SingFirst introduces first batch of candidates

Singapore

SINGAPOREANS First Party (SingFirst) announced on Friday its first batch of candidates contesting the Sept 11 general election. They are party chief Tan Jee Say, 61; market risk manager Chirag Desai, 38; IT consultant Wong Chee Wai, 44; trainer and communication and media consultant Fahmi Rais, 48; and sales executive Chiu Weng Hoe Melvyn, 36. Mr Tan, who is a former presidential candidate, made the announcement at the party office on Tras Street while unveiling its party slogan: "Restore Our Nation".

In his address, Mr Tan said the candidates will be fielded in different group representation constituencies (GRCs). "The slate is mixed and matched. You won't know who is going where until Nomination Day."

He described the candidates as "brave" and "passionate" people who have stepped forward "at enormous risk to themselves and careers and families". Criticising immigration policies, Mr Tan said: "This country has been divided by government policy on immigration that has pitted citizens against employers and foreigners. They have taken away our jobs and places in schools and businesses. They have displaced our people and broken our families. We want to take back our country and places in businesses and SMEs which have suffered because of the PAP opening up the country to foreigners."

SingFirst is one of Singapore's newest political parties, having registered only in August last year. It is expected to contest Tanjong Pagar GRC and Jurong GRC. Last November, it held its first walkabout in Tanjong Pagar.

Mr Tan said previously that he wanted to contest in Tanjong Pagar GRC because residents there had not had the chance to vote for more than 20 years. The constituency had been won by the PAP in walkovers since it was created in 1991. The Straits Times