The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has unveiled a bold set of proposals ahead of the upcoming General Election on May 3, outlining a sweeping manifesto that includes selling new HDB flats for as low as $90,000, making maternal and paediatric care mostly free, and abolishing the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
The 2025 manifesto was launched on April 20 at Yew Tee Square, within Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, by party chairman Professor Paul Tambyah. Accompanying him were vice-chairman Bryan Lim, organising secretary Jufri Salim, and Gigene Wong, who are among the party’s slated candidates.
The manifesto expands on SDP’s campaign slogan, “Thrive, Not Just Survive”, introduced a day earlier, and is built around six policy thrusts: fair taxation, universal healthcare, sustainable living, rational immigration, affordable housing, and inclusive education.
Affordable Housing Through the NOM Scheme
At the heart of the housing proposal is the Non-Open Market (NOM) scheme. Under this, new flats would be priced based on construction and administrative costs only—excluding land cost—with prices ranging from:
- $90,000 for a 2-room flat
- $120,000 for 3-room
- $200,000 for 4-room
- $270,000 for 5-room units
Studio apartments with 30-year leases could go for as low as $40,000.
These NOM flats would not be sold on the open market but returned to HDB at the purchase price minus the consumed lease, ensuring affordability across generations.
Healthcare and Education Overhauls
The SDP also proposes free maternal and paediatric care, funded through taxation, to reduce financial barriers to raising children and potentially improve Singapore’s low birth rates.
On education, the party is calling for the abolishment of the PSLE, interest-free loans for all undergraduates, and the nationalisation of preschools to ensure early childhood education is affordable and equitable.
Contesting Five Constituencies
SDP plans to field candidates in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Bukit Panjang SMC, Sembawang GRC, and the newly created Sembawang West SMC. Party stalwarts Dr Chee Soon Juan and Prof Tambyah will contest Sembawang West and Bukit Panjang respectively.
Their Marsiling-Yew Tee team includes Jufri Salim, Gigene Wong, Ariffin Sha, and Alec Tok. In Sembawang GRC, SDP is fielding Bryan Lim, James Gomez, Surayah Akbar, Damanhuri Abas, and Alfred Tan.
With bold promises and a renewed slate of candidates, the SDP is pushing a message of transformation, pitching itself as a party ready to tackle the cost of living, inequality, and social mobility.
