2 Fresh PAP Faces Ready for Aljunied GRC Battle!

1. PAP appoints new branch chairpersons in WP-controlled Aljunied GRC.
2. Jagathishwaran Rajo and Kenny Sim take over Eunos and Paya Lebar wards.
3. New appointments likely part of PAP’s strategy for upcoming general election.

The People’s Action Party (PAP) has made strategic moves in Aljunied GRC, appointing new faces to lead key wards.

PAP’s New Appointments in Aljunied GRC

According to The Straits Times, the PAP has appointed two new branch chairs in Aljunied GRC.

The PAP made this announcement on 12 August 2024.

Aljunied GRC has been under the Workers’ Party control since 2011.

The new appointments are seen as part of PAP’s strategy for the upcoming general election.

Key Highlights of the New Appointments

Here are some key highlights to note:

• Jagathishwaran Rajo ஜெகதீஸ் வரன் ராெு 捷鎶, 37, is the new chair of Eunos ward.
• Kenny Sim Mong Keang 沈茂强 , 55, is appointed as the chair of Paya Lebar.
• Both new chairs replace previous PAP candidates who lost in GE2020.

New Branch Chairs’ Backgrounds

The Straits Times reported, “The moves mean the two new branch chairs will likely be fielded as part of the PAP’s Aljunied GRC slate in the coming general election.”

Jagathishwaran has been a PAP activist in Zhenghua since 2009.

He served as branch secretary for eight years in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

Kenny Sim has been active in Woodlands and Bukit Timah since 2015.

Sim served as vice-chair of the Bukit Timah branch for six years.

Overview of the New Chairs

Take a look at this quick table for a clear overview:

New Chairperson	Ward	Previous Experience
Jagathishwaran Rajo	Eunos	PAP activist since 2009, branch secretary for 8 years
Kenny Sim	Paya Lebar	Active since 2015, vice-chair for 6 years
Chua Eng Leong	Eunos (Previous)	Replaced by Jagathishwaran
Alex Yeo Sheng Chye	Paya Lebar (Previous)	Replaced by Sim

Implications for Upcoming Elections

The PAP thanked the outgoing chairs for their service.

They look forward to their future contributions in other roles.

These changes show PAP’s intent to refresh its leadership in Aljunied GRC.

The party aims to challenge the Workers’ Party’s hold on the constituency.

Professional Backgrounds of New Chairs

Jagathishwaran holds multiple roles in trade unions and NTUC.

He is an executive secretary at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Staff Union.

Jagathishwaran also serves as assistant director at NTUC’s Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit.

Kenny Sim is the chief executive of IT reseller Serial Achieva.

Their Profile

Here are their key profile:

Jagathishwaran Rajo ஜெகதீஸ் வரன் ராெு 捷鎶

• Party activist at Zhenghua Division (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) since 2009, where he
  also served as Branch Secretary for eight years
• Advocate for seniors and support for low-income and vulnerable families, driven by a
  belief in fair and equal opportunities for all, regardless of social background
• Champions mental well-being in the community through collaborations and dialogues
• An active volunteer involved in organising community building and engagement
  events for residents
• Executive Secretary, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Staff Union (IRASSU),
  supporting the management of the Union’s affairs; Assistant Director, NTUC’s
  Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit (U FSE), building a more sustainable and
  collaborative community of independent workers in Singapore; and Principal
  Industrial Relations Officer, Visual, Audio, Creative Content Professionals
  Association (VICPA), advancing the work prospects of freelance creative
  professionals

Kenny Sim Mong Keang 沈茂强

• Party activist at Woodlands and Bukit Timah since 2015, where he had also served
  as Bukit Timah’s Branch Vice Chair over six years
• Advocates for the forging and sustaining of strong bonds within a community, where
  people will not find themselves alone in their times of need
• Promotes entrepreneurship and encourages fellow entrepreneurs to come together
  to not just exchange ideas, but to also contribute back to society, towards a common
  good
• Chairman of Cheng Hong Welfare Services Society, an IPC-registered charity, where
  he introduced new programmes to aid the underprivileged, including Singapore’s first
  free TCM clinic for children
• Hon Secretary and the Chairman of Local and International Affairs Committee,
  Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan
• Executive Director and CEO of Serial Achieva Limited. He also sits on the boards of
  Global Invacom Group Limited, Meta Health Limited and USP Group Limited

Political Landscape in Aljunied GRC

The Workers’ Party has held Aljunied GRC since 2011.

Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh leads the WP team in Aljunied.

The WP team defeated the previous PAP candidates in GE2020.

PAP’s new appointments aim to strengthen their position in the constituency.

These new appointments signal PAP’s determination to contest Aljunied GRC strongly in the next election.