Latest news with #JacksonAu
Independent Singapore
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
WP's Jackson Au: 'You can be good in Parliament and good on the ground'
SINGAPORE: Jackson Au, a candidate for The Workers' Party (WP) for Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC), is possibly the only aspiring MP who has quoted from the hit TV series Game of Thrones at a rally. The 35-year-old communications practitioner made the news for his fiery speech at the WP's first outing at Sengkang on April 24. He recounted that well-meaning friends and family had asked him if he was sure about joining the opposition and if he wasn't concerned that he would be marked out. 'To them, I will just share this question from Game of Thrones: 'Can a man still be brave when he is afraid? That is the only time a man can be brave,' he said, as loud cheers erupted. @mothershipsg WP's Jackson Au quotes Game of Thrones at his first rally. #GE2025 Things *are* heated up. Follow #MothershipGE2025 for our election coverage. #singapore #tiktoksg #sgnews ♬ original sound – Mothership – Mothership Over the weekend, an interview with Mr Au was posted on the Red Dot Perspective YouTube channel, where host Kian Boon told the candidate he had seen the speech and was impressed. The two talked about a number of topics, ranging from WP stronghold Hougang SMC and the Trump tariffs to Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong's last-minute constituency switch to contest at Punggol. At one point, Mr Kian told Mr Au that the WP Members of Parliament (MPs) have been known to be active on the ground, listening to people and hearing their views. He went on to ask what Mr Au's style would be if elected — whether he would be more like former People's Action Party's (PAP) MP Louis Ng or similar to WP's three-time Aljunied GRC MP Faisal Manap. 'You know, in the PAP, there is a Mr Louis (Ng) who is known for being very vocal in Parliament, almost a little bit anti-establishment. Then you have another kind of MP that may be more on the ground and less vocal in Parliament. I think a good example of that could be the WP's vice chair, Mr Faisal. So where do you fall between the two extremes?' Mr Au said, 'I think you have to be a bit of both,' and brought up 'another Louis' — Sengkang MP Louis Chua — as a good example. Among the opposition MPs, Mr Chua had raised the most questions in Parliament, 477 in all. He added that Sengkang's number of bids and green-lighted municipal projects far exceeds the figure for the average PAP Town Council. 'So it's not mutually exclusive to me when I look at someone like Louis Chua. You can speak up for people in Parliament, but you can also be good on the ground and advocate for a better community, better towns, and better living circumstances for your residents and and this is consistent with the WP's Town Councils.' Commenters on the podcast have also been impressed with Mr Au. 'Very sharp and eloquent young man. This is the kind of new blood Singapore needs in our parliament. Punggol residents, we are counting on you,' wrote one. 'Very impressed by how well Jackson handled the interview. Thank you sir, for stepping up and being a voice for ordinary Singaporeans,' said another commenter. One described him as a 'Very down-to-earth and knowledgeable candidate' and added, 'Definitely you can serve Punggol residents.' /TISG Read also: Harpreet Singh asks DPM Gan, 'Will you answer Tan Suee Chieh's questions about the Income-Allianz deal?'
Online Citizen
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Online Citizen
GE2025: Workers' Party's Jackson Au criticises PAP's politics of fear, calls for shift to hope
SINGAPORE: Workers' Party's youngest candidate in Punggol GRC, Jackson Au, delivered a passionate and sharply worded speech at the party's rally in Anchorvale Crescent, Sengkang, on Thursday night (24 April). Au, 35, who is also a member of the WP media team, addressed the crowd fervently—criticising the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) and calling for a shift from the politics of fear to the politics of hope. A Call to Serve the People Au began by explaining his motivation for joining politics, presenting himself as an ordinary Singaporean with a deep desire to contribute. 'I stand before you today not as someone special but as one of you, a proud Singaporean son,' he said. Rejecting the notion that politics should be reserved for a privileged few, Au added, 'I don't believe that politics should be reserved for an elite class of bureaucrats. It belongs to all of us, citizens of this wonderful country.' He recounted how he transitioned from being a 'keyboard warrior' to stepping forward with the WP, driven by a need to effect real change. 'This belief is what first drew me to the Workers' Party – to stop being a keyboard warrior and become the change I want to see.' Promising to serve the residents of Punggol GRC with dedication, Au emphasised the value of every small effort. 'No matter how small, I promise you that I, along with my teammates, will work hard for all Singaporeans.' He noted that through his work with the WP, he had gained experience in areas essential to the functioning of daily life and asked residents for the chance to serve. 'We will do our part to make life better for all of you.' Sharp Critique of PAP's Messaging Approach Au, who works in communications professionally, used his expertise to critique the PAP's political messaging, which he claimed had become rooted in fear rather than hope. 'When I look at the way the PAP speaks to us Singaporeans, I see more than a branding issue. I see a clear messaging problem,' he said. Pointing to a perceived contradiction, he quipped: 'For a party with 'action' in its name, I think it's fair for many Singaporeans to ask, 'Just where exactly is it?'' He criticised the government's response to the cost-of-living crisis as superficial, saying it relies too heavily on one-off measures like vouchers and 'chicken wing gestures' instead of pursuing meaningful reforms. Au also took aim at the lack of concrete action on worker protections, noting that the government offers only guidelines rather than enforceable measures. He added that when it comes to rising home prices, the government merely says it is monitoring the situation. In Malay, he delivered a stinging rhetorical line: 'Hello, what's this? Your name is 'action' but no action?' Dismissiveness Towards Alternative Voices Au accused the ruling party of being dismissive and contemptuous towards those who express alternative views. He noted that, instead of engaging with respect, those who dared to speak up for the interests of Singaporeans are often mocked and spoken to with contempt. 'They call us illiterate, populist, and charlatans,' he said. He highlighted what he saw as a contradiction in the PAP's call for diverse views. 'They say they want a diversity of views—as long as your views align with theirs. They say they will walk with you – which is quite ironic given the number of recent MRT breakdowns,' he said, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd. Fear as a Political Tool Au reserved his strongest criticisms for what he called the PAP's deliberate use of fear during elections. He referred to PAP warnings about potential negative consequences should it lose too many seats in Parliament. 'Perhaps more troublingly, they warn you of what might happen if the PAP loses too many seats. They tell you there's too much at stake.' 'They tell you that there could be a so-called freak election result, that your homes may be neglected and suffer if you vote for the opposition,' he added. He argued that the PAP's focus on its own dominance has led to a climate of fear, where any opposition is seen as a threat. 'This reveals how the PAP views its own dominance. If it wins 90% of Parliament again, it's business as usual. But if Singaporeans dare to vote for a rational, credible, and loyal opposition, it's seen as a threat.' Calling for an end to such tactics, Au declared, 'The PAP feels it has too much to lose, so it needs you to feel it too. But when it comes down to it, where does the buck stop?' 'I reject the PAP's message of fear. I do not believe in the politics of fear. I believe in the politics of hope.' He cited the WP's stewardship of Sengkang over the past five years as proof that opposition constituencies can flourish. 'The Workers' Party has been taking care of Sengkang for the last five years. The sky did not fall. These estates did not crumble. The residents did not suffer or repent.' 'I know we can take care of you, the residents of Punggol GRC.' A Call for Courage and Hope In closing, Au acknowledged the emotional weight of being WP's youngest candidate. 'As the youngest candidate contesting in Punggol GRC, I'll admit it has been a challenge to come forward. Honestly, it's a little scary too.' He revealed that even his family and friends had questioned his decision to join the opposition. In response, he quoted a line from Game of Thrones: 'Can a man still be brave if he is afraid? That is the only time a man can be brave.' With that, he rallied the crowd one final time. 'So I say this to you, my fellow Singaporeans—let us be brave. Let us vote without fear and vote for hope. Vote for the Workers' Party!'
Straits Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: WP's slate of new candidates similar in terms of qualifications, diverse in experiences
The new faces unveiled by the Workers' Party include (clockwise from top left) Dr Ong Lue Ping, Mr Jackson Au, Ms Paris Parameswari, Mr Harpreet Singh, Ms Eileen Chong, Ms Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar, Ms Alexis Dang and Mr Sufyan Mikhail Putra Mohd Kamil. PHOTOS: WORKERS' PARTY, KEVIN LIM News analysis GE2025: WP's slate of new candidates similar in terms of qualifications, diverse in experiences SINGAPORE - When Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh unveiled his party's new faces for the upcoming election, he had described them as 'a broad range of individuals from different walks of life, different age groups, different backgrounds and different experiences'. Looking at the WP's slate of 14 new candidates, some will certainly take the same view. The 14 include Dr Ong Lue Ping, 48, a senior clinical psychologist from the Institute of Mental Health; start-up founder Michael Thng, 37; media professional Jackson Au, 35; former diplomat Eileen Chong, 33; and Ms Paris V. Parameswari, 51, a former US Navy security administrator. Even among the legally trained candidates, career trajectories have diverged – there is Mr Harpreet Singh Nehal, 59, senior counsel and managing partner of his own law firm. Mr Andre Low, 34, is a disputes lawyer turned staff project manager at a global fintech company, while Mr Sufyan Mikhail Putra Mohd Kamil, 33, is a former coast guard officer turned lawyer. Ms Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar, 43, a former legal service officer, is now a legal counsel in a multinational corporation. The slate is also diverse in terms of gender and ethnicity. There are four women and 10 men, with three Malay candidates and two Indian candidates. Said Mr Pritam Singh on April 20 when introducing the last batch of new faces: 'Insofar as what the Workers' Party has put forward to Singaporeans for this election... everybody brings something to the table.' Diverse or similar? Other commentators have observed that the candidates also seem to have been picked based on their qualifications and credentials. IPS Social Lab adjunct principal research fellow and academic adviser Tan Ern Ser said the WP's new faces were mainly professionals, and with academic degrees. Indeed, among the 14 new faces, all but one are graduates with at least a bachelor's degree. Seven also have a master's degree, including Mr Thng who has a master's in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, while Dr Ong has a PhD. On the calibre of candidates, Mr Harpreet Singh had said at his introduction on April 19: 'So, if you elect me and my team, wherever we go... you will have me practically in your face all the time. And the advantage is, you have the calibre of people in my team without having to pay us ministerial salaries.' Inevitably, comparisons have arisen between the new faces of the WP and the People's Action Party. While some commentators have said that the WP's slate is not as outstanding, others have made the case that the opposition party's candidates were just as 'elite' as the PAP's. To Dr Tan, this is a case of 'same, same, but different', as people use both objective and subjective criteria to evaluate candidates. 'Well-qualified candidates are expected of the ruling party, but well-qualified candidates in a reputable opposition party are seen as exceptional,' he said. Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, said political parties that want to do well will have to field candidates who are 'near the centre ground'. To this end, there would be broad similarities between the candidates of the PAP and the WP. Even then, they may differ in terms of how they view bread-and-butter issues and other policies, he added. In putting forth new faces with 'impressive profiles' this time around, the WP is continuing with the trend that had allowed it to win Sengkang GRC in 2020, he said. Recruitment and renewal Since the WP won Aljunied GRC in 2011 – the first victory in a group representation constituency for any opposition party – it has had greater success in attracting new candidates. In the 2015 General Election, the party fielded more professionals in its slate, including lawyers like Ms He Ting Ru, academic Daniel Goh and Mr Leon Perera, a former administrative officer in the civil service. Associate Professor Goh and Mr Perera served as Non-Constituency MPs in the 13th term of Parliament. In the 2020 election, Ms He and Mr Perera became elected MPs. The WP has also managed to refresh around half its slate in each election since 2015. While the party has not announced which constituencies it will contest this time around, its activities on the ground suggest that it is likely to field candidates for 31 seats – in Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC, East Coast GRC, Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, Punggol GRC and Tampines GRC, as well as the single seats of Hougang, Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat. Given that Mr Pritam Singh had also suggested at one of the press conferences that there could be more new faces revealed on Nomination Day, at least half of the party's slate could be made up of new faces. This was also the case in 2015, when 16 out of 28 candidates were new faces. In 2020, nine out of 21 were new faces. Dr Tan put this down to the WP's growing credibility. 'It is now seen as more attractive – electable, focused, and measured in its approach to politics – and perhaps, more importantly, has a positive electoral trajectory,' he said. Dr Mustafa said having MPs in Parliament has helped the WP become more effective in recruiting candidates, as the public can see how the party has performed in the House. Based on past elections, some of the more prominent new candidates fielded have also ended up being elected or co-opted into the party's central executive committee after the election, regardless of whether they managed to make it into Parliament. These include Mr Louis Chua and Associate Professor Jamus Lim, who were brought into the top decision-making body after the 2020 General Election, where they contested in Sengkang GRC and won. This time around, the new WP candidates range in age from 33 to 59, with eight of the 14 in their 30s, and the rest in their 40s and 50s. That the party is able to attract younger candidates is also key to its renewal, say analysts. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
WP's slate of new candidates similar in terms of qualifications, diverse in experiences
The new faces unveiled by the Workers' Party include (clockwise from top left) Dr Ong Lue Ping, Mr Jackson Au, Ms Paris Parameswari, Mr Harpreet Singh, Mr Sufyan Mikhail Putra Mohd Kamil, Ms Alexis Dang, Ms Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar and Ms Eileen Chong. PHOTOS: WORKERS' PARTY, KEVIN LIM News analysis WP's slate of new candidates similar in terms of qualifications, diverse in experiences SINGAPORE - When Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh unveiled his party's new faces for the upcoming election, he had described them as 'a broad range of individuals from different walks of life, different age groups, different backgrounds and different experiences'. Looking at the WP's slate of 14 new candidates, some will certainly take the same view. The 14 include Dr Ong Lue Ping, 48, a senior clinical psychologist from the Institute of Mental Health; start-up founder Michael Thng, 37; media professional Jackson Au, 35; former diplomat Eileen Chong, 33; and Ms Paris V. Parameswari, 51, a former US Navy security administrator. Even among the legally trained candidates, career trajectories have diverged – there is Mr Harpreet Singh Nehal, 59, senior counsel and managing partner of his own law firm. Mr Andre Low, 34, is a disputes lawyer turned staff project manager at a global fintech company, while Mr Sufyan Mikhail Putra Mohd Kamil, 33, is a former coast guard officer turned lawyer. Ms Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar, 43, a former legal service officer, is now a legal counsel in a multinational corporation. The slate is also diverse in terms of gender and ethnicity. There are four women and 10 men, with three Malay candidates and two Indian candidates. Said Mr Pritam Singh on April 20 when introducing the last batch of new faces: 'Insofar as what the Workers' Party has put forward to Singaporeans for this election... everybody brings something to the table.' Diverse or similar? Other commentators have observed that the candidates also seem to have been picked based on their qualifications and credentials. IPS Social Lab adjunct principal research fellow and academic adviser Tan Ern Ser said the WP's new faces were mainly professionals, and with academic degrees. Indeed, among the 14 new faces, all but one are graduates with at least a bachelor's degree. Seven also have a master's degree, including Mr Thng who has a master's in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, while Dr Ong has a PhD. On the calibre of candidates, Mr Harpreet Singh had said at his introduction on April 19: 'So, if you elect me and my team, wherever we go... you will have me practically in your face all the time. And the advantage is, you have the calibre of people in my team without having to pay us ministerial salaries.' Inevitably, comparisons have arisen between the new faces of the WP and the People's Action Party. While some commentators have said that the WP's slate is not as outstanding, others have made the case that the opposition party's candidates were just as 'elite' as the PAP's. To Dr Tan, this is a case of 'same, same, but different', as people use both objective and subjective criteria to evaluate candidates. 'Well-qualified candidates are expected of the ruling party, but well-qualified candidates in a reputable opposition party are seen as exceptional,' he said. Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, said political parties that want to do well will have to field candidates who are 'near the centre ground'. To this end, there would be broad similarities between the candidates of the PAP and the WP. Even then, they may differ in terms of how they view bread-and-butter issues and other policies, he added. In putting forth new faces with 'impressive profiles' this time around, the WP is continuing with the trend that had allowed it to win Sengkang GRC in 2020, he said. Recruitment and renewal Since the WP won Aljunied GRC in 2011 – the first victory in a group representation constituency for any opposition party – it has had greater success in attracting new candidates. In the 2015 General Election, the party fielded more professionals in its slate, including lawyers like Ms He Ting Ru, academic Daniel Goh and Mr Leon Perera, a former administrative officer in the civil service. Associate Professor Goh and Mr Perera served as Non-Constituency MPs in the 13th term of Parliament. In the 2020 election, Ms He and Mr Perera became elected MPs. The WP has also managed to refresh around half its slate in each election since 2015. While the party has not announced which constituencies it will contest this time around, its activities on the ground suggest that it is likely to field candidates for 31 seats – in Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC, East Coast GRC, Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, Punggol GRC and Tampines GRC, as well as the single seats of Hougang, Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat. Given that Mr Pritam Singh had also suggested at one of the press conferences that there could be more new faces revealed on Nomination Day, at least half of the party's slate could be made up of new faces. This was also the case in 2015, when 16 out of 28 candidates were new faces. In 2020, nine out of 21 were new faces. Dr Tan put this down to the WP's growing credibility. 'It is now seen as more attractive – electable, focused, and measured in its approach to politics – and perhaps, more importantly, has a positive electoral trajectory,' he said. Dr Mustafa said having MPs in Parliament has helped the WP become more effective in recruiting candidates, as the public can see how the party has performed in the House. Based on past elections, some of the more prominent new candidates fielded have also ended up being elected or co-opted into the party's central executive committee after the election, regardless of whether they managed to make it into Parliament. These include Mr Louis Chua and Associate Professor Jamus Lim, who were brought into the top decision-making body after the 2020 General Election, where they contested in Sengkang GRC and won. This time around, the new WP candidates range in age from 33 to 59, with eight of the 14 in their 30s, and the rest in their 40s and 50s. That the party is able to attract younger candidates is also key to its renewal, say analysts. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
