SINGAPORE — Teacher Shamsul Kamar has emerged as a potential new People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate in the opposition-held Aljunied Group Representation Constituency, after he was named as the likely new chairman of the PAP’s Kaki Bukit branch, taking over from Mr Kahar Hassan who stepped down yesterday (July 31).

“Shamsul Kamar has been deployed by the PAP to work with the (Kaki Bukit) activists,” former PAP chairman and special advisor to chairman of the People’s Association Lim Boon Heng told reporters after a closed-door meeting with some 50 grassroots activists at Bedok North this afternoon (Aug 1).

The meeting was held to address questions on Mr Kahar’s sudden departure as well as to introduce Mr Shamsul as his possible replacement.

Mr Shamsul is currently the Head of Student Management at Spectra Secondary School. According to Mr Lim, the civil servant in his early 40s is serving his notice of resignation, which will be official on Aug 21.

Mr Lim added that Mr Shamsul was not new to Kaki Bukit, having volunteered in the grassroots there before moving to Yishun in the 2011 General Election to help Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim in Nee Soon GRC.

When residents saw Mr Shamsul at this afternoon’s meeting, they greeted him “like an old friend”, added Mr Lim.

Mr Kahar, who was also present at this afternoon’s meeting, had taken to Facebook on Friday to announce that PAP leaders had made the decision last Saturday for him to move out of Kaki Bukit, which falls under the Workers’ Party-held Aljunied GRC.

In a farewell note, the 46-year-old Mr Kahar thanked Kaki Bukit residents for showing him “warmth and love” over the past 16 months.

On why the change was made, Mr Lim said the PAP has been putting people on the ground to evaluate the performance of possible candidates, how they interact and relate with the activists and residents.

“The PAP, as far as I understand, has this time, got more candidates than it will field in the coming elections. So when the time comes closer to when and where to place people, it looks at the whole slate of possible candidates and see who makes the best fit in the different constituencies that gives the PAP the best results,” he said, adding that Mr Kahar “could possibly be better placed in some other role somewhere else”.

Mr Lim also stressed that Mr Kahar’s stepping down was not due to any wrongdoing.

“There is nothing wrong that (Mr) Kahar has done. He has done nothing criminal nor scandalous - so the first point I wanted to assure residents is that there’s no scandal,” added Mr Lim.

Both Mr Kahar and Mr Shamsul did not speak to the media.

Asked why no heavyweight candidates have been introduced at Aljunied GRC, Mr Lim said that the argument that a GRC must be carried by a Minister is flawed.

“Every candidate that is put on the slate in the GRC must be a contributing member of that team and should not just be carried by a heavyweight minister,” he said.

“In the case of Aljunied, it is now in opposition hands. What does the PAP seek to do? PAP seeks to serve the people in Aljunied by putting the team that can work for the benefit of the residents and do what the PAP thinks will improve the lives of people in Aljunied. So that does not necessarily mean we must have a heavy-weight person to run in the constituency,” he added.

Mr Lim also noted that it may be possible that PAP candidates for Aljunied GRC may “comprise all fresh candidates”, citing Mr Victor Lye and Mr Muralidharan Pillai, chairman of PAP’s Bedok Reservoir-Punggol and Paya Lebar branches respectively, as examples.

“If this is the slate of people, we already have a fairly strong, even if fresh, team of people,” he said.

He also did not rule out the possibility of PAP fielding Ms Chan Hui Yuh and Mr Chua Eng Leong in Aljunied GRC as well. They are chairman of PAP’s Serangoon and Eunos branches respectively.