GE2025: Indranee’s team to go up against SDA in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC
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PAP's slate for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC comprises (from left) Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, Mr Sharael Taha, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Desmond Tan and Ms Valerie Lee on April 23.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
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SINGAPORE - The Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) will go up against the PAP team led by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Leader of the House Indranee Rajah in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC.
In a surprise move two days before Nomination Day, Ms Indranee, 62, announced that she would lead the slate for the newly created GRC
Her team comprises Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Desmond Tan, 55; Mr Sharael Taha, 44, a vice-president at Singapore Aero Engine Services; and political newcomer Valerie Lee, 39, Sembcorp’s head of corporate affairs for Singapore and South-east Asia.
Ms Indranee told supporters on April 23 at the nomination centre at Yusof Ishak Secondary School that there are many challenges facing Singapore, and “we need to tackle this and work together to succeed”.
Meanwhile, SDA chairman Desmond Lim, 58, will be leading a team that includes its secretary-general Abu Mohamed, 74, and Mr Harminder Pal Singh, 53, the party’s communications lead.
Mr Singh, who was in a wheelchair, told media that his leg had been amputated due to a life-threatening infection and a “big fall” that occurred 100 days ago. “I really begged them not to do it, but at the end of it... they did it,” he said.
Formed in 2001, SDA comprises two political parties, the Singapore Justice Party (SJP) and the Singapore Malay National Organisation, although Mr Lim hinted at a walkabout that a “surprise” third party had joined the group.
This was revealed to be restaurant owner Chia Yun Kai, 32, who had initially announced that he would found his own party – Most Valuable Party – to contest East Coast but turned up at the centre under SJP to join the SDA slate.
(From left) SDA chairman Desmond Lim will be leading a team which includes Mr Harminder Pal Singh, secretary-general Abu Mohamed and Mr Chia Yun Kai.
ST PHOTO: HARITH MUSTAFFA
In a nod to the party’s manifesto launched on April 23, Mr Chia, who towers over his teammates at 1.91m, said voters who choose them will experience sustainable low cost of living, affordable housing and strong job security for all Singaporeans.
He said: “SDA is not your second choice. We are your best choice.”
Mr Lim told the media that SDA decided not to run in Punggol because WP had highlighted its intention to contest there.
In 2020, PAP, led by Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, won the then five-member Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC with 64.16 per cent of the vote, while SDA came in second in the three-way fight with 23.67 per cent of the vote.
SM Teo, who was anchor minister for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, is retiring from politics.
