Lim Tean expected to lose S$13,500 deposit again: Sample count

The sample count for Potong Pasir SMC is in, and it looks like Lim Tean from People's Alliance for Reform (PAR) might lose his election deposit again.

Lim, who founded People's Voice (PV), emerged from the three-cornered fight in Potong Pasir SMC with 8 per cent of the votes, according to sample counts just released by the Elections Department (ELD).

Lim contested in Potong Pasir SMC under the PAR banner, a coalition of three opposition political parties in Singapore: the Democratic Progressive Party, the Reform Party, and PV.

In the 2020 general election, Lim led the PV team for Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

They secured 12.18 per cent of the votes and had to forfeit their deposits.

Requiring election deposit ensures serious candidates

Benchmarked against the prevailing fixed monthly allowance payable to an elected Member of Parliament (MP) in Singapore, the election deposit is required from all who wishes to contest in parliamentary elections.

The deposit is forfeited if the candidate fails to secure one-eighth (or 12.5 per cent) of the votes in the constituency they are contesting.

But why is there a need for a deposit in the first place?

Speaking on the topic in Parliament back in 2018, then-Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said requiring a deposit ensures that "only those who are serious in contesting in the elections step forward".

However, the election deposit cannot be so high that it essentially becomes a barrier to entry for prospective candidates.

Setting the deposit amount at one month's worth of an MP's allowance strikes a balance, said Chan.

It has also worked "reasonably well" since Singapore started holding elections, added the minister.