Opposition party Red Dot United (RDU) has unveiled its full team for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC in GE2025, fielding one of the youngest candidates in the coming general election.
The four-member slate consists of assistant engineer Sharad Kumar, 25, operations manager Nizar Subair, 57, financial consultant Fazli Talip, 43, and business owner Patrick Tan, 70. Mr Fazli, who previously contested in East Coast GRC under the Workers’ Party in 2011, is the only candidate with prior electoral experience.
RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon introduced the team on April 18 at a walkabout near Ghim Moh Market, describing Holland-Bukit Timah as a “strategic” GRC that bridges other constituencies the party plans to contest, including Nee Soon and Jurong East-Bukit Batok.
Mr Sharad, likely to be one of the youngest faces in this election, said he represents the “strawberry generation” – a term often used to describe youth as being more sensitive or coddled. But he added that his generation faces real pressures: “We’ve benefited from Singapore’s growth, but we also feel the stress, the inequality, and the sense that hard work doesn’t always lead to progress.”
Mr Nizar, who works in the marine industry, wants to be a voice for mid-career professionals who face employment insecurity. Having personally lost a job during the Covid-19 pandemic, he aims to advocate for stronger employment safeguards.
Mr Fazli highlighted a group often overlooked: retirees in private estates who lack regular income. Meanwhile, Mr Tan, who runs a convenience goods business, hopes to push for more robust support for local enterprises.
This marks RDU’s first foray into Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. The incumbent PAP team – Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann, MP Christopher de Souza and MP Edward Chia – won 66.36% of the vote in 2020 against the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).
While SDP has traditionally contested the GRC, it has not confirmed whether it will do so this round. Mr Philemon said RDU would prefer to avoid a three-cornered fight and may consider stepping aside if SDP enters the race.
“We want what’s best for residents,” he said, adding, “If familiarity is a factor, SDP may be better placed as the alternative to PAP.”
RDU is also expected to contest Nee Soon GRC and Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, as well as single seats like Jalan Kayu, Tanjong Pagar and Radin Mas.
