Opposition Parties PPP and RDU Avoid Three-Way Fight, PPP Withdraws from Nee Soon GRC Contest

By
Noreen Shazreen
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The People’s Power Party (PPP) announced that it will not contest Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in Singapore’s upcoming General Election (GE2025), making way for Red Dot United (RDU) to challenge the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

The announcement came during a joint press conference held at Yishun Town Centre on Saturday (22 March 2025) by PPP secretary-general Goh Meng Seng and RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon.

“We have come to the agreement we will not touch Nee Soon and allow RDU to carry on the contest,” said Goh at the press conference.

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This decision follows discussions between the two opposition parties to avoid a three-cornered fight that could split the opposition vote.

PPP’s Stance on LGBTQ Issues

Goh had previously declared PPP’s intention to contest in Nee Soon GRC, but indicated in a Facebook livestream on 16 March that he would withdraw if the PAP did not field an “LGBTQ activist” as part of its slate.

At Saturday’s press conference, Goh explained that his “objectives have been achieved in certain ways” and that he doesn’t believe the PAP will “carry out their intention of fielding this LGBTQ candidate”.

While Goh declined to identify the specific individual, speculation has centred around 40-year-old intellectual property lawyer Deryne Sim, who was spotted with Nee Soon GRC MPs during walkabouts in January, reported CNA.

Sim was previously a committee member of the LGBTQ+ activist group Pink Dot and currently serves as executive director of Same But Different, an organisation providing legal resources to Singapore’s LGBTQ community.

RDU’s Preparations for Electoral Battle

Philemon expressed gratitude to Goh for “conceding” Nee Soon GRC to his party, noting that their 17-year friendship allowed them to “look past their difference in opinions” and find common ground.

The RDU secretary-general revealed that his party has been active in the Nee Soon constituency since August 2024.

“When we say that we will contest Nee Soon GRC, this means that we have the capability and capacity to do so. We will not make blind and empty promises,” Philemon stated.

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According to Philemon, RDU has 25 potential candidates who have been training with the party since February 2024.

The training program for these candidates covers various aspects, from personal grooming to learning about the party’s policies.

Philemon stopped short of naming specific candidates, including whether he himself would stand in Nee Soon GRC.

He did, however, mention that he is “not a stranger to Nee Soon”, having previously assisted Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam with Meet-the-People Sessions around 2009.

“Some people think they can change the system by being in the system. But I felt the PAP was too much of a mammoth to change from the inside, and I felt I would be better if I was outside,” Philemon explained regarding his decision to part ways with the PAP.

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Electoral Landscape for GE2025

RDU had earlier announced on 11 March its intention to compete in at least six constituencies for the upcoming general election.

The party has introduced Kala Manickam as the member who will lead its efforts in Jalan Kayu Single Member Constituency (SMC). Manickam previously ran in Nee Soon GRC during the 2020 General Election as a Progress Singapore Party (PSP) member.

In the 2020 General Election, RDU contested only in Jurong GRC, securing 25.39 per cent of votes against a PAP team led by former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

PPP’s Goh received 28.26 per cent of votes in a losing effort against the PAP’s Tin Pei Ling in MacPherson SMC during the same election.

The contest for Nee Soon GRC in 2020 was between the Progress Singapore Party and the PAP, with the ruling party winning 61.9 per cent of the vote share.

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Nee Soon GRC will have 151,634 electors for the upcoming general election.

These five GRCs could see the tightest battle in GE2025; here’s why:

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Noreen Shazreen
Email: [email protected]