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Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Red Dot United elects new CEC
SINGAPORE: The Red Dot United (RDU) elected its new Central Executive Committee (CEC) during a party conference on Jun 27 (Friday), the opposition party announced in a statement over the weekend. Dr David Foo remains RDU's chairman, and Ravi Philemon has retained his position as secretary-general. Harish Mohanadas has replaced Liyana Dhamirah as the party's treasurer. RDU chair David Foo. Photo Credit RDU. Aside from the three office bearers mentioned above, here are RDU's nine other CEC members: Ben Puah, Eddy Tan, Emily Woo, Liyana Dhamirah, Mohamed Feroz, Pang Heng Chuan, Sharon Lin, Sharad Kumar, and Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad. Mr Philemon called this year's party conference an important one, given that it was held in the wake of the General Election on May 3. 'The results tell us that there is space for us. We are relevant to the politics of Singapore,' he noted, adding, 'So do not let anyone tell you that we are new, that we are small, or that what we do does not matter. We do not need anyone's permission to do what needs to be done. We do not need anyone's approval to work for our citizens.' RDU chair Ravi Philemon. Photo Credit RDU. 'We must challenge the system and shift it, from serving the billionaire class and big businesses to standing with everyday Singaporeans. That will be our big message. 'We must be the party that holds the ruling party accountable, and we must be the movement that pushes the opposition to be a real alternative that Singapore deserves,' he noted further. The party said in its statement that it has resolved to stand by 'this driving vision for RDU' set out by Mr Philemon. Meanwhile, Dr Foo said, 'This new CEC reflects both continuity and renewal. It includes long-serving members who know the Party's DNA and new faces who will help push us further. We are not here to be liked. We are here to fight for a fairer Singapore.' RDU's CEC Dr Foo is an entrepreneur and research chemist, while Mr Philemon is the managing partner of a boutique media business focused on health and wellness. Mr Monandas is a principal software engineer. See also Red Dot United meet many Burmese folks during outreach at Clementi As for the council members, Mr Puah is an artist and community art organizer; Mr Tan, an IT expert; Ms Woo, an educator; Ms Dhamirah, an NPO manager, entrepreneur and author; Mr Feroz, a senior business analyst; Mr Pang, an MNC director; Ms Lin, a senior IT consultant; Mr Kumar, an assistant hardware engineer; and Dr Syed, an independent researcher. /TISG Read also: RDU chief Ravi Philemon calls new Cabinet 'disappointing' as more women, youth should be given seats at the table
Independent Singapore
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
GE2025: Hope, conviction, and the courage to speak truth at Red Dot United's Holland-Bukit Timah rally
In a country where silence can be safer than dissent, and where political certainty often overshadows real conversation, Red Dot United (RDU) stepped onto the field at Holland-Bukit Timah with more than just speeches—they brought stories. Stories of struggle, defiance, and the relentless hope that Singapore can be more inclusive, more just, and more human. Liyana Dhamirah: Drawing the line on hate Few moments in politics cut deeper than when hate rears its head—not because it is unexpected, but because it is still tolerated. Liyana Dhamirah, a mother, a former homeless Singaporean, and now a candidate for RDU, made a bold choice: she filed a police report after receiving racist and misogynistic comments on her press conference videos. This wasn't an act of vengeance. It was an act of integrity. 'I refused to do nothing,' Liyana declared, her voice unwavering. Her decision, spurred by countless Singaporeans urging her to take a stand, revealed a painful truth: bigotry still exists in our society, and it thrives when good people remain silent. She didn't just challenge the unknown individuals behind hateful words—she called out the silence of current PAP leaders like Grace Fu and Rahayu Mahzam, who, she argued, failed to condemn such abuse. In doing so, she made it clear: leadership is not only about service—it's about moral courage. David Foo: Chemistry of change Dr. David Foo opened the evening with quiet strength and scientific clarity. A PhD and entrepreneur, Foo has spent his life asking one fundamental question: How do we make this country better for everyone—not just the privileged few? At 61, Foo is not the typical fresh-faced political candidate. But it is precisely his experience that gives weight to his words. In a country grappling with one of the world's lowest fertility rates, Foo's message was sobering: you cannot fix a nation's demographic crisis with baby bonuses while ignoring its housing stress, job insecurity, and skyrocketing living costs. 'Singaporeans are not unwilling to have children,' he said. 'They're unwilling to bring them into a future they cannot afford.' Foo's speech wasn't just about data—it was about listening to the residents of Nee Soon who told him their children were planning to leave Singapore, not out of betrayal, but from despair. In addressing these conversations with sincerity, Foo reminded us that nation-building is not about GDP charts—it is about dignity, hope, and a sense of belonging. Sharad Kumar: The storms we can't see If David Foo represents the seasoned voice of reason, then Sharad Kumar is its youthful counterpart—the idealist with a scalpel of truth. At just 25, Sharad delivered one of the most poignant speeches of the night, cutting through political varnish with disarming honesty. 'I am still getting to know Holland-Bukit Timah,' he confessed early on. But rather than hiding this, he leaned into it, offering the one thing often missing in politics—genuine humility. Sharad's message struck a nerve with young Singaporeans. He spoke of 'covered walkways, but no shelter from life's storms', capturing the irony of a society that builds impressive infrastructure but leaves emotional and economic burdens unaddressed. He tackled the empty platitudes about 'character building' and 'exposure' pointing out that exposure doesn't pay hospital bills, or wedding deposits, or help young people afford their first homes. And then, he turned to the darkness many refuse to acknowledge: mental health. 'One in three Singaporeans aged 15 to 35 report severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress,' he said. 'We are not just statistics. We are a generation that feels abandoned.' Ravi Philemon: Walking the full journey Ravi Philemon, the secretary-general of RDU, closed the evening not with bombast, but with belief—belief in the people who shared the stage with him, and in the power of standing up even without institutional support. His address was not a speech. It was a testimony. He recalled meeting Liyana in 2009 when she was homeless, and walking with Nizar through his struggles after being retrenched. 'That's how I walk with people,' he said. 'And I will walk the full journey with you.' For Ravi, this campaign isn't just about opposition for its own sake. It's about restoring balance. 'Everything may be legal, everything may be constitutional—but is everything principled?' he asked. It was a quiet rebuke to a system that sometimes seems more concerned with defending power than protecting people. In what might be the most telling contrast of the night, Ravi reminded Singaporeans that Red Dot United gave up the easier fight in Jalan Kayu to the Workers' Party—not out of political calculation, but because it was in the people's best interest. A collective voice, a collective choice This night wasn't just a rally. It was an intervention. At a time when Singaporeans are increasingly sceptical of both promises and politicians, the RDU team offered something far more valuable than a manifesto: their lived truth. From Liyana's quiet defiance in the face of hate, to Sharad's appeal for his generation, to David Foo's systemic diagnosis, and Ravi's personal conviction—Red Dot United has emerged not just as a party, but as a mirror. A mirror to our broken promises, our unspoken fears, and our deepest hopes. In this election, the question before us is not just which party to vote for. It's whether we believe that fairness, dignity, and honesty still have a place in our national life. If we do, then perhaps—just perhaps—this red dot can shine a little brighter again.
Business Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
GE2025: ‘Housing reset' needed to give young couples confidence to stay, says RDU chair
[SINGAPORE] A 'comprehensive housing reset' for affordability is needed to convince young couples to stay in Singapore, said Red Dot United (RDU) chair David Foo on Tuesday (Apr 29), at the party's second rally this general election. Residents have said that their children are thinking of leaving the country, 'not because they do not love Singapore, because they don't see a future that they can afford', he said. 'Ask anyone looking at the resale market price of flats today. Prices have surged astronomically. Options are shrinking. Couples want to settle down, but the system has them waiting, struggling and competing.' The party's proposed 'rent-to-own' scheme lets young people access affordable housing 'without being crushed by debt', said Dr Foo. 'We must create a Singapore where everyone, especially young couples, feels confident about their future – not one where they feel priced out of their own lives, living from pay cheque to pay cheque.' In his speech, Dr Foo added that the party's proposed cash transfer, dubbed the 'citizen's dividend', will not come from the Republic's reserves. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up On Monday, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu had criticised the proposed dividend, saying that Singaporeans would be the ones paying the expected cost of S$2 billion and S$4 billion. Fu is leading the People's Action Party's Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC team against the RDU. On Tuesday, Dr Foo said the proposed citizen's dividend will instead be funded by 'reforming tax loopholes', ensuring that top earners and large multinational corporations 'contribute fairly'. It will 'serve as a permanent financial safety net for all', he added. RDU is fielding the second-largest opposition party slate in GE2025, with 15 candidates across three GRCs and one SMC. Though Tuesday's rally at the School of Science and Technology was for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, most of the RDU's candidates spoke – including party chief Ravi Philemon, who is contesting Nee Soon GRC. RDU intends to hold further rallies on both Wednesday and Thursday, the final two days of the nine-day campaigning period.
