Red Dot United introduces three potential candidates for Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC

Red Dot United (RDU) on April 5 introduced three potential candidates for the newly created Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

Entrepreneur and author Liyana Dhamirah, contemporary artist Ben Puah and principal software engineer Harish Mohanadas were introduced as RDU's team leads for the five-member group representation constituency in the western part of Singapore.

Speaking to reporters at 155 Bukit Batok Street 11 ahead of a walkabout, RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon said the three will be walking the ground ahead of the election, as it is important to make sure that the party has "the right candidates with the right calibre to contest in this constituency".

He added that his party's Jurong East-Bukit Batok team has three missions. They are to make sure "everyone has money in their pockets", elected representatives are caring, and Singaporeans have dignity and "remain as first-class citizens in their own homes".

Ms Liyana, 38, was a former RDU candidate for Jurong GRC in the 2020 General Election.

Mr Puah, 48, who joined RDU in 2024, and Mr Harish, 39, who is a central executive council member of RDU, will be contesting for the first time if fielded.

During her introduction, Ms Liyana told reporters she believes it is important that everyone can live with dignity, including "single mothers working three jobs and the elderly neighbour who is living alone in her flat". Mr Puah, who spoke in Mandarin, noted that education, healthcare, housing and cost of living were issues concerning Singaporeans.

Mr Harish said "real" political competition will give Singaporeans greater control over their lives and livelihoods.

"We need a capable government but we also need a capable opposition in Parliament, not just to oppose but also to propose, not just to speak but also to listen," he added.

RDU has identified Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC as one of six constituencies it plans to contest.

In 2020, Mr Philemon led the RDU team in Jurong GRC against a PAP team helmed by then Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The PAP won with 74.62 per cent of the vote.

Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, with 142,510 voters was newly created after the recent changes to electoral boundaries, and will include areas from the old Jurong GRC, including Bukit Batok East and Clementi wards.

The new constituency will also take in the entirety of Bukit Batok SMC as well as parts of Hong Kah North SMC.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu, the current MP for Yuhua SMC, is tipped to lead the PAP team in Jurong East-Bukit Batok.

Mr Philemon said his party had a long history with the constituencies around the area and knew Jurong East-Bukit Batok well, which is why it had decided it would field a team there in the coming election.

He added: "We know the constituency well, the people have invited us."