SINGAPORE — The Bukit Batok by-election is shaping up to be a contest of contrasts between a long-time People’s Action Party (PAP) activist and a veteran Opposition firebrand.

The PAP on Monday (March 21) introduced lawyer Murali Pillai, 48, as its candidate. The father of four is a low-key grassroots activist who served in Bukit Batok for 16 years before contesting in last year’s general election as part of the PAP’s five-member Aljunied GRC team.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mr Murali said: “I pledge to serve with all my heart… If elected, my special focus will be on the needs of the elderly and the needy.”

Dr Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) announced his candidacy on Sunday. The 53-year-old has been showing a gentler political side in the past year, though he is better known as a firebrand.

If he were to be elected, Dr Chee said his priority would be to “ensure the efficient and productive management” of the town council, an issue that political analysts had previously said would be central in Bukit Batok voters’ minds, given this is a single ward.

The by-election would see the PAP putting up a minority candidate to contest a single-seat ward, for only the second time since the Group Representation Constituency system was set up in 1988. Former Parliament Speaker Michael Palmer was the first. Mr Palmer stood down as a Member of Parliament in 2012 after an extramarital affair.

Asked if race might be an issue, Deputy Prime Minister and anchor-minister for Jurong GRC Tharman Shanmugaratnam said candidly that “race is never absent from politics”.

Speaking at the press conference to introduce Mr Murali, Mr Tharman added: “The PAP is comfortable with Murali Pillai going up against Dr Chee. We think (Mr Murali) is the right person and we think Bukit Batok residents will appreciate that.”

The Bukit Batok ward was carved out of the Jurong GRC in last year’s general election. It was vacated after the abrupt resignation of its former MP David Ong on March 12. Mr Ong cited “personal indiscretions” as part of the reason for stepping down. He has not explained his decision in details.

The PAP won Bukit Batok with 73.02 per cent of the vote in last year’s election, beating out the SDP’s Sadasivam Veriyah, who got 26.4 per cent of the vote, and independent candidate Samir Salim Neji, who received just 0.6 per cent of the vote.

Mr Neji has previously said he would contest the by-election. It is unclear if he would change his mind, after several Opposition parties announced in the past week their decision not to contest the Bukit Batok seat.

No date has been set for the by-election. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he would call for fresh polls “in due course”.