RP introduces Ang Mo Kio team, denies it's a suicide squad
The Reform Party (RP)'s six-member Ang Mo Kio group representation constituency (GRC) team denied it is a suicide squad.
The People's Action Party (PAP) team in the GRC is led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Lawyer M. Ravi, 46, who leads the RP team, said history has shown that the voice of the people has taken on the might of any government.
Referring to the party's 2011 team as not so well known, he said this team "presents a different energy".
Mr Ravi said: "In the present election, I think we are a wonderful energy and a powerful one to be reckoned with, and we believe. And I think your question will be best answered on the Polling Day itself."
The rest of the party's slate for the GRC are activist blogger Roy Ngerng, 34, infocomm trainer Siva Chandran, 32, career counsellor Gilbert Goh, 54, former banker Jesse Loo, 52, and entrepreneur Osman Sulaiman, 40.
Mr Ngerng said: "All of us are committed to running and all of us are committed to serving. All of us have the heart and the passion to do it as (we) have shown over the past few years."
'FAIR CHANCE'
Stressing that the team members do not think of themselves as a suicide squad, Mr Ngerng added: "We are speaking up for Singaporeans. We are standing as Singaporeans and as Singaporeans, we want a fair chance.
"And we want the voters to have a fair chance at voting and selecting people whom they believe (in) to represent them."
Mr Ravi said the team is popular among the people.
He added: "And we have high visibility. So we won't be a suicide squad.
"As you know that even a weak team like (in the) last election, the Reform Party team got 31 per cent of the votes. They never lost their deposit, so we definitely will get more than 40 per cent of the votes."
He acknowledged that the journey will not be easy as the ward is helmed by the PM.
He said: "And you ask me whether we are daunted by this, the unequivocal answer is no. We are here to take up the cudgel and we are here for the challenge."
Mr Ravi had earlier said he was not running in the election. "For me, it has been a very difficult decision to enter politics, because I don't see myself as a politician (but) as more of a human rights activist," he said.
After which, he said he received "a lot of positive response from Ang Mo Kio residents, Facebook friends and online supporters that I should stand (in) the General Election".
Mr Ravi was Mr Ngerng's initial counsel in a civil suit filed by PM Lee against Mr Ngerng, which has been decided in favour of PM Lee.
He was suspended from practising law in mid-February, following concerns over his mental health.
"And you ask me whether we are daunted by this, the unequivocal answer is no. We are here to take up the cudgel and we are here for the challenge."
- Lawyer M. Ravi, on the Reform Party contesting in PM's ward
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