GE2020: SDP unveils 2 more candidates — former civil servant and disaster relief volunteer

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) unveiled two more new candidates running in the July 10 General Election (GE) via its Facebook page on Monday (June 29).

They are:

• Mr Robin Low, 44, an entrepreneur who has set up several companies across several sectors, and also a frequent volunteer. He co-founded Relief 2.0, a non-governmental organisation that promotes efficient disaster response and sustainable disaster recovery. He also worked with various organisations in the United Nations on issues involving Syrian and Rohingyan refugees. This will be his first time contesting in a GE.

• Mr Benjamin Pwee, 52, a business development strategist and consultant for multinational corporations, charities and governments. He previously held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs. This is the first time Mr Pwee will be contesting under the SDP banner. In GE2011, he ran under the Singapore People’s Party and then in GE2015 as secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party.

SDP did not disclose which constituencies the two men will be running in.

Mr Low has been spotted at Holland Bukit-Timah GRC taking part in SDP’s outreach activities, while Mr Pwee has been conducting walkabouts and house visits at Yuhua Single Member Constituency.

Another candidate introduced via Facebook was Dr James Gomez, 55. SDP confirmed on Sunday that Dr Gomez, along with Mr Bryan Lim, 43, and Mr Damanhuri Abas, 49, will be running in Marsiling Yew-Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

Dr Gomez did not contest in the 2015 GE but was a candidate for SDP’s Sembawang GRC team in 2011. Dr Gomez had previously contested in the 2006 GE as a Workers’ Party candidate.

In his introductory video announcing his candidacy, Mr Low said he has been involved in disaster relief efforts, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, and the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

“I enjoy working with communities on solutions, because I believe that communities hold solutions for the problems we face,” he said.

As for Mr Pwee, he wants to serve small- and medium-sized enterprises in Singapore, and “to help them grow and develop their businesses into the world and creating jobs and incomes for Singaporeans”.