On April 12, 2025, Dr Michael Fang officially announced his candidacy for Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency (SMC) in the upcoming General Election. He will be contesting under the banner of the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), a coalition made up of the People’s Voice (PV), the Reform Party, and the Democratic Progressive Party. Dr Fang, who is affiliated with PV, made the announcement before conducting a walkabout at Ang Mo Kio 628 Market, where he distributed bread to residents.
Dr Fang, who currently teaches at a private college, expressed deep concern over the rising cost of living in Singapore. He remarked that many residents in the constituency, especially a mix of elderly citizens and younger adults in their 30s and 40s, have been struggling with inflation, job insecurity, and uncertainty about retirement savings. “We see the people suffering around us,” Dr Fang said. “Life has gotten more difficult.”
He acknowledged that the government has introduced support measures such as Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers — including the S$800 announced by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in the February 2025 Budget — but said these efforts are “largely advised to be insufficient to help the residents.”
Dr Fang said that he and his team have been listening closely to residents’ concerns. He pointed to feedback about the increasing difficulty in stretching household budgets, managing basic expenses, and the anxiety surrounding job security and retirement planning. He said the aim of his campaign is to be a voice for change, not just to challenge the incumbent but also to push for reform within the system. “If you see me supporting the PAP MP, which is not impossible, that means they have actually changed,” he added. “But if you see me on the other side, then the PAP hasn’t reformed that much.”
As part of his policy agenda, Dr Fang called for a reduction in the Goods and Services Tax (GST), applying the lower rate not only to consumers but also businesses. He echoed recent calls from opposition parties such as the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) to reduce GST back to 7 percent. He also expressed concern about the current withdrawal age of the Central Provident Fund (CPF), which PAR believes should be reviewed.
Yio Chu Kang SMC will have 25,368 voters in this election, with a minor adjustment made to its boundaries — one polling district has been moved to Kebun Baru SMC. In the 2020 General Election, the People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Yip Hon Weng won the seat with 60.82 percent of the vote against Kayla Low from the PSP.
Dr Fang previously contested in Jalan Besar GRC during the 2020 election alongside PV founder Lim Tean, Leong Sze Hian, and Nor Azlan Sulaiman. The PAP won that GRC with 65.36 percent of the vote.
He noted that feedback during walkabouts has been "very positive" and that residents have been "very responsive" to his campaign messaging. He stressed the need for change, and for policies that can “remove bad policies” and bring in new ideas through constructive parliamentary engagement.
Aside from Yio Chu Kang SMC, the People’s Alliance for Reform has announced plans to contest in several other constituencies, including Potong Pasir SMC, Kebun Baru SMC, Marymount SMC, Mountbatten SMC, Radin Mas SMC, and the newly created Jalan Kayu and Queenstown SMCs. The alliance will also field teams in Tanjong Pagar GRC and Jalan Besar GRC.
As the General Election draws near, Dr Fang’s campaign adds to the growing number of opposition candidates focusing their campaigns on addressing cost-of-living concerns, GST rollback, CPF reforms, and what they see as a need for greater representation and accountability in Parliament.
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