RDU ‘welcomes’ PAP’s Ng Chee Meng to contest in Jurong GRC in upcoming GE

Ravi Philemon, Secretary-General of Singapore’s alternative party Red Dot United (RDU), welcomes Ng Chee Meng, a former Minister from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) to contest in Jurong GRC.

RDU expressed their desire to engage in a dialogue or debate with Mr Ng, who also holds the position of Secretary-General at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), to discuss how Mr Ng and his union will support Singaporean workers during the challenging economic times

“We welcome Mr Ng to Jurong GRC, ” said Mr Philemon, “but if he is indeed committed Jurong GRC, he needs to make his intent known earlier so that the residents of Jurong GRC can get to know him better.”

Highlighting Mr Ng’s extensive tenure as a union chief and the myriad challenges faced by Singapore and its citizens in the current economic landscape, Mr Philemon posed questions to Mr Ng regarding the provision of concrete solutions to aid local workers during these trying times.

Mr Philemon also emphasized the longstanding assertion by the PAP that it is imperative for the union chief to hold a parliamentary seat.

However, since the 2020 election, during which Mr Ng was unsuccessful in securing a seat in Sengkang GRC, the union chief has been absent from the cabinet table.

Mr Philemon then asked whether the absence implies a diminished voice for workers in policies that directly impact them.

“These are all very important questions which we would like to have debate with Mr Ng, ” added Mr Philemon.

Mr Philemon, accompanied by RDU leaders and volunteers, visited the Clementi ward of Jurong GRC on Labour Day (1 May) to express gratitude and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of food delivery riders, who served as lifelines for tens of thousands of people during the Covid confinement period.

During the Labour Day walkabout, RDU distributed new mobile phones to delivery workers, recognizing these devices as indispensable tools that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of food delivery operations.

Earlier, it was reported that Mr Ng attended a community event in the Bukit Batok area, sparked speculation about his potential candidacy in other GRCs with higher chances of winning, following his departure from Sengkang GRC.

There’s a general belief that if Ng were to contest in the next GE, Jurong GRC might offer a suitable platform, given the vacant seat left by former senior PAP Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who vacated it to contest in the Presidential Election last September.

RDU eyeing Jurong GRC amid 2024 early election speculation

During GE 2020, RDU led by Mr Ravi, alongside educator and counsellor Michelle Lee, theatre director Alec Tok Kim Yam, entrepreneur and author Liyana Dhamirah (33), and legal engineer Nicholas Tang, contested in Jurong GRC.

PAP led by then-senior Minister Mr Tharman retained Jurong GRC with a commanding 74.62% of the vote.

In addition to Mr Philemon, several other key members of RDU were featured in a video uploaded on their official Facebook page on Wednesday, sparking speculation about RDU’s potential candidates lineup for the upcoming GE.

These members include RDU chairman Dr David Foo, RDU treasurer Ms Dhamirah, CEC member Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad, Pang Heng Chuan, and party member Elijah Tay.

In the video, they discussed the challenges faced by ordinary Singaporean workers, such as limited job opportunities and the difficulties older workers encounter in finding employment.

They emphasized the need for Tripartite Guidelines to be legislated to address these issues effectively.

Furthermore, they called for better protection for workers who are retrenched due to technological disruptions, advocating for measures such as unemployment benefits and universal basic income, as proposed in RDU’s Shadow Budget.

As speculation about the timing of the next GE grows, sources suggest it might be strategically held in September, potentially aligning with cash handouts from Budget 2024 and before major elections in the United States and the United Kingdom in November.

The anticipation grows as the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) officially announced on 15 April Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s decision to step down, with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong slated to succeed him on 15 May 2024.