For SDA chief Desmond Lim, the aim of opposition parties collaborating is generally to get everyone to commit to fielding candidates in an election, so that all seats are contested.
“It’s definitely good to avoid three-cornered fights, but ultimately we cannot stop what other parties want to do,” he said. “We have to respect our opponents if they think they stand a better chance.”
Mr Zhu of SUP said his party doesn’t “want to go around and anyhow step on other parties’ territories”.
“If other parties have spent time and effort walking the ground there, then you need to think if that is justifiable or not.”
He was hopeful it would be easier to avoid overlapping claims between parties this time round, as there are “less voices at the table”.
PPP’s Goh admitted that opposition supporters would not like multi-cornered fights to happen. But at the same time, he views such battles as a positive representation of “a progression of democracy”.
“Not all parties have the same ideology, perspective, views or interests,” he told CNA. “It will be good for Singaporeans to … not (think about) voting anti-PAP or anti-opposition, but to think carefully (about) what each party and what each candidate represents.”
GATHERING THE TROOPS
Asked about recruitment efforts, PAR’s Lim Tean said the alliance has “a big number of new candidates”.
Over at The Coalition, members have spoken about sharing resources, including in fielding candidates, said Mr Zhu, whose SUP has 20 members comprising professionals and blue-collar workers.
This could involve party members resigning to join another party, which has been done at previous elections.
The RDU shortlisted 20 potential candidates in February last year and has been training them since, said Mr Philemon, confirming that his party will field new faces in the coming contest.
SDA’s Mr Lim meanwhile said his bloc currently has around 1,000 members.
“We maintain a dedicated core group of over 30 active members during non-election periods. However, when election season arrives, this number swells to at least 200 members likely to take leave and participate actively in campaign efforts.”
