SINGAPORE: In a striking public statement ahead of the upcoming General Election, Red Dot United (RDU) member Kala Manickam, who is expected to contest Jalan Kayu SMC, has criticised former Minister Ng Chee Meng’s apparent bid to re-enter Parliament, challenging the narrative that his return is based purely on merit.
Her message is as much a call for accountability as it reflects growing ground sentiment in Jalan Kayu and beyond: Singaporeans are tired of parachuted candidates and political favouritism.
“Walk the ground—on your own”
In a social media post published this week, she said, “Mr Ng Chee Meng recently said he hopes to ‘return to Parliament through an election based on his own merits.’ I genuinely hope he means that. Because if he does, he should walk the ground in Jalan Kayu SMC—on his own—without Senior Minister Lee or Prime Minister Lawrence Wong by his side.”
Her statement directly questions the circumstances surrounding Mr Ng’s re-entry, urging him to face voters not as a product of the PAP establishment, but as a leader capable of earning trust independently. “Let residents see for themselves the measure of the man, and not just the weight of the establishment behind him,” she added.
The implication is clear: if Mr Ng believes he is returning on merit, then he must be willing to face the electorate without relying on high-profile political backing.
Parachuted or preferred?
Ms Manickam also did not shy away from addressing the perception that Mr Ng has been “parachuted” into Jalan Kayu. Describing him as “SM Lee Hsien Loong’s blue-eyed boy,” she posed a question that many on the ground resonated with: “Why does Mr Lee want him in Parliament so badly? Why the insistence? What exactly is at stake—for the party, or for Mr Ng himself?”
“The ground is talking about jobs, not comebacks”
Beyond political theatre, Ms Kala’s message zeroes in on what truly matters to residents: jobs, wages, and security. She wrote, “Many in Jalan Kayu—and across Singapore—have done everything they were told to do. They’ve gone for upskilling, embraced lifelong learning. But the good opportunities are still few and far between.”
Her message appears to be a powerful reminder that national conversations about resilience and retraining often mask the frustrations felt by ordinary Singaporeans who feel they’ve played by the rules but are still falling behind. Stagnating wages and dwindling job security, she says, are eroding trust in the promise that hard work leads to progress.
Ms Kala also pointed to one particularly vulnerable group: gig and contract workers.
NTUC’s silence on gig workers under scrutiny
As the former Secretary-General of NTUC, Mr Ng’s legacy includes a track record that Ms Kala argues is incomplete, especially in relation to gig economy workers. “Under Mr Ng’s leadership at NTUC, their struggles have been raised again and again. But what real change has there been?” Ms Kala asked.
She called attention to the persistent lack of benefits, protection, and basic labour rights for freelancers, delivery riders, and temporary staff. “Only now, as Mr Ng seeks re-election, does it seem like something might finally be done. And that timing doesn’t sit right with many.”
Her remarks perhaps echo a deeper frustration in public discourse: that meaningful policy responses seem to appear only when electoral stakes are high.
Leadership beyond campaign trail
Perhaps the most compelling line in Ms Kala’s statement is also the simplest: “Singaporeans deserve leaders who don’t wait for an election to start acting.” It’s a quiet indictment of performative politics, where photo ops and campaign trails often eclipse genuine, sustained engagement.
She argued that Jalan Kayu doesn’t need “a politician trying to stage a return,” but rather “someone who’s always been here. Someone who listens, who understands what’s at stake, and who’s ready to serve for the right reasons.”
It’s a sentiment that many Singaporeans might share, especially in constituencies that feel forgotten between elections.
The RDU team lead for Jalan Kayu added, “This election isn’t about personalities. It’s about priorities. And we owe it to ourselves to choose leadership grounded in merit, not favour.”
Ms Kala’s statement may be aimed at one candidate in one constituency, but it highlights a broader national narrative: the need to reclaim politics from the elite, the entitled, and the episodically visible. It’s a nudge to consider not just what candidates promise during rallies, but how they show up the rest of the time — who they are when no one’s watching, and what really drives them to serve.
Stay tuned to The Independent for more in-depth coverage of GE2025, ground sentiments, and exclusive interviews as Singapore navigates one of its most pivotal elections yet.
