GE2015: How much the parties spent

This article is more than 12 months old

$7.1 million. That's how much political parties spent  on last month's General Election, according to expenses submitted to Elections Department

Oct 30, 2015 06:00 am

Compared to campaign spending in the US, the amount spent by Singapore parties at the last General Election looks like loose change.

Throughout the nine days of campaigning in September, candidates spent a total of $7.1 million, based on expenses submitted to the Elections Department.

Since Wednesday, these expenses have been open for scrutiny by the public at a fee of $2 per candidate for a period of six months.

The returns show that the dominant People's Action Party (PAP) spent the most - $5.3 million.

Candidates are allowed to spend $4 for each voter in the constituency they are contesting.

The biggest spender was Yuhua SMC MP Grace Fu (PAP) with $67,114. That works out to $2.97 per voter by the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.

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Meanwhile, the independent candidate for Bukit Batok SMC Samir Salim Neji spent the least in a single ward - just $2,171.65. He spent it on 50 campaign posters, photo prints, petrol and 3,000 postcards.

With a total of $371,887, the PAP's Nee Soon GRC team, led by Home Affairs Minister K.Shanmugam, was the biggest spender in a GRC.

The People's Power Party contesting the Choa Chu Kang GRC rang up only $37,648.25 - the lowest for a GRC.

The GE2015 expenditure is a stark contrast to that of the US presidential campaign for elections due next year.

Candidates have raised hundreds of millions of dollars as they vie for the January primaries when parties choose their nominees.

According to the New York Times, Republican candidate Jeb Bush has raised US$24.8 million (S$34.8 million) and spent US$14.5 million.

SELF-FINANCED

Billionaire Donald Trump, who self-finances his campaign, has raised US$4 million through small donations.

Democratic Party frontrunner Hillary Clinton has pulled in US$77.5 million and spent US$44.5 million so far. It is said that she aims to raise US$1 billion for her campaign.

The UK, which held its general election in May, has stringent election spending rules like Singapore.

Parties there are restricted to spending a maximum of £19.5 million (S$41.8 million), depending on the number of constituencies contested.

What they bought

In a room at Prinsep Link, there are more than 180 folders filled with detailed expenses incurred during the  General Election. The New Paper  sifted through these documents to  find out what candidates spent on