Chee Soon Juan
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|---|---|---|
| Personal details | ||
| Born | 1962|7|20 | |
| Party | Independent | |
| Spouse | Huang Chih-Mei | |
| Alma mater | University of Georgia
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Dr Chee Soon Juan (born 20 July 1962) is a Singaporean politician, author, and activist who has served as the Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) since 1993.
A former neuropsychology lecturer at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Chee is widely regarded as one of Singapore's most vocal and persistent opposition figures, known for his "non-violent civil disobedience" approach and his long-standing legal challenges with the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).
Early Life and Academic Career
Chee was educated at Anglo-Chinese School and National Junior College. He moved to the United States for higher education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Mansfield University and a PhD in Neuropsychology from the University of Georgia in 1990.
Upon returning to Singapore, he joined the National University of Singapore as a lecturer. His entry into politics in 1992 led to a high-profile dismissal from NUS in 1993 over allegations of misusing research funds—a charge Chee denied, claiming it was a politically motivated "vendetta." He staged a 10-day hunger strike in protest of his sacking.
Political Career
Chee was recruited into the SDP by its founder, Chiam See Tong, to contest the 1992 Marine Parade by-election. Following a leadership dispute in 1993, Chiam left the party, and Chee was elected Secretary-General.
Electoral History
Chee has contested multiple General Elections (GE), with his performance seeing a notable upward trend in recent years:
| Election | Constituency | Result | Vote Share (%) |
| 1992 By-election | Marine Parade GRC | Lost | 24.5% |
| 1997 GE | MacPherson SMC | Lost | 34.9% |
| 2001 GE | Jurong GRC | Lost | 20.2% |
| 2016 By-election | Bukit Batok SMC | Lost | 38.8% |
| 2020 GE | Bukit Batok SMC | Lost | 45.2% |
| 2025 GE | Sembawang West SMC | Lost | 46.8% |
Legal Challenges and Bankruptcy
For over a decade, Chee was legally barred from contesting elections due to a bankruptcy order.
- Defamation Suits: In 2001, he was sued for defamation by Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong over remarks made during the election campaign. He was ordered to pay S$500,000 in damages.
- Bankruptcy (2006–2012): Unable to pay the damages, he was declared bankrupt in 2006. This prevented him from contesting the 2006 and 2011 General Elections.
- Imprisonment: Chee has been jailed more than a dozen times, primarily for "speaking in public without a permit" and "organizing illegal assemblies," as he frequently challenged Singapore's Public Order Act.
In 2012, after successful fundraising and a composition with his creditors, Chee was discharged from bankruptcy, allowing him to return to the electoral field in 2015.
Civil Society and Business
In recent years, Chee has pivoted toward social advocacy and entrepreneurship:
- Orange & Teal: In 2021, he opened a café called "Orange & Teal" at Rochester Mall, envisioned as a space for intellectual discussion and community building.
- Authorship: He has authored several books on democracy and Singaporean politics, including Dare to Change (1994) and Never on Bended Knees (2019).
Political Ideology
Chee’s platform often emphasizes:
- Civil Liberties: Advocacy for freedom of speech, assembly, and the press.
- Social Safety Nets: Proposing unemployment insurance and higher taxes on the wealthy to support the poor.
- Mental Health: In the 2025 GE, he focused heavily on Singapore's "mental health crisis," linking it to the high cost of living and social pressure.