Lawyer elected NSP's new sec-gen

Newly elected National Solidarity Party (NSP) secretary-general Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss has set policy work and greater outreach as two priorities for her party as it gears up for the next General Election.

With the marathon to the polls entering its second half, the 50-year-old lawyer said: "It's important to peak at the right time. The last leg is always the most crucial and most defining of all."

Mrs Chong-Aruldoss, who had been tipped as a front-runner for the post, was elected unopposed by some 24 congress members in a meeting held at NSP's Jalan Besar headquarters on Sunday.

Previously the NSP vice-president, she takes over from former government scholarship holder Hazel Poa, who stepped down last month for health reasons.

On Sunday, Mrs Chong-Aruldoss told reporters that her immediate focus will be to get the party back on track after the "short lull" due to the leadership change.

First up will be to develop and consolidate clear party positions on policy issues, she said, adding that she hopes to hold internal discussions and focus group talks.

This builds upon a series of policy forums held by the party since the 2011 polls, covering topics like population issues, ministerial pay and the mandatory death penalty.

Mrs Chong-Aruldoss, who heads the NSP legal committee, spoke regularly at these events.

On Sunday, she also highlighted the importance of stepping up outreach and getting a good grasp of what matters to Singaporeans.

The party, which fielded the most number of opposition candidates in the 2011 polls, has previously declared its intention of returning to all eight constituencies it contested.

Mrs Chong-Aruldoss, who joined NSP in 2011, was its third best performer that year. She won 41.4 per cent of the vote in the Mountbatten single-seat ward.

While the Workers' Party is the only opposition party with elected MPs now, she hopes that will change in a few years as "Parliament should have more colour".

"Blue has already seeped into the white background. If my dreams come true, a dash or more of orange will be added after GE2016," she said, referring to her party colour.

Party members like first assistant secretary-general Reno Fong, 44, and veteran Yip Yew Weng, 62, on Sunday voiced their support for Mrs Chong-Aruldoss, citing her energy and ideas, like a regular legal clinic that she organises.

NSP president Sebastian Teo, 65, who holds the top post in the party hierarchy, believes he and Mrs Chong-Aruldoss will be able to work together to take NSP forward. As for Ms Poa, who remains an NSP council member, both Mr Teo and Mrs Chong-Aruldoss said they look forward to working with her again after she recovers.

Second assistant secretary-general Nicole Seah, 27, who is on a short leave of absence, said in a congratulatory Facebook post to Mrs Chong-Aruldoss last night: "Looking forward to your leadership for the best interests of Singaporeans, and the next electoral battle ahead and beyond."

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