Haresh Singaraju says he is now 'not a member of any party' after PAP shirt photo controversy

SINGAPORE: Nominated Member of Parliament-designate Dr Haresh Singaraju has addressed questions about his political affiliation after a photograph showing him wearing a People’s Action Party-branded T-shirt resurfaced on social media. The now-deleted image, originally posted on his personal Instagram account in September 2023, prompted renewed debate over the independence of the Nominated Member of Parliament scheme. Concerns intensified after screenshots of the photograph circulated online, showing Dr Haresh at a Meet-the-People Session while wearing the party shirt. The photograph was widely shared across platforms including Reddit, where users questioned whether someone with visible party associations should be appointed under a scheme intended to be non-partisan. The original post included a caption discussing the importance of Lasting Power of Attorney arrangements and thanking Tampines West grassroots volunteers.

Initial clarification to SCMP

Earlier on 5 January 2026, Dr Haresh responded to queries from the South China Morning Post, stating that he had been “previously a party member” but was “not a member today”. He explained that the image related to earlier activities conducted under the People’s Association and said he had archived the post to avoid displaying identifiable images of residents and volunteers. This clarification was later revised following further public discussion.

Instagram clarification on 6 January

In a subsequent Instagram post published late afternoon on 6 January, Dr Haresh clarified that the photograph was from a party activity he had previously volunteered at. He acknowledged that his earlier response to SCMP had been inaccurate, stating that he had incorrectly referred to the event as a People’s Association activity. “The activity did not involve the PA,” he said, adding that he is now not a member of any party. Dr Haresh further explained that the 2023 Instagram post was archived as part of a broader clean-up of his account after making it public. He said this was done to protect the identities of individuals featured in the images.

Past roles and affiliations

According to his LinkedIn profile, Dr Haresh has served as a grassroots leader under the People’s Association since 2023. The People’s Association is a statutory board tasked with promoting community engagement and has long been associated with PAP-linked grassroots structures. A report by the SCMP confirmed that Dr Haresh had previously been a PAP member and held several leadership roles in Tampines West. These included chair of the Community Centre Management Committee and vice-chair of the Citizens’ Consultative Committee. Party sources also confirmed that he had attended at least one PAP tea session, an informal evaluation process typically used to identify potential electoral candidates.

Broader debate over NMP independence

Despite Dr Haresh’s clarification, his nomination has reignited broader debate about the credibility of the NMP scheme. Critics have focused on whether the selection process sufficiently safeguards against partisan influence. Dr Haresh is among nine NMPs appointed from a pool of 57 candidates, the second-highest number since the scheme began in 1990. Public nominations were accepted between 8 October and 6 November 2025.

Composition of the selection committee

Final selections were made by an eight-member Special Select Committee chaired by Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng. Seven members of the committee are senior PAP politicians, with the sole opposition representative being Workers’ Party MP Louis Chua. The committee’s composition has attracted scrutiny, with critics arguing that it undermines perceptions of neutrality. Some commentators have said this structure makes it difficult to view the nomination process as genuinely non-partisan.

Online reactions and public sentiment

On Reddit, one user described the scheme as a “facade to plant more pro-PAP MPs in Parliament”. Others argued that if individuals with clear party ties later contest general elections, the scheme risks losing public trust. Calls for the abolition of the NMP scheme resurfaced, citing blurred lines between civil representation and party politics. However, supporters of the scheme noted that prior political affiliations do not necessarily translate into partisan behaviour once appointed. They argued that the scheme continues to provide sectoral perspectives otherwise absent from Parliament.

Historical precedent and recent developments

There is precedent for NMPs having past or ongoing party links. Gerard Ee remained a PAP member during his NMP tenure, while others such as Calvin Cheng and Tan Su Shan resigned from the party before taking up their roles. Cheng, who had served in Young PAP, stepped down shortly after being nominated as an NMP in 2009. The current controversy follows heightened attention during the 2025 General Election. Two NMPs resigned ahead of the polls, with Syed Harun Alhabsyi later winning a seat in Nee Soon GRC. A survey of 500 Singaporeans conducted in August 2025 found that 71 per cent believed NMPs add alternative voices in Parliament. However, only about one-third considered the scheme relevant. At a forum in September marking the scheme’s 35th anniversary, former NMPs emphasised the importance of maintaining its non-partisan character. Dr Haresh, a family physician at National University Polyclinics, is expected to take his oath at the next parliamentary sitting on 12 January 2026. This follows the formal presentation of instruments by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on 8 January.