RDU’s Kala Manickam dares Ng Chee Meng to prove merit without establishment backing

SINGAPORE: Red Dot United (RDU) member Kala Manickam has publicly questioned former Minister Ng Chee Meng’s recent remarks about wanting to return to Parliament on his “own merits”, calling for him to prove that commitment by walking the ground independently in Jalan Kayu Single Member Constituency (SMC), without support from top party leaders. Her comments were made in response to an interview Ng gave to Lianhe Zaobao, in which he shared his hopes of contesting in an SMC rather than returning to Parliament via a Group Representation Constituency (GRC). Ng, who was formerly Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and currently serves as secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), said, “I hope to rely on my own merits to be re-elected into Parliament.” He added that he did not wish to “hitchhike” on a GRC team, despite anticipating criticism regardless of his choice. Kala, writing in a Facebook post, said she genuinely hoped Ng meant what he said. “Because if he does,” she added, “he should walk the ground in Jalan Kayu SMC—on his own—without Senior Minister Lee or Prime Minister Lawrence Wong by his side. Let residents see for themselves the measure of the man, and not just the weight of the establishment behind him.” She argued that Ng had been “parachuted” into Jalan Kayu and that his perceived closeness to SM Lee Hsien Loong gave the impression that he expected an easy return to Parliament. “It’s hard to shake the feeling that he thinks he can waltz into Parliament simply because he’s seen as SM Lee Hsien Loong’s blue-eyed boy,” she wrote. Ng has recently been active in house visits across Fernvale and Jalan Kayu, areas within the newly carved out Jalan Kayu SMC. He has been strongly linked to a People's Action Party (PAP) candidacy there. Notably, Jalan Kayu SMC falls under the larger Ang Mo Kio GRC family, currently helmed by SM Lee, and Ng has said any elected MP there can work closely with the Ang Mo Kio team. In his interview, Ng reflected on his loss in Sengkang GRC during the 2020 General Election, where the PAP team he led garnered 47.87 per cent of the vote against the Workers' Party. He attributed the defeat to voters seeking stronger checks and balances and said future efforts should focus on transcending political disputes and focusing on Singaporeans’ well-being.

Voters Want Jobs, Not Just Political Comebacks, Says Kala

Kala, however, suggested that the electorate in Jalan Kayu is less concerned about political comebacks and more focused on bread-and-butter issues—especially good, stable jobs. “Many in Jalan Kayu—and across Singapore—have done everything they were told to do,” she wrote, noting residents have taken steps to upskill, adapt, and embrace lifelong learning. “But the good opportunities are still few and far between. Wages have stagnated. Job security has weakened. People are tired of doing their part, only to feel overlooked.” She also criticised Ng’s record as NTUC chief, especially in relation to contract and gig workers. While he has spoken on their issues, she argued that little substantive change has taken place. “These workers—freelancers, delivery riders, project-based staff—are still left to fend for themselves. No benefits. No protection. No safety net,” she said, suggesting that action only seemed to pick up now, ahead of the next election. “Singaporeans deserve leaders who don’t wait for an election to start acting,” she wrote. “We need people who show up even when there’s no camera, no campaign.” She concluded by calling for leadership rooted in commitment, not favour. “Jalan Kayu doesn’t need a politician trying to stage a return—it needs someone who’s always been here. Someone who listens, who understands what’s at stake, and who’s ready to serve for the right reasons.” “This election isn’t about personalities. It’s about priorities,” Kala said. The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report, released earlier this month, cited the high number of electors in Ang Mo Kio GRC as a reason for carving out Jalan Kayu SMC, which now comprises 29,565 voters.

RDU Accuses Ruling Party of Exploiting May Day Rally Timing to Control Media Narrative on Cooling-off Day

In a recent statement, RDU criticised the short campaigning period, arguing that the compressed timeline places significant constraints on opposition parties. RDU claimed the schedule was not only inequitable but strategically engineered to benefit the ruling party. According to Ravi Philemon, RDU’s Secretary-General, shifting Nomination Day to 22 April could have allowed Cooling-off Day to coincide with 1 May, a public holiday, thus offering a more balanced media environment. Cooling-off Day, which fell on 2 May, is a legally mandated day when political parties were prohibited from making statements or campaigning. However, Philemon argued that this scheduling was intentionally set to coincide with the Labour Day celebrations and the ruling party’s National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) May Day Rally. Given the ruling party’s close ties with NTUC, this event was expected to dominate the media on Cooling-off Day, shaping public opinion without any opportunity for opposition parties to offer alternative views or fact-check the claims made. Philemon criticised how the strategic use of this timing gave the ruling party a clear advantage, allowing it to use the NTUC May Day Rally to present promises or policy announcements that would capture headlines on Cooling-off Day. This, according to Philemon, could sway public opinion in favour of the ruling party at a time when opposition parties were legally barred from responding.