The Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) will head to the polls on June 19, with members set to elect a new leadership team for the 2026-2028 term in what is shaping up to be one of the chamber’s most closely watched elections in recent years.
Traditionally, SICCI leadership transitions have often been achieved through consensus. This year’s election, however, features a full contest between two prominent slates, reflecting growing interest among members in the chamber’s future direction at a time of economic uncertainty, technological disruption, and evolving Singapore-India business ties.
The contest pits Team Raj, led by current SICCI Vice-Chairman and Jothi Holdings Group owner Rajakumar Chandra, against the Forward Leadership Alliance (FLA), headed by businessman Dato’ T. Mogan, chairman of Dragnet Smartech.
The outcome will determine who leads one of Singapore’s oldest and most influential ethnic business chambers, representing a diverse membership that ranges from traditional family-owned retailers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to multinational corporations, technology firms, and startups.
The significance of this election extends beyond the selection of office bearers.
The incoming board will be tasked with helping businesses navigate rising operating costs, workforce challenges, digital transformation, artificial intelligence adoption, and increasingly complex global supply chains.
It will also play an important role in strengthening commercial ties between Singapore and India, while serving as a key bridge between the Indian business community and government agencies such as Enterprise Singapore, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).
Both teams have placed strong emphasis on supporting SMEs, expanding international opportunities and ensuring that younger entrepreneurs are more active in the chamber.
Team Raj is anchored by Mr Rajakumar, who has served as SICCI vice-chairman and is well known within the Little India business community through his family’s longstanding involvement in Jothi Holdings.
The team includes candidates such as Mr Jagdish Prasad Jaiswal and Mr Parthiban Murugaiyan for vice-chairman positions, Mr S. Venkita Padmanabhan for honorary treasurer and board candidates including Mrs Purnima Kamath, Mrs Joyce Kingsly and Mr Sunil Rai.
Mr Rajakumar has campaigned heavily on strengthening support for SMEs and micro-businesses through practical, on-the-ground initiatives.
“Advisory without execution is just conversation,” he told tabla!. “SICCI should measure itself not by the number of events it holds, but by the number of businesses it has directly helped to survive, grow or digitalise.”
Among his proposals are expanding SME advisory services, reopening the SME Centre satellite branch in Tekka, introducing a Member Impact Dashboard, creating a Legacy-to-Future Mentorship Programme and establishing an India-ASEAN Trade Desk to help businesses better leverage opportunities under the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
Mr Rajakumar has also stressed the importance of maintaining unity after the election.
“On June 20, regardless of the outcome, there is only one SICCI,” he said. “The lines that form during an election must dissolve the moment the results are declared.”
Among the younger candidates on Team Raj is Mr S. Mahenthiran, chief executive officer of Catering Solutions and Honorary Secretary of the Indian Restaurants’ Association, who is contesting for a board director position.
Mr Mahenthiran believes one of SICCI’s most important roles is bridging the gap between experienced business leaders and the next generation of entrepreneurs.
“SICCI has consistently evolved to meet the changing needs of the business community, and one recent example is the introduction of the SICCI Connect platform,” he told tabla!. “While it currently serves as a valuable member directory, I believe it has the potential to become a much more powerful collaboration and mentorship ecosystem.”
He said the platform could be expanded to facilitate structured mentorship matching, industry discussion groups and collaborative projects that connect startups and young entrepreneurs with seasoned business leaders.
“Cross-industry engagement can create opportunities for innovation, allowing members from different sectors to exchange ideas, explore partnerships and collectively address emerging business challenges,” he said.
Mr Mahenthiran also stressed the importance of balancing innovation with the chamber’s rich heritage and institutional knowledge.
“SICCI’s strength lies in its rich heritage and the contributions of generations of business leaders who have built the Chamber into the respected institution it is today,” he said. “My approach is not to replace tradition with innovation, but to build upon the strong foundations established by our predecessors and help members navigate technological change, digitalisation and artificial intelligence with confidence.”
On internationalisation, Mr Mahenthiran said SICCI could play a bigger role in helping businesses access capital, grants and overseas markets.
“Many companies face challenges in accessing the right networks, funding opportunities and market intelligence,” he said. “By strengthening trade missions, business delegations and cross-border networking programmes, SICCI can create meaningful business opportunities and help members scale confidently beyond Singapore’s shores.”
His views reflect Team Raj’s broader emphasis on entrepreneurship, mentorship and practical support for businesses seeking growth opportunities in an increasingly competitive global economy.
The rival Forward Leadership Alliance is led by Mr Mogan and includes former SICCI executive director Jamuna Rani Govindaraju, former Singapore Gujarati Society president Biren S. Desai, and Nuffield Holdings founder Dr Samintharaj Kumar among its key office bearer candidates.
The broader slate features a diverse mix of business and community leaders, including Mr Harry Gurnani, Mr Sunil Garg, Mr Anil Ponnampalam, senior journalist S. Ramesh, and technology executive Rajith Mohan.
FLA’s campaign centres on governance reforms, leadership renewal, AI adoption, and measurable outcomes.
Mr Mogan has pledged to institutionalise stricter governance measures, including independent audits, structured succession planning and stronger accountability mechanisms.
“Good governance should never depend on personalities; it must be embedded in the institution itself,” he said.
The alliance has also outlined ambitious targets, including facilitating 100 cross-border business introductions annually, supporting AI adoption among member companies and developing a stronger pipeline of future business leaders.
On the contested election, Dato’ Mogan described the process as a healthy development for the chamber.
“Elections provide members with a voice and encourage discussion about the future. What matters is not the contest itself but how we conduct ourselves during and after it,” he told tabla!.
One of the most prominent voices within the FLA team is Mr Rajith Mohan, Head of Shared Technology at UOB, president of Kairalee Kala Nilayam and a filmmaker.
Mr Rajith believes chambers must evolve to remain relevant to younger entrepreneurs and technology-driven businesses.
“To attract agile startups, a chamber must match their operational speed,” he noted.
He has advocated the creation of a “SICCI Digital Core” that would transform the chamber into a more technology-enabled organisation through AI-powered business matching, automated member engagement systems and enhanced digital services.
Mr Rajith also emphasised the importance of connecting younger entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders.
“Legacy and innovation are not opposing forces; they are symbiotic,” he said. “Traditional businesses bring experience and resilience, while newer enterprises bring scalability, technology and fresh perspectives.”
Vice-chairman candidates Jamuna and Biren have similarly highlighted the need for stronger governance, structured succession planning, and differentiated support for SMEs and large corporations alike.
Regardless of which team prevails, the election marks a significant moment in SICCI’s history.
Mr Rajakumar also stressed the importance of maintaining unity after the election.
“On June 20, regardless of the outcome, there is only one SICCI,” he said. “The lines that form during an election must dissolve the moment the results are declared.”
Members will be choosing between competing visions for how the chamber should support businesses in an increasingly digital and interconnected economy while preserving the strong community relationships that have defined the organisation for decades.
With Singapore’s Indian business community continuing to expand and diversify, the chamber’s next leadership team will face the challenge of balancing continuity with change, tradition with innovation, and unity with healthy democratic participation.
The results of the June 19 election will therefore be closely watched not only by SICCI members, but by the broader business community as well.
