GE2020: The National Solidarity Party

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PARTY

• Started in 1987 by former People’s Action Party member Kum Teng Hock and former Singapore Democractic Party chairman Soon Kia Seng

• Joined the Singapore Democratic Alliance in 2001 but withdrew in 2007

• It describes itself as a “democratic, pragmatic and progressive political party that treasures nationalistic values towards the building of an open society”

• The party promotes a multi-party political system in Singapore and envisages itself as a “credible and caring” party

• The party is now led by president Reno Fong, 51, and secretary-general Spencer Ng, 40

THE NEW CANDIDATES

• Mr Mohamad Ridzwan, 58

He is NSP’s vice-president and a senior manager in the construction industry. He will be contesting in Tampines GRC.

Mr Ridzwan said that he wants to raise issues relating to single parents, parents with special needs’ children, caregivers and the underprivileged. He also hopes to tackle concerns among Singaporeans over the high cost of living.

• Mr Vincent Ng, 48

He is a freelance broker and recruiter. He will be contesting in Tampines GRC. Mr Ng, who has been a member with the party since 2011, said that he is most concerned about professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMET) who have been affected by the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.

He also wants to improve transparency in the Government.

“We must exercise our ownership rights, birth rights to claim, protect and to fight for our fellow Singaporeans’ interests,” said Mr Ng, according to material provided by the party.

• Mr Sathin Ravindran, 27

He is the owner of car grooming shop Knight Dealers. He will be contesting in Sembawang GRC.

An NSP member since 2019, Mr Sathin said he decided to contest in his “hometown” Sembawang GRC, where he has lived for over two decades.

Among the issues that he wants to champion are making public housing more affordable, providing more support for young entrepreneurs and providing better access to jobs for fresh graduates.

“For people my age, they don’t go and approach (others with their issues). They just work for the sake of working and they keep their suffering to themselves.

“I want to show them that you can be brave like me to come out and voice out your concerns. I want to be a role model and show them that they should not hide,” said Mr Sathin, on why he decided to join NSP.

The fitness training graduate from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College West, said that by running in GE2020, he wants to show how having an ITE graduate does not mean one cannot upgrade their skills over time.

“Being in ITE, everyone categorises you as ‘it’s the end’. That brings most of the students’ morale down. It doesn’t matter where you study, it’s never too late...you can be 50 when you take your diploma. I want them to know you can move forward slowly,” said Mr Sathin, who is pursuing a real estate course.

When asked how he felt about contesting against more qualified candidates, Mr Sathin said that the educational qualifications of a candidate do not determine how well a candidate can understand the concerns of residents.

WHERE IT’S EXPECTED TO CONTEST

• Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC)

• Sembawang GRC

RESULTS IN GE2015

• Lost in MacPherson Single Member Constituency (SMC), getting 0.82 per cent of the vote

• Lost in Pioneer SMC with 23.65 per cent of the vote

• Lost in Sembawang GRC with 27.72 per cent of the vote

• Lost in Tampines GRC with 27.93 per cent of the vote