Socialist Front (Singapore)
Encyclopedia
The Socialist Front is a political party in Singapore
. The SF was formed in 2010 by several former Reform Party and Workers' Party members. The party has the objective of establishing a socialist state in Singapore should it be elected to government. The current Socialist Front has no affiliation with the similarly named Barisan Sosialis
party which existed from 1961 to 1988.
. Several seasoned politicians, namely Mr Mansor Rahman, Mr Ng Pian Ying, Mr Ng Soin Liang and Mr Lim Mie, have also been involved with the launch of the party. Mr Chia Ti Lik was chosen as the founding secretary-general, with Mr Ng Teck Siong taking the position of founding chairman. During the party's press conference on 29 October 2010, the party unveiled its current emblem: the five pointed red star which symbolizes democracy, equality, peace, progress and justice. The 5 pointed star espouses the objective of the party to achieve the above-mentioned goals through national unity
The Party's objectives have been drawn from a socialist ideology, namely from the belief of setting economic and political policies for the good of the common people, the principle of “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”, and lastly, in the belief of equal opportunities to all citizens to allow them to maximize their fullest potential.
, only to be late for nomination by 35 seconds that ensure the only walkover constituency for the 2011 election.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. The SF was formed in 2010 by several former Reform Party and Workers' Party members. The party has the objective of establishing a socialist state in Singapore should it be elected to government. The current Socialist Front has no affiliation with the similarly named Barisan Sosialis
Barisan Sosialis
The Barisan Sosialis is a former Singaporean left-wing political party formed in 1961, by left-wing members of the People's Action Party and led by Dr Lee Siew Choh and Lim Chin Siong.-Formation:...
party which existed from 1961 to 1988.
Founding
The Socialist Front was formed in 2010 by Mr Chia Ti Lik, a lawyer who had contested in the 2006 General Election as a Workers Party candidate, as well as Mr Ng Teck Siong, an opposition veteran who had been with the Workers' Party under the leadership of Mr Joshua Benjamin JeyaretnamJoshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam was a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He was the leader of the Workers' Party from 1971 to 2001...
. Several seasoned politicians, namely Mr Mansor Rahman, Mr Ng Pian Ying, Mr Ng Soin Liang and Mr Lim Mie, have also been involved with the launch of the party. Mr Chia Ti Lik was chosen as the founding secretary-general, with Mr Ng Teck Siong taking the position of founding chairman. During the party's press conference on 29 October 2010, the party unveiled its current emblem: the five pointed red star which symbolizes democracy, equality, peace, progress and justice. The 5 pointed star espouses the objective of the party to achieve the above-mentioned goals through national unity
Ideology and Objectives
The party's ideology was presented during the media conference on 29 October 2010. According to the SF's secretary-general, the party has several objectives :- To further the fundamental rights and liberties of Singaporeans;
- To contest the Parliamentary Elections and establish a socialist government for the benefit of Singaporeans;
- To encourage ownership and active participation of Singaporeans in the affairs and politics of the country;
- To make Singapore a home for all Singaporeans based on the Socialist model;
- To do all ancillary and related acts which espouse and promote the aforesaid objectives.
The Party's objectives have been drawn from a socialist ideology, namely from the belief of setting economic and political policies for the good of the common people, the principle of “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”, and lastly, in the belief of equal opportunities to all citizens to allow them to maximize their fullest potential.
Structure
The Socialist Front is governed by Central Executive Committee (CEC) elected by the Party's cadre members. The present CEC comprises :- Mr. Chia Ti Lik, Secretary-General
- Mr. Ng Teck Siong, Chairman
- Mr. Mansor Rahman, Treasurer
- Mr. Ng Pian Ying, Member
- Mr. Ng Soin Liang, Member
- Mr. Lim Mie, Member
General Election 2011/2012
The Socialist Front is set to compete in its first General Election (to be held by February 2012). The Party's Chairman has indicated that the SF plans to compete in several Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) in the coming elections, although he declined to name the wards as the electoral boundaries are not known yet . However, when the electoral boundaries was out, and indicated some of the SMCs that it wanted to contest such as Mountbatten SMC, but eventually SF had decided not to take part in the election in favor of other opposition party who are contesting as well in order to avoid a 3 corner fight and they had instead, to prepare to contest in Tanjong Pagar GRC by a coaliation with Singapore Democratic AllianceSingapore Democratic Alliance
The Singapore Democratic Alliance is an alliance of political parties in Singapore. The SDA was formed shortly before the 2001 general election to provide a common grouping under which different opposition parties could stand as a united front in elections against the ruling People's Action Party...
, only to be late for nomination by 35 seconds that ensure the only walkover constituency for the 2011 election.
See also
- SocialismSocialismSocialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
- Social DemocracySocial democracySocial democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
- Barisan SosialisBarisan SosialisThe Barisan Sosialis is a former Singaporean left-wing political party formed in 1961, by left-wing members of the People's Action Party and led by Dr Lee Siew Choh and Lim Chin Siong.-Formation:...
- Socialism worldwide
- List of socialist parties
External links
- Socialist Front official site