Political Showdown on the Horizon in Marsiling-Yew Tee

SINGAPORE – Excitement is brewing in the Singaporean political landscape as the founder of the alternative news site Wake Up, Singapore (WUSG), Ariffin Iskandar Sha Ali Akbar, and former Progress Singapore Party (PSP) candidate, Gigene Wong, have joined forces with Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) key figure Jufri Salim in Marsiling.

On April 13, the trio was spotted engaging with the local community, hinting at their ambition to contest the Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the upcoming election. This dynamic partnership underscores a significant shift in the local political climate.

A Seasoned Candidate with Global Experience

Gigene Wong, who made quite a stir during her PSP candidacy for Hong Kah North SMC in the last General Election, brings a wealth of international experience to the table. After spending two decades in China, she climbed the corporate ladder, holding prestigious roles such as CEO of Gulf Oil China and CFO of Foshan Electrical and Lighting, a prominent firm listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

The GRC's Political Arena

The Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, established prior to the 2015 General Election, is preparing for only its third electoral contest. It is currently held by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), which has dominated the arena since its inception.

This election, however, presents a unique challenge to the PAP team, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is taking the helm as the GRC’s leader for the first time as Prime Minister. Accompanying him are Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, North West District Mayor Alex Yam, and Ms. Hany Soh.

A Controversial Path to Politics

Ariffin Sha’s journey to the political arena has not been without controversy. The legal executive faced a defamation charge and was fined $8,000 in 2024 over a false report involving a woman's miscarriage at a local hospital. Nonetheless, his commitment to drive change through the political sphere remains evident.

A Battle for Votes

In the 2020 elections, the PAP secured the GRC with a notable 63.18% of the votes against the SDP, outperforming the national average of 61.24%. As this new group of contenders gears up for a battle, all eyes will be on Marsiling-Yew Tee to see if they can challenge the ruling party's stronghold.

Stay tuned as this political saga unfolds, and watch for the potential shake-up in one of Singapore's prominent GRCs!