SINGAPORE: Red Dot United (RDU) has raised ethical concerns surrounding the participation of former Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) in the upcoming General Election as members of political parties.
Speaking on 3 April 2025 during a walkabout at Yishun Park Hawker Centre, RDU Secretary-General Ravi Philemon questioned if it is “ethically right” for an NMP to later run for office under a party banner.
His remarks follow the resignations of two NMPs — Syed Harun Taha Alhabsyi and Raj Joshua Thomas — from their parliamentary roles on 14 February 2025, prompting speculation that they may be fielded as candidates by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam had earlier clarified on 31 March that Singapore’s Constitution permits NMPs to join political parties after resigning their posts.
However, Philemon asserted that legality alone does not resolve questions around propriety.
“Of course, we agree that there is nothing legally wrong with an NMP coming on board a political party to contest an election as a member of a political party. I am sure that it is constitutionally right as well,” Philemon told reporters.
“But there is a difference between what’s legally right, what’s constitutionally right, what’s ethically right, what is principled and what is fair.”
Philemon also questioned the rationale behind the apparent relocation of Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, who is currently the Member of Parliament for Nee Soon Central.
He said residents had expressed concern that a former NMP was being “parachuted” into the constituency, and asked why Faishal was being moved out.
The speculation intensified after Asso Prof Faishal was seen during a walkabout at Eunos Crescent Market and Food Centre on 30 March, suggesting he could be fielded in the new Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC.
During Thursday’s walkabout, Syed Harun was present at Yishun Ring Hawker Centre with PAP volunteers, according to state media CNA.
He briefly crossed paths with Philemon, shaking hands as their groups encountered each other.
When pressed about his political future, Syed Harun said his candidacy for the General Election is “still not firm” and subject to decision by the prime minister.
“We’ll address it at some point,” he added, according to CNA.
Separately, Raj Joshua Thomas has since confirmed his membership in the PAP, while Syed Harun has been seen accompanying PAP members, including Shanmugam, at community events in Nee Soon GRC — a constituency expected to see active electoral competition.
Ethics, equity, and perception: Philemon links NMP debate to Ridout Road controversy
Philemon insisted that public concerns need to be addressed before any formal candidacy is confirmed.
He raised the issue of when Dr Syed Harun “stopped being non-partisan” as an NMP, suggesting that if Dr Syed Harun is fielded in Nee Soon, questions regarding when he began “leaning towards the PAP” should be answered, considering NMPs are meant to be non-partisan.
“If an NMP is fielded in Nee Soon GRC, they, as well as the team’s anchor minister, must answer questions about when they stopped being non-partisan,” he said.
He also posed hypothetical concerns regarding past parliamentary conduct, asking: “Was he asked to ask some inconvenient questions in parliament by the ministers or by those affiliated with the incumbent? Did he comply with these wishes?”
Drawing a broader parallel, Philemon compared the situation with the controversy surrounding the rental of black-and-white colonial bungalows on Ridout Road by two senior ministers — Shanmugam and Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with this,” he said, referring to the legality of the rentals. “But is it fair? It’s not a question of if people are jealous that the minister is able to move into a Ridout bungalow.”
Rather, Philemon argued, it is about public perception and equitable access.
“While the minister can live in a bungalow the size of four, five football fields, why are our HDB flats shrinking in size? It’s a legitimate concern to us.”
In July 2023, then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stated in Parliament that both ministers had done nothing wrong in their private rental of 26 and 31 Ridout Road respectively.
Investigations by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing or preferential treatment.
An independent review led by Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean also cleared both ministers of conflict of interest.
Shanmugam later clarified that he rented 26 Ridout Road after deciding to sell his family home and was not profiting from the rent differential. Balakrishnan said he had rented 31 Ridout Road to accommodate his extended family, including grandchildren, under one roof.
The issue was first highlighted in May 2023 through online articles by Reform Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam, who questioned if the properties were rented below market rates.
RDU calls for GST rollback and carbon tax reform to ease cost-of-living pressures
In addition to raising ethical concerns, Philemon outlined key elements of RDU’s campaign platform. Should RDU be elected into Parliament, the party will call on the government to revert the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from 9 per cent back to 7 per cent.
He also criticised the recently raised carbon tax, arguing that utility companies are passing the costs onto consumers in the form of higher bills.
“Instead, what should be done is the utilities companies should be made to pay for this carbon pollution. It is them who are polluting the environment more than ordinary residents,” he said.
Singapore’s carbon tax was raised to S$25 per tonne for greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 and 2025, and will increase to S$45 per tonne in 2026 and beyond.
Philemon announced that RDU will formally launch its General Election campaign on 13 April.
Joining him at the walkabout were three other members of RDU’s central executive committee — independent researcher Syed Alwi Ahmad, IT professional Eddy Tan, and Pang Heng Chuan, a director at an international tech start-up.
As the political landscape intensifies ahead of the expected polls, RDU’s critique is likely to add pressure on both the ruling party and recent NMPs-turned-politicians to justify the transitions they have made.
The post RDU questions ethics of former NMPs joining political parties ahead of General Election appeared first on The Online Citizen.
