SINGAPORE - Red Dot United (RDU) on March 23 introduced a possible opposition candidate for the new Jurong Central SMC.
Piano teacher Emily Woo, 59, introduced herself to residents during a walkabout at Yuhua Market and Hawker Centre as RDU’s team lead for the area.
Madam Woo will front the groundwork in the Jurong Central single seat, said RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon. But he added that it is too early to confirm any candidates for the upcoming general election.
“A lot of things can change from now till Nomination Day,” he told reporters during the walkabout.
Madam Woo, who joined RDU in 2020, said she is a resident in the new SMC.
A former teacher with the Ministry of Education, Madam Woo has been an independent piano teacher since 2000. She holds a Bachelor in Music from the Catholic Institute University in Paris.
Former National Solidarity Party member Mohamed Fazli Talip, who joined RDU in 2020, was also seen speaking to residents.
Madam Woo said she has been volunteering in the community, and said residents are concerned about issues like the cost of living.
“We will listen to them and do our best to speak on their behalf. RDU’s policies will be in that direction,” she added.
No other opposition party has laid claim to [Jurong Central SMC](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/jurong-grc-to-be-split-into-four-different-constituencies-including-new-grcs-and-smc) so far, and Mr Philemon believes a three-cornered fight is unlikely.
Opposition parties are very mindful that multi-cornered fights will give the incumbents an advantage and will do their best to avoid it, he said.
Mr Philemon said RDU had hoped for Jurong GRC would remain intact for the general election, but took some consolation that it has worked the ground in Jurong Central as well.
“We’ll send our best candidate to contest in this constituency,” he added.
RDU obtained 25.39 per cent of the vote in Jurong GRC in the 2020 general election.
Join [ST's WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VZzIPtoFXUuS8frj520t) and get the latest news and must-reads.