Candidate has 16-year record of service in ward

SINGAPORE — Having served in various capacities in Bukit Batok for 16 years, Mr Murali Pillai is no stranger to the ward. In fact, he was the one who “held everyone together” — as People’s Action Party (PAP) second assistant secretary general Tharman Shanmugaratnam put it — after former Member of Parliament (MP) Ong Chit Chung died in 2008.

As he was unveiled as the PAP’s candidate to defend the Single Member Constituency in the upcoming by-election yesterday, the 48-year-old lawyer who heads the commercial litigation department at Rajah & Tann pledged to “serve with all my heart ... alongside activists whom I have had the pleasure of working with for so many years”.

At a press conference, Mr Murali, who joined the PAP in 2000, spoke about his “record of service in the area”, which was what had made him agree to stand in the by-election triggered by MP David Ong’s resignation.

He first got to know Dr Ong Chit Chung when he was asked to defend a Bukit Batok resident in a criminal case pro bono. His contributions to the community there grew to include strengthening the legal clinic programme in the ward from 2011, and serving as the legal adviser and trustee to several other social and welfare organisations.

From 2007 to 2011, Mr Murali was the branch secretary at the PAP Bukit Batok Branch, working closely with residents seeking assistance. Describing Dr Ong as a “great mentor” whom he learnt a lot from, he said the other MPs from Jurong GRC “all chipped in to take care” of Bukit Batok residents.

“As for me, I, together with a group of senior activists, we resolved to do our utmost to ensure that the good work Dr Ong Chit Chung did (is) always preserved,” said Mr Murali, who is married with four children. “So we pulled together, we doubled our efforts and intensified our outreach from the branch ... We actively looked after the daily needs of Bukit Batok residents.”

In a nod to Mr Murali’s contributions, Mr Tharman, who is Deputy Prime Minister, said he “held everyone together”. He added: “The Jurong MPs were all involved, helping out in taking care of Bukit Batok, (but) Murali was the person who held everyone together — all the volunteers, activities — and, in fact, strengthened the team in the years that followed. So he was invaluable.”

Ms Grace Fu, who is PAP central executive committee member and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, also said Mr Murali was one of the pillars of strength in the ward during that time.