The Singapore Democratic Party (abbreviation: SDP) is an opposition political party in Singapore. The party was founded on 6 August 1980 by Chiam See Tong. During the 1991 general election, Ling How Doong and Cheo Chai Chen won Bukit Gombak SMC and Nee Soon SMC respectively, giving the party a total of three seats in Parliament. When Chiam fell out with the party's Central Executive Committee in 1993 and subsequently left the party in 1996 for the splinter Singapore People's Party (SPP), the party became destabilised. Chiam was succeeded by Chee Soon Juan, who has remained as Secretary-General ever since. A centrist to centre-left political party, the SDP ideologically draw upon both liberalism and social democracy. Different factions have dominated the party at different times, with the party goals being relatively distinct during the Chiam and Chee leadership. Members of the party have its own ideological bent, some leaning towards the centre-left and others the centre. Since the 2000s, the party has since focused more on a liberal human rights agenda. The party has called for a few reforms to the Constitution. Among others, it emphasises stronger protections for civil liberties and promotes social liberal approaches to issues as well as changes to education, healthcare and housing policies. It also favours more social welfare spending for Singaporeans and decreasing the rates of immigration. The party is both a member of Liberal International and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats. History Founding The SDP was founded on 6 August 1980 by lawyer Chiam See Tong, who had contested several elections as an independent candidate in the 1970s, together with consultant engineer Fok Tai Loy and businessman Ernest Chew Tian Ern, who they took the roles of the party's founding Secretary-General, Chairman, and Assistant Secretary-General, respectively. The main objectives of the party were declared to be the "elimination of colonialism and feudalism, the safeguarding of parliamentary democracy and upholding of the principles of democracy, socialism and the constitution." Two months later, on 19 October 1980, the party unveiled its emblem: a circle (which symbolises unity amongst Singapore's ethnic groups), behind an arrow (representing political progress in Singapore) in the colour red (signifying courage and determination). The party was inaugurated on 21 September 1981, a full year after being registered as a political party. Leadership under Chiam See Tong (1980–1993) 1980 and 1984 general elections The party entered the election campaign of