March 01, 2017, 06:19 PM 
Sin Kek Tong, the founder of the Singapore People's Party (SPP) and opposition veteran, has passed away at the age of 72.
According to the Straits Times (ST), Sin died on Monday night (Feb. 27).
Sin was active in politics for more than 20 years, and contested in six general elections (GEs).
In 1988, under the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) helmed by Chiam See Tong, Sin contested in his first GE. Running in the Braddell Heights constituency, Sin lost to the People Action Party's (PAP) Goh Choon Kang, garnering 41.2 per cent of the votes.
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SDP holding a press conference at Braddell Secondary School after winning Potong Pasir constituency in GE 1988. From left: Sin Kek Tong (Braddell Heights), Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir), and Mohamed Shariff b Yahya (Kim Keat). Source: NAS [/caption]
In 1991, Sin stood against Goh again at Braddell Heights. This time, he narrowly lost to Goh by nearly 1,200 votes, scoring 47.73 per cent.
Source: ELD
Sin would later leave the SDP, along with a faction of pro-Chiam supporters, after a disagreement erupted between Chiam and his protege Chee Soon Juan.
On Nov. 21, 1994, Sin founded the SPP, and served as its temporary leader until Chiam came onboard in 1996 to take over the party's reins for the 1997 GE.
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SPP's logo. Source: Wikipedia [/caption]
During GE 1997, Sin contested against Tan Cheng Bock of the PAP in Ayer Rajah. He lost to Tan, faring poorly with 26.83 per cent of the votes.
Source: ELD
GE 2001 saw Sin contesting in a GRC for his first and only time. Under the Singapore Democratic Alliance banner, which Sin's SPP was a part of, his team in Jalan Besar GRC lost to the PAP, scoring 25.51 per cent of the votes.
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Sin speaking at a rally in GE 2011. Source NAS [/caption]
Source: ELD
Sin would stand in two more GEs - 2006 and 2011 - in the Single Member Constituencies of MacPherson and Hong Kah North respectively, and losing in both to the PAP candidate.
GE 2006. Source: ELD
GE 2011. Source ELD
In 2011, Sin who was SPP's chairman, announced that he was stepping down, due to health reasons and for the party's leadership renewal.
Top image from NAS.
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