Chee Soon Juan launches own co-op to act as 'counterweight' to 'PAP-NTUC' nexus

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is launching the Orange and Teal Social Enterprise Co-operative (OTSEC) to act as a "people-centric economic counterweight to the PAP-NTUC nexus".

SDP chief Chee Soon Juan revealed these plans on May 18, while speaking publicly for the first time since the 2025 General Election, CNA reported.

Chee said the People's Action Party (PAP) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) have dominated Singapore, and NTUC has "lost its way", adding that his party was moving ahead "rather than retreating".

He also called for electoral reforms while speaking to reporters ahead of an appreciation dinner for SDP members.

Offering ownership to Singaporeans

In a Facebook video on May 19, Chee reiterated: "For too long, Singapore's economy has been dominated by a single model, one where power is centralised in the PAP-NTUC nexus. It is a top-down model that has left little room for democratic ownership or real worker agency, and for the creative spirit to grow."

The SDP's cooperative would offer ownership to Singaporeans, as NTUC has "lost its way", and Singapore has been "dominated" by the PAP and NTUC, according to CNA.

"We're looking for Singaporeans to own a part of this business," he said.

Chee described the co-operative as "a model for a people's economy" based on shared ownership and fair-wage employment, countering the top-down approach of the NTUC.

Registered members will pay a S$100 fee.

The OTSEC will take over the Orange and Teal restaurant at Rochester Mall.

The co-operative's website said it wants to empower workers, freelancers, creatives, and small businesses in Singapore through shared ownership, community-driven innovation, and inclusive employment opportunities.

Chee narrowly lost to PAP's Poh Li San by obtaining 46.82 per cent of the vote in Sembawang West SMC.

Under the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme, the best-performing losing opposition candidates are offered NCMP seats to make up the shortfall if there are fewer than 12 opposition MPs elected.

With the WP winning 10 seats, Chee was on track to be offered one of the two NCMP seats until the announcement of WP's even narrower loss at Tampines GRC.

SDP lost in all the four constituencies it contested.

Party to undertake other initiatives

Chee on Sunday also outlined major initiatives to be undertaken by his party, CNA reported.

An online petition on electoral reforms has been put up to "end gerrymandering" and abolish the group representation constituency (GRC) system to return to a single member constituency (SMC) system, as well as called for the removal of the Elections Department (ELD) from the Prime Minister's Office.

The petition also sought for a 21-day campaign period minimally, a six-month gap between the announcement of new electoral boundaries and the dissolution of parliament, and a review of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act in Singapore for media to be free and independent for fair coverage.

Chee, in his Monday video, described GE2025 as a "smash-and-grab election by Mr Lawrence Wong and the PAP".

He said voters did not have enough time to come to terms with the "weighty" national issues before Polling Day, CNA reported.

Chee cited feedback he received from younger voters who felt they were "pushed" to make decisions and emphasised that the petition is a "non-partisan effort".

SDP chairman Paul Tambyah said the online petition could develop into legal challenges and is one of the multi-pronged approaches the party is taking over the next five years.

Top photos via SDP & Ariffin Sha