It's confirmed: The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has unveiled ex-Aljunied GRC team member K Muralidharan Pillai as its candidate for the upcoming Bukit Batok SMC by-election.

Murali was unveiled in a press conference Monday afternoon by Jurong GRC team leader and heavyweight Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

"Murali was chosen for a few good reasons. He knows Bukit Batok extremely well. He's been serving here personally for over 16 years in various capacities," Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and anchor minister in Jurong GRC said. "He knows the volunteers, the residents and they know him."

So, who is Murali? In the media handout given to the press, the PAP claims he played a key role in achieving a strong swing in votes in the Paya Lebar ward that he helmed.

Speaking to the media, Murali said: "I pledge to serve with all my heart. 为人民服务 (translation: serve the people). If chosen I won't be serving alone."

"My focus will be on serving the needs of the elderly."

A lawyer by trade, we first suspected he might fielded when we checked out his CV that was distributed when he was previously unveiled with the PAP's Aljunied team:

Speculation that it would be him among Singaporean political kaypohs was rife after Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao saw the 47-year-old Rajah and Tann partner making a beeline for the PAP headquarters after touching down from his vacation abroad.

They then reported that Murali was spotted in a 45-minute huddle with former minister and ex-PAP chairman Lim Boon Heng, followed by a meeting with about 20 to 30 party cadres, with photographs and applause all round.

The upcoming by-election in the SMC was triggered on March 12 by the sudden resignation of ex-PAP member and MP David Ong, who admitted to "personal indiscretions" that were eventually revealed to be an affair with Wendy Lim, a PAP Bukit Batok Women's Wing member who later on resigned from the party as well.

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Lianhe Zaobao: Murali likely to contest in Bukit Batok by-election

How about Murali Pillai, 47, as PAP’s candidate for Bukit Batok SMC by-election?

Top photo by Lim Weixiang.

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