Jeremy Tan's 36.16% vote share the highest for an independent candidate in last 53 years

Independent candidate Jeremy Tan got 36.16 per cent of the votes in Mountbatten SMC.

This is the highest vote share for an independent candidate in the last 53 years.

A total of 19,590 votes were cast in the SMC and 7,083 went to the 34-year-old Tan.

There were 473 rejected votes.

His opponent, Gho Sze Kee from the People's Action Party (PAP), got 12,034 votes (63.84 per cent).

1972 result

The last time an independent candidate performed better was in 1972, when Ng Teng Kian won 41.87 per cent of votes in Punggol SMC.

He lost to Ng Kah Ting from the PAP, making it the closest an independent ever got to winning a seat.

Tan's feat in GE2025 surpassed that of opposition stalwart Chiam See Tong, who won 31.83 per cent of votes in Cairnhill SMC, when he contested as an independent candidate in 1976.

Chiam lost to Lim Kim San of the PAP.

Fun fact: Independent candidates ran against Lee Kuan Yew and Lee Hsien Loong in the 1988 general election.

Here is a list of the past results for independent candidates in Singapore's history, as per Elections Department Singapore (ELD).

GE2020: 1 independent candidate

Cheang Peng Wah: Pioneer SMC (2.78 per cent)

Cheang lost to Patrick Tay from the PAP (61.98 per cent).

This SMC saw a three-corner fight with Progress Singapore Party (PSP) candidate Lim Cher Hong (35.24 per cent).

GE2015: 2 independent candidates

Han Hui Hui: Radin Mas SMC (10.04 per cent)

Han lost in this three-corner fight to Sam Tan from PAP (77.25 per cent).

The Reform Party (RP) candidate got 12.71 per cent.

Samir Neji: Bukit Batok SMC 0.6 per cent

He got 150 votes.

GE2011: 0 independent candidate

GE2006: 0 independent candidate

GE2001: 2 independent candidate

Tan Kim Chuang: Bukit Timah SMC (4.92 per cent)

Tan lost to Wang Kai Yuen from the PAP.

Ooi Boon Ewe: Joo Chiat SMC (16.45 per cent)

Ooi lost to Chan Soo Sen from the PAP.

GE1997: 1 independent candidate

Chia Shi Teck: Choa Chu Kang SMC (14.06 per cent)

He lost to Low Seow Chay from the PAP in a four-corner fight.

GE1991: 7 independent candidates

Patrick Leong Siew Choong: Bukit Merah SMC (1.63 per cent)

Leong lost to Ch’ng Jit Koon from the PAP.

Md Sani Jan: Bukit Timah SMC (1.68 per cent)

Sani lost to Wang Kai Yuen from the PAP.

Harry W Baptist: Chua Chu Kang SMC (7.61 per cent)

Kwek Guan Kwee: Chua Chu Kang SMC (23.95 per cent)

Both lost to Low Seow Chay from the PAP.

G K Niddy: Leng Kee SMC (23.43 per cent)

He lost to Ow Chin Hock from the PAP.

Yen Kim Khooi: Mountbatten SMC (22.05 per cent)

Yen lost to Yap Giau Cheng Eugene from the PAP.

Gnaguru s/o Thamboo Mylvaganam: Tanglin SMC (1.23 per cent)

He lost to Lew Syn Pau PAP

GE1988: 4 independent candidates (1st GRC elections)

Chiam Pan Boon: Mountbatten SMC (21.85 per cent)

Chiam lost to Yap Giau Cheng Eugene from the PAP.

Harry Baptist: Serangoon Gardens SMC (25.83 per cent)

He lost to Lau Teik Soon from the PAP.

M G Guru: Tanjong Pagar SMC (18.4 per cent)

He lost to Lee Kuan Yew from the PAP.

Patrick Leong S C: Teck Ghee SMC (20.87 per cent)

He lost to Lee Hsien Loong from the PAP.

GE1984: 3 independent candidates

Lee Mun Hung: Kreta Ayer SMC (16.83 per cent)

Lee lost to Hu Tsu Tau from the PAP.

Tan Ah Teng: Mountbatten SMC (18.68 per cent)

Tan lost to Eugene Yap Giau Cheng from the PAP.

Stanley Mariadass: Sembawang SMC (22.58 per cent)

He lost to Tony Tan Keng Yam from the PAP.

GE1980: 0 independent candidates

GE1976: 2 independent candidates

Chiam See Tong: Cairnhill SMC (31.83 per cent)

Chiam lost to Lim Kim San from the PAP.

Lee Nai Choo: Moulmein SMC (3.8 per cent)

Lee lost to Sia Khoon Seong from the PAP.

GE1972: 2 independent candidates

Kow Kee Seng: Paya Lebar SMC (8.59 per cent)

He lost to Tay Boon Too from the PAP.

Ng Teng Kian: Punggol SMC (41.87 per cent)

He lost to Ng Kah Ting from the PAP.

This was the closest an independent got to winning a seat.

GE1968: 5 independent candidates (1st parliamentary elections)

M. P. D. Nair: Farrer Park SMC (15.09 per cent)

He lost to Lee Chiaw Meng from the PAP.

Darus Shariff: Geylang Serai SMC (16.99 per cent)

He lost to Rahamat b Kenap from the PAP.

Tay Mook Yong: Kampong Ubi SMC (18.13 per cent)

He lost to Yaacob bin Mohamed from the PAP.

T. T. Joseph: Moulemin SMC (9.44 per cent)

He lost to Chia Seong from the PAP.

R Vetrivelu: Tanjong Pagar SMC (5.66 per cent)

He lost to Lee Kuan Yew from the PAP.

Top photos via Jeremy Tan