Latest news with #RaviPhilemon
AsiaOne
25-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
RDU aims to form 'shadow government' to take party forward, Singapore News
Opposition party Red Dot United (RDU) on May 24 said it wants to move beyond being a check and balance on the ruling PAP, and is aspiring towards being an 'alternative government' instead. To do this, it wants to work with other 'like-minded' opposition parties to build a digital platform, tentatively called to flesh out policy positions. 'We want to make ourselves better known, so if the PAP fails, people will know there is a shadow government in place to take the country forward,' RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon said. He was speaking at an event at the party's headquarters in Ubi Crescent to thank volunteers after the 2025 General Election. 'I think that is the responsible thing to do. We do not want to be checks and balances any more,' said Mr Philemon as he addressed the media while flanked by his RDU teammates Sharon Lin, Ben Puah and Harish Mohanadas. RDU in its media invitation to the May 24 event said that there is a necessity to change its outlook and how it approaches politics in Singapore. It will also be looking to the next 10 to 15 years to recalibrate the party, which was founded in 2020 and also took part in GE2020. The party's so-called '3B strategy' involves 'Breaking away' from being a check and balance on the People's Action Party, 'Believing' in RDU's younger generation and 'Building' a brand for the party, which may even see RDU changing its name to a more serious-sounding one. When asked whether RDU has reached out to other mainstream opposition parties about setting up a 'shadow government', Mr Philemon said that it has not done so officially. 'We have communicated to some of them on a personal basis, but not in an official capacity,' he told The Straits Times. 'But this is something that we will consciously and intentionally try to do in the next five years.' After GE2025, Parliament will have 12 Workers' Party representatives, including two who will fill the Non-Constituency MP seats. RDU contested Jurong East-Bukit Batok, Holland-Bukit Timah and Nee Soon GRCs as well as Jurong Central SMC at GE2025. Among the issues raised during its campaign were ministerial salaries, cost of living and ageing, employment and the goods and services tax. On RDU's 23.35 per cent popular vote share, Mr Philemon had said previously that it indicates the party 'remains recognised as a small but formidable force that punches above its weight'. On May 24, he noted from feedback from the ground that some of the candidates the party fielded were less known to voters. Yet they are professionals such as engineers and scientists, as well as entrepreneurs. In terms of publicity, he pointed out that compared with RDU putting up 1,000 posters in Nee Soon GRC, PAP printed an estimated three times that number. Mr Philemon was part of the RDU team that contested the group representation constituency. He added that he was 'not sure if the name Red Dot United worked in our favour' in the recent general election. When the party began its political journey at the 2020 election, where it contested only Jurong GRC, a name like Red Dot United had 'piqued people's curiosity', he said. It was a different time then with the Covid-19 pandemic which saw people staying home. 'So a unique name like Red Dot United caused people to go and look us up or read up more about us,' said Mr Philemon. 'And I think a name like Red Dot United worked in our favour in GE2020.' This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
RDU aims to form ‘shadow govt' to take party forward: Philemon
RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon (second from right), flanked by teammates (from right) Ben Puah, Sharon Lin and Harish Mohanadas, speaking at a press conference on May 24. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI SINGAPORE – Opposition party Red Dot United (RDU) on May 24 said it wants to move beyond being a check and balance on the ruling PAP, and is aspiring towards being an 'alternative government' instead. To do this, it wants to work with other 'like-minded' opposition parties to build a digital platform, tentatively called to flesh out policy positions. 'We want to make ourselves better known, so if the PAP fails, people will know there is a shadow government in place to take the country forward,' RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon said. He was speaking at an event at the party's headquarters in Ubi Crescent to thank volunteers after the 2025 General Election. 'I think that is the responsible thing to do. We do not want to be checks and balances any more,' said Mr Philemon as he addressed the media while flanked by his RDU t eammate s Sharon Lin, Ben Puah and Harish Mohanadas. RDU in its media invitation to the May 24 event said there is a necessity to change its outlook and how it approaches politics in Singapore. It will also be looking to the next 10 to 15 years to recalibrate the party, which was founded in 2020 and also took part in GE2020. The party's so-called '3B strategy' involves 'Breaking away' from being a check and balance on the People's Action Party, 'Believing' in RDU's younger generation and 'Building' a brand for the party, which may even see RDU changing its name to a more serious-sounding one. When asked whether RDU has reached out to other mainstream opposition parties about setting up a 'shadow government', Mr Philemon said it has not done so officially. 'We have communicated to some of them on a personal basis, but not in an official capacity,' he told The Straits Times. 'But this is something that we will consciously and intentionally try to do in the next five years.' After GE2025, Parliament will have 12 Workers' Party representatives, including two who will fill the Non-Constituency MP seats. RDU contested Jurong East-Bukit Batok, Holland-Bukit Timah and Nee Soon GRCs as well as Jurong Central SMC at GE2025. Among the issues raised during its campaign were ministerial salaries, cost of living and ageing, employment and the goods and services tax. On RDU's 23.35 per cent popular vote share, Mr Philemon had said previously that it indicates the party 'remains recognised as a small but formidable force that punches above its weight'. On May 24, he noted from feedback from the ground that some of its candidates who were fielded were lesser known to voters. Yet, they were professionals such as engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs. In terms of publicity, he pointed out PAP printed an estimated three times the number of posters in Nee Soon GRC compared with RDU's 1,000 posters. He was on the RDU team that contested Nee Soon GRC. Mr Philemon added he was 'not sure if the name Red Dot United worked in our favour' in GE2025. When the party began its political journey in GE2020 when it contested only Jurong GRC, a name like Red Dot United had 'piqued people's curiosity'. It was a different time then during the Covid-19 pandemic when people were staying home. 'So a unique name like Red Dot United caused people to go and look up for us or read up more about us,' said Mr Philemon. 'And I think a name like Red Dot United worked in our favour in GE2020.' Zaihan Mohamed Yusof is senior crime correspondent at The Straits Times. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Independent Singapore
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
RDU chief Ravi Philemon calls new Cabinet ‘disappointing' as more women, youth should be given seats at the table
SINGAPORE: After Prime Minister (PM) Lawrence Wong announced his new Cabinet on Wednesday evening (May 21), Ravi Philemon, the secretary-general of the opposition party Red Dot United (RDU), expressed disappointment. 'Women's voices are muted. Young people's voices are not heard. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's first Cabinet announcement was a moment that should have signalled meaningful change. Instead, it reinforced the status quo,' Mr Philemon wrote in a social media post. While the announcement revealed some reshuffling and a couple of new faces from the May 3 polls were appointed to lead ministries, the members of the Cabinet have remained the same since PM Wong took office a year ago. For Mr Philemon, this appeared to be a missed opportunity for PM Wong to address 'real gaps in leadership' that had been present prior to the election, and he expressed that preserving the status quo would have 'real consequences—for working families, for women, for young people, and for the vulnerable.' The RDU chief noted that only three of the 15 full ministers are women, despite women having been nearly a third of the ruling People's Action Party's (PAP) candidates in the GE. Mr Philemon wrote that this could mean that policies that affect women, such as childcare options, work-from-home rights, legal protections at the workplace, and recognition for unpaid caregiving, would be deprioritised. 'The global research is conclusive. Governments with at least 50% women ministers score 17 points higher on the Women, Business and the Law Index, which measures legal equality in economic opportunity. Countries with more women in leadership are more likely to pass laws that remove inequality, strengthen protections for families, and invest in the long-term well-being of society. These aren't cosmetic gains—they are structural,' he wrote. Mr Philemon also noted that the average age of the new Cabinet is 55.1, adding concerns that younger Singaporeans today are 'living through a very different Singapore' in terms of job security, housing costs, climate change, mental health, and other issues. 'The issues that affect young people most are dealt with in a piecemeal way—because their voices are not present in the Cabinet room. Things must change. Let's not forget—Singapore is one of the few countries where 18-year-olds are expected to serve, to train, to carry a rifle for national defence, but cannot vote.' The RDU chief also raised the issue of what he characterised as 'bloated government and wasted resources' and again questioned why Singapore would need multiple Mayors, Senior Ministers, Ministers of State, and Senior Parliamentary Secretaries. 'For me, politics should always be about people, so Cabinets must reflect the people. That means more women at the table. More youth helping to shape the national agenda, and a leaner, more focused government that puts its weight—and its budget—behind solving real problems, not maintaining political comfort. 'RDU and I will remain committed to that fight. The fight to ensure Singaporeans are treated as first-class citizens in their own country, the only home we have,' he wrote. /TISG Read also: M Wong's New Cabinet: Masagos loses Muslim Affairs portfolio, first-term MP Jeffrey Siow and David Neo take Transport and MCCY roles
CNA
03-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: Red Dot United says election results encouraging despite losses, vows to return in 5 years
SINGAPORE: The swing in votes towards the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) this General Election was not a surprise, but the results were encouraging for Red Dot United (RDU), party secretary-general Ravi Philemon said. Speaking to reporters in the early hours of Sunday (May 4) near RDU's office in Ubi Crescent, he said the world is in a time of turmoil, and it is reasonable for voters to look for a 'safe harbour' in these times. 'I think in this GE, the people have spoken,' he said. 'The PAP has been the government for the past 60 years, and it is understandable why the people have given the PAP the kind of mandate that they have.' Mr Philemon congratulated Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, describing the win as a 'heavy responsibility'. 'I hope he keeps the trust of the people. Red Dot United will keep our prime minister on his toes in the next five years, that is for sure,' he said. While RDU did not get the mandate in any of the constituencies it contested, the results were 'very, very encouraging', he added. HOW DID RED DOT UNITED DO? RDU fielded 15 candidates across three Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) and one Single Member Constituency (SMC). Nine of its candidates stood for election for the first time. The party's Nee Soon team performed best, receiving 26.19 per cent of the vote in the GRC. In Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, the RDU team finished with 23.34 per cent of the vote. Its candidates in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC obtained 20.71 per cent of the vote, while Ms Kala Manickam got 19.49 per cent in Jurong Central SMC.
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: PAP's actions are legal but may not always be principled, says RDU at rally
RDU chief Ravi Philemon speaking at the party's rally in Yishun Central on May 1. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN GE2025: PAP's actions are legal but may not always be principled, says RDU at rally Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – In opposition Red Dot United's (RDU) rally on the last day of campaigning, its secretary-general Ravi Philemon led his party members in questioning the principles of the ruling PAP. Mr Philemon cited the example of psychiatrist Syed Harun Alhabsyi joining the PAP's Nee Soon GRC team after resigning from his Nominated MP post in February. He asked why Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam was allowing the former NMP, 'who has not properly accounted for why he is standing under the PAP ticket so soon after setting stepping down, ride on his coattails into Parliament'. On Feb 14, Dr Syed Harun and lawyer Raj Joshua Thomas resigned from their posts, the first NMPs to have done so before the end of their term. 'For the PAP, everything is legal, everything is constitutional, but is everything principled? We have to be very, very worried about unprincipled political parties. I am worried that the PAP is charting into these waters. You should be worried with me,' added Mr Philemon at the May 1 rally, held at a field in Yishun Central. Other members of the RDU's Nee Soon GRC slate took turns to fire salvos at their opponents, with private school teacher Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad also taking aim at Dr Syed Harun. Dr Syed Alwi said: 'An NMP role is meant to be non-partisan, a space where voices from civil society, from education, the arts and the community can speak freely without political alignment... when someone moves that quickly from a neutral platform to the ruling party, we must question whether the independence of that voice was ever real to begin with.' Mr Philemon also said there are many issues that PAP candidates have to answer for, citing incidents such as Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's 'like' on a Facebook post by former Nominated MP Calvin Cheng and remarks that Dr Balakrishnan made in Parliament about Progress Singapore Party Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai in 2021 that were caught on a hot mic. Ms Sharon Lin, a senior consultant in the IT sector, accused new candidate Lee Hui Ying, whom former Nee Soon GRC MP Lee Bee Wah had endorsed at a PAP rally on April 30, of hiding behind the older Ms Lee. Addressing the new PAP candidates, she said: 'Don't ride on the coattails of a minister who has been here for almost 40 years. Don't hide behind Lee Bee Wah. If you want to serve, then start by showing us who you are without the shadows of others propping you up. This isn't just about attacking personalities. It's about upholding principles.' RDU chairman David Foo – also a candidate for Nee Soon GRC – said his party has shown that it is 'not recalcitrant or rogue' and in the past five years, has proven itself to be responsible. RDU chief Ravi Philemon (centre) with other party members onstage at the party's rally in Yishun Central on May 1. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN With 15 members contesting in three GRCs and one SMC, the party is fielding the second-highest number of opposition candidates in this election. Dr Foo said this was because RDU had earned the trust of good people who want to serve. 'We are not here to tear the system down. We are here to help make it better for Singaporeans. Because we believe that a system improves when it is challenged with respect, when it is questioned with courage, when it is refined with truth,' he said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
