To: The Prime Minister of Singapore and the Speaker of Parliament

Date: February 23, 2026

Statement of Purpose

We, the citizens of Singapore, respectfully submit this petition to call for a renewed democratic mandate in our constituency. We believe that the current trade environment represents a fundamental shift from the promises made during the May 2025 General Election, necessitating a return to the electorate, consistent with the highest standards of political accountability in Singapore’s history.

Grounds for Petition

1. The "1957 Principle" of Accountability
We draw direct inspiration from the 1957 Tanjong Pagar by-election. When Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, faced a fundamental shift in the national landscape regarding constitutional negotiations, he chose to resign his seat to seek a fresh mandate from his people. He understood that leadership is not just about holding office, but about ensuring the people’s current consent for the path being taken. We believe the current crisis in U.S.-Singapore trade relations requires a similar act of political integrity.

2. A Mandate Based on "Crisis Management" Expectations
During the GE2025 campaign, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong explicitly positioned Mr. Gan Kim Yong as the "Taskforce Man," emphasizing his unique experience in negotiating with U.S. counterparts. The voters of Punggol GRC were asked to support this team based on the expectation that such "steady hands" would successfully shield the Singapore economy from the brunt of global trade volatility.

3. The Qualitative Gap Between Promises and Reality
While we acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT), the announcement on February 21, 2026, of a 15% across-the-board U.S. tariff represents an outcome that falls significantly short of the economic security envisioned during the 2025 campaign.
Although specific exemptions for sectors like pharmaceuticals have been discussed, the broader "blanket" nature of the 15% tariff threatens the viability of many local SMEs and the cost of living for Punggol residents.
In our view, the mandate given in 2025 was for a level of protection that has not materialized.

4. Seeking a Fresh Mandate for a New Economic Reality
DPM Gan himself has recently noted that it would be "very difficult to negotiate for an exemption" if tariffs are applied across the board. Since the primary justification for Mr. Gan’s deployment to Punggol was his ability to secure such outcomes, we believe the original basis for his election has been fundamentally altered. To continue without a fresh mandate risks a "disconnect" between the government’s trade strategy and the will of the residents who must live with its consequences.

Formal Request
In the spirit of the accountability shown by Lee Kuan Yew in 1957, we respectfully request that:

DPM Gan Kim Yong vacates his seat in Punggol GRC to allow for a by-election. The Government can treats this as an opportunity to seek a fresh, explicit mandate from the people of Punggol on its updated economic resilience and trade strategy in this "15% tariff" era.