The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) remains open to collaborating with other opposition parties ahead of the looming general election.

On Sunday (Nov. 3), SDP chairman Paul Tambyah said that conversations with Tan Cheng Bock and his Progress Singapore Party (PSP) had been "encouraging."

He was speaking at an SDP walkabout at the Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre.

Happy to work with other opposition

"These things are not easy, they're going to take lots of negotiations, conversations, and I think they're just moving in the right direction," said Tambyah.

The latest comments come after the SDP screened a video at a recent pre-election rally, which featured opposition politicians such as Tan and Sylvia Lim of the Workers' Party sending well wishes to the SDP.

In describing the party's strategy, Tambyah said:

"We're very happy to work with anybody who's committed to working towards democracy, justice, and equality in Singapore."

The cost of living

Tambyah also noted that many residents he spoke to during the walkabout seemed concerned with the rising cost of living.

"There's a sense that wage increases have not kept pace with rises in the cost of living," he said.

"A lot of this is not inevitable. A lot of it is due to taxes, rental costs, surcharges — things which are well within the control of the government of the day," added Tambyah.

Hopes for greater openness about elections timeline

The SDP chairman, who was recently re-elected as a member of the party's Central Executive Committee, added that many residents wanted to know the date of the general election.

"I tell them I have no idea," he said, laughing.

He suggested that greater openness about when elections would be would facilitate a prolonged campaigning period.

Tambyah added that this would benefit Singaporeans who could then make an "informed choice".

The SDP would continue to "get to know the residents" and engage them in the lead-up to the general elections, he added.

Singapore's Election Commission

Tambyah also suggested that Singapore needed an "independent" election commission, who should not comprise individuals who "in their day jobs report to various ministers".

Tambyah had brought up this issue before, during the Singapore Bicentennial Conference on Sep. 30.

During a question and answer session, he asked Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat about having an election commission that is "independent" of the Prime Minister's Office.

Heng pointed out that Tambyah had described the members of the commission as "independent civil servants", and that the commission needed "expert views".

He added that opposition-held constituencies like Hougang and Aljunied have not been altered.

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Top image by Andrew Koay