 2025 and just like the 1992 by-election and the 2013 Punggol East by-election (the other instance of a four-cornered by-election contest),Four candidates, two-horse race? https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/four-candidates-two-horse-race TODAY 5 May 2025 enRP’s Jeyaretnam and SDA’s Lim unbowed by low number of votes https://sg.news.yahoo.com/headline--rp%E2%80%99s-jeyaretnam-and-sda%E2%80%99s-lim-unbowed-by-low-number-of-votes-193750625.html Yahoo News 5 May 2025 en-SG 26 January 2013 the two smaller parties (NSP and PPP in this case)Xu Terry Why fringe parties don't need to be excluded — the voters are doing it themselves https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/05/04/why-fringe-parties-dont-need-to-be-excluded-the-voters-are-doing-it-themselves/ The Online Citizen 4 May 2025 4 May 2025 4 May 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250504015727/https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/05/04/why-fringe-parties-dont-need-to-be-excluded-the-voters-are-doing-it-themselves/ dead had also forfeited their election deposits.GE2025: PAP retains Tampines GRC in 4-way fight, wins Tampines Changkat SMC https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ge2025-pap-retains-tampines-grc-in-4-way-fight-wins-tampines-changkat-smc The Straits Times 3 May 2025 en 4 May 2025 References 1992 Category:1992 elections in Asia Category:1992 in Singapore Category:December 1992 in Asia