NSP gets 249 votes (0.18%), while PPP gets 593 votes (0.43%) in 4-way fight in Tampines GRC

The People's Power Party (PPP) got 593 votes (0.43 per cent), while the National Solidarity Party (NSP) got 249 votes (0.18 per cent) in Tampines GRC.

The total number of valid votes cast were 137,309.

PPP's secretary-general Goh Meng Seng shared his thoughts with the media on his team's performance after voting closed for the day on May 3.

"I'm sure that there are people out there, whether it's on Facebook... who are actually quite supportive of our campaign. However, I think that that may not be enough, right, to push through for this time round," he was quoted by CNA as saying.

He has not commented on his team's performance.

He contested Tampines GRC in the election's sole four-way fight with team members Peter Soh, Derrick Sim, Vere Nathan, and Arbaah Haroun.

Meanwhile, NSP, which has contested Tampines GRC in the last three elections, fielded president Reno Fong, Mohd Ridzwan Mohammad, Eugene Yeo, Zee Phay, and Thamilselvan Karuppaya.

Both PPP and NSP candidates will lose their election deposits.

Each candidate had to put up a deposit of S$13,500.

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.

Top photos from Goh Meng Seng/Facebook and National Solidarity Party/Facebook