During the 1979 by-elections, Chiam See Tong contested in Potong Pasir Constituency as an independent candidate against Howe Yoon Chong, then a new PAP candidate. After submitting his nomination papers in the by-election, Howe dismissed the opposition candidates as "court jesters" who had come out "to provide comic relief".[1] Howe eventually beat Chiam with almost 67% of the votes to win the Constituency seat.[2][3]
Ahead of the 1980 general election held on 23 December 1980, Chiam founded the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) on 6 August 1980[4] and contested in the election as a SDP candidate against Howe again in the constituency. In an election rally, Howe disparaged Chiam on his professional competence and was subsequently sued by Chiam for defamation.[5] Howe offered compensation which Chiam accepted and dropped the case against him.[5] Howe won again with 59.05 percent of the vote.[6][7]
During the 1984 general election, Chiam contested as an SDP candidate in the constituency again. Howe retired from politics that year and did not contest the constituency[8] with sending a new candidate Mah Bow Tan to contest it. In the lead-up to the election, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew compared Chiam and Mah's GCE Ordinary Level results in a rally speech: "Mah Bow Tan, age 16, took his O Levels — six distinctions, two credits. Mr Chiam, age 18 — six credits, one pass." The Prime Minister's Office later conveyed an apology from Lee for making an error about Chiam's results; Chiam had actually gotten seven credits.[9] Chiam eventually won the election with 60.28% of the vote against Mah's 39.72%,[10][11] and was elected as the MP representing Potong Pasir SMC.
In December 1996, when the Parliament was dissolved ahead of the 1997 general election, Chiam left the SDP and joined the Singapore People's Party (SPP), a pro-Chiam faction which left the SDP in 1994. Chiam assumed leadership and contested Potong Pasir SMC as the incumbent MP and SPP candidate. Chiam won with 55.15% of the vote against the PAP candidate Andy Gan,[12][13] becoming SPP's first MP.
In the 2011 Singaporean general election, Chiam did not contest his seat but lead a team to contest at the Bishan–Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency. Chiam's wife, Lina Loh, became his successor for the constituency and contested for the seat against Sitoh. Loh lost the election on a marginal percentage of 0.72%. As the best performing loser at the polls, Loh was offered the non-constituency MP (NCMP) position and accepted it. While Chiam See Tong has said he is opposed to the scheme, the SPP reasoned that it was "critical" to ensure an "alternative voice in Parliament", to allow the party to "remain engaged in national issues", and to be publicly visible until the next election due by 2016. Loh also pointed out that she was "influenced by the wishes of Potong Pasir residents" and she accepted the post as her losing margin was too small.[14]
Following the release of the EBRC report for the 2020 General Election, the Toa Payoh estates under this SMC were transferred into the 4-member Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC while this constituency in return, took the Joo Seng and Woodleigh neighbourhoods from the neighbouring Marine Parade GRC's Geylang Serai ward, to allow further development. Sitoh would defeat Singapore People's Party (SPP) Jose Raymond with a vote count of 60.67% vs 39.33%, winning a third term as the incumbent MP for Potong Pasir.
On 16 April, it was announced Sitoh will not contest the constituency and Alex Yeo, the PAP branch chair for Paya Lebar in Aljunied GRC, will contest the constituency instead.[16] On 22 April, SPP announced that party treasurer Williamson Lee will contest the constituency.[17] On nomination day, secretary-general of the coalition People's Alliance for Reform (PAR), Lim Tean, who is also party chief of Peoples Voice, alongside PAP's Yeo and SPP's Lee, was successfully nominated to contest the constituency, resulting in a three cornered fight between PAP, SPP and PAR.[18]
Note : Elections Department Singapore do not include rejected votes for calculation of candidate's vote share. Hence, the total of all candidates' vote share will be 100%.
11.21
3.72
