After 30 years in opposition politics, Dr. Chee Soon Juan is still in the fight. In this candid, wide-ranging interview, the Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) discusses why he’s contesting again, his thoughts on cost-of-living issues, and how mainstream media unfairly shaped public perception of him, and how social media changed everything for opposition parties. We talk about fear, failure, fatherhood, and why he’s contesting in an SMC and not a GRC. We also cover his strategy for GE2025, how does he handle political disagreements at home, and what’s his message to first-time voters.
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00:00) Our GE2025 Plans
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00:50) Intro
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02:20) Election Strategy and Challenges
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07:08) National Issues and Public Sentiment
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16:03) Reflections on Media, Image and Political Landscape
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21:00) Cafe Business and Personal Insights
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24:15) Voting Process and Public Perception
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27:50) Why Contest in SMC?
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34:27) Graduate Mothers Scheme & Early Political Involvement
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36:43) Independent Newspapers and Social Engineering
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37:22) Joining Politics and PAP Reflections
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40:37) SDP's Ideals
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48:42) Opposition Role and Policies
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59:14) Singapore's Place in New World Order
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01:03:48) Navigating Modern Challenges
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01:09:32) Youth Engagement and Pesonal Growth
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01:12:37) One Shiok Thing
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