The Reform Party's candidate for Radin Mas SMC, Mr Kumar Appavoo, has criticized the government's reliance on the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system, which they say contributes to a lack of minority members of parliament contesting in single seats.
“Why is the issue of minority coming up (again and) again? We need to look after the welfare of people regardless of race, because different cultures have different issues," Mr Kumar said during the Reform Party's rally yesterday.
Historically, the GRC system was created in 1988 as a way to ensure minority representation in Parliament. In 2011, Mr Michael Palmer became the first minority candidate the People’s Action Party fielded in a Single-Member Constituency (SMC) — Punggol East. He won the seat but resigned the following year over an extramarital affair.
RP urged voters to send a strong signal against the GRC system by sending more minority candidates into parliament. There are 4 minority challengers in SMCs, including one independent candidate Mr Samir Neji.
To better connect with Chinese residents, Mr Kumar said he would learn dialects such as Teochew and Hokkien.
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