SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party (WP) could be preparing to field a female candidate in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, marking a departure from its all-male lineup in the 2020 General Election.
Jeraldine Phneah, an account director at market intelligence platform AlphaSense, has been increasingly visible at WP’s grassroots engagements.
She has been seen walking the ground with WP members, including Deputy Organising Secretary Fadli Fawzi, raising speculation that she may be part of WP’s team in the next general election.
WP’s growing presence in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC
Following the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report on 11 March, Marine Parade GRC was expanded to include Potong Pasir SMC, MacPherson SMC, and parts of Mountbatten SMC.
This increased its electorate to 131,493 voters and resulted in its renaming to Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.
Phneah has been actively engaging with residents in the ward.
She participated in WP’s Ramadan food distribution outreach in Chai Chee, alongside Fadli Fawzi.
The Chai Chee HDB estate, however, has since been absorbed into East Coast GRC, where WP has also intensified its grassroots efforts.
Photos shared by WP member Harpreet Singh Nehal also showed Phneah visiting residents in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.
In a video shared by Fawzi, he commended Phneah for “learning Malay on the job” during the Ramadan outreach.
In the video, she handed a bowl of porridge to a resident while saying, “Kasih bubur” (I give porridge) and checked if they were alone by asking, “Satu orang?” (One person?). She also greeted them with “Ramadan Kareem”.
On 15 March, Phneah shared an Instagram post reflecting on WP’s Ramadan activities, calling it “a time of reflection, community, and giving”.
She highlighted the importance of unity and support within Singapore’s diverse society.
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(@jeraldinephneah)A decade of WP involvement
Phneah has been volunteering with WP for over a decade.
She joined the party during the 2015 General Election, initially supporting the Jalan Besar team.
After the election, she moved to the East Coast-Fengshan team, where she participated in grassroots activities.
She has been vocal about socio-economic issues on social media and her blog.
In a recent blog post marking Singapore’s 60th anniversary, she explained her decision to join WP, stating that political competition improves governance.
“It was a good platform for me to contribute to building a credible and rational opposition and drive improvements for Singapore,” she wrote.
A potential female candidate in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC?
Phneah’s growing presence in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC has led to speculation that WP may field a female candidate in the ward, marking a shift from its all-male lineup in the 2020 General Election.
The last female WP candidate in Marine Parade GRC was He Ting Ru, now an MP for Sengkang GRC.
She made her political debut in 2015 as part of WP’s five-member team, which garnered 35.9% of the votes but lost to the People’s Action Party (PAP).
WP challenges PAP’s stronghold in GE2025
Marine Parade GRC was a key battleground in GE2020.
The PAP team, led by then-Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and including Edwin Tong, Seah Kian Peng, Tan See Leng, and Fahmi Aliman, secured 57.74% of the vote.
WP’s team—Ron Tan, Yee Jenn Jong, Fadli Fawzi, Nathaniel Koh, and Azhar Latip—gained 42.26%.
Tan’s resignation from Parliament in 2023, following an extramarital affair scandal, has created uncertainty within the PAP’s team.
Political observers have noted WP’s intensified efforts in the constituency, suggesting a stronger challenge in the next election.
However, WP may not be the only opposition party contesting Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.
The National Solidarity Party (NSP) has announced plans to field candidates in seven constituencies, including Marine Parade, potentially leading to a three-cornered fight.
WP’s “Eastfront” strategy
While WP has not officially confirmed its contesting constituencies, its increased activity in Tampines GRC indicates a possible bid there.
The party has expanded its outreach efforts, engaging residents more frequently in the eastern region.
This suggests a coordinated “Eastfront” strategy, where WP positions itself to contest multiple constituencies in the east, including Aljunied GRC, East Coast GRC, Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, and Tampines GRC.
By targeting interconnected wards, WP may be seeking to mitigate the effects of electoral boundary changes and strengthen its foothold in the east.
With increasing walkabouts and community engagement in Tampines and Pasir Ris-Changi, WP’s expansion in the region appears highly likely.
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