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Raeesah Begum Farid Khan (Singapore Politician)

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Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan (born 1994) is a Singaporean politician and the founder of the women's organisation, Reyna Movement.[1][2][3] In June 2020, she was announced as a Workers' Party (WP) candidate for the 2020 Singapore General Elections and contested in Sengkang GRC.[4][5] As of 10 July 2020, she is an elected Member of Parliament.

Raeesah Begum Farid Khan
Raeesah Khan.jpg
Born1994
EducationBachelor of Commerce (Economics and Marketing)
Alma materMurdoch University

For a complete directory of the 192 candidates in Singapore's 2020 General Elections, click here.

Background

Activism

Raeesah Khan has been a social activist since the age of seventeen.[6][7][8] She successfully campaigned against the detention of children seeking asylum in Australia. She has also fought to keep university education in Australia affordable and accessible to all. Raeesah Khan has worked with underprivileged families, survivors of sexual abuse, youth activists and migrant workers.[9][10]

Reyna Movement - Founder

 
Raeesah Khan pictured in Kuala Lumpur where she runs an education centre for Rohingya women refugees. Photo credit to Rachel Quek and Shawn Lee Miller/ ST PHOTO.

In 2016, Raeesah Khan founded Reyna Movement, an organisation that aims to empower marginalised women and children through up-skilling programs and community engagement.[11][12] In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the organisation runs an initiative that provides educational and financial support for Rohingya refugees.[13][14] Reyna Movement has worked with women’s shelters, the homeless, at-risk children and low-income families in Singapore.[15]

Family

Raeesah Khan is the daughter of Farid Khan, who intended to run in the 2017 Presidential Election but did not meet the qualifications.[16][17] As of 2020, she is married with an infant son.[18]

Education

Raeesah Khan graduated from Murdoch University in 2015 with a degree in economics and marketing.[19] From 2014 to 2015, she was an elected member on Senate, the governing body at Murdoch University.[20][21]

Murdoch University Guild of Students - General Secretary and President

During her time at Murdoch University, Raeesah Khan was appointed as the general secretary and subsequently, the president of the school’s Guild of Students.[22][23] In her capacity as the president, she oversaw an AUD3.1 million organisation with over a hundred staff and various businesses.[24]

Workers' Party - Grassroots involvement

 
Raeesah pictured doing work as a case writer for the Workers' Party. Photo from Facebook.

Raeesah Khan has been involved with the Workers’ Party (WP) since 2018.[25] She began volunteering with Workers’ Party secretary-general, Pritam Singh as a case writer during his Meet the People sessions.[26][27]

Politics

General Elections 2020 - Candidate (Sengkang GRC)

Raeesah Khan was introduced as a Workers’ Party (WP) candidate on 26 June 2020.[28][29] In a Facebook video posted on 28 June 2020, she explained her motivations for running in the 2020 General Elections. She says:

“Because there are deep-seated inequalities produced by our current system. Vulnerable groups, such as low-income families and people with disabilities are disproportionately affected… especially during this pandemic.”[30]

. According to her profile on the Workers’ Party website, her hopes for Singapore are:[31] 

1. That families in Singapore are given the best possible chance to succeed, regardless of their background.

2. That we create a more equal and just society, without prejudice and persecution of ideals.

The Workers' Party team won Sengkang GRC with 52.13 per cent of the votes.[32]

Police investigations

On 5 July 2020, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) announced that two police reports had been lodged against Raeesah Khan for allegedly insensitive racial remarks on social media.[33] One of her posts was a response to the Robertson Quay crowds[34] during the circuit breaker period in May 2020. An excerpt from the post reads as such:[35] 

Imagine if this was a group of minorities... Near my house there's a local hawker center with a supermarket next to it. Everyday I see police patrolling to make sure everyone practices social distancing and is wearing masks. Do you see any police officers here (Robertson Quay)?... Why is the law different for these people? Is it because they're rich Chinese or white people?

The other post in question was dated 2 February 2018.[36] It alleges that mosque leaders were harassed and that minorities were mercilessly jailed while corrupt City Harvest Church leaders were able to walk free.[37] Raeesah Khan apologised in an emergency media "doorstop" (an interview with a politician or public figure) on 5 July 2020.[38][39] She says:

"My intention was never to cause any social division but to raise awareness to minority concerns. I apologise to any racial group or community who have been hurt by my comments. My remarks were insensitive and I regret making them. I feel really passionate about minority issues, regardless of race, and in my passion, I made improper remarks and I have to be accountable for them. I will fully cooperate with any police investigations."[40]

She was accompanied by Pritam Singh and her fellow Workers' Party candidates for Sengkang GRC - Jamus Lim, He Tingru and Louis Chua.[41]

References/ Citations

  1. ↑ Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan. “Personal Profile”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  2. ↑ reynamovement. Instagram. Accessed on 3 July 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/reynamovement/
  3. ↑ Hong, Sophie. “Why This Singaporean Is Helping Rohingya Refugees in KL”. CLEO. August 14, 2019. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  4. ↑ Tang, See Kit, Chew, Hui Min. “GE2020: Workers’ Party introduces five more prospective candidates”. Channel News Asia. June 26, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  5. ↑ Ng, Caitlin. “GE2020 Nomination Day: All Party Candidates & Battle Maps Confirmed On 30 Jun”. MustShare News. June 30, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  6. ↑ Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan. “Raeesah Begum Bte farid Khan”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  7. ↑ Anis Nabilah. “10 young candidates to look out for in Singapore’s GE2020”. Youth SG. July 1, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  8. ↑ Hong, Sophie. “Why This Singaporean Is Helping Rohingya Refugees in KL”. CLEO. August 14, 2019. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  9. ↑ Raeesah Khan. Facebook. June 28, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/pg/RaeesahKhan.wpsg/posts/?ref=page_internal
  10. ↑ Tang, See Kit, Chew, Hui Min. “GE2020: Workers’ Party introduces five more prospective candidates”. Channel News Asia. June 26, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  11. ↑ Anis Nabilah. “10 young candidates to look out for in Singapore’s GE2020”. Youth SG. July 1, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  12. ↑ Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan. “Raeesah Begum Bte farid Khan”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  13. ↑ Hong, Sophie. “Why This Singaporean Is Helping Rohingya Refugees in KL”. CLEO. August 14, 2019. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  14. ↑ "Heroes Among Us: Reaching out to Rohingya refugees in KL". The Straits Times. September 18, 2018. Accessed on 3 July 2020.
  15. ↑ Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan. “Raeesah Begum Bte farid Khan”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  16. ↑ Tang, See Kit, Chew, Hui Min. “GE2020: Workers’ Party introduces five more prospective candidates”. Channel News Asia. June 26, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  17. ↑ Tan, Audrey., Kurohi, Rei. “Singapore GE2020: Workers’ Party confirms Aljunied GRC slate, introduces second batch of candidates”. The Straits Times. June 26, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  18. ↑ Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan. “Personal Profile”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  19. ↑ "Education". LinkedIn. Accessed on 3 July 2020.
  20. ↑ Raeesah Khan. “Experience”. LinkedIn. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  21. ↑ "Senate". Murdoch University. Accessed on 3 July 2020.
  22. ↑ Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan. “Raeesah Begum Bte farid Khan”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  23. ↑ Raeesah Khan. “Experience”. LinkedIn. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  24. ↑ Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan. “Raeesah Begum Bte farid Khan”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  25. ↑ Raeesah Khan. Facebook. June 29, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/pg/RaeesahKhan.wpsg/posts/?ref=page_internal
  26. ↑ Raeesah Khan. Facebook. June 29, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/pg/RaeesahKhan.wpsg/posts/?ref=page_internal
  27. ↑ Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan. “Personal Profile”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  28. ↑ Tang, See Kit, Chew, Hui Min. “GE2020: Workers’ Party introduces five more prospective candidates”. Channel News Asia. June 26, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  29. ↑ Tan, Audrey., Kurohi, Rei. “Singapore GE2020: Workers’ Party confirms Aljunied GRC slate, introduces second batch of candidates”. The Straits Times. June 26, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  30. ↑ Raeesah Khan. Facebook. June 28, 2020. Accessed on 1 July 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/pg/RaeesahKhan.wpsg/posts/?ref=page_internal
  31. ↑ Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan. “Hopes for Singapore”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 1 July 2020.
  32. ↑ "2020 PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS". Elections Department Singapore. Accessed on 13 July 2020.
  33. ↑ "POLICE STATEMENT ON REPORTS LODGED AGAINST A CANDIDATE CONTESTING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION 2020". Singapore Police Force. July 5, 2020. Accessed on 6 July 2020.
  34. ↑ Yee, Jonathan. "Several People Who Gathered At Robertson Quay Are Under Police Investigation After Pictures Go Viral". MustShare News. May 18, 2020. Accessed on 5 July 2020.
  35. ↑ Yee, Jonathan. "WP’s Raeesah Khan Apologises For Insensitive Remarks, Will Cooperate With Police Investigations". MustShare News. July 5, 2020. Accessed on 5 July 2020.
  36. ↑ Ibid.
  37. ↑ "POLICE STATEMENT ON REPORTS LODGED AGAINST A CANDIDATE CONTESTING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION 2020". Singapore Police Force. July 5, 2020. Accessed on 6 July 2020.
  38. ↑ CNA. "WP candidate Raeesah Khan apologises to those hurt by her comments on race and religion". YouTube. July 5, 2020. Accessed on 6 July 2020.
  39. ↑ The MustShare News Team. "Swift Workers’ Party Response To Police Reports Hailed By Netizen As Strong Leadership". MustShare News. July 6, 2020. Accessed on 6 July 2020.
  40. ↑ Yee, Jonathan. "WP’s Raeesah Khan Apologises For Insensitive Remarks, Will Cooperate With Police Investigations". MustShare News. July 5, 2020. Accessed on 5 July 2020.
  41. ↑ Mothership. "GE2020: WP's Raeesah Khan apologised for the comments she allegedly made". YouTube. July 5, 2020. Accessed on 6 July 2020.
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