National Solidarity Party (Singapore)
Encyclopedia
The National Solidarity Party (NSP) is an opposition political party
in Singapore
. The party was formed in 1987, and joined the Singapore Democratic Alliance
(SDA) political grouping in 2001, before withdrawing from the alliance in 2007. To date, no member of the party has won an election to claim a constituency seat in Parliament
. However the party's fomer Secretary-General, Steve Chia
, served as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament
(NCMP) from 2001 to 2006.
In 2001, the NSP became a founding member of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), along with the Singapore Justice Party
(SJP), the Singapore People's Party
(SPP) and the Singapore Malay National Organization (PKMS). The Chairman of the alliance was the SPP leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Potong Pasir
, Chiam See Tong
.
At the 2001 general election
, Chiam was re-elected as MP for Potong Pasir, and NSP Secretary-General Steve Chia became the SDA's second representative in Parliament when he earned a position as a Non-Constituency MP. Chia achieved this by garnering 34.6% of the votes in the constituency of Chua Chu Kang
, which was the highest percentage of the vote secured by a losing opposition candidate at the election.
At the 2006 general election
, the NSP again fielded candidates as part of the SDA grouping. However Chiam was the only SDA candidate to enter Parliament at that election when he was re-elected as MP for Potong Pasir. Steve Chia increased his share of the vote in Chua Chu Kang to 39.63%, but this was lower than than the 43.9% gained by the Worker's Party
in Aljunied GRC
, and hence Chia lost his position as a Non-Constituency MP.
In 2007, the NSP decided to withdraw from the SDA with a view to "explore new possibilities through wider latitude to manoeuvre, re-engineer, and rebuild the NSP". Sebastian Teo also took over the leadership of the party from Steve Chia. The party acquired a new collective colour of orange
for their activity jersey as a sign of vitality and rebirth. The party's newsletter underwent a transformation and adopted the new name North Star.
Political Objectives
• To build a multi-Party democracy by winning seats in the next General Election.
• To organise and maintain an active ground presence to understand the people’s need and concerns.
• To provide a credible platform for the people to express their views and concerns so as to influence government policies.
Mission Statements
• The NSP exists to uphold democracy and provide constructive ideas to benefit the society.
• We shall positively promote the establishment of a multi-Party political system.
• The NSP envisions to be a credible and caring ruling Party.
Core Value
NSP believes in the human potential, dignity and rights of all people regardless of race, language and religion. The Party is committed towards the building of a more open, dynamic, vibrant and inclusive society through consensus and the democratic process. It also values the contribution of each and every member towards the promotion of its potential cause. The Party activates its core values through its motto: Building A Society For All.
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
in Singapore
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 party was formed in 1987, and joined the Singapore Democratic Alliance
Singapore 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...
(SDA) political grouping in 2001, before withdrawing from the alliance in 2007. To date, no member of the party has won an election to claim a constituency seat in Parliament
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
. However the party's fomer Secretary-General, Steve Chia
Steve Chia
Steve Chia Kiah Hong is a politician from Singapore. He is the former Secretary-General and current Treasurer of the opposition National Solidarity Party...
, served as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament
Non-Constituency Members of Parliament are members of the opposition parties who are appointed as members of the Parliament of Singapore even though they had lost in the parliamentary election....
(NCMP) from 2001 to 2006.
History
The NSP was founded by a group of middle-class businessmen and women in July 1987. The party has contested every general election in Singapore since 1988.In 2001, the NSP became a founding member of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), along with the Singapore Justice Party
Singapore Justice Party
The Justice Party, Singapore is a political party in Singapore.The party has been based mostly in Marine Parade district of Singapore since the party has taken part in general elections after 1988 by fielding its candidates only at Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency...
(SJP), the Singapore People's Party
Singapore People's Party
The Singapore People's Party is a left of centre opposition political party in Singapore. The party's leader is Chiam See Tong.-Foundation:...
(SPP) and the Singapore Malay National Organization (PKMS). The Chairman of the alliance was the SPP leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Potong Pasir
Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency
Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency is a Single Member Constituency in the central region of Singapore.-Location:The SMC encompasses Potong Pasir, Lorong 8 Toa Payoh and Tannery...
, Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He is the country's longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament . Between 1984 and 2011, he represented the constituency of Potong Pasir in Singapore's Parliament....
.
At the 2001 general election
Singapore general election, 2001
The Singapore parliamentary general elections of 2001 were held on 3 November. The People's Action Party, the incumbent ruling party, won 82 out of 84 seats in the election, including 55 walkovers...
, Chiam was re-elected as MP for Potong Pasir, and NSP Secretary-General Steve Chia became the SDA's second representative in Parliament when he earned a position as a Non-Constituency MP. Chia achieved this by garnering 34.6% of the votes in the constituency of Chua Chu Kang
Chua Chu Kang Single Member Constituency
Chua Chu Kang Single Member Constituency is a defunct Single Member Constituency located in the western region of Singapore. The constituency encompasses Choa Chu Kang New Town...
, which was the highest percentage of the vote secured by a losing opposition candidate at the election.
At the 2006 general election
Singapore general election, 2006
The 2006 Singapore parliamentary general election was held on 6 May 2006. 1.22 million out of the 2.16 million eligible Singaporeans voted for Members of Parliament and elected their next government. The People's Action Party , in its first election under Lee Hsien Loong, won 66.6% of the overall...
, the NSP again fielded candidates as part of the SDA grouping. However Chiam was the only SDA candidate to enter Parliament at that election when he was re-elected as MP for Potong Pasir. Steve Chia increased his share of the vote in Chua Chu Kang to 39.63%, but this was lower than than the 43.9% gained by the Worker's Party
Workers' Party of Singapore
The Workers' Party of Singapore is a centre-left opposition political party in Singapore. The party currently has six elected seats in Parliament, with the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, Chairman Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Pritam Singh serving as Members of...
in Aljunied GRC
Aljunied Group Representation Constituency
Aljunied Group Representation Constituency is a five-member group representation constituency in the north-eastern region of Singapore. The GRC consists of a large part of Hougang, Serangoon Gardens, a portion of Bedok and Aljunied...
, and hence Chia lost his position as a Non-Constituency MP.
In 2007, the NSP decided to withdraw from the SDA with a view to "explore new possibilities through wider latitude to manoeuvre, re-engineer, and rebuild the NSP". Sebastian Teo also took over the leadership of the party from Steve Chia. The party acquired a new collective colour of orange
Orange (colour)
The colour orange occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum at a wavelength of about 585–620 nm, and has a hue of 30° in HSV colour space. It is numerically halfway between red and yellow in a gamma-compressed RGB colour space, the expression of which is the RGB colour wheel. The...
for their activity jersey as a sign of vitality and rebirth. The party's newsletter underwent a transformation and adopted the new name North Star.
Objectives and mission
In late-2007, the NSP formulated a set of political objectives and mission statements:Political Objectives
• To build a multi-Party democracy by winning seats in the next General Election.
• To organise and maintain an active ground presence to understand the people’s need and concerns.
• To provide a credible platform for the people to express their views and concerns so as to influence government policies.
Mission Statements
• The NSP exists to uphold democracy and provide constructive ideas to benefit the society.
• We shall positively promote the establishment of a multi-Party political system.
• The NSP envisions to be a credible and caring ruling Party.
Core Value
NSP believes in the human potential, dignity and rights of all people regardless of race, language and religion. The Party is committed towards the building of a more open, dynamic, vibrant and inclusive society through consensus and the democratic process. It also values the contribution of each and every member towards the promotion of its potential cause. The Party activates its core values through its motto: Building A Society For All.
14th Central Executive Council
- President: Sebastian TeoTeo Kway Huang SebastianSebastian Teo Kway Huang is a Singaporean politician who is currently the President of the National Solidarity Party in Singapore.-2001 Election:...
- Vice-President: Jeannette Chong Aruldoss
- Secretary-General: Hazel PoaHazel PoaHazel Koon Koon Poa is a member of the National Solidarity Party.- Biography :She runs a private school in Singapore as well as a chain of education centres in Singapore and Indonesia, which she co-founded with her husband. She graduated from the University of Cambridge with a First Class Honours...
- Assistant Secretary-General: Reno Fong
- Treasurer: Christopher Neo
- Assistant Treasurer: Noraini Bte Yunus
- First Organising Secretary: Gan Theng Wei
- Second Organising Secretary: Ivan Yeo
- Webmaster: Elvin Ong
- Council Member: Kwan Yue Keng
- Council Member: Nicole Seah
- Council Member: Raymond Lim
- Council Member: Steve ChiaSteve ChiaSteve Chia Kiah Hong is a politician from Singapore. He is the former Secretary-General and current Treasurer of the opposition National Solidarity Party...
- Council Member: Syafarin Bin Sarif
- Council Member: Tan Chee Kien
- Council Member: Tony Tan Lay ThiamTony Tan Lay ThiamNot to be confused with Tony Tan Keng Yam, the 7th President of Singapore.Tony Tan Lay Thiam is a member of the National Solidarity Party.- Biography :* Attended Victoria Junior College...