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Business Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
Singapore election 2025: PAP wins Jurong Central SMC against RDU
[SINGAPORE] The People's Action Party (PAP) has won the new single-seat ward of Jurong Central with 80.5 per cent of the votes against the opposition Red Dot United (RDU). PAP incumbent Xie Yao Quan took 21,884 out of 27,182 valid votes cast. His opponent, Kala Manickam, took 19.5 per cent or 5,298 of the votes. There were 531 rejected votes. Jurong Central is one of the six new Single-Member Constituencies resulting from the latest electoral boundaries review. It was carved out of the former Jurong GRC, with added parts of the former Yuhua SMC. Since entering politics in GE2020, Xie has been serving the Jurong Central ward within the former Jurong GRC. Kala made a surprise appearance on Nomination Day to contest Jurong Central, after being previously tipped to be running for Jalan Kayu SMC. The specialist educator was pulled out of the ward to make way for Workers' Party candidate Andre Low and avoid a three-way fight. For more election coverage, visit our GE2025 microsite
AsiaOne
03-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
PAP's Xie Yao Quan wins Jurong Central SMC with 80.51% of votes over RDU's Kala Manickam, Singapore News
Results for Jurong Central SMC in GE2025 Xie Yao Quan (PAP) 80.51% Kala Manickam (RDU) 19.49% The People's Action Party has won Jurong Central SMC against the Red Dot United. PAP's Xie Yao Quan received 21,884 votes while RDU's Kala Manickam received 5,298 votes. Jurong Central SMC has 29,667 electors. Jurong Central SMC is among the newly formed constituencies, and is being contested for the first time in GE2025. As part of the previous Jurong GRC team, Xie is a familiar face in the area. During hustings, Kala commended him for his work on the ground, but said it is not enough, claiming that residents told her he does not bring their issues to Parliament. For our GE2025 microsite, visit here. editor@
Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
GE2025: Red Dot United raises unemployment and job security issues at rally for Jurong Central SMC
Jurong Central candidate Kala Manickam (fourth from left) got emotional when she said she has met many individuals who were retrenched, or jobless and unable to find a job. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Unemployment and job security were key issues raised by opposition party Red Dot United (RDU) at a rally on April 30, with candidates sharing personal stories and highlighting examples of how some Singaporeans have fallen through the cracks. Several of the 12 candidates who spoke at the field at Boon Lay Way called for fair job opportunities and sensible approaches to immigration as solutions to address job security issues. Jurong Central candidate Kala Manickam got emotional when she said she has met many individuals who were retrenched, or jobless and unable to find a job, despite sending in countless resumes. 'In all these years, one thing continues to be a pain, very deeply – even with the reskilling, upskilling, cross-skilling, whatever skilling, even with hard work, too many Singaporeans remain unemployed or under-employed,' added Madam Kala. She added that if elected, she will step forward to advocate for the dignity of Singaporeans. 'Gainful employment isn't just about money, but is also related to mental health, family stability and national pride,' she said, adding that children are the most affected in such situations. 'The mental well-being of our young people is being affected and many of them are going through (it) in silence,' she said, before taking a moment to compose herself. Madam Kala also commended her PAP opponent, incumbent first-term MP Xie Yao Quan, for his efforts to walk the ground and introduce support programmes to help with the cost of living and ageing. 'That's commendable, but we must be honest with ourselves, these are basic expectations of an MP,' she said, adding that many residents have told her that Mr Xie does not speak up for them in Parliament. 'That is the key issue. A leader must be more than pleasant; he must be bold and courageous,' said the former Singapore Armed Forces officer. In their rally speeches, several speakers also said ministerial salaries should be lowered. The party's candidate for Nee Soon GRC Pang Heng Chuan said: 'Ministers want million-dollar salaries, justified as competitive pay. Fine. But if they want CEO pay, they must accept CEO accountability.' When something goes wrong, 'their heads must roll, not the juniors', said Mr Pang, who is a director at an international company. 'Trim the waste at the top and use it to strengthen the backbone of this nation, housing, healthcare, eldercare and job support,' he said. Holland-Bukit Timah GRC candidate Emily Woo suggested pegging ministerial pay to median wages so that 'leaders are invested in growing the incomes of all, not just the top 10 per cent'. This is on top of removing 'duplicate office holders' and reducing the number of mayors, she said. Nee Soon GRC candidate Sharon Lin hit back at Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu, who at a PAP rally on April 28 said the goods and services tax increase allows Singapore to tax tourists, as well as people who have no income here but spend on items like cars and watches. In Mandarin, Ms Lin said visitors are only in Singapore for three to five days, and they are also eligible for a tax refund. 'But Singaporeans have to live here and pay GST every day, whether you're a student, an unemployed person or a low-income family,' she said. RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon urged residents in the four constituencies RDU is contesting in to vote for them. The RDU is going head-to-head with the PAP in Jurong East-Bukit Batok, Holland-Bukit Timah and Nee Soon GRCs and Jurong Central SMC. Mr Philemon, who is standing in Nee Soon GRC, said a greater opposition presence in Parliament would provide a check and balance for the ruling party. 'It is time to bring yang into society. We are the yang to the yin of the PAP,' he said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Independent Singapore
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
GE2025: RDU fields Kala Manickam in Jurong Central SMC, switches Emily Woo to Holland-Bukit Timah team, after surprise WP appearance in Jalan Kayu
Photo: RDU Featured News Singapore Politics SINGAPORE: Red Dot United (RDU) appears to have chosen to field former Jalan Kayu team lead Kala Manickam in Jurong Central SMC, after the party announced this week that it has ceded Jalan Kayu Single Member Constituency (SMC) to the Workers' Party (WP) following a request from the latter for the ward. The party switched its former ground operations leader for Jurong Central, Emily Woo, to its team for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. Ms Woo was spotted with the Holland-Bukit Timah team on Nomination Day, while Ms Kala was spotted with the RDU team for Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC at another nomination centre. The team for Holland-Bukit Timah now consists of Ms Woo, Mohamed Fazli Bin Talip, Sharad Kumar and Nizar Subair. 70-year-old businessman Patrick Tay, who had fronted some of the party's engagement in the ward, appears to have stepped back from contesting to make way for Ms Woo. Earlier this week, Ms Kala withdrew her candidacy from Jalan Kayu SMC with a 'heavy heart' after RDU confirmed that it is ceding the ward to the WP. While she spoke fondly about the connection she has made with residents in the ward, she also asserted that she remains committed to serving Singaporeans 'wherever she is needed.' She added that she is 'just as committed to opposition unity in Singapore.' She wrote on Facebook, 'The entry of the Workers' Party into Jalan Kayu just days before Nomination Day needs to be considered in light of the need for opposition unity. 'While we all want the opposition to do well, some due consideration should be given to those who have worked hard to gain traction and pose a credible alternative to the People's Action Party. For that, I am grateful to Red Dot United for putting faith in my abilities and convictions, and for fielding me in Jalan Kayu SMC.' She added, 'I wish WP all the best in their Jalan Kayu contest. Our common adversary must always be those who seek to govern by mandate, without due consideration for the voices of the people.'
Independent Singapore
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
GE2025: RDU wins praise for ceding Jalan Kayu after WP requests the ward
SINGAPORE: In a surprising shift from its earlier stance, the Workers' Party (WP) appears to be quietly coordinating with fellow opposition parties—despite public statements suggesting otherwise. Just days ago, WP chief Pritam Singh told the media that the party does not engage in opposition coordination talks to avoid multi-cornered fights. 'It's an open system, and you can certainly expect more three-cornered fights from here on.' He insisted WP would not step aside for other alternative parties. Yet, in a quiet reversal, Red Dot United (RDU) has indicated that WP made a request for them to step aside in Jalan Kayu SMC—and RDU agreed. RDU Secretary-General Ravi Philemon said in a press statement on Tuesday (22 Apr): 'After careful deliberation—both with the WP leadership and within our own Election Committee—we have made the difficult decision not to contest in this constituency. This decision was made with one guiding principle: to act in the best interest of the residents of Jalan Kayu, the best interest of Singapore citizens.' This withdrawal is significant. Kala Manickam, RDU's ground operations leader, had been working the ward since March, and the party had already invested S$5,000 in its campaign, but RDU stood by its ethos: voter interest above party ambition. Earlier this month, RDU also exited an opposition coalition it co-founded—again rooted in principle, to avoid three-corner fights. The decision in Jalan Kayu mirrors that principle. However, the real question is: Why now? Why would WP—who had not publicly indicated any interest in Jalan Kayu—suddenly move to clear the field just 11 days before Nomination Day? Connecting the Dots Rewind to GE2020, when WP clinched Sengkang GRC, defeating a PAP team led by Ng Chee Meng, a Cabinet minister and labour chief. That victory was historic, marking WP's second GRC and knocking a heavyweight out of Parliament. Now, in 2025, Ng Chee Meng is eyeing a comeback—this time in Jalan Kayu SMC. WP has not officially declared a candidate, but their request to RDU could indicate that it is not the fight for the ward they want but the fight against the individual being fielded to contest it. Of course, by stepping into Jalan Kayu so late, WP also opens itself to criticism—of opportunism, of displacing groundwork done by others, or of using backdoor coordination after publicly rejecting it, but perhaps, they're willing to take that heat for a fight they believe is crucial to their strategy. But here, another question arises: Just because they defeated him once—can they do it again? Ng Chee Meng is no lightweight. A former Chief of Defence Force turned Cabinet Minister, he's now staging a political comeback in Jalan Kayu SMC, a new ward carved from the very GRC he lost in 2020. However, if the WP thinks they can stroll in unchallenged, they owe a serious debt to Kala Manickam of RDU. 'This is what principled politics looks like' Kala has done the groundwork. A seasoned opposition figure, she previously ran under the Progress Singapore Party banner in Nee Soon GRC, earning a surprising 38.10% against none other than Minister for Law K. Shanmugam—a PAP stalwart with decades of grassroots clout. That's no small feat. Over the past month, she's led RDU's outreach in Jalan Kayu, engaging residents face-to-face, identifying concerns, and framing the case for an alternative voice in Parliament. Both Kala and the RDU leadership have won praise online for not treating politics as a game of chess but as a platform for service. Their decision to withdraw, despite months of groundwork and financial investment, is a principled stand. One guided not by party gain, but by the belief that Singaporeans deserve meaningful, focused representation. Credit: Red Dot United Facebook Following their decision to withdraw from Jalan Kayu SMC, RDU has been met with a wave of admiration online. Netizens were quick to take to Facebook, expressing their respect and gratitude for the party's selfless move—placing the interests of residents above political ambition. Many praised the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of RDU, recognising the sacrifice they have made. 'Your gesture to withdraw, though hard but decisive is much appreciated,' one commenter said. Another wrote, ' This is what principled politics looks like. RDU has earned my respect.' Some commenters who reside in the other wards RDU is contesting this election added that the party's stance has ensured their vote at the ballot box. In a political landscape often criticised for opportunism, RDU's choice has resonated and the party has levelled up in the minds of voters. For many Singaporeans, the message was clear: This is a party that's serious about nation-building, not just seat-winning. As the election nears, voters ask themselves: What do we truly want in Parliament? Seasoned chess players strategising in silence—or noble servicemen willing to sacrifice their chance at a seat for the greater good? The answer will shape not just Jalan Kayu, but the soul of our democracy. — Stay tuned to The Independent for unfiltered truths, sharp analysis, and the stories you won't find anywhere else.
