Video: Goh Meng Seng: Objective met - PAP will not field LGBTQ candidate in Nee Soon so we will not contest

[groyn88]

During a press conference with Red Dot United (RDU) secretary-general Ravi Philemonon on Saturday, 22 March 2025, People's Power Party leader, Goh Meng Seng, remarked that since the PAP was "unlikely to field the LGBTQ activist", his party would no longer contest in Nee Soon GRC for the sake of "opposition unity". The PPP and RDU had both staked their claim in Nee Soon GRC after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) released its report on 11 March 2025.
He explained: "Mr Shanmugam had gone to meetings with the church leaders twice, and thereafter a certain messaging came up that no decision has been made about the (LGBTQ activist). My good friend here, Ravi, has also indicated that they have walked the ground in Nee Soon, In view of that, we felt that our objective has been achieved in certain ways...I don't think that the PAP could actually carry out the intention of fielding the LGBTQ activist. We have come to the agreement we will not touch Nee Soon and allow RDU to carry on to contest [there].”
While Goh declined to identify the "LGBTQ activist", Chong Pang PAP branch volunteer Deryne Sim was seen with Nee Soon MPs at a constituency event on 26 January 2025. The 40-year-old was also the executive director of Same But Different, a group that offered legal resources to help the LGBTQ community in Singapore. During a walkabout at Nee Soon GRC on 16 March 2025, Goh had said that the party would contest in the election to push for a "non-discrimination and non-promotion" of the LGBTQ "agenda".

Links:

https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Goh_Meng_Seng's_views_on_LGBT_rights

Edited March 23 by groyn88

[Why?]

It proves that Singapore's WILL to protect LGBT people is quite weak.  No one will defend you from an attack based only on your identity.   If GMS's statement is accurate, it indicates that PAP supports him and agrees with him, as evidenced by the fact that they decided not to field a lesbian candidate.  As I previously stated, numerous times if you bother to look, I don't like the government's pompous rhetoric about respecting gay people; at the very least, I don't see them doing anything about it, and when they do, they chickened out.

Edited March 23 by Why?

[groyn88]

I think the PAP initially wanted to field an openly lesbian candidate to win over the pink vote. 

However, after Shanmugam met with churchgoers who were strongly opposed to the move, and who wrote fiery letters, plus the likes of Goh Meng Seng, he reconsidered it because he is afraid that the number of pink votes will be overwhelmed by the conservative ones.

For these general elections, the PAP is much more insecure and doesn't want their majority eroded further.

That's why they have been extra kiasu and have embarked on a massive pork barrel election campaign and gerrymandered the electoral boundaries to their advantage.

They always weigh the cost and benefit of their actions, just like the repeal of Section 377A.

[Malabird]

Politicians should just serve everyone sincerely and diligently. Courting different special intérêts groups, tribes; defeat the spirit of ‘by the people, for the peoplé’. 
 

my two cents.