Fathership

OP-ED - Misguided critique of the PAP-NTUC alliance by WP

It's not a question of whether NTUC can advocate for workers through its PAP alliance—it clearly has, and will continue to do so.

|3 min read
OP-ED - Misguided critique of the PAP-NTUC alliance by WP

The recent debate over the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) close ties with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has been more spectacle than substance.

The Workers’ Party (WP) has raised questions about the independence of trade unions and the PAP-NTUC relationship, but their arguments come off as political posturing rather than serious critique.

Workers' Party arguments

WP claims that the PAP’s close relationship with NTUC is problematic, but this argument lacks weight.

The intertwining of politics and trade unions is not unique to Singapore.

Globally, political parties like the UK’s Labour Party and the US’s Democratic Party have long-standing ties with trade unions. In this context, the PAP-NTUC relationship is far from unusual—it’s a globally recognised practice that has contributed to Singapore’s stability and prosperity.

Championing workers' rights

The WP’s assertion that NTUC cannot "fully advocate" for workers due to its association with the PAP is unfounded.

NTUC has consistently demonstrated its independence and effectiveness in championing workers’ rights, successfully negotiating wage increases, improving working conditions, and enhancing workers’ welfare.

The PAP-NTUC partnership has led to policies like the Progressive Wage Model and the Workfare Income Supplement, which have significantly improved the lives of countless Singaporeans.

These are not abstract political manoeuvres but concrete measures that have improved the lives of countless Singaporeans. The WP's critique, therefore, seems to be more of a political gambit than a genuine concern for workers' welfare.

Trade unions and political neutrality

The WP’s argument assumes that trade unions must be politically neutral, but this is a false dichotomy. Advocacy for workers' rights is inherently political. Expecting trade unions to operate in a vacuum ignores the reality of their role.

The PAP-NTUC relationship doesn’t compromise the union’s independence; rather, it creates a platform for workers’ concerns to be heard directly by the government. This partnership balances PAP's pro-business policies with NTUC’s advocacy, fostering a harmonious labour-management relationship.

Smoke and mirrors

WP's critique of the PAP-NTUC relationship is more smoke and mirrors than substance. It is a political performance that overlooks the tangible benefits of this relationship and misrepresents the nature of trade unions.

The relationship between the PAP and NTUC is not a dictation but a dance. A dance of mutual respect, shared goals, and symbiosis. It is a relationship that has served Singapore well and will continue to do so. The call for separation is not only misguided but also potentially harmful. It threatens to disrupt a balance that has been instrumental in Singapore's success.

In the end, it's not a question of whether the NTUC can "fully advocate" for workers. It has proven time and again that it can.

Read next article ⬇️

Who is Nurul Afiqah, the activist who stormed Law Minister K Shanmugam's MPS?

Locum nurse by day, local disruptor by night.

|4 min read
Who is Nurul Afiqah, the activist who stormed Law Minister K Shanmugam's MPS?

What started as a polite exchange at a Meet-the-People Session (MPS) on Wednesday evening (Mar 12), spiraled into chaos at the Chong Pang Branch office in Nee Soon GRC.

Law Minister K Shanmugam found himself squaring off against a group of activists who stormed the session with a singular demand: a rhetorical back and forth over the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA)—Singapore’s 2019 weapon against online lies, and Palestine.

Activists branded Shanmugam a “coward,” flashed middle fingers, and clashed with volunteers trying to capture the melee on video.

Who Is Nurul Afiqah?

Enter Nurul Afiqah, aka Afiqah Kamel—a rising star in Singapore’s activist galaxy. By day, she’s a locum staff nurse; by conviction, she’s a megaphone for the downtrodden, tethered to Sick and Tired, a collective amplifying the voices of healthcare workers and patients.

Her first foray into public activism was on Labour Day 2024, Afiqah seized the mic, railing against the paltry wages and grueling conditions plaguing grassroots healthcare staff. But her fire burns beyond the hospital's burn unit—she’s a fierce advocate for Palestine.

Afiqah Kamel

Since December 8, 2023, she’s hosted Chapterwise Bookclubs every Friday night, first at Punggol - where she resides, and later on at Our Tampines Hub.

These aren’t your average book chats; they’re curated deep dives into the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Her activist streak flared in February 2024 with a cheeky “Free Airshow Attendee Shaming Service”—a satirical jab at Israel’s role in the Singapore Airshow.

Hungry for bigger waves, she teamed up with seasoned rabble-rouser Suraendher Kumaar, trading quiet defiance for full-on disruption.

The art of disruption

Afiqah’s baptism into disruptive activism kicked off on September 16, 2024, alongside Suraendher, targeting MP Edward Chia’s MPS in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

Edward Chia MPS

Armed with pointed questions about Singapore’s alleged ties to Israel’s actions in Palestine, they unleashed a verbal barrage. Chia humored them, and the night ended in a tense “agree to disagree,” with vague promises of follow-ups.

A month later, they cornered MP Sun Xueling—Afiqah’s own Punggol West rep—at her MPS.

The script was familiar: Singapore-Israel ties took center stage, and the back-and-forth felt like a broken record.

By January 2025, REACH, the government’s feedback arm, dangled a closed-door chat. Afiqah and her posse pushed for an open forum but got shut down.

REACH Meeting

The Playbook

The group, operating under the banner we.the.pofma, developed a clear modus operandi: "raid" MPS sessions, pose leading questions about Singapore-Israel ties, present a petition signed by over 70 people condemning Israel, and share interaction summaries on Instagram.

They’ve rallied the public with a battle cry—join the “ongoing initiative,” complete with talking points, constituency hit lists, and post-raid recaps.

Activist Strategy

Interactions reviewed by Fathership suggest the group plans to intensify MPS visits in the lead-up to anticipated elections later in 2025.

The People’s Action Party (PAP) tallies over 10 such ambushes across constituencies in recent months. They’ve slammed the group’s antics as disruptive and antisocial, lamenting the hijacking of a forum meant to serve residents.

Afiqah’s rebel alliance

Afiqah’s activism intersects significantly with Suraendher Kumaar (sometimes spelled Kumarr), a veteran activist known for championing workers’ rights, labor issues, minority rights, and the Palestine cause. Suraendher leads we.the.pofma, a seemingly collaborative group tied to prominent activists like Kokila, Kirsten Han, PJ Thum, Jolovan Wham, and Elijah Tay.

Activist Network

Suraendher Kumaar

His network also includes ties to Leon Perera, a former Workers’ Party member who resigned in 2023 over an infidelity scandal with Nicole Seah. Perera notably served as a keynote speaker at the launch of Suraendher’s People’s Manifesto in July 2024.

Afiqah, through Suraendher Kumar also works closely with SDP Young Democrats.

SDP Young Democrats

Afiqah’s on a collision course with Singapore’s status quo, hell-bent on spotlighting the Israel-Palestine saga and picking apart policies like POFMA.

She has opted for disruptive activism because her Chapterwise Book Club meets weren't impactful enough to change the world.

Trading quiet enlightenment for loud MPS ambushes proved disruptive activism is the real spice of life when polite discussion just won't cut it.