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Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Bread-and-butter issues take centrestage in RDU's first election rally
RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon speaking during the party's first election rally at Bukit View Secondary School in Bukit Batok on April 26. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Red Dot United (RDU) candidates zeroed in on bread-and-butter issues, such as public housing affordability and the cost of living, in their first election rally on April 26. Examples raised by the 15 candidates at Bukit View Secondary School in Bukit Batok include how some Singaporeans are relying on government vouchers to help pay for daily essentials, rising housing prices that have forced some to move to Malaysia, and MRT breakdowns. Some candidates portrayed the PAP ruling party a s being out of touch with issues Singaporeans are facing. Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC candidate Harish Mohanadas said he met residents during his walkabouts who 'felt a losing sense of control over their lives and livelihoods'. Some are concerned about the price of HDB flats and whether their children can afford to buy homes in the future, he said, adding: 'This concern is very, very common. I believe that Singaporeans deserve better.' RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon, who is contesting Nee Soon GRC, said his party has presented Singaporeans a slate of candidates which includes PhD holders, captains of industries, entrepreneurs and people from all walks of life. In contrast, the PAP's candidates are 'linked to the establishment, cut from the same cloth, live in ivory towers and align more with the billionaire class,' said Mr Philemon. 'Do you think they will make life better for you?' RDU is contesting four constituencies this election: Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Nee Soon GRC and Jurong Central SMC. Some candidates spoke about their personal setbacks and how they still see Singaporeans suffering from the same predicaments now. Jurong East-Bukit Batok candidate Liyana Dhamirah, who shared her story of experiencing homelessness, said that it 'breaks my heart' that what she experienced 15 years ago is still happening today. She said she met a resident who cancelled their medical appointment to use the money to buy groceries. 'Imagine that in a country as wealthy as ours, people are still having to choose between food and medicine,' she said. 'We hear about government voucher support schemes, but how dignified it is to have to depend on handouts just to survive?' Jurong Central candidate Kala Manickam said opposition parties are needed in Parliament so that they can speak up for regular Singaporeans. Saying that opposition parties are like 'insurance for the country', Madam Kala said: 'We need a back-up in time of crisis… You hope you don't need it. But when problems happen – bad policies mistakes – there's someone there to speak up for you in Parliament.' Several RDU candidates outlined proposals in the party's manifesto that would reshape the social compact here, where Singaporeans would be treated as 'first class'. Mr Sharad Kumar, the party's youngest candidate and contesting Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, questioned why singles have to wait till 35 years old to buy a Build-To-Order flat. 'Young people shouldn't have to wait for permission to start their lives. They need support and options. They need hope,' said the 25-year-old. As an alternative, he pointed to his party's proposed rent-to-own scheme, which allows either lower-income earners or young, single Singaporeans to lease first, with the rent going towards owning the flat. Said Mr Sharad: 'Singapore must be a place if you work hard, you can stand tall, where no one is made to feel small.' Jurong East-Bukit Batok candidate Osman Sulaiman said his party takes town council management very seriously and asked residents to vote RDU into Parliament. 'If Hougang residents are called warriors for voting the opposition party, then on May 3, 2025, Jurong East-Bukit Batok voters will be the Paladins of the West,' he said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
26-04-2025
- Business
- CNA
GE2025: Red Dot United questions job security, spending on Founders' Memorial in maiden physical rally
SINGAPORE: Red Dot United (RDU) levelled criticism at the government during the party's first-ever physical rally on Saturday (Apr 26), with issues ranging from job security to spending on the Founders' Memorial. 'It is never unreasonable to us that we have steady jobs and stable incomes, and that is what Singaporeans are asking for,' said RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon. He was the first of 15 speakers at the rally held at Bukit View Secondary School in Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC. The party, which was founded three weeks before the 2020 General Election during the COVID-19 pandemic, had never held a physical rally prior. On Saturday, the rally started with a one-minute silence to commemorate the death of Pope Francis. In Mr Philemon's speech, he said that in the next decade, there will be more people entering the workforce globally than jobs available. 'Singapore, being an open, globalised city, cannot escape from this onslaught on the opportunities that will be available, which means that Singaporeans will be affected by this sea change that is coming around the world,' he said. He questioned how Singapore would protect its workers given that 'we are already seeing lots of retrenchments happening last year'. Mr Philemon said that the retrenched find it hard to be re-employed, 'especially if you are a single mother and looking after your young child, or if you have reached a certain age'. He added that Singaporeans should not feel like 'second class citizens in their own homes'. He said that there is a new 'five Cs' that 'we are told to look forward to: cash handouts, CHAS card rebates, conservancy rebates, CPF top ups and CDC vouchers'. He asked: 'Where is the dignity for Singaporeans in living like that?' 'When you go to the polling booths on May 3, please remember that it is about your children, it is about your grandchildren,' he said. 'They will be here long after you are gone, and that is an important decision.' Mr Philemon will lead a team to contest Nee Soon GRC, alongside Dr David Foo, Mr Pang Heng Chuan, Ms Sharon Lin and Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad. In his speech, Mr Pang questioned what he termed as 'astronomical salaries' of mayors and senior parliamentary secretaries. He said that every position must 'justify its existence through value creation'. 'Yet our government creates these bloated positions that drain our national coffers, while ordinary Singaporeans struggle with rising costs,' he added. He also criticised the estimated S$335 million spending on the Founders' Memorial. 'Singapore doesn't need more monuments, it needs a government that respects your money as much as you do,' he said. 'Together, we can end the great Singapore wastage and build a future where prosperity is shared by all, not squandered by a few.' COST OF LIVING, MALAY COMMUNITY ISSUES Other candidates spoke about the cost of living, issues facing the Malay-Muslim community, and rental costs. Nee Soon candidate Ms Lin questioned why, despite the strong Singapore dollar, that 'we find ourselves struggling to afford a car, and we find ourselves struggling to afford a HDB, which is getting smaller and yet more expensive'. She compared this to Malaysia, where there is a weaker currency but 'they can live in bigger houses and own cars'. 'Singapore should not just be a playground for the elites and the super rich,' she said. 'Singapore must be able to provide a better quality of life for the majority of Singaporeans, of ordinary Singaporeans whose hard work must be respected and must be valued.' Dr Alwi, who is the head of RDU's Malay bureau, said that there are many issues in the Malay-Muslim community that are important to him, such as why there is 'no halal kitchens on navy ships'. A reply in parliament last year by Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad to a question posed by Workers' Party's Faisal Manap confirmed that there are no halal kitchens on navy ships due to operational and space constraints, but said the ships provide options for Muslim personnel. 'The Malay soldier will be as ready to give up his life as the Chinese soldier. We must be inclusive, and we should include them too,' said Dr Alwi. He also advocated for a Lieutenant Adnan Saidi Day, to recognise his sacrifice and commemorate his death every Feb 14. Lieutenant Adnan had put up fierce resistance against the Japanese during the Battle of Pasir Panjang in Singapore during World War II, which resulted in his death in 1942. Party chairman Dr Foo touched on rental costs in his speech. He said that if rental could be lowered for hawkers, for instance, food can be kept more affordable. 'We need to move away from a rent-seeking economy by which its very nature is transactional, and that strips away value from the people,' he said.
