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Online Citizen
04-05-2025
- Business
- Online Citizen
Red Dot United calls for transparent KPIs and greater accountability at third GE rally
Red Dot United (RDU) on 30 April, 2025, strongly criticised government agencies and ministerial salaries at its third rally for the General Election, calling for greater transparency and accountability across the public sector. The rally was held at the field at Boon Lay Way in Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, one of four constituencies where RDU is fielding candidates. RDU candidate Pang Heng Chuan, speaking to a crowd gathered under overcast skies, said governance in Singapore had lost its 'sense of responsibility'. He called for all ministries and statutory boards to adopt public key performance indicators (KPIs) that are 'clear, measurable and transparent'. Mr Pang, a 56-year-old company director contesting in Nee Soon GRC, argued that if ministers are to receive million-dollar salaries, they should also accept CEO-level accountability. 'In the private sector, individuals are held accountable for results. If you overspend, you answer for it. If your team fails, you step up,' he said. 'Ministers want CEO pay, fine. Then they must accept CEO accountability.' The party reiterated that failures must have real consequences. 'If major lapses occur, we expect resignations, not just a press release,' Mr Pang added. Calling for a more active and independent legislature, he emphasised that Parliament 'must not be a rubber stamp', and large projects should undergo independent risk evaluations before approval. He also criticised the existence of what he described as 'bloated ministries', suggesting the removal of roles like mayors and parliamentary secretaries without defined portfolios. Resources should instead be redirected to essentials such as housing, healthcare, and eldercare. Sharad Kumar, RDU's candidate for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, reinforced the party's accountability message. He cited incidents involving senior ministers, including the Ridout Road property rental controversy and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's hot mic remark, as signs of eroding public trust. 'This is not about one mistake. This is about a troubling pattern,' said Mr Kumar. 'If ministers can live like aristocrats while young families struggle for basic housing, something has gone terribly wrong.' Marcus Neo, leading the RDU team in Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, raised issues around local employment. He highlighted his personal experience with a foreign HR manager, which ended in court, to illustrate the need for a 'citizens-first' hiring policy. While acknowledging the value of foreign talent, Mr Neo insisted on the need for balanced immigration policies and legal safeguards to ensure equal opportunities for Singaporeans in the workforce. 'We need to be dead honest with ourselves. Are we giving our own people a fair shot?' he asked. Candidate Liyana Dhamirah echoed the theme of dignity and equality for locals. 'It's time to raise the standard,' she said. 'Singaporeans are not asking for riches, but for dignity—to be treated as first-class citizens in their own country.' Emily Woo, contesting in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, spoke on the party's proposed 'citizen's dividend'—a regular, unconditional payout that would recognise Singaporeans' lifelong contributions to the country. 'It's not a handout. It's a recognition,' said Ms Woo, a 59-year-old music teacher. RDU's secretary-general Ravi Philemon addressed the crowd toward the end of the rally, as light rain fell and a lightning warning was issued. He said he told fellow candidates to put away their umbrellas. 'If we can't brave the rain for our people, how will they trust us?' said Mr Philemon, who is also contesting in Nee Soon GRC. Jurong Central SMC candidate Kala Manickam concluded the rally by drawing a contrast between herself and her opponent, PAP's Xie Yao Quan. While acknowledging that Mr Xie is perceived as approachable and active on the ground, she criticised his parliamentary performance. 'Many residents say, 'He's a nice person, but he doesn't speak up for us in Parliament,'' she said. Ms Manickam, 52, reassured voters that constituency development plans would continue even under opposition representation. 'These budgets are already planned. Your vote is secret. There is no risk in voting for the opposition, but there is something to gain—a true voice in Parliament.' The rally concluded with all 13 RDU candidates taking the Singapore pledge together onstage, signalling their commitment to their vision of reform and accountability.
CNA
30-04-2025
- Business
- CNA
GE2025: RDU calls for ‘measurable' KPIs for government agencies, questions ministerial salaries at rally
SINGAPORE: Red Dot United (RDU) on Wednesday (Apr 30) took aim at government ministries and statutory boards at the party's third rally for the General Election, calling for 'clear, measurable and transparent' KPIs for these agencies and hitting out at ministerial salaries. Governance in Singapore has lost 'that sense of responsibility', said RDU's candidate for Nee Soon GRC Pang Heng Chuan, addressing supporters at the field at Boon Lay Way, located in Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC. In the private sector, individuals are held accountable for results, said Mr Pang, a 56-year-old company director. 'If you overspend, you answer for it. If your team fails, you step up, not just hide behind junior staff. And that's what's missing in our political leadership, the willingness to say, 'I was responsible, I will make it right,'' he added. 'Ministers want million-dollar salaries, justified as competitive pay, fine. But if they want CEO pay, they must accept CEO accountability.' Besides Jurong-East Bukit Batok GRC, RDU is also fielding candidates in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Nee Soon GRC and Jurong Central SMC. The party is calling for public key performance indicators (KPIs) – every ministry and statutory board should be made to report on their targets annually in a "clear, measurable and transparent" way, said Mr Pang, adding that there would be real consequences for failure. 'If major lapses occur, we expect resignations, not just a press release.' The party is also proposing independent oversight and mandatory risk reviews, he said, adding that parliament must scrutinise, challenge and correct policies. Large-scale projects must undergo independent risk evaluation before they are approved, said Mr Pang. 'We must also cut the fat. No more bloated ministries. No more mayors and parliamentary secretaries collecting salaries with no clear portfolios. Trim the waste at the top and use it to strengthen the backbone of this nation – housing, healthcare, eldercare, job support.' FIRST-CLASS CITIZENS At the rally, RDU candidates also spoke about providing greater job security with a 'citizens-first' hiring policy and building a financial safety net for all Singaporeans. Its team lead for Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, Mr Marcus Neo, recounted his experience working with a foreign HR manager, which ended with him taking the case to court. While meritocracy and hard work are values ingrained in Singaporeans growing up in the 1990s and 2000s, foreign talent from diverse cultures took roles in the local workforce, including professionals, managers, executives and technicians, as Singapore grew, he said. 'I'm not against foreigners. If they can value add, then by all means, come value add to Singapore and Singaporeans,' he added. 'However, there must be checks and balances, sensible approaches to immigration. There must be legal safeguards, a balance in HR departments.' Asking Singaporeans to be 'dead honest' with themselves, Mr Neo noted that the country has to account for potential cultural or social biases in the workforce. The government should ensure that all local Singaporean workers who contribute to Singapore's security and defence 'directly or indirectly' have equal job opportunities and a level playing field, he added. Several RDU candidates repeated the call for Singaporeans to be treated as first-class citizens in their own country. Ms Liyana Dhamirah, who is also a Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC candidate, stressed that 'it is time to raise the standard'. Singaporeans are not asking for riches, but for dignity, she added. 'To be treated as what you are, first-class citizens in your own country.' Secretary-general Ravi Philemon, speaking second-to-last, said his party is not here to upset the system. 'We understand how important the system is for Singaporeans. But it's for sure that the system needs a reset,' he added. As rain and lightning warnings delayed RDU's rally on Thursday, Mr Philemon, who is standing as a candidate in Nee Soon GRC, shared that he chided the candidates who opened their umbrellas or suggested moving to a sheltered area. 'If we can't brave the rain and stand in the rain for our people, how will they trust us? I told my people, put away your umbrellas. We'll brave the rain,' he added, to cheers from those gathered at the field. CITIZEN DIVIDEND Candidate for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Emily Woo reiterated the party's call for a "citizen-first" hiring policy so that locals 'aren't bypassed' in favour of 'cheaper alternatives'. She also referenced the party's proposal for a citizen's dividend, describing it as a 'modest, unconditional payout', which will honour Singaporeans' contributions to the country. 'Not a handout, a recognition,' said Ms Woo, a 59-year-old music teacher. RDU's Jurong Central SMC candidate Kala Manickam, the final speaker at Wednesday's rally, addressed her opponent, the People's Action Party's (PAP) Xie Yao Quan, who started overseeing the area after he was voted in as part of the Jurong GRC slate in 2020. Mr Xie walks the ground, listens to residents and serves them, she added, noting that he has introduced support measures for the rising cost of living. But these are just basic expectations of an MP, said Ms Manickam. 'Many residents have come to me and said, 'He's a nice person, but he doesn't speak up for us in parliament,'' she added. Before every election, the PAP rolls out a five-year plan for every constituency, said the 52-year-old. 'All these plans will still go ahead even if RDU is elected, because these budgets have already been planned for development of these constituencies.' Reminding residents that their vote is secret, she added: 'There is no loss, no risk when you vote for the opposition, but there's something to gain. What's in parliament that truly represents you? I will not let promises of walkways become a distraction from deeper issues.'
