SDP youth wing elects seven-member council at inaugural congress

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) youth wing, the Young Democrats (YD), has elected a new seven-member council and adopted a founding charter at its inaugural Congress held on 17 May 2026.

The event took place at SDP party headquarters and was attended by YD members and SDP representatives.

The newly elected council will serve a two-year term spanning 2026 to 2028. The Congress also adopted the Young Democrats Charter, which outlines the organisation's mission, values, structure, and commitment to democratic participation and social justice.

New leadership

Ariffin Sha, 28, was elected president of the YD. Sha is the founder of alternative news site Wake Up Singapore and a lawyer recently called to the Singapore Bar.

Sha made his electoral debut at GE2025 as part of a four-member SDP slate contesting the Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC). High Court clearance had previously permitted him to practise law despite a past criminal defamation conviction.

The full council also comprises Vice-President Alexandra Tan, 32; Honorary Secretary Kenneth Lin, 32; and council members Amir Farihin, 23; Iris Tan, 30; Joshua Shu, 29; and Xavier Tan, 25.

Writing on Facebook, Dr Chee described the incoming team as young professionals drawn from the legal, medical, and communications sectors. He expressed confidence in the group, noting they have "good heads and, more importantly, good hearts."

Youth awakening cited

In his address at the Congress, Sha said: "GE2025 was a political awakening for many. The SDP saw a surge of young people stepping up to serve. Through the Young Democrats, we hope to harness their energy and ideas to continue to fight the good fight."

Sha added that the council hopes to serve "the party and the rakyat [the people] to the best of our abilities," and extended an open invitation to young Singaporeans to join the movement. "The road ahead may be uphill, but the journey will be worthwhile," he said.

The new council outlined five priorities for the coming term: expanding youth participation in civic and political life; developing young leaders through political education and community engagement; strengthening outreach to students and young working adults; building a platform for youth voices on issues such as cost of living, mental health, climate concerns, housing, and employment; and supporting the SDP's broader mission of advancing democracy, justice, and equality in Singapore.

Party leadership support

SDP Vice-Chairman Bryan Lim Boon Heng announced in a statement that he and former YD president Jufri Salim were appointed as liaisons between the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) and the newly elected YD council.

The elections were conducted in the presence of Dr Chee and Party Chairman Dr Paul Tambyah, with the support of several CEC members. Lim noted that the congress took place slightly more than a year after GE2025.

Congratulating the new council, Lim described leadership as "never merely about holding positions," requiring instead "the courage to speak up, the humility to listen and the conviction to serve with integrity even when the path is difficult."

He said the new council carries "significant responsibilities on their young shoulders" in giving voice to the aspirations, concerns, and hopes of Singaporean youth.

Founded in 1999, the YD was among the first youth wings established by an opposition party in Singapore. It was formed to provide politically conscious young Singaporeans with a platform to engage in public affairs, policy discussions, activism, and community organising.

Over the years, the YD has organised forums, political education sessions, ground initiatives, volunteer activities, and advocacy campaigns aimed at encouraging greater democratic participation among young Singaporeans.