Is’haq Rajoo Jay, a food and beverage entrepreneur and part-time sports coach, has declared his intention to contest the newly formed Queenstown Single Member Constituency (SMC) as an independent candidate in the upcoming general election.
Jay made his announcement on 9 April through a Facebook Live broadcast, where he stated that he had secured the backing of two alternative opposition parties, enabling him to contest the constituency without the risk of a three-cornered fight.
“I managed to speak to Ravi (Ravi Philemon, the chief of Red Dot United), to back out and not challenge Queenstown SMC,” Jay said.
“Then I spoke to Mahaboob Baatsha, who is the treasurer of Reform Party, which is part of the People’s Alliance for Reform, to let me challenge or stand at the SMC, and they’ve also agreed.”
Queenstown SMC was carved out from the five-member Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC) following the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report released on 11 March.
The newly formed constituency will have 28,857 electors.
Currently, Queenstown falls under the oversight of Eric Chua from the PAP, who serves as the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth, as well as for Social and Family Development.
Jay announced he will begin his walkabout in Queenstown on 15 April at 7.30pm, inviting residents and supporters to join him as he formally begins his campaign.
Independent Citizens Movement
Speaking directly to residents during his online address, Jay introduced his initiative as the “Independent Citizens Movement” — a ground-up movement “by Singaporeans for Singaporeans.”
“Residents of Queenstown SMC, this is your old New Town Secondary School boy. I would like to be a part of your life and do my very best to work for you and be the voice for you and for all Singaporeans,” he said.
He also highlighted that he had been working on citizen-focused initiatives for the past two and a half years.
Jay explained that his campaign’s ethos harks back to Singapore’s early leadership, stating that the movement aims to “go back to basics”, referencing how the country’s first and second-generation leaders prioritised citizens’ welfare.
“This will be the focus of the Independent Citizens Movement. We go back to the basic fundamentals to make our lives better,” Jay said.
“Queenstown, we are coming to your town. Let’s make it count.”
Jay extended an open invitation to Singaporeans who wish to contribute to his campaign in various capacities.
He encouraged individuals with skills in administration, IT, logistics, security, and design to volunteer.
“We are building a passionate, ground-up campaign that puts people before politics — and we need you to make it happen,” he said.
“If you are staying in Queenstown or anywhere nearby — or even elsewhere in Singapore — we welcome you to join.”
According to Jay, the upcoming election, anticipated to be held in May though officially required only by November 2025, offers a short runway.
“It does not give us a long runway. Let’s take off hard and fast and fly high,” he said.
Jay proposes revamp of town councils to better serve residents’ daily needs
Among Jay’s proposed changes is a rethinking of how town councils operate.
He intends to release his full manifesto soon but has already hinted at a push for town councils to take on a more proactive and impactful role in residents’ lives.
“I’m not coming in just as a solo individual,” he added. “I’m coming in with a team of advisors, whom I will introduce to you in the coming days.”
Jay emphasised that the Independent Citizens Movement is not a registered political party but a civic movement intended to bring about systemic change.
He said the movement welcomes participation from all Singaporeans, including those affiliated with other political parties.
“This is a critical and crucial election in our history. Let’s make a positive change by holding each other’s hands,” he concluded.
With Queenstown SMC seeing its first contest following its formation, all eyes will be on how this new battleground shapes voter sentiment in a closely watched election season.
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