[SINGAPORE] The WP introduced three more candidates it plans to field at the polls, including two lawyers and a digital strategist in the financial services and payment sector.
The press briefing, the third in as many days, was held on Apr 19 at the opposition party’s headquarters in Geylang, ahead of the election, which will take place on May 3.
The WP did not indicate which constituencies the candidates will be fielded in. They are:
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Harpeet Singh Nehal, 59, managing partner at the law firm Audent Chambers and senior counsel;
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Sufyan Mikhail Putra Mohd Kamil, 33, former associate director at Abdul Rahman Law Corporation, who stepped down to contest the general election; and
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Jasper Kuan, 46, Asia-Pacific product lead for disputes resolution at Visa Worldwide.
The three candidates also took questions from reporters in a panel that also included secretary-general Pritam Singh and party chair Sylvia Lim.
Nomination Day is on Apr 23, and the WP is expected to introduce more candidates in the following days, with 17 of them expected to make their political debut.
Over the last three days, the WP has introduced 11 candidates, bringing the tally of WP members taking part in the election to 19 so far, after including incumbent MPs from Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC and the Hougang single seat.
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The Straits Times expects the WP to contest about 31 out of 97 parliamentary seats this election.
1. Harpreet Singh Nehal, 59
The senior counsel has had a storied legal career, and has been touted as one of the WP’s “star catches”.
His journey with the opposition party began sometime in 2021, when he help them with Meet-the-People sessions, before he took on a more active role since August 2023.
Asked if there was any stigma linked to being fielded as an opposition candidate, Singh said it was a “badge of honour”.
Speaking about why he decided to enter politics, he said: “Our country is at a turning point, and we need every Singaporean to step forward and speak up about the issues that matter.
“The future doesn’t right itself. We shape it, you and I.”
Affordability, education and fairer politics are three policy areas he is keen to focus on, he said, which are also areas the WP has included in its manifesto.
To ensure fairer politics, Singh said the arts community, civil society and critics need to be treated with respect, not suspicion. He cited a string of incidents such as the National Arts Council withdrawing funding for award-winning book The Art Of Charlie Chan Hock Chye because it “potentially undermined the authority or legitimacy” of the government.
He said: “Let’s not leave our citizens with the distinct impression that some of our brightest minds in this country are denied tenure because they are dared to speak truth to power.”
Describing the current system as “stagnation”, he said WP is committed to keeping all the good parts about Singapore, while bringing about changes that will help the country better meet future challenges.
2. Sufyan Mikhail Putra Mohd Kamil, 33
A former associate director at Abdul Rahman Law Corporation, which provides Syariah-compliant legal services, Sufyan left the firm due to its non-partisan policy so that he could contest the general election.
Lim said he is applying to start his own law firm.
A volunteer with the party since 2024, Sufyan has been helping out at incumbent Aljunied GRC MP Faisal Manap’s Meet-the-People sessions as a case writer, and is part of the party’s policy team.
He said he joined the opposition party because he believes in its core mission to be a “credible and rational alternative for Singaporeans”.
He added: “I am stepping up in these elections because I believe that our collective endeavour to build a caring, just and more equitable society is truly greater than the sum of our parts.”
In the course of his work, he has had to deal with property disputes, and he has spoken to residents at Meet-the-People sessions. He will draw on his experience, he said, and address issues such as relieving cost pressures and housing policies.
3. Jasper Kuan, 46
A former Catholic High School teacher, Kuan is the Asia-Pacific product lead for disputes solutions at payments firm Visa Worldwide.
He has led many projects familiar to Singaporeans in the course of his career in finance, including multi-currency mobile wallet YouTrip’s tie-up with EZ-Link, and was part of the team working on the adoption of bank cards for public transport.
A Hougang resident since childhood, he said he has always been exposed to WP, and was inspired to join after reading sociologist Teo You Yenn’s book, This Is What Inequality Looks Like.
A section in the book titled “I want my children better than me” left an impression on him, he said.
Kuan, who has three young children, said: “My family is my foundation, my inspiration and my motivation. While the idea of being better changes over time, Singaporean parents will always want the best for their children.”
He added that he will speak up on educational issues, which are close to his heart, both as a former teacher and a parent. A key concern, for instance, is the overreliance on tuition, he said.
“I want to push for an education system that is more forward-looking, less stressful and more inclusive,” he said.
Kuan also spoke about the struggles of raising children in Singapore’s expensive environment, and pledged to champion the need for practical and fair policies that support families and protect breadwinners.
He said: “It is vital, hugely vital, that the government continues to improve our lives and create opportunities for Singaporeans.” THE STRAITS TIMES
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