SINGAPORE - Blogger Roy Ngerng has applied to join the Reform Party (RP), party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam said on Wednesday.

The application will have to be approved by the RP's central executive committee.

Mr Jeyaretnam also said that should Mr Ngerng's application be confirmed, there is a possibility he could be fielded as part of the RP's team to contest in Ang Mo Kio group representation constituency (GRC) against the People's Action Party team currently helmed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Party chairman Andy Zhu is likely to lead a team to contest in the six-member GRC.

Mr Ngerng joined Mr Jeyaretnam in his walkabout at Telok Blangah Drive which falls within the boundaries of the four-member West Coast GRC on Wednesday night.

The 34-year-old blogger was given the party's yellow polo T-shirt to change into before the team set off to meet the residents.

Mr Ngerng who spoke to reporters before the walkabout, said he has volunteered with Singapore People's Party and attended events by Singapore Democratic Party, but has decided to join RP and expressed his interest to Mr Jeyaretnam sometime in the middle of the year.

He chose RP because the party's manifesto is in line with what he has been advocating for in the past two years, said Mr Ngerng.

Last November the High Court found Mr Ngerng guilty of defaming the Prime Minister, with damages to be assessed. He also faced charges of public nuisance, after he led a protest and disrupted a YMCA event at Hong Lim Park last September.

Mr Jeyaretnam said he does not see the pending lawsuits to be an obstacle to the blogger standing for elections.

"I know Roy personally because he stayed with us in London. I know him to be a caring person. He was a healthcare worker. I think he has got a very good rapport with the people and I think he can provide valuable input to the healthcare policy and social policy," said Mr Jeyaretnam.

He added that Mr Ngerng has been able to raise money for his lawsuits.