Jufrie Mahmood
Encyclopedia
Mohamed Jufrie bin Mahmood is a politician
from Singapore
. He was a prominent opposition
political figure in the country in the 1980s and 1990s, when he stood in elections as a candidate for both the Singapore Democratic Party
(SDP) and the Workers' Party
. He became the Chairman
of the SDP in 2011.
. He was defeated by Yatiman Yusof of the governing People's Action Party
(PAP) by 8,210 votes (44.3%) to 10,326 (55.7%).
At the 1988 general election, Jufrie stood as a candidate for the SDP in the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency
. Jufrie and fellow SDP members Ashleigh Seow and Neo Choon Aik were defeated by the PAP's team by 26,375 votes (43.7%) to 34,020 (56.3%).
At the 1991 general election, Jufrie stood as a candidate for the Workers' Party in the Eunos Group Representation Constituency
. Jufrie came to national prominence during this election campaign after Prime Minister
Goh Chok Tong
accused him of being a Malay
chauvinist because of comments he Jufrie made about the role of Malay community in Singapore and his use of the phrase "Insha'Allah
" ("God willing") in a campaign speech. Goh urged people not to vote for Jufrie in order to help protect inter-racial harmony in Singapore. Jufrie strongly denied that he was a Malay chauvinist and said that he was merely raising important issues which he felt needed to be addressed. In the end, Jufrie and his fellow Workers' Party members Lee Siew Choh
, Neo Choon Aik and Wee Han Kim were narrowly defeated by the PAP's team in Eunos by 41,673 votes (47.6%) to 45,833 (52.4%).
At the 1997 general election, Jufrie stood as a candidate for the SDP in the Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency
. He and his fellow SDP members David Chew, Gandhi Ambalam
and Low Yong Nguan were defeated by the PAP's team by 21,537 votes (32.4%) to 44,840 (67.6%).
Jufrie was among a group of SDP members charged with participating in an unlawful political assembly on the driveway leading to Parliament House
in 2008. He was fined after being found guilty of this offence.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. He was a prominent opposition
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
political figure in the country in the 1980s and 1990s, when he stood in elections as a candidate for both the Singapore Democratic Party
Singapore Democratic Party
The Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir...
(SDP) and the Workers' Party
Workers' Party of Singapore
The Workers' Party of Singapore is a centre-left opposition political party in Singapore. The party currently has six elected seats in Parliament, with the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, Chairman Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Pritam Singh serving as Members of...
. He became the Chairman
Party Chair
In politics, a party chair is the presiding officer of a political party....
of the SDP in 2011.
Political career
At the 1984 general election, Jufrie stood as a candidate for the Workers' Party in the constituency of Kampong KembanganKembangan, Singapore
Kembangan is a residential area in the eastern part of Singapore, lying between Bedok and Geylang and north of the Katong area. It consists largely of private residential areas and a small public housing estate at Lengkong Tiga. The area is served by the East West MRT Line at the Kembangan MRT...
. He was defeated by Yatiman Yusof of the governing People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
(PAP) by 8,210 votes (44.3%) to 10,326 (55.7%).
At the 1988 general election, Jufrie stood as a candidate for the SDP in the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency
Aljunied Group Representation Constituency
Aljunied Group Representation Constituency is a five-member group representation constituency in the north-eastern region of Singapore. The GRC consists of a large part of Hougang, Serangoon Gardens, a portion of Bedok and Aljunied...
. Jufrie and fellow SDP members Ashleigh Seow and Neo Choon Aik were defeated by the PAP's team by 26,375 votes (43.7%) to 34,020 (56.3%).
At the 1991 general election, Jufrie stood as a candidate for the Workers' Party in the Eunos Group Representation Constituency
Eunos Group Representation Constituency
Eunos Group Representation Constituency is a defunct Group Representation Constituency in the north-eastern region of Singapore...
. Jufrie came to national prominence during this election campaign after Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Singapore
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
accused him of being a Malay
Malay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
chauvinist because of comments he Jufrie made about the role of Malay community in Singapore and his use of the phrase "Insha'Allah
Insha'Allah
Insha'Allah is an Arabic term to indicate hope for an aforementioned event to occur in the future. The phrase translates into English as "God willing" or "If it is God's will", sometimes spoken as DV; the Latin abbreviation for Deo volente or simply "God willing"...
" ("God willing") in a campaign speech. Goh urged people not to vote for Jufrie in order to help protect inter-racial harmony in Singapore. Jufrie strongly denied that he was a Malay chauvinist and said that he was merely raising important issues which he felt needed to be addressed. In the end, Jufrie and his fellow Workers' Party members Lee Siew Choh
Lee Siew Choh
Dr. Lee Siew Choh was a politician and medical doctor from Singapore. Initially a member of the People's Action Party , he became a leader of the breakaway Barisan Sosialis in 1961...
, Neo Choon Aik and Wee Han Kim were narrowly defeated by the PAP's team in Eunos by 41,673 votes (47.6%) to 45,833 (52.4%).
At the 1997 general election, Jufrie stood as a candidate for the SDP in the Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency
Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency
Not to be confused with the smaller ward that existed since pre-indepence era named as Jalan Besar Single Member Constituency, which is also where the ex-minister Lee Boon Yang made his first debut there....
. He and his fellow SDP members David Chew, Gandhi Ambalam
Gandhi Ambalam
Gandhi Ambalam is the current Chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party and a member of the party's Central Executive Committee.-Career:...
and Low Yong Nguan were defeated by the PAP's team by 21,537 votes (32.4%) to 44,840 (67.6%).
Jufrie was among a group of SDP members charged with participating in an unlawful political assembly on the driveway leading to Parliament House
Parliament House, Singapore
The Parliament House of Singapore is a public building and cultural landmark and houses the Parliament of Singapore. It is located in the Civic District of the Downtown Core within Singapore's central business district . Within its vicinity is Raffles Place, which lies across it from the Singapore...
in 2008. He was fined after being found guilty of this offence.