GE2025: RDU does not believe in ‘adversarial approach’ when it comes to solving Singaporeans’ problems

SINGAPORE: Although Red Dot United (RDU) is in the opposition camp, it is not adversaries with the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) when it comes to solving the problems of Singaporeans. 

“We may disagree on certain policies, but at the end of the day, we are all Singaporeans,” said RDU’s secretary-general Ravi Philemon on Saturday (Apr 5). 

“We all care for Singapore, and that is an important thing that we cannot forget.” 

He added that the party does not believe in an adversarial approach when it comes to solving the problems people face, and is “very clear minded about that and towards that”. 

Mr Philemon was speaking to reporters during a walkabout at Bukit Batok West Avenue 6, which is under the current Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC but was formerly under Bukit Batok SMC. 

In the 2020 General Election, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan contested in Bukit Batok SMC, and lost to the PAP’s Murali Pillai, getting 45.2 per cent of the vote. 

Asked whether the support that Dr Chee garnered at the constituency is something his party will leverage on, Mr Philemon said that he is “always very thankful to Dr Chee Soon Juan”. 

“He is a guiding light to many in the opposition ecosystem, including to me, and I’m thankful to him that he has worked the ground here in the past 10 years,” he said.

“A sizeable number of people in the former Bukit Batok SMC did vote for him, which means that he has politicised this Bukit Batok SMC.” 

He added that RDU is the party that plans to contest this area for the upcoming General Election, and that it will “take from where Dr Chee left off”. 

“I think he has passed the baton to us in a certain sense, and we will continue to continue to run the race on the behalf of Singaporeans,” he added. 

Dr Chee has said he will be contesting in Sembawang West SMC instead, given the absorption of Bukit Batok SMC into Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.