SINGAPORE - The opposition Red Dot United (RDU) went on its maiden walkabout in the Jalan Kayu single seat on March 21 and introduced a party member who will lead the team in the newly carved out ward.
RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon said it is too soon to announce who the party will field in Jalan Kayu, but introduced former Progress Singapore Party (PSP) member Kala Manickam, an educator and a former Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officer.
Madam Kala, 57, has a Master of Arts in lifelong learning, and her work focuses on helping workers gain skills that lead to career advancement and job opportunities.
Speaking to reporters, Madam Kala said: We have very hardworking and capable Singaporeans who go through all this retraining, but apparently they don’t seem to get job opportunities, and see stagnation in their wages and no recognition for the value of their work...
“So, that’s something that we need to explore, in terms of getting job opportunities.”
She added that Jalan Kayu has many young families with children, and she plans to tackle the issue of academic stress that families face.
She said: “Being a mother of a 16-year-old kid, I know what the child goes through.”
The Jalan Kayu single seat will take in parts of Ang Mo Kio GRC currently overseen by Ms Ng Ling Ling, as well as areas under the purview of Mr Gan Thiam Poh, who looks after Fernvale.
In the 2020 polls, Madam Kala contested Nee Soon GRC under the PSP banner, losing to the PAP team led by Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam.
In 2021, she sued PSP for terminating her party membership after the elections.
On March 21, she said the matter was settled out of court and that the details are confidential.
She said: “We are moving forward in a more amicable manner, and I’m wishing all the best to Dr Tan Cheng Bock, to win the election and get a seat in Parliament. So, for me, it’s the past, and I’m moving on.”
Mr Philemon said RDU will throw all its efforts in the days towards understanding the issues in the area, and talk to residents and find out how they can be better served.
He added: “We are ready for whoever the PAP fields ... we are ready for the challenge.”
He also responded to questions on whether there would be a multi-cornered fight in Jalan Kayu, and if he has engaged other opposition parties on the matter.
Mr Philemon said: “Of course, as opposition party members, we’re always talking to one another. There’s a lot of friendship and goodwill among many of us.
“A multi-cornered fight is not in anyone’s interest, especially not in any of the opposition party’s interest, and for RDU, we do understand the importance of opposition unity, and ... we’ll do our part towards that.”
Other opposition parties that have shown interest in Jalan Kayu include PAR and PPP.
During the RDU walkabout, lawyer M. Ravi, who was disbarred in 2024, was spotted handing out flyers. He said he is not a party member, but he volunteers with RDU.
He said: “I live here, and I was born in Jalan Kayu, and so this place is very special to me. So, I would like to pledge my support to RDU to have a strong alternative voice in Parliament.”
Party members walked around the area close to Fernvale LRT station and visited a hawker centre and a coffee shop near Block 437 in Fernvale Road while handing out flyers and speaking to residents.
Sue-Ann Tan is a business correspondent at The Straits Times covering capital markets and sustainable finance.
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