RDU introduces 3 members leading campaign in newly-formed Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC

The Red Dot United (RDU) introduced its “team leads” for the newly-formed Jurong East-Bukit Batok group representation constituency (GRC) on Apr. 5, 2025, ahead of the upcoming general elections.

Speaking to the media at Bukit Batok West Shopping Centre, RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon said that it is important for the party to make sure that they have the "right candidates with the right calibre" to contest in this constituency.

While they have yet to confirm their candidates, he introduced Liyana Dhamirah, Ben Puah, and Harish Mohanadas as members who will be leading the campaign in the Jurong East–Bukit Batok GRC.

The three of them have recently been spotted at walkabouts in the area, including at Clementi and Bukit Batok.

Saying that it is still early days to confirm the candidates, Philemon explained that these are the "faces who have come forward".

Liyana Dhamirah

First to be introduced is not an unfamiliar face — Liyana Dhamirah, a Central Executive Committee (CEC) member and treasurer of RDU.

The 38-year-old is an entrepreneur and author who previously contested in the 2020 General Elections as part of RDU’s Jurong GRC team.

Her book “Homeless: The Untold Story of a Mother’s Struggle in Crazy Rich Singapore” won Best Non-Fiction at the Singapore Book Awards in 2020.

Here’s an interview she did with Mothership in 2018:

According to RDU’s profile, Liyana’s political motto is to “spark hope for millions who want to live in a society built on compassion, inclusion, and opportunity”.

Speaking to the media, Liyana said she believes that the heart of any strong society is the "right for any individual to live with dignity and to be treated with fairness".

Real progress means we need to ensure no one's left behind, and this includes the "aunties who clean tables, the single mom juggling three jobs, and the elderly neighbour who is living alone," she said.

"Let's build a Singapore where our success is not only measured by GDP but by how we care for one another."

Ben Puah

The next member introduced was Benjamin Puah, 48, a contemporary artist and community art organiser whose works have been exhibited across Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United States.

Addressing the media in Mandarin, Puah shared the issues close to his heart, at one point becoming emotional as he spoke.

According to RDU, Puah brings a “deeply empathetic and community-grounded approach” to politics.

Some of his interests include supporting mental well-being, cultural inclusion, and holistic education.

In 2005, Puah founded Colours of Life, a community arts initiative through which he conducted free art enrichment workshops for underprivileged children, orphans, and children with disabilities.

Through the initiative, he gets to understand people's struggle with costs of living. He told media that giving vouchers can only provide temporary relief but cannot solve the root of the problem.

Harish Mohanadas

Harish Mohanadas, another member of the CEC, was also introduced as a team lead.

A principal software engineer who previously worked in infrastructure, RDU describes him as one who brings “a rare combination of systems thinking, ground-up experience, and technical versatility to every project”.

Harish has also written opinion pieces for socio-political news sites like The Online Citizen (TOC).

On why he joined politics, Harish said it was because "this system seems to be built for their needs, for the well connected and for the super rich, and not for ordinary people like us".

He said he had been "quietly observing" RDU since they first contested in the 2020 General Elections and felt that they were not talking but were "doing the work and making things better on the ground".

"So what do I bring? I know how to deal with big, complicated systems. I've worked in places where mistakes simply can't happen... I care about one thing, making things work and making them work for everyone."

While the official candidates have not been announced yet, Harish said they are walking the ground and preparing themselves to "serve the right way".

Raise The Standard

Speaking on the party's campaign focus, Philemon said that the theme of their campaign this year is "Raise The Standard".

There is a need to "raise the standard when it comes to municipal issues", he explained, adding that this encompasses national policies which affect young people and how groups in Singapore, like senior citizens, are treated.

The party previously announced on Mar. 11 that they would be contesting in six constituencies, including the newly drawn Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

They also expressed their disappointment with the dissolution of Jurong GRC.

The Jurong GRC was dissolved following the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s (EBRC) report, with its estates absorbed by the Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, Jurong Central SMC (Single Member Constituency), and West Coast-Jurong West GRC.

RDU previously fielded in Jurong GRC during the 2020 general elections, facing off against the then-leader for PAP Jurong team and current President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

PAP had won with an overwhelming 75 per cent of the votes then.

When asked what he thought of RDU's chances this election, Philemon replied that chances are something that they "do not want to talk about at this stage".

"What is most important to me is that we need to talk for Singaporeans. We need to get their feedback, and their voices must be heard," he said, vowing to be "champions" of these voices.

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Top photos by Khine Zin Htet/Mothership