Lim Tean

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Lim.
Lim Tean
林鼎
Lim in 2025
1st Secretary-General of the People's Alliance for Reform
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 October 2023
Preceded byPosition established
1st Secretary-General of the Peoples Voice
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 October 2018
Preceded byPosition established
5th Secretary-General of the
National Solidarity Party
In office
30 August 2015 – 18 May 2017
Preceded byJeannette Chong-Aruldoss
Succeeded bySpencer Ng
Personal details
Born (1964-11-17) 17 November 1964 (age 60)
Singapore
Political partyPeople's Alliance for Reform
(2023–present)
Peoples Voice
(2018–present)
Other political
affiliations		National Solidarity Party
(2011–2017)
Alma materHwa Chong Junior College
University of Reading (LLB)
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (LLM)
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • politician

Lim Tean (IPA: /tjɛn/ TYEN; Chinese: 林鼎; pinyin: Lín Dǐng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Téng; born 17 November 1964) is a Singaporean lawyer and politician. He is the founder of the political party Peoples Voice (PV) and a co-founder of the political alliance People's Alliance for Reform (PAR), which includes PV, and has been the secretary-general of both since their respective creations in 2018 and 2023. He had previously been the secretary-general of the National Solidarity Party (NSP) between 2015 and 2017.

Early life

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Lim was born in 1964 as the eldest son of Lim Chin Teong, a senior civil servant who served as Chief Executive Director of the People's Association (PA) between the late 1970s and early 1980s. His mother, Aw Eng Lian, was a Chinese-language teacher at Zhonghua Girls School for over 40 years. Both of Lim's parents graduated from Nanyang University, a defunct university in Singapore.[1]

At the age of seven, Lim enrolled into Montfort Junior School for his primary education but was disrupted after his father accepted a posting by the Singapore Government as First Secretary in Singapore's mission to the Soviet Union, and Lim travelled with his family to live in Moscow.[2] While in the Soviet Union, Lim attended the Anglo-American School of Moscow between 1971 and 1974.[citation needed]

After three years in the Soviet Union, Lim's parents became increasingly worried about the future of his children's education. They resolved for Lim's father to return to Singapore and transfer to the civil service. Consequently, Lim returned to Montfort Junior School as a Primary 4 student. He continued there and went on to attend Montfort Secondary School. After graduating from Montfort Secondary School, Lim entered Hwa Chong Junior College, where he was a student councillor. He took biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics for his A Level examinations.[citation needed]

After his graduation from Hwa Chong Junior College, Lim enlisted into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to complete his National Service and was commissioned as an artillery officer.[citation needed]

[edit]

In 1985, Lim went to England to study law at the University of Reading. He was conferred a LLB in 1988 and resided in London as a qualified barrister at the Middle Temple.[3] He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1989. He further studied a Master of Law (LLM) degree at Gonville and Caius College at the University of Cambridge. Lim remained in Cambridge from 1989 to 1990.[citation needed]

After being conferred his LLM, Lim returned to Singapore and was recruited by Drew & Napier LLC in 1990. He was admitted to the Singapore Bar in June 1991. At Drew and Napier, Lim became the pupil of Steven Chong, who became the Singaporean Attorney-General from 2012 to 2014. Lim joined Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP on 2 January 1998 and became its Head of the Admiralty & Shipping department in 2000. In 2007, Lim was promoted to equity partnership in Rajah and Tann.[citation needed]

Concurrently in 2007, Lim took a sabbatical from the legal practice to explore the business world. He founded an Indonesian mining company based out of Sulawesi.[4] His mining company became the first company to produce and ship iron-ore from the island.[5][6] In 2017, Lim returned to Singapore and founded his law firm Carson Law Chambers.[7]

Defamation trial between Leong Sze Hian and Lee Hsien Loong

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Lim represented anti-government critic and blogger Leong Sze Hian in a defamation case brought by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 8 December 2018.[8] A cross-examination of Lee was held from 6 to 9 October 2020.[9]

The trial began with the cross examination of Lee on 6 October. It lasted for 5 hours.[10] On the second day of the trial an expert witness named Dr Phan Tuan Quang from the Hong Kong University Business School for the Plaintiff was cross examined.[11][10] This too lasted for slightly over 5 hours. The trial ended when Lim argued that there was "no case to submit" before Leong was scheduled to take the stand to be cross-examined.[10][11][12] The closing written submissions was due on 30 November 2020 and it had been agreed that these would not exceed 200 pages.[13][14] In March 2021, the High Court ordered for Leong to pay Lee $133,000, which Lim called it ‘a wrong and deeply flawed’ decision.[15]

Political career

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Lim first became involved in politics in 2011 when he joined the NSP. However, he remained relatively inactive within the party until 2015, when secretary-general Hazel Poa resigned, protesting the party's desire to contest MacPherson Single Member Constituency (SMC), which the Workers' Party (WP) had already targeted.[16]

One week before the 2015 general elections, the leadership of the NSP approached Lim, inviting him to serve as their acting secretary-general.[17] Despite the relatively short time before the election, Lim accepted, becoming a candidate for Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC). receiving 24.9% of the votes cast. In May 2017, Lim resigned from his position, citing disagreements with the party.[18][19][20]

In 2018, Lim together with other opposition leaders called for an alliance of Singaporean opposition parties, with Tan Cheng Bock being proposed as its leader.[21] However, this failed to materialise.[22] The call for a similar alliance was repeated before the general elections in 2020.[23]

On 29 October 2018, Lim announced the founding of a new political party headed by himself, calling it Peoples Voice.[24][25]

During the 2020 general election, PV contested two GRCs and one SMC; Lim personally contested Jalan Besar GRC, being defeated by the governing People's Action Party (PAP) with 34.64% of the vote.[26][27]

Leading up to the 2025 Singaporean general election, in 2023, Lim worked to form a four-party alliance, People's Alliance for Reform to contest in the general election. The alliance initially consisted of Peoples Voice, Reform Party, People’s Power Party and Democratic Progressive Party.[28] However, People’s Power Party withdrew from the alliance in February 2025 as PPP insisted on contesting in Tampines GRC and also due to its differing stance on Singapore's COVID-19 vaccination programme, of which PPP had previously called for a suspension.[29]

PAR would contest in six constituencies with thirteen candidates. Two of these constituencies, Radin Mas SMC and Potong Pasir SMC would be three-cornered fights against SPP and an independent candidate respectively.[30] On Nomination Day, Lim was revealed to be PAR's candidate in Potong Pasir SMC, in a three-cornered fight against SPP candidate Williamson Lee and PAP candidate Alex Yeo.[31] Throughout the campaign, Lim promised free education and healthcare if elected.[32] However, Lim would lose his $13,500 deposit after receiving 8.35% of the votes against SPP's 22.47% and PAP's 69.18%.[33][34]

Litigation proceedings

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Bankruptcy applications

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In September 2013, a Chinese national, Huang Min, and Lim entered into an agreement in which Huang agreed to lend US$150,000 to Lim.[35] However, their agreement was disputed over whether it was a loan or a deposit for the purchase of the iron ore mine.[35] Lim appealed to the High Court but withdrew the appeal on 15 January 2019. A day later, he issued two cheques to settle the monies and legal costs, ahead of another hearing scheduled on 17 January 2019, and Huang withdrew the application.[36]

An article by The Straits Times published on 22 June 2020 stated that Lim is involved in two bankruptcy applications from DBS Bank and Sing Wing (I & E), a trading company, totalling about S$1.45 million.[37] A hearing for the application by Sing Wing (I & E) was scheduled on 16 July 2020, while there was no further details about DBS Bank's applications.[37] In an interview with The Online Citizen, Lim denied the bankruptcy applications by DBS and Sing Wing, and said it was a smearing technique to damage his image by the mainstream media.[38] Lim stated that he was not contacted by The Straits Times and that he was "not going to be bankrupted", and that the sum owed was "total rubbish".[38]

Alleged criminal breach of trust and harassment charges

[edit]

On 2 October 2020, Lim was arrested after he refused to cooperate with the police by not turning for a compulsory police interview scheduled on 28 September, of which could be rescheduled, and not intending to be interviewed.[39] He was suspected for alleged criminal breach of trust, in which a former client reported him for allegedly misappropriating a sum of money awarded to him as damages by the court.[40][41] He was also suspected of unlawful stalking, in which a former female employee alleged harassment from him while being employed in his law firm.[40] The arrest was carried out while Lim was preparing with Leong for an upcoming cross-examination of Lee in the defamation lawsuit.[42] Lim alleged that the investigations were politically motivated, which the police refuted, stating that it had a duty to investigate the allegations.[42] Leong later posted bail for Lim.[41]

Lim sought for a judicial review to discontinue investigations into him by the authorities, however it was dismissed by a judge on 8 December 2020, stating that the application was "utterly devoid of any legal merit whatsoever".[43]

References

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  1. ^ "People's Association (PA) Executive Director Lim Chin Tiong …". www.nas.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Bringing Different Communities Together: The People's Association Story" (PDF). www.clc.gov.sg. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  3. ^ "NSP chief Lim Tean quits after less than 2 years". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Opposition leader Lim Tean tells TODAY to do its job and bring up pressing issues faced by S'poreans". The Online Citizen. 20 December 2018. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  5. ^ Alkhatib, Shaffiq (18 December 2018). "Former NSP chief Lim Tean issued writ of summons over unpaid loan of US$150,000 which he disputed". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  6. ^ Alkhatib, Shaffiq (19 December 2018). "Former NSP chief Lim Tean issued writ of summons over unpaid loan". The New Paper. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  7. ^ "CARSON LAW CHAMBERS – Profile, contacts and insights | The Grid". sgpgrid.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  8. ^ Lai, Linette (5 December 2018). "PM Lee Hsien Loong begins legal action against blogger for defamation". The Straits Times. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. ^ "PM Lee to take the stand in defamation trial involving Lim Tean, Leong Sze Hian". AsiaOne. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "PM Lee v Leong Sze Hian defamation suit: Blogger declines to take stand, lawyer says there's no case to answer". CNA. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  11. ^ a b Kurohi, Rei; Yuen-C, Tham (7 October 2020). "PM Lee's libel suit against Leong Sze Hian: Lawyer Lim Tean questions independence, credibility of expert who says fake news spreads faster". The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  12. ^ Kurohi, Rei (8 October 2020). "PM's libel hearing adjourned to Nov 30; Leong decides not to take the stand". The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  13. ^ Kurohi, Rei (8 October 2020). "PM Lee's libel suit adjourned to Nov 30 after blogger Leong Sze Hian decides to not take witness stand". The New Paper. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  14. ^ Bah, Tan Bah. "Lee Hsien Loong versus Leong Sze Hian: The winner is Lim Tean". Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  15. ^ Romero, Anna Maria. "Lim Tean calls High Court order for Leong Sze Hian to pay PM Lee S$133,000 'a wrong and deeply flawed' decision". Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  16. ^ Sim, Walter (19 August 2015). "NSP acting sec-gen Hazel Poa resigns, says she strongly disagrees with decision to contest MacPherson". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  17. ^ "NSP gets new acting secretary-general". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  18. ^ "NSP chief Lim Tean quits after less than 2 years". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  19. ^ Cheong, Danson (23 May 2017). "NSP sec-gen Lim Tean quits party". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  20. ^ "Lim Tean announces resignation from National Solidarity Party". The Online Citizen. 22 May 2017. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  21. ^ Yuen, Sin (28 July 2018). "7 opposition parties discuss forming a new coalition, invite former PAP MP Tan Cheng Bock to be leader". The Straits Times. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  22. ^ "With no Tan Cheng Bock-led alliance in sight, opposition parties turn to plan Bs". TODAYonline. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  23. ^ "Proposed alliance of smaller opposition parties to contest GE under single banner, other parties 'can join anytime'". TODAYonline. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  24. ^ "Former opposition party chief Lim Tean forms new political party, People's Voice". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  25. ^ Rajah, Obbana. "Is the People's Voice Party planning to contest at PM Lee's Ang Mo Kio GRC?". theindependent.sg. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  26. ^ Wong, Cara (30 June 2020). "GE2020: PAP to battle it out with Peoples Voice in Jalan Besar GRC". Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  27. ^ "GE2025: PAP wins Jalan Besar GRC, widens lead with 75.21% of votes". The Straits Times. 4 May 2025. Archived from the original on 27 July 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025. The result by the PAP team was an improvement from GE2020, where the PAP team won with 65.36 per cent of the votes against Peoples Voice (PV) – which is now a member of PAR.
    PV, then led by party chief Lim Tean, obtained 34.64 per cent of the votes.
    Mr Lim, who is secretary-general of PAR, did not lead his team in this general election. Instead, he was in a three-cornered fight with Singapore People's Party treasurer Williiamson Lee and Mr Alex Yeo of the PAP for Potong Pasir SMC.
  28. ^ "4 opposition parties form alliance to contest in Singapore's next General Election". CNA. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  29. ^ "People's Power Party withdraws from four-party opposition alliance, aims to contest in Tampines". CNA. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  30. ^ "GE2025: Who's contesting where, at a glance". CNA. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  31. ^ "GE2025: People's Alliance for Reform reiterates plans to contest Potong Pasir, despite SPP appeal". CNA. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  32. ^ Yustika (26 April 2025). "GE2025: PAR's Lim Tean pledges free education and healthcare, criticises PAP's track record". The Online Citizen. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  33. ^ "GE2025: PAR's Lim Tean vows to 'come back much stronger', after alliance loses in all 6 constituencies". CNA. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  34. ^ "Lim Tean expected to lose S$13,500 deposit again: Sample count". mothership.sg. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  35. ^ a b Lum, Selina. "Opposition politician Lim Tean avoids bankruptcy over $200k loan". Straits Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  36. ^ "Chinese businessman withdraws bankruptcy application against Lim Tean". todayonline.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  37. ^ a b Lum, Selina (22 June 2020). "Lawyer and Peoples Voice party chief Lim Tean faces separate bankruptcy applications over nearly $1.45m". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  38. ^ a b "PV chief Lim Tean slams mainstream media for smearing his name right before GE". The Online Citizen. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  39. ^ "Lim Tean arrested for alleged criminal breach of trust, under investigation for alleged stalking: Police". CNA. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  40. ^ a b "Lim Tean arrested for alleged breach of trust, under investigation for alleged stalking: Police". CNA. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  41. ^ a b Koh, Fabian (2 October 2020). "Opposition politician Lim Tean arrested for criminal breach of trust, investigated for unlawful stalking". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  42. ^ a b "Lim Tean arrested for allegedly misappropriating client's money & stalking ex-staff". mothership.sg. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  43. ^ "'Utterly devoid of any legal merit': Judge dismisses Lim Tean's bid to prevent police from investigating him". CNA. Retrieved 9 December 2020.