Red Dot United’s Secretary-General Ravi Philemon opens up about why he left the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) to start Red Dot United just weeks before GE2020, and even more shockingly, contested against now-President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. He shares how RDU is positioning itself differently from other opposition parties ahead of GE2025, why discipline and data matter for his team, and the challenges of building a new party from scratch. Plus, he lays out the reason why smaller opposition parties, or “mosquito parties”, as Bertha Henson puts it, need to exist in our democracy.

(00:00) Intro
(01:44) RDU's Volunteer Dynamics
(03:48) Formation and Growth of RDU
(07:34) Challenges in Start-Up Parties
(09:58) Transitioning between Political Parties
(17:44) Amiable Parting with PSP
(28:08) Background on RDU's Foundation
(29:54) Ravi's Political Passion and Activism
(34:05) Decision to Contest in Jurong
(35:41) Election Strategy and Challenges
(37:18) Campaign Experience and Public Perception
(39:32) Reflections on 2015 and 2020 Elections
(44:10) RDU Philosophy and Policies
(54:28) RDU's Vision and Future Plans
(58:29) Role of Smaller Parties in Political Landscape
(01:05:28) Non-Adversarial Politics and Dialogue
(01:07:00) Personal Reflection and Evolution
(01:09:51) Religion and Politics
(01:18:39) On M. Ravi and Activism
(01:24:25) Building a Political Culture
(01:30:00) One Shiok Thing

One Shiok Thing

• ‘Our Kids Are the Least Flourishing Generation We Know Of’ | The Ezra Klein Show
• [Photo story] A Taiwanese collector's treasured photos of old Southeast Asia and Singapore
• The Pearl by John Steinback

Comment on this episode!

• Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/YahLahBut/
• Telegram: https://t.me/YahLahButPodcast

Follow us on our socials for the latest news

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yahlahbut
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/yahlahbut/
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/yahlahbutpod

Find Ravi here!

• Facebook
• RDU Instagram
• RDU Website
• RDU TikTok

Mics and Headphones from @shure

Chairs from @ergotunechair

Edited and mixed by Tristen Yeak