Latest news with #FaisalManap
Independent Singapore
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Yee Jenn Jong responds to NCMP criticism, clarifies Workers' Party position
SINGAPORE: Former Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) and Workers' Party (WP) member Yee Jenn Jong has issued a public response on Facebook to what he described as 'ignorant' and 'bad analysis' circulating online regarding the WP's internal decisions and the NCMP scheme. In the post published on May 23, Yee addressed recent online claims related to WP member Faisal's decision not to take up the NCMP position following the 2025 General Election. Yee stated that he had 'no doubt' Faisal would decline the offer, citing precedent and internal party discussions during past elections. He referenced prior instances, such as Gerald Giam turning down the NCMP role after the 2015 General Election, leading to Leon Perera's appointment and former MP Lee Li Lian's decision to decline the position, which subsequently went to Daniel Goh after a parliamentary debate. Yee also noted that prominent opposition figures, including Low Thia Khiang and Tan Cheng Bock, had previously declined NCMP positions. He emphasised that the decision not to accept the seat had nothing to do with race or religion, countering allegations made in a recent post by a non-Singaporean commentator. Yee reiterated that Eileen Chong had been appointed to the NCMP seat and expressed confidence in her ability to represent Singaporeans. He stated that Faisal had been 'well loved by residents of all races' during his time as MP for Kaki Bukit. Yee referenced his two books — Journey in Blue and Non-Constituency Members of Parliament: What's Next for the Scheme? — for those seeking a deeper understanding of WP internal processes and the historical context of the NCMP arrangement. He reiterated his and co-author Loke Hoe Yeong's call to abolish the scheme, describing it as ambiguous and proposing broader democratic reforms instead. In a follow-up note, Yee clarified that: Candidates do not enter general elections seeking to be NCMPs; the role is only considered after results are known. The NCMP scheme is a PAP initiative, with its origins and rationale discussed in his publications. WP's candidate selection process involves internal team consensus or a Central Executive Committee vote if necessary. Early involvement in the party should not disqualify newer candidates from taking up NCMP positions. His post was intended to provide insights and context, not to prolong the public debate. He further explained the procedural aspects of the NCMP scheme, clarifying that if an NCMP seat is declined, it does not automatically transfer to the next highest-scoring losing candidate or team. A parliamentary motion is required for the seat to be reassigned, and a majority of MPs must grant approval. If not passed, the seat is left vacant, as in 1984.
Independent Singapore
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Andre Low, Eileen Chong say they're ‘humbled' and ‘honoured' to serve as NCMPs
SINGAPORE: The Workers' Party (WP) announced on Monday evening (May 19) that it had accepted the two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats in the 15th Parliament of Singapore. Importantly, the WP said Andre Low and Eileen Chong will take the NCMP seats. In the May 3 polls, Mr Low, who had run at Jalan Kayu Single Member Constituency (SMC), had the highest percentage of votes among the unelected opposition candidates. The WP slate at Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC) had the second-highest percentage of votes. Ms Chong, together with former Aljunied GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Faisal Manap, Michael Thng, Jimmy Tan, and Ong Lue Ping, had formed the party's team. 'The Elections Department has also declared that in accordance with Section 52 of the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954, Mr Low and Ms Chong have been elected as NCMPs,' said the WP, adding that it 'remains steadfast in our mission of working for Singapore, and all WP Members of Parliament (MPs) will carry forward the Workers' Party's longstanding mission to represent the interests of all Singaporeans, hold the Government to account, and advance reasoned, principled debate in Parliament.' As well-wishes and congratulations have poured in online toward Mr Low and Ms Chong, the incoming NCMPs have responded to their appointment on their social media accounts. 'I am humbled to be given this opportunity. My pledge to all Singaporeans is that I will use my platform to continue to advocate for a more balanced and diverse political system,' wrote Mr Low. He also expressed that he was looking forward to working alongside Ms Chong. 'I could not have asked for a better NCMP-mate! Together, we hope to build bridges and contribute constructively to policy discussions that affect all Singaporeans.' Mr Low also pledged to continue his work on the ground at Jalan Kayu. For her part, Ms Chong wrote that she is 'honoured to serve as NCMP' with Mr Low and thanked the WP team at Tampines, the party's volunteers, and the residents 'for making this possible.' She also wrote that she 'will serve with conviction and integrity, and work hard to earn your trust,' and she looks 'forward to being your voice in Parliament while journeying alongside you to build a fairer, more compassionate and inclusive Singapore.' The response online to Mr Low's and Ms Chong's appointments has been positive. Many Singaporeans expressed confidence that the incoming NCMPs would do a good job in Parliament. Some people had kind words for Mr Manap, who remains popular with many Singaporeans. 'Thank you, Mr Faisal Manap, for giving up your seat to the younger generation. Your sacrifice is much appreciated. Hope to see you again in Tampines in the next election,' wrote one netizen. /TISG Read also: Commenters call WP's Eileen Chong 'another star catch' and 'most electable new candidate across the board'
Independent Singapore
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
WP MP-elect Fadli Fawzi pays tribute to Faisal Manap, holds first MPS at Kaki Bukit
SINGAPORE: Fadli Fawzi, who is part of The Workers' Party's (WP) slate that won at Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) on May 3, recently took to social media to reflect on his first Meet-the-People Session (MPS) and pay tribute to Faisal Manap, whose former ward in Aljunied, Kaki Bukit, he is now overseeing. Mr Faisal, well-loved in the Malay Muslim community, served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Aljunied GRC for three terms from 2011 to 2020. In the recent General Election (GE), he headed the team of WP candidates at Tampines GRC, which lost by a small margin to the ruling People's Action Party slate led by Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli. About his first MPS, Mr Fadli wrote that a 'bumper crowd' of around 30 residents attended, attributing the large number to the backlog caused by the recent GE. 'MPS is an important platform where we understand more about the lived experiences of ordinary Singaporeans in relation to the laws and policies of the land. It makes me proud to think we are continuing the legacy of David Marshall, who started the practice when he was with the Labour Front,' the MP-elect wrote, thanking the volunteers helping him transition into his new role. He also gave a sneak peek of what these volunteers, whom he called unsung heroes, do, from arranging the venue for the sessions to writing up cases and drafting letters. Mr Fadli also wrote that he had done his share of case writing at Eunos, the ward under WP chief Pritam Singh, during the Covid-19 pandemic. In a recent post, he posted photos from his lunch with Mr Faisal at Tampines before the two headed to Ghufran mosque for Friday prayers. Mr Fadli, who has known the former Aljunied MP for 13 years, wrote, 'There is much to admire about him. His genuine humility, sincerity, and compassion makes him a model of servant leadership.' He called Mr Faisal a 'trailblazer,' adding that he will go down in history as Singapore's first Malay-Muslim opposition MP. 'During his tenure, he was steadfast in his commitment to give voice to the poor, the struggling, and the marginalised in Parliament. As a respected mentor and senior leader of the Workers' Party, he has also been generous in sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with the younger members of the party, including myself,' he added. He wrote that he has benefited from Mr Faisal's service at Kaki Bukit, adding that the residents he meets during house visits and walkabouts speak well of the former MP and that the grassroots team the latter left behind is 'effective and well-oiled'. 'This is a testament to Faisal's hard work over the past three terms. During the lunch, we discussed how I can continue to effectively serve the needs of Kaki Bukit residents. His advice and insights are valuable in these early days of learning the ropes to be an MP. Being entrusted to build on what Faisal has accomplished for Kaki Bukit and Singapore is an enormous task. I am very glad and grateful that I can count on the backing and support of the man himself!' he wrote. /TISG Read also: 'The man of the day,' Faisal Manap is touched by warm welcome at Tampines
Independent Singapore
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
GE2025: PAP wins at Tampines with 52% votes
SINGAPORE: The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has won at Tampines GRC in a four-cornered fight that resulted in the opposition party being denied winning another GRC. The PAP team at Tampines is comprised of Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli, 62; Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon, 53; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng, 54, and new candidates former chief of army David Neo, 47; and assistant professor of marketing at Nanyang Technological University Charlene Chen. The ruling party's team, headed by Mr Masagos, won with 52.02 per cent of the vote. This shows a decrease of over 14 per cent, as in GE2020, the PAP team had received 66.41 per cent of the vote against a team from the National Solidarity Party (NSP), which had gotten 33.59 per cent of the vote. At Tampines Changkat SMC, meanwhile, the PAP's Desmond Choo, 47, who has been overseeing Tampines Changkat in Parliament since 2015, bested WP candidate Kenneth Foo, winning 56.17 per cent of the vote to Mr Foo's 43.83 per cent. This year, the slate from the Workers' Party at Tampines GRC received 47.37 per cent of the vote. There had been much excitement on Nomination Day on April 23, when the WP announced that its vice chair, Faisal Manap, 49, who served as Member of Parliament at Aljunied GRC for three terms since 2011, would leave Aljunied to lead the WP team at Tampines. In a media interview on that day, WP chief Pritam Singh said, 'My dear brother has always wanted to stand in Tampines. So he's been asking me to consider that proposal from him for quite a long time already. He succeeded. Faisal Manap is in Tampines, and he is proud to lead the WP Tampines team.' Joining Mr Manap were three new candidates for the WP: former diplomat Eileen Chong, 32; business owner Jimmy Tan, 53; and tech start-up founder Michael Thng, 37. This year, the NSP received 0.18 per cent of the votes. Its team was made up of the party's president, Reno Fong, 56; vice-president Mohd Ridzwan Mohammad, 63; assistant secretary-general Eugene Yeo, 49; as well as Zee Phay, 32; and Thamilselvan Karuppaya, 57. As for the People's Power Party (PPP), it received 0.43 per cent of the vote. Its team comprised PPP secretary-general Goh Meng Seng, 55, Derrick Sim, 44; Vere Nathan, 26; Peter Soh, 65; and Arbaah Haroun, 50. With the results in, the NSP and PPP stand to lose their election deposits of $13,500. Under the Parliamentary Elections Act of 1954, the deposit for each candidate is the fixed monthly allowance payable to an elected MP for the month immediately before the date of dissolution of Parliament, rounded to the nearest $500. If a candidate is unable to win more than 12.5 per cent of the votes in their constituency, their election deposit is forfeited. /TISG Read also: 'The man of the day,' Faisal Manap is touched by warm welcome at Tampines
AsiaOne
30-04-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
WP's Faisal Manap says Aljunied GRC residents can vouch he served 'fairly and equally', Singapore News
Workers' Party (WP) candidate for Tampines GRC Faisal Manap said that residents of Kaki Bukit in his former constituency of Aljunied GRC will confirm he has served them "fairly and equally". Faisal was in charge of the Kaki Bukit ward for five years. Responding to a question posed by the media that residents have expressed concerns about mixing religion with politics, Faisal said: "We serve everyone, fairly and equally, regardless of race, language and religion. That's what I've done. "You can go to Kaki Bukit, especially the market at block 511 and 538. "You just can interview anyone there to get the sense or the feel of how… I have performed my duty as an MP…towards the multi racial and multicultural community of Kaki Bukit." The question asked was in reference to posts by Malaysia-based religious leader Noor Deros, who claimed that he had talked to Malay/Muslim candidates from WP about prioritising the rights and concerns of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. The posts had garnered significant attention, with PM Wong addressing it in a press conference on April 26. WP secretary-general Pritam Singh had previously said in response to Noor's claims: "There is no situation of if the WP pushes forward this agenda, I would support you. I'm sorry, we don't work politics like that in Singapore, we don't work politics like that in the Workers' Party." Faisal also addressed Tampines residents, reassuring them that the party's candidates for the constituency are capable of running the town council if elected. WP's Tampines GRC team is helmed by Faisal and consists of new faces Jimmy Tan, Dr Ong Lue Ping, Eileen Chong and Michael Thng. The party has fielded deputy organising secretary Kenneth Foo in the newly-formed Tampines Changkat SMC. Faisal compared members of the Tampines and Tampines Changkat team to fingers of a hand with each bringing different skills while working together. When asked how the team feels about PAP senior leaders such as Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visiting the constituency, Faisal said: "It shows that our presence does bring some form of competition. "That is the purpose of us coming (to the constituency), right? We want to give competition to the incumbent so that they do better." He then cited the analogy of the opposition being a co-driver to the incumbent, which was first used by former WP chief Low Thia Khiang in 2011. Low had previously said: "There's a driver here, so if the driver doesn't drive the car well, you need to… slap the driver. So that is the purpose of us coming." 4-cornered fight in Tampines GRC With just two days of campaigning left, WP's Tampines team was at Tampines Central, interacting with residents, snapping selfies and even signing merchandise. Tampines GRC will see a rare four-cornered fight with WP, the People's Power Party (PPP), National Solidarity Party (NSP) and People's Action Party (PAP). PAP's lineup led by Masagos Zulkifli consists of Dr Koh Poh Koon, Baey Yam Keng as well as new faces Assistant Professor Charlene Chen and David Neo. PPP's slate comprises party secretary-general Goh Meng Seng, Derrick Sim, Arbaah Haroun, Peter Soh and new face Vere Nathan, while NSP's team is made up of Eugene Yeo, Mohamad Ridzwan, Phay Wei Jie, Reno Fong and Thamilselvan Karuppaya. [[nid:717455]]
