Red Dot United to contest Nee Soon GRC; People's Power Party steps aside to avoid 3-cornered fight

Key Concepts

• Opposition unity
• Multi-cornered fights (three-cornered, four-cornered, seven-cornered)
• Incumbents' advantage
• Cost of contesting elections (deposits, posters, banners, flyers)
• Nissun GRC (5-member Group Representation Constituency)
• Red Dot United (RDU)
• People's Power Party (PPP)
• Ego vs. representing the people

PPP Concedes Nissun GRC to RDU

The People's Power Party (PPP), after serious consideration and discussions with Mr. Ravi Filimon of Red Dot United (RDU), has decided to concede the Nissun Group Representation Constituency (GRC) to RDU. This decision was influenced by the fact that both parties have worked the ground in Nissun.

• Reasoning: PPP believes that the objective of preventing the People's Action Party (PAP) from fielding an LGBTQ activist as a candidate in Nissun has been achieved.
• Opposition Unity: PPP emphasizes the importance of opposition unity and reconciliation between parties.
• Agreement: PPP and RDU have reached an agreement where PPP will not contest Nissun, allowing RDU to have a clean fight.

RDU's Perspective on Opposition Cooperation

Ravi Filimon of RDU acknowledges the ongoing conversations with PPP and other opposition parties. He addresses the speculation surrounding multi-cornered fights.

• Speculation: Dismisses rumors of three, four, or even seven-cornered fights as mere speculation.
• Opposition Interest: States that there is very little interest among opposition parties to engage in multi-cornered fights.
• Incumbent Advantage: Explains that multi-cornered fights in Singapore primarily benefit the incumbents (PAP).
• Representing the People: Emphasizes that the primary goal of opposition parties is to represent the people of Singapore and ensure their voices are heard.

The High Cost of Contesting Elections

Filimon highlights the significant financial burden of contesting elections, particularly in a GRC.

• Deposit: The deposit alone for a 5-member GRC like Nissun is approximately $70,000.
• Other Expenses: Additional expenses include printing posters, banners, and flyers to reach voters.
• Financial Prudence: RDU does not want to waste $70,000 to $150,000 due to ego or the desire to "prove something."
• Misleading Information: Refutes the notion that the opposition is driven by ego and willing to waste money for selfish reasons.

Gratitude and Commitment

Filimon expresses gratitude to Mr. Ging Sang and PPP for conceding Nissun to RDU.

• Acknowledgement: Acknowledges that both PPP and RDU have worked the ground and understand their respective strengths.
• Commitment: RDU commits to doing its best to win Nissun GRC for the cause they believe in.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The decision of PPP to concede Nissun GRC to RDU underscores the importance of opposition unity in Singaporean politics. Both parties recognize the strategic disadvantage of multi-cornered fights, which primarily benefit the ruling party. The high cost of contesting elections further incentivizes opposition parties to cooperate and avoid splitting the vote. RDU expresses gratitude for PPP's decision and commits to representing the people of Nissun GRC effectively. The primary takeaway is a demonstration of strategic collaboration and a focus on representing the people's interests over individual party ambitions.