SINGAPORE: Former Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament Leon Perera will be moving to the United States after taking up a new work role, dousing speculation that he could stand under the Progress Singapore Party's (PSP) banner in the upcoming General Election.
In a statement on LinkedIn on Tuesday (Jan 28), the 54-year-old wrote that he had taken up a new role as executive director at Yamada Consulting Group (YCG) USA.
In August 2024, PSP confirmed that Mr Perera was volunteering with the party “on an informal basis”, after he was spotted at multiple events with the party leaders.
CNA contacted Mr Perera to ask if the move means he will be effectively ruled out from contesting as a candidate in the upcoming General Election, which must be called by November.
He told CNA that he had “nothing to add” beyond the LinkedIn post and to contact PSP instead. In response to CNA's queries, PSP said Mr Perea is helping out as a volunteer.
Mr Perera said in his post that from a base in New York City, he will work with YCG colleagues to "grow and develop our business in the US and to build business connections between the US and Asia".
YCG provides consulting services primarily for Japanese companies.
He added in the post that on “a personal note”, he is looking forward to spending time in the US.
"I hope this period of time will help me to develop new perspectives and ideas about what is going on in the world, where it is heading and, most importantly, what is to be done to build a better future," he said.
"I also hope for fresh perspectives about my homeland. It is said that to see clearly, you sometimes need some distance."
He also thanked his wife, who he said has been travelling with him and will divide her time between Singapore and New York City.
Mr Perera added that he remains as chairman of Yamada Consulting and Spire group in Asia, where he will continue engaging Singapore and Asian companies and help to bridge them to investment opportunities in the US and globally.
He said in his post: “In this context, I expect to be back to Singapore fairly frequently - dashing the hopes of any Singaporeans out there who would rather be rid of me permanently.”
In 2023, while Mr Perera was an MP for Aljunied GRC, a video of him and the party’s youth wing chair Nicole Seah surfaced.
The silent 15-second clip appeared to show Mr Perera dining with Ms Seah while holding and stroking her hands.
The two admitted to an extramarital affair and resigned from the party.
At a press conference addressing the incident, party chief Pritam Singh said at the time: “Had he not offered his resignation, I would have recommended to the CEC (central executive committee) that he be expelled from the party.”
Mr Perera became a Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) after the 2015 General Election, when he contested in East Coast GRC.
In the 2020 general election, Mr Perera was part of the WP lineup that retained Aljunied GRC. They won 59.95 per cent of the vote against the People's Action Party.
Currently, PSP has two NCMPs – Ms Hazel Poa and Mr Leong Mun Wai – who both contested in West Coast GRC in 2020.
The next General Election must be held by November. The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has been formed, the Elections Department said on Jan 22 – a key step in the lead up to the election.
According to political observers, the west of Singapore is expected to have its electoral boundaries redrawn by the committee.
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In a statement on LinkedIn on Tuesday (Jan 28), the 54-year-old wrote that he had taken up a new role as executive director at Yamada Consulting Group (YCG) USA.
In August 2024, PSP confirmed that Mr Perera was volunteering with the party “on an informal basis”, after he was spotted at multiple events with the party leaders.
CNA contacted Mr Perera to ask if the move means he will be effectively ruled out from contesting as a candidate in the upcoming General Election, which must be called by November.
He told CNA that he had “nothing to add” beyond the LinkedIn post and to contact PSP instead. In response to CNA's queries, PSP said Mr Perea is helping out as a volunteer.
Mr Perera said in his post that from a base in New York City, he will work with YCG colleagues to "grow and develop our business in the US and to build business connections between the US and Asia".
YCG provides consulting services primarily for Japanese companies.
He added in the post that on “a personal note”, he is looking forward to spending time in the US.
"I hope this period of time will help me to develop new perspectives and ideas about what is going on in the world, where it is heading and, most importantly, what is to be done to build a better future," he said.
"I also hope for fresh perspectives about my homeland. It is said that to see clearly, you sometimes need some distance."
He also thanked his wife, who he said has been travelling with him and will divide her time between Singapore and New York City.
Mr Perera added that he remains as chairman of Yamada Consulting and Spire group in Asia, where he will continue engaging Singapore and Asian companies and help to bridge them to investment opportunities in the US and globally.
He said in his post: “In this context, I expect to be back to Singapore fairly frequently - dashing the hopes of any Singaporeans out there who would rather be rid of me permanently.”
EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR
In 2023, while Mr Perera was an MP for Aljunied GRC, a video of him and the party’s youth wing chair Nicole Seah surfaced.
The silent 15-second clip appeared to show Mr Perera dining with Ms Seah while holding and stroking her hands.
The two admitted to an extramarital affair and resigned from the party.
At a press conference addressing the incident, party chief Pritam Singh said at the time: “Had he not offered his resignation, I would have recommended to the CEC (central executive committee) that he be expelled from the party.”
Mr Perera became a Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) after the 2015 General Election, when he contested in East Coast GRC.
In the 2020 general election, Mr Perera was part of the WP lineup that retained Aljunied GRC. They won 59.95 per cent of the vote against the People's Action Party.
Currently, PSP has two NCMPs – Ms Hazel Poa and Mr Leong Mun Wai – who both contested in West Coast GRC in 2020.
The next General Election must be held by November. The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has been formed, the Elections Department said on Jan 22 – a key step in the lead up to the election.
According to political observers, the west of Singapore is expected to have its electoral boundaries redrawn by the committee.
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