Jufrie Mahmood


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 and the Workers' Party. He served as the Chairman of the SDP from 2011 to 2013.

Political career

At the 1984 general election, Jufrie stood as a candidate for the Workers' Party in the constituency of Kampong Kembangan. He was defeated by Yatiman Yusof of the governing People's Action Party by 8,210 votes to 10,326.
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 to 34,020.
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 Jufrie made about the role of Malay community in Singapore and his use of the phrase "Insha'Allah" 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 to 45,833.
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 to 44,840.
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.
Jufrie was elected the party chairman of the SDP in 2011 and served in this role until 2013.

Personal life

Jufrie had a least one daughter and two sons.