ADVERTISEMENT

News

Ex-WP MP Leon Perera in New York for work, unlikely to contest in GE2025

He also hopes for "fresh perspectives" about his homeland, Singapore.

clock

January 28, 2025, 01:55 PM

Telegram

Whatsapp

Former Workers' Party Member of Parliament (MP) Leon Perera has announced that he will be based in New York, U.S. for work, which casts doubt on rumours that he might be contesting in Singapore's upcoming general election (GE).

In a LinkedIn post, Perera said that he had taken up an executive director role for his company, Yamada Consulting Group USA Inc.

Perera wrote that he would be based in New York City and would focus on developing the business in the U.S. as well as building business connections between the U.S. and Asia.

Rumours

This announcement came amidst rumours that Perera may be contesting in the upcoming GE as a candidate of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP).

Perera had resigned from the WP in July 2023 over a past extramarital affair with then-fellow WP member Nicole Seah, which had already ended by the time the resignation occurred.

Thereafter, he was seen attending a 2024 National Day party organised by PSP, and last November, posted on Instagram about having dinner with friends from PSP.

When asked if the U.S. move ruled out the possibility of him contesting in the upcoming GE, Perera told The Straits Times and CNA that he had “nothing to add” beyond the LinkedIn post.

In response to queries from Mothership, a PSP spokesperson said that Perera is currently a volunteer with the party, as per a statement issued last August:

"Mr Leon Perera is volunteering and helping but not a member. During his time in Parliament, Mr Perera was a fellow colleague to PSP NCMPs Ms Hazel Poa and Mr Leong Mun Wai, and they have always been in contact."

Expects to return to Singapore 'fairly frequently'

Perera said in his post that he still expects to return to Singapore "fairly frequently" in his role as board chairman for the Yamada Consulting and Spire group in Asia.

He said he would support the research and consulting business in Asia and continue to engage Singapore and Asian companies to help bridge them to investment opportunities in the U.S. and globally.

Perera quipped that this dashes the hopes of "any Singaporeans out there who would rather be rid of me permanently".

Perera also shared some thoughts about spending time away from Singapore:

"On a more personal note, I look forward to spending some time in the US. I hope this period of time will help me to develop new perspectives and ideas about what is going on in the world, where it is heading and, most importantly, what is to be done to build a better future. I also hope for fresh perspectives about my homeland. It is said that to see clearly, you sometimes need some distance."

Background

Perera resigned from both his parliamentary and party positions with WP due to untruthfulness over the extramarital affair with then-fellow WP member Nicole Seah.

WP chief Pritam Singh said Perera's conduct fell short of the standards expected of him as a WP MP, as he had not been truthful with the party and its leadership.

He added that had Perera not resigned, he would have recommended that the party's CEC expel him from the party.

The next general election must be held by November 2025.

If Perera were to campaign under the PSP banner, he would be following in the footsteps of other Singaporean politicians who have switched parties.

Former Singapore People's Party chief Chiam See Tong once headed the Singapore Democratic Party, while Joshua B Jeyaretnam, the first WP MP elected in Singapore, left and set up the Reform Party in 2008.

Top image from Leon Perera/LinkedIn

ADVERTISEMENT

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram to get the latest updates.

  • image
  • image
  • image
  • image

ADVERTISEMENT

MORE STORIES

ADVERTISEMENT

Events

ADVERTISEMENT