RDU to focus on cost of living, fair representation at GE2025

SINGAPORE – The opposition Red Dot United (RDU) will focus on “important questions” such as cost of living and fair representation by MPs at the coming general election, its secretary-general Ravi Philemon said on April 3.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a walkabout at Yishun Park Hawker Centre, he said these are the things “which are important to the people in Nee Soon and in Singapore”.

RDU has stated it will contest Nee Soon GRC at the upcoming election.

Asked if he would be leading the party’s slate in the group representation constituency, Mr Philemon did not reply directly, but said he was very familiar with the area.

He also did not confirm RDU’s line-up for Nee Soon, but introduced a new face, Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad. The 57-year-old private school teacher is RDU’s head of policy and its Malay bureau.

At the briefing, Mr Philemon said he had heard about families grappling with food prices and their children’s tuition fees, and that RDU will talk about this “most important issue” during its campaign.

The opposition party will also call for the goods and services tax to be reverted to 7 per cent, which he said will put more money in people’s pockets, and for Singapore’s carbon tax to be abolished.

Another issue that RDU will campaign on is whether MPs in Nee Soon are caring for their residents’ needs, he added.

During the media briefing, Mr Philemon said there was “feedback given” about Mr Derrick Goh having been promoted to the post of DBS Bank’s group chief operating officer in February, and the “concern some residents have” over how much time Mr Goh would have as MP for the area.

Mr Goh is MP for Nee Soon Link, and chairman of Nee Soon Town Council.

Mr Philemon also mentioned Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and former Nominated MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi.

Associate Professor Faishal’s appearance at a walkabout at Eunos Crescent Market and Food Centre on March 30 has sparked speculation that he could be fielded in the new Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, while Dr Syed Harun was spotted with other PAP new faces at a community event in Nee Soon on March 27.

Mr Philemon questioned why Prof Faishal, who is MP for Nee Soon Central, was being moved to another constituency, while a former NMP “was being parachuted into this constituency”.

Dr Syed Harun and fellow NMP Raj Joshua Thomas resigned from their parliamentary posts on Feb 14, about a year before their terms ended. On March 31, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said during a media briefing that

under Singapore’s Constitution, an NMP can step down to join a political party and run for election.

“Of course, we agree that there is nothing legally wrong with an NMP coming on board a political party to contest an election as a member of a political party. I am sure that it is constitutionally right as well,” said Mr Philemon.

“But there is a difference between what’s legally right, what’s constitutionally right, and what’s ethically right.”

The opposition politician also questioned when Dr Syed Harun “stopped being non-partisan” as an NMP. Mr Philemon said questions such as when he started “gearing towards the PAP” should be answered if Dr Syed Harun is fielded in Nee Soon, given that NMPs were appointed to be non-partisan.

Minutes after the interview ended, the RDU group bumped into a team of PAP volunteers led by Dr Syed Harun, who were also greeting residents in the area.

Mr Philemon and Dr Syed Harun exchanged greetings, shook hands and spoke briefly before continuing their respective outreach.

When told later by reporters that Mr Philemon had made some comments regarding him, Dr Syed Harun said: “I don’t have comments at this point of time. We will address that at some point.”