Red Dot United (RDU) on 16 April 2025 unveiled its full slate of candidates for the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC and Jurong Central SMC.
The announcement, made at a press conference in Jurong East, featured a mix of experienced politicians and newcomers.
Two candidates with prior political experience were introduced for the five-member Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC team: Osman Sulaiman, 50, and Liyana Dhamirah, 38.
Osman is a director at a waste management company and has contested three previous elections. He ran under the Reform Party in 2011 and 2015 and later with the Singapore People’s Party in 2020.
Liyana, an entrepreneur and author, previously contested under the RDU banner in Jurong GRC during the 2020 General Election.
They are joined by contemporary artist Ben Puah, 48; marketing agency director Marcus Neo, 33; and principal software engineer Harish Mohanadas, 39.
RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon described the team as composed of “first-choice candidates”, not selected arbitrarily but based on demographic considerations and ground engagement.
At the press conference held near the Jurong-Clementi Town Council, Philemon remarked, “We have done our work, we think we have a good chance. We think these constituencies are winnable.”
He added that Osman and Liyana are the “anchor candidates” for the GRC slate, with particular emphasis on representing and addressing the needs of the Malay/Muslim community.
Osman, currently based in the Philippines, has committed to relocating to Singapore if elected. Liyana expressed her intention to champion social mobility and support for disadvantaged groups, especially among the Malay/Muslim community.
Harish, a member of the party’s central executive council, highlighted rising living costs and the strain on vulnerable groups. “We want to ensure Singapore’s success is shared by all Singaporeans,” he stated.
Marcus Neo leads a boutique agency serving legal firms. Ben Puah, whose art features in national collections, joined RDU in 2024 and adds a creative perspective to the team.
The newly formed Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC includes areas from Yuhua and Bukit Batok SMCs, parts of Hong Kah North, and sections formerly within Jurong GRC. It comprises 142,510 registered voters.
The GRC will see a contest between RDU and the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), which is fielding a team led by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.
Fu, 61, is joined by Ministers of State Murali Pillai and Rahayu Mahzam, as well as newcomers David Hoe and Lee Hong Chuang.
The PAP’s previous results in the area were strong, securing 79.29 per cent of votes in 2015 and 74.61 per cent in 2020.
The GRC was formerly led by ex-Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who stepped down in 2023 to run for president.
RDU fields longtime Jurong resident Emily Woo in newly carved Jurong Central SMC against PAP’s Xie Yao Quan
In addition to the GRC contest, RDU will field a candidate in Jurong Central SMC, a single seat newly carved out from Jurong GRC.
Piano teacher Emily Woo, 59, who has lived in Jurong for over two decades, will represent RDU in the ward. Woo, formerly a Ministry of Education teacher, has been active in grassroots work and music education since 2000.
Woo will run against PAP incumbent Xie Yao Quan, 40, who is serving his first term in Parliament.
Addressing local municipal concerns, Woo cited examples such as littering, damaged infrastructure, and cleanliness. She pledged to “win the trust and confidence” of residents through diligent service and grassroots engagement.
Beyond Jurong, RDU has expressed interest in contesting several other constituencies, including Nee Soon GRC, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Jalan Kayu SMC, Tanjong Pagar GRC and Radin Mas SMC.
Founded in 2020, RDU remains one of Singapore’s youngest political parties, focused on broadening opposition representation and civic engagement.
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