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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?'
AsiaOne
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Beyond politics: GE candidates with atypical hobbies, Singapore News
At this stage of the General Election, Singaporeans are closely tuning in to candidates' ideas — reading party manifestos, attending rallies and weighing promises. But beyond politics, there's also something to be said about understanding these candidates as individuals. From porcelain dolls collection to playing the saxophone, here are some pastimes from this year's candidates that might surprise you. Belting it out [embed] Who doesn't love a good singing session? But unlike many, The Workers' Party (WP) new face Jimmy Tan comes with credentials when it comes to having a mic in his hand. The 53-year-old clinched first place in the competition Golden Age Talentime on Channel 8 in 2023, with his rendition of the Chinese tune The Past Can Only Be Remembered. In fact, residents have taken note of this talent too, with some requesting Tan, who owns an engineering company, to perform at WP celebration events. If Tan and his teammates come out top in Tampines GRC, it could be quite a karaoke party in the east. Mountain biking [embed] For Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat, politics isn't the only arena where he relishes a challenge. The 43-year-old, part of the People's Action Party's (PAP) four-member team battling for Sengkang GRC, happens to be an avid mountain biker. In January, he shared on his social media account his participation in the Singapore Enduro Race 2025, which took place on trails located in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Chestnut Nature Park. Dropping a beat [embed] WP newcomer Andre Low joined the choir during his time in junior college. But instead of singing, the Jalan Kayu SMC candidate picked up a more atypical hobby — beatboxing. The 33-year-old staff product manager at a global financial technology company mentioned that it's a "little party trick" he'd pull out every now and then, as reported by The Straits Times. Porcelain doll collection [embed] According to a Yahoo Singapore report in 2016, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) treasurer Surayah Akbar owns a collection of 30 porcelain dolls, a passion she picked up in her mid-twenties. The 42-year-old Sembawang GRC candidate, a music publisher, described her porcelain dolls as "beautiful", adding: "I don't want to acknowledge them with names… I appreciate them because it's porcelain, it's handmade and it makes me appreciate the craft." Musically inclined [embed] During his rally speech on April 24, WP candidate Harpreet Singh impressed supporters by speaking in Mandarin and Teochew. But that's not his only hidden talent. During an interview with The Straits Times, the 59-year-old senior counsel shared that he plays the saxophone. Singh, who's contesting in Punggol GRC, admitted that he has not had enough time to practise his saxophone of late but nonetheless, he mentioned that it'd be "wonderful" if he, his colleagues and members of the PAP could come together for a jamming session. Former triathlete [embed] Campaigning during a General Election can be physically demanding but shipping lawyer Dennis Tan is no stranger to endurance. The WP candidate, who is contesting for Hougang SMC, has a background as a triathlete. Back in 2015, when he was challenging for Fengshan SMC, his wife shared with the media he used to take part in triathlons, and they would often spend the weekends cycling and jogging. [[nid:717200]] For our GE2025 microsite, visit here. amierul@
Independent Singapore
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
‘Chio pro max,' WP Punggol candidate Alexis Dang makes waves online
SINGAPORE: An early standout on Day 1 of the campaign period for the May 3 polls appears to be Alexis Dang Pei Yuan, one of the candidates for The Workers' Party (WP) for Punggol GRC. She has been referred to as 'prettiest candidate in this GE' and even has a 'fan club' on a popular online forum, getting noticed for her obvious good looks after the WP introduced her at a media conference on April 18. Ms Dang is part of the all-newbie WP slate at Punggol, together with senior counsel Harpreet Singh, legal practitioner Alia Mattar, and Jackson Au, who works in strategic communications. FB screengrab/ The Workers Party The Nomination Day speech from Mr Singh, touted as a star catch for the WP since he was spotted walking the ground with members of the party in 2023, drew loud cheers from supporters and was widely covered by the media. Ms Dang, who briefly spoke in Mandarin, was also loudly cheered, to the point that she and Mr Singh are being spoken of online as the WP's heavyweights at Punggol GRC. Ms Dang has a background in finance but works in the tech sector today, where she leads a team of Business Development professionals. She has been with the WP for the past five years; has been part of house visits, planning and hosting party events; and has supported the party with translation work for newsletters and parliamentary speeches for the WP MPs. After she spoke in Mandarin during her candidate introduction, netizens were impressed by her command of the language, with some even saying it would be interesting to hear a debate in Mandarin in Parliament. 'Alexis is so gorgeous and powerful in her Chinese speech,' one commenter wrote. 'You are the most beautiful. Vote for you!' another chimed in. A netizen, however, pointed out: 'She is not only beautiful, highly educated, but also [has] a heart. Giving up a comfortable life and embarking on a bumpy road to speak out for the country, the people, the vulnerable.' 'Good to see Alexis Dang in Parliament!' a Facebook user added. On YouTube, many commenters have also praised Ms Dang, using such words as 'genuine,' 'sincere,' and 'capable' to describe her. One wrote, 'She has the credentials to join PAP and take the easy route, but she chose to join the opposition instead, fighting an uphill battle. Respect.' 'Another credible opposition. Vote Alexis into parliament,' a commenter wrote. 'She spoke her mind. An agent of change for a better society for all citizens. She is passionate [about] change,' a YouTube user noted. And yes, her looks continue to draw attention from supporters. 'Your prettiness is beyond the scope of vocabulary on planet Earth,' wrote one enthusiastically. When one wrote, 'Chio max, but besides pretty, got substance leh. Please vote for her…,' others joked that they should have written 'Should be chio pro max' or even 'chio pro max 1TB.' /TISG Read also: WP contesting at East Coast and Punggol, with ex-NCMP Yee Jenn Jong and Harpreet Singh among candidates
Independent Singapore
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
He Ting Ru on new WP candidate Michael Thng: About time he #SteppedUp!
SINGAPORE: Over the past few days, The Workers' Party's (WP) He Ting Ru has been hyping the party's new candidates in the run-up to the May 3 polls, and on Apr 21, Michael Thng got his turn. Mr Thng, 37, who was introduced by WP chief Pritam Singh and party chair Sylvia Lim in the final day of candidate introductions on Sunday (Apr 19), has been the recipient of positive buzz, especially since reports have pointed out that he has a master's degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. While this is his first time as a candidate for Member of Parliament (MP), his history with the WP dates back 15 years, which means he and Ms He started volunteering with the party around the same time. In a social media post, she wrote that when she began with the MP, Mr Thng was one of the first people she met. 'I was always struck by his passion for Singapore, for our democratic processes, and how despite spending much time in the US, he would always fly back to be involved in election campaigns,' wrote Ms He, adding that Mr Thng had gone with her when she contested at Marine Parade for GE2015 and then again at Sengkang for GE2020. Importantly, he has also been helping the WP with policy work for more than 10 years. 'Passionate about improving policies that ensure no one is left behind—such as housing policy for singles and systematic support for single parents—Michael's voice is one Singapore needs in Parliament now,' she wrote. Mr Thng gave the public a glimpse into his journey in a Facebook post on April 19, when he wrote about a moment in 2006 that appeared to have changed his life. He wrote that his worldview shifted when he attended a WP rally, as he saw the faces of attendees showing both hope and hopelessness. 'That moment planted a question I've carried with me ever since: How did we get here, and what kind of Singapore must we build to create a more inclusive future?' he added. In the time that followed, as he volunteered with the WP, he wrote that he 'saw firsthand the real burdens many Singaporeans shoulder—and how too often, these challenges go unanswered. Infinitely solvable problems are held back by blind spots in policymaking that stifle progress. 'We're a generation searching for hope for a different way forward but resigned to the reality we are in. I've felt it too—that quiet acceptance: ' What to do… gahmen like that lor. '' Singapore's society is becoming more complex, with people's needs becoming more urgent, which is the reason for more participation in Parliament. 'But that won't happen if 30–40% of Singaporeans who vote opposition continue to be represented by just 5–10% of seats in Parliament. It's not sustainable. Participation must be inspired, not simply required. That's why I'm stepping up,' he added. Mr Thng wrote that he wants to help build a Parliament that is more reflective of the diversity of thought in Singapore and where different policy approaches are valued and not just tolerated, and 'where every Singaporean feels they belong in the conversation—and are part of shaping it.' He added that Singapore has already seen the effect of 'meaningful WP representation,' which includes, 'building momentum for greater housing access for singles, growing support and recognition for single mothers, and germinating the idea of unemployment insurance that has recently come alive in the form of the JobSeeker Support Scheme—just to name a few.' 'Representation isn't just symbolic—it does shape outcomes,' Mr Thng wrote, inviting Singaporeans to share their thoughts and tell me what matters to them. 'I'll be better for it—and so will Singapore.' /TISG Read also: 'Solid team': Singaporeans impressed with calibre of WP's new candidates for GE2025
Independent Singapore
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
GE2025: Andre Low confirmed as WP pick for Jalan Kayu
SINGAPORE: Workers' Party (WP) new face Andre Low has been confirmed as the party's pick for Jalan Kayu Single Member Constituency (SMC). He may face a three-cornered contest against ex-Minister Ng Chee Meng and potential independent candidate Ooi Boon Ewe, an 83-year-old who has been spotted at the nomination centre for Jalan Kayu. 34-year-old Mr Low is a former disputes lawyer who worked under Davinder Singh at Drew & Napier. He has since moved to the tech field and is currently a staff product manager at a global fintech company. Having joined the WP in 2020, his work as a Secretarial Assistant to Sengkang Member of Parliament (MP) Louis Chua during the Covid-19 pandemic prompted him to build an MPS solution that maintained residents' lines to their MP, which is still being used today. @thehammertok Get to know our people – Andre Low 刘宇扬 @Andre Low Instagram: Facebook: Link to full YouTube video: Read his profile here: #wpsg #WorkingForSingapore #StepUp #GE2025 ♬ original sound – The Workers' Party 🔨 – The Workers' Party 🔨 The primary contest at Jalan Kayu is expected to be between Mr Low and the People's Action Party's (PAP) Ng Chee Meng. Mr Ng has been the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress since 2018 and is a one-time MP for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC (2015 to 2020). He had been part of the PAP slate that contested at Sengkang GRC in the last election, which narrowly lost to the WP. The loss of the PAP's slate at Sengkang had been a historic one, since the WP team was composed of relative newbies, as opposed to the ruling party, which had three political office holders. Importantly, it gave the opposition a second GRC for the first time, and helped propel Mr Singh into his position as Leader of the Opposition. Over the past weeks, Mr Ng started making his presence felt at Jalan Kayu more and more. In a Facebook post on April 2, Mr Ng wrote, 'Hello residents in Fernvale and Jalan Kayu! Over the past week, I've visited many of you, and thank you for the warm support and care. I'm happy that some of you reached out to me with work-related issues; rest assured, I will follow up on those. If you see me around the neighbourhood, please come and say hi! I'll see you soon!' He also thanked Ang Mo Kio MPs Gan Thiam Poh and Ng Ling Ling, as well as other volunteers in the area, who have been introducing him to Jalan Kayu residents. Mr Ng was possibly expecting to face off against Red Dot United's (RDU) Kala Manickam. Ms Kala had been active in the ward as RDU's ground operations lead until the party announced this week that it is ceding the ward to the WP in the best interests of Singaporeans, after the latter made a request for Jalan Kayu. Jalan Kayu is one of the five new SMCs announced last month when the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) released its report. The ERBC recommended reducing the size of Ang Mo Kio GRC, of which Jalan Kayu used to be part. Ang Mo Kio has the highest number of electors: 190,800. /TISG Read also: WP introduces 4 more candidates for GE 2025; former IMH director makes the biggest splash
