SINGAPORE: The National Solidarity Party ( NSP) will bow out from Sembawang West and Tampines-Changi Changkat SMCs and only contest Sembawang and Tampines GRCs, party chief Spencer Ng announced on Sunday ( Apr 20 ).
Speaking to reporters outside Kampung Admiralty, the group ’s secretary-general confirmed that the NSP will also not subject groups in Jalan Besar and Marsiling-Yew Tee GRCs for the future General Election.
“This is not an easy choice but a necessary one. We do this not because we are weak, but because we are powerful enough to place country before home, unity before personality and development before place, ” he added.
“This selection is not about giving up. It’s about showing up separately. ”
NSP has “consistently demonstrated what it means to move the talk”, and has been clear about where it will challenge, said its key, adding that it has respected the “gentlemen’s rules of engagement ” in every vote it has participated in under existing party leadership.
“Even when not every opposition party has chosen to do the same, we have stayed true to our rules, ” said Mr Ng.
With its recent strategy, NSP will need to discipline 10 candidates.
Mr Ng recently said that the group has about 30 people who are interested in standing for vote, but that the party was just “very certain ” of the divisions in Sembawang and Tampines.
The NSP team is expected to face a three-corner fight with the incumbent People’s Action Party ( PAP ) and the Singapore Democratic Party ( SDP ) in Sembawang GRC.
SDP has announced its possible candidates for the five-member hospital. Party main Chee Quickly Juan intends to battle the new one seat in Sembawang West.
NSP had recently questioned SDP’s purpose to challenge Sembawang GRC. On Apr 12, Red Dot United pulled out of casual opposition alliance The Coalition, citing worries about NSP’s determination to face off with SDP in the three-cornered battle.
In response to a query about why NSP does not give way to SDP in Sembawang GRC, Mr Ng said his group has now “invested a lot of time, effort and resources” in the area, and has a long-term perspective for the district.
Mr Ng confirmed that he will head the NSP staff in the hospital, and recently introduced floating manager and private-hire drivers Raiyian Chia as a fresh face who will be part of the slate.
The PAP has not revealed its full 2025 slate for the constituency.
Over in Tampines GRC, a multi-cornered fight is also shaping up. The Workers ‘ Party has introduced Mr Jimmy Tan as a potential candidate for its slate there. The People’s Power Party had also earlier indicated their interest in contesting the five-member constituency.
NSP’s president Reno Fong and vice-president Mohd Ridzwan Mohammad will contest Tampines GRC, joined by three new faces, the former had said in March. Both were part of NSP’s slate for the same constituency in 2020.
When asked about the party ’s preparations for three-corner fights, Mr Ng said: “Let us not be disillusioned that the PAP can be easily dislodged. ”
During its walkabout at Kampung Admiralty, NSP interacted with members of the public and gave out durians.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who led PAP’s 2020 team for the constituency, was at an event nearby and stopped to shake hands with and speak to Mr Ng.
NEW FACES
On Sunday, Mr Ng also introduced financial consultant Zee Phay and Republic Polytechnic lecturer Verina Ong as two new faces who will be potential candidates at the upcoming election.
The party will reveal its full slate of candidates for Sembawang and Tampines GRCs on Nomination Day, said its secretary-general.
NSP will also announce its full manifesto in one to two days, with the slogan “Your Future, Our Priority, A Bright Future For Singapore”, Mr Ng added.
The manifesto will feature policy proposals on housing, support for young parents and Singapore’s declining fertility rate.
ZEE PHAY, 32