General Election 2025

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News analysis​

GE2025: WP bets on Punggol, Tampines GRCs to make further inroads​

Kenneth Cheng and Wong Pei Ting

WP's Punggol GRC team, consisting of Mr Harpreet Singh (left), Ms Alexis Dang (third left), Ms Alia Mattar (third right) and Mr Jackson Au (right) with residents outside Punggol MRT station on April 23.ST PHOTO: NADINE CHUA
UPDATED Apr 24, 2025, 05:57 AM

SINGAPORE – As the hustings kick off for the general election, the opposition WP has sent some of its strongest new candidates to Punggol and Tampines GRCs.

After months of speculation on where it would field them for the polls, all was revealed on Nomination Day on April 23.

Senior counsel Harpreet Singh and three other new faces were confirmed on the WP ticket for Punggol GRC.

They will face off at the May 3 polls against a PAP team headed by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong in the new group representation constituency.

Elsewhere, WP vice-chairman Faisal Manap has left the party’s Aljunied GRC crown jewel to contest Tampines GRC with four others, pitting the team against the PAP and two other opposition parties in a four-cornered fight.

It is apparent that the party has steered more of its new heavyweight candidates into the two GRCs, which are expected to face stiff electoral battles.

Besides sending Mr Singh to Punggol, the party has fielded Institute of Mental Health senior principal clinical psychologist Ong Lue Ping, former diplomat Eileen Chong, and start-up co-founder Michael Thng, a graduate of Harvard University, in Tampines.


Associate Professor Eugene Tan, a political analyst and law don at the Singapore Management University, is of the view that the WP has assessed its prospects – outside of the areas in which it is the incumbent – to be the best in Punggol GRC.

“They are gunning to repeat their famous victory in Sengkang GRC, in Punggol GRC,” said Prof Tan.

In 2020, the WP prevailed over the PAP in the newly created Sengkang GRC, winning 52.12 per cent of the vote.

Conversely, the firepower that the PAP has deployed in Punggol – where it has three political office-holders, DPM Gan, Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary and Minister of State Sun Xueling – indicates that the ruling party is “determined to avoid a Sengkang 2.0”, Prof Tan added.

The WP’s slate in Tampines and Punggol has led some to wonder if the opposition party has deprioritised East Coast GRC, which it narrowly lost in the 2020 polls, with 46.61 per cent of the vote.

In the eastern electoral hot spot, the party is fielding former Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong; payment expert Jasper Kuan; former US Navy administrator Paris V. Parameswari; lawyer Sufyan Mikhail Putra; and second-time candidate Nathaniel Koh, an IT professional.

That said, political watchers do not consider the WP’s East Coast slate to be weak.

Dr Felix Tan, an independent political observer, said the teams the WP has put forward this time round are “all worthy candidates with strong credentials”.

He said those with higher profiles in East Coast GRC include Mr Yee and Mr Kuan, a former Mastercard director who is now the Asia-Pacific product lead for disputes solutions at Visa Worldwide.

In East Coast, Mr Yee could be making another attempt to “redeem himself”, especially as he had contested in Joo Chiat before, added Dr Tan, who is from the Nanyang Technological University’s School of Social Sciences.

In 2011, Mr Yee, an education entrepreneur, squared off against PAP veteran Charles Chong in the former Joo Chiat SMC. Mr Chong won 51.02 per cent of the vote, and Mr Yee was appointed a Non-Constituency MP as the “best loser” in that election.

With Mr Yee leading the team into the 2025 election, Mr Kuan can focus on drawing support from younger voters, said Dr Tan.

Tampines GRC: Master stroke or miscalculation?​

Taking some by surprise was the WP’s absence from Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, which it has contested in the past two elections since 2015.

This led to a walkover on April 23 for the PAP team in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC – the first at a general election since 2011.

Some sceptics have branded this a miscalculation that could undo the WP’s decade-long progress in Marine Parade.

Yet, between the two constituencies, the ground is more ripe for the picking in Tampines GRC, said analysts.

Associate Professor Bilveer Singh, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, said it was a “master stroke” for the WP to place bigger bets on Tampines.

“There is no miscalculation in Tampines. If the WP contests Marine Parade, it will be the biggest miscalculation.”

He noted that the absorption of MacPherson SMC into Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC altered the battlefield significantly and made it even harder to win there.

Dr Gillian Koh, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, said the WP’s move was an “acknowledgement that the PAP hold there is strong and this is especially after it incorporated MacPherson SMC”.

The PAP’s Ms Tin Pei Ling won 71.74 per cent of the vote there in 2020.

Aljunied GRC and WP’s broader strategy​

In the lead-up to candidate nominations on April 23, there was also talk that WP chief Pritam Singh, chair Sylvia Lim or policy research head Gerald Giam could move out of Aljunied GRC to contest elsewhere.

That did not materialise. The trio has stayed put, seeking to defend the constituency with Mr Kenneth Tiong and Mr Fadli Fawzi.

Dr Koh said it was surprising that none of the most seasoned WP leaders moved to anchor constituencies that the party is seeking to make inroads into.

“It could be that they place a very high premium on the relationships they have on the ground, and that newcomers have to build up their own standing on the ground even if they might not be successful,” she added.

On the whole, the WP is fielding more candidates this election than in the last. Its 26 candidates are being deployed across five group representation constituencies and three single seats.

Besides Punggol, Tampines and East Coast GRCs, it is in the running for Aljunied GRC, which it has held since 2011, and Sengkang GRC. It is also contesting Hougang – a traditional WP stronghold – as well as the new Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat seats.

This means it will contest one more GRC and one more SMC in 2025 than it did in 2020. That year, it fielded 21 candidates across four GRCs and two single seats.

This, said SMU’s Prof Tan, indicates an incremental approach to its growth as Singapore’s leading opposition party, and that the party is not seeking to upend the one-party dominant system in a single election.

“For now, it is signalling to voters that they should support WP in the quest for a ‘balanced’ political system,” he said.

 

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GE2025: PAP’s Nee Soon GRC team launches manifesto titled ‘Nee Soon: Residents First’​

The five-member PAP team, led by Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, launched its manifesto on April 24 at the party’s Chong Pang branch.ST PHOTO: HESTER TAN

Deepanraj Ganesan
Apr 24, 2025


SINGAPORE – More childcare and eldercare facilities, better access to key transport nodes including the North-South Corridor, and improved infrastructure such as sheltered walkways and barrier-free spaces are some of the new developments coming to Nee Soon if the five-member PAP team contesting the group representation constituency is elected.

The team, led by Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, announced this on April 24 at a press briefing to launch its manifesto, “Nee Soon: Residents First”, at the party’s Chong Pang branch.

He added that the manifesto addresses concerns of residents such as cost of living, jobs, housing and healthcare.

Newcomer Jackson Lam, 40, the head of a pest control and cleaning company who served as branch secretary of Chong Pang from 2017 to 2023, said at the launch that residents have also approached him for help with municipal issues and short-term assistance.

The manifesto detailed upcoming works in the area such as 25 new covered linkways and upgrades to 20 playgrounds and 22 elderly and adult fitness corners. The team also highlighted enhancements that have been made over the past five years, including more than 1,800m of new linkways, 14 fitness corners and spaces, 26 new playgrounds, a 26.5km cycling path network and nine community gardens.

On the upcoming contest against Red Dot United (RDU), Mr Shanmugam said the election is ultimately about what each team can offer Nee Soon residents, who now have a choice.

He said: “The residents will have to say who they believe can do the best for them. Both at a national level, because we are part of a larger team in Parliament, and at the local level.”

One of RDU’s proposals was for the goods and services tax (GST) to revert to 7 per cent, which the party’s secretary-general Ravi Philemon said would put more money in people’s pockets.

In response, Mr Shanmugam noted that Singapore is facing issues on a national level, such as an ageing population and serious healthcare needs, which require necessary measures to be put in place.

He said that the GST is primarily paid by the top income earners and redistributed across the population, and he wished that the opposition would “make that clear too”.

“I think it’s important that we make that clear, rather than saying some things which are maybe only partially accurate,” he said.

In the upcoming general election, a refreshed PAP slate featuring Mr Shanmugam and four new faces will take on an RDU team led by Mr Philemon.

Besides Mr Lam, the other political newcomers in the PAP team are former Nominated MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi, 40; Ms Lee Hui Ying, 36, director of communications at Temasek Foundation; and Ms Goh Hanyan, 39, a former director at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.

The RDU team led by Mr Philemon includes party chairman David Foo, 60, and three first-timers – Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad, a 57-year-old private school teacher who is the party’s head of policy and its Malay bureau; Mr Pang Heng Chuan, 56, a tech start-up business director; and Ms Sharon Lin, 40, a senior consultant in the IT sector.

In the 2020 General Election, the PAP secured 61.9 per cent of the vote against the Progress Singapore Party in Nee Soon GRC.

On April 23, Nomination Day, after the candidates’ nominations were confirmed, Mr Shanmugam told the media that on top of the Budget 2025 vouchers announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to help with cost of living, additional resources are available to Nee Soon residents.

Mr Shanmugam said: “We have, at the local level, many assistance schemes as well, targeted at those who need help, both on the education side as well as on the cost-of-living side, and to deal with multiple issues.”

These include initiatives such as the Nee Soon Cares vouchers programme, which allows eligible residents to redeem a one-off $40 voucher that can be used at selected market and food stalls in the area.

On April 23, PAP’s Sembawang GRC team also launched its manifesto, titled “Sembawang, For Everyone”.

The five-member PAP team announced several new developments in Sembawang, such as a rail line to Johor Bahru, the North-South Corridor, new cycling trails and integrated development Woodlands North Coast.

The manifesto also detailed updates to the area over the past five years, including replacing or enhancing 765 lifts, upgrading 3,138 HDB flats and disbursing $2,527,683 through local assistance schemes.

 

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‘Nothing untoward’ about WP decision not to contest Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC: Pritam​

WP chief Pritam Singh (third from left) speaking to reporters after a walkabout in Sengkang on April 24. With him are WP chair Sylvia Lim (second from right) and the party's Sengkang GRC candidates (from left) Jamus Lim, Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, He Ting Ru and Louis Chua.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

Kok Yufeng
Apr 24, 2025


SINGAPORE - WP chief Pritam Singh has defended the party’s decision not to field a team to contest Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, saying there was “nothing untoward” about its election planning.

The WP has drawn flak from other opposition parties for pulling out of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, which led to an unexpected walkover win for the PAP on Nomination Day.

Speaking to reporters on April 24 after a walkabout in Sengkang, he said: “We put forward the best slate of candidates we can for Singapore. We want a more balanced political system. And this is the same point I made yesterday to some Marine Parade residents whom I met.”

“I acknowledged and validated their disappointment that we were not standing there, but after I explained it to them, after I shared with them the reality of boundaries being redrawn, the reality of our own calculations as a party... I think they understood where I was coming from,” he added.

Former WP chief Low Thia Khiang, who turned up in Sengkang on April 24 to stump for the WP candidates along with former Hougang MP Png Eng Huat and WP chair Sylvia Lim, admitted that the WP’s failure to contest Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC disappointed voters but said there was “no other way”.

He told Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao that political parties face realistic resource constraints when campaigning, and it is impossible to contest in every constituency. He said: “You can’t go everywhere, so you must make choices. In this case, there is really no other way.”


Some of the opposition parties that raised a stink over the walkover in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC had argued that this could have been avoided if the WP had given them notice.

To this, Mr Singh said: “It is not as if some of these opposition parties... approach us and say, ‘Can I stand here, can I stand there’. So I think we respect them. We respect their agency. They make decisions in their enlightened self-interest. So do we.”

Asked to respond to criticism by the People’s Power Party (PPP) secretary-general Goh Meng Seng that the WP was being irresponsible, Mr Singh replied: “Mr Goh should focus on the campaign in Tampines.”

The WP is set to face a four-cornered contest against the PAP, PPP and the National Solidarity Party in Tampines GRC, where it has fielded Institute of Mental Health senior principal clinical psychologist Ong Lue Ping, former diplomat Eileen Chong, startup co-founder Michael Thng and business owner Jimmy Tan.

Mr Singh said he believes multi-cornered fights will be the norm in Singapore’s political scene, “but that shouldn’t dissuade us from putting a value proposition forward to Singaporeans for a rational, responsible party in Parliament”.

He said the WP has been walking the ground in Tampines even before the 2020 general election and had wanted to field a team there then, but it did not have a good enough group of candidates who were ready to step forward.

“We’ve got a strong slate today, and it was only natural and logical that we would move into Tampines,” he added.

On Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s comments on April 23 explaining the rationale behind the last-minute changes to the ruling party’s line-up, Mr Singh reiterated the point that the WP is a “small party”.

He said: “We don’t think north, south, east, west... At the end of the day, the PAP has different considerations. I can understand that.”

Turning to Punggol GRC, the WP chief said he believes the party has put up a strong team to contest the newly-created four-member constituency, where a fresh-faced slate led by senior counsel Harpreet Singh Nehal will face off against a seasoned PAP team helmed by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.

Asked what he thought about the WP’s chances there in the light of DPM Gan’s surprise move to the north-east on Nomination Day, Mr Singh said he will leave it to Punggol voters to make their choice.

Mr Singh said he believes the WP’s slate in Punggol can represent the interests of residents faithfully and run a town council well.

“I think they can do well in Parliament too,” Mr Singh said of the four-member slate, which also comprises new faces Ms Alexis Dang, 39, senior director of publisher business development at an advertising tech firm; Ms Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar, 43, legal counsel; and Mr Jackson Au, 35, senior manager of corporate affairs and marketing with the London Stock Exchange Group.

In what is expected to be a fierce contest, they will come up against DPM Gan, Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary, 52, Minister of State Sun Xueling, 45, and first-term MP Yeo Wan Ling, 48.

On Sengkang GRC, where the WP has retained its incumbent MPs in what is a largely untouched slate, Mr Singh said the party had different considerations here.

Ms He Ting Ru, Mr Louis Chua and Associate Professor Jamus Lim will stay to defend the four-member GRC, joined by new face Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik.

Said Mr Singh: “This particular team has worked very well on the ground. They’ve been highly effective in Parliament... They’ve also been very aggressive in seeking funding for improvements around the town.”

He added: “One looks at the whole package. Ultimately, the key decision for us to make was (that) this is a team that is defending its ground for the first time. So we wanted a team which had a longer history with the voters in Sengkang.”

The PAP, which lost Sengkang GRC in 2020 by a margin of about 4 percentage points, is fielding a younger, refreshed team led by former senior minister of state for transport and health Lam Pin Min.

Asked how this would change the WP’s approach, Ms He said the WP team will continue to do its work.

“We continue putting our forward our vision for Singapore,” she added, citing the Sengkang Town Council’s five-year town masterplan, which was launched earlier in April, as an example.

Over their five-year term as first-time MPs, she said she, Mr Chua and Prof Lim have understood the “multidimensional role” that they play - first and foremost as parliamentarians, and as elected town councillors in charge of municipal issues.

“The glue that really holds everything together are the people of Sengkang,” she added.

She said the incumbent Sengkang GRC MPs are also happy to have Mr Muhaimin, who has experience working in a town council in a technical role, on their team.

The senior property manager at Aljunied-Hougang Town Council is expected to fill the empty seat in the Sengkang GRC slate vacated by former WP MP Raeesah Khan in 2021, after she resigned for lying in Parliament.

Responding to a question about this, Mr Muhaimin said: “I believe the residents of Sengkang will not dwell too much on the past. I hope that I can bring something to the team, and work for Singapore and work for Sengkang.”

 

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Opposition unity ‘close to impossible’ in future elections after WP withdrawal: NSP chief​

NSP's Sembawang GRC candidates (from left) Verina Ong, Raiyian Chia, Spencer Ng and Yadzeth Hairis on a walkabout at Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre on April 24.ST PHOTO: SHABANA BEGUM

Shabana Begum
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE – The eleventh-hour decision by WP to withdraw from Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC will make it near impossible for opposition parties to cooperate and avoid multi-party contests in future elections.

Speaking during a walkabout at Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre on April 24, National Solidarity Party (NSP) secretary-general Spencer Ng said that maintaining unity among opposition parties to avoid multi-cornered battles is going to be “extremely difficult, or close to impossible”.

“Some parties, in the name of opposition unity, demand that the other party make way for them.

“They make use of this (idea of) opposition unity and try to barge their way through,” said Mr Ng, who leads the five-member NSP team contesting Sembawang GRC.

His comments echo the view of People’s Power Party (PPP) secretary-general Goh Meng Seng, who said he was angry that the WP decided not to field a team for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

“It is very ironic that the slogan of WP is ‘Working for Singapore’. But do you really work for Singapore when you deprive 130,000 voters of their right to vote?” he reportedly said.

NSP had earlier indicated its interest to contest Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC after the redrawing of boundaries. It last contested Marine Parade GRC in 2011.

In the 2020 election, PAP retained Marine Parade GRC with 57.74 per cent of the vote against WP. This was down from 64.07 per cent in 2015.

WP candidates, including senior counsel Harpreet Singh, had walked the ground ahead of the 2025 General Election, but NSP staked a claim to the group representation constituency after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee issued its report on March 11.

However, on Nomination Day on April 23, WP withdrew from the constituency to focus on other contests. That sparked anger among leaders of other opposition parties, especially as WP had entered a four-cornered fight for Tampines GRC against PPP, NSP and the incumbent PAP.

Mr Ng said NSP learnt the hard way that opposition unity is “extremely difficult” to secure.

The party had on April 20 announced that it was not fielding candidates in Marsiling-Yew Tee and Jalan Besar GRCs, as well as withdrawing from Sembawang West and Tampines Changkat SMCs, for the sake of opposition cooperation.

Mr Ng said NSP also faced calls from some quarters to step aside in Sembawang GRC, after the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) announced its intention to contest there. SDP suggested that NSP contest Holland-Bukit Timah GRC instead.

Both parties failed to reach an agreement to avoid a multi-party contest in Sembawang GRC, which means SDP and NSP will take on the incumbent PAP led by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.

Mr Ng said NSP is putting voters’ interests before the party’s interests in contesting two constituencies.

“We are here to serve the people. We are not here to play board games,” he said, adding that the party has been walking the ground in Sembawang GRC for over a decade now. “We have listened to (residents), taken in their feedback. From there, we craft our policies and manifestos.”

However, Mr Ng could not hold back his disappointment with WP and SDP.

“On party interest and respect for ourselves, there must be a line.

“If we move wherever you tell us to move, then what is the value of our existence? And to be treated by fellow opposition parties in this manner. They should do some soul-searching.”

During the Kampung Admiralty walkabout, his team encountered residents who said they prefer the “louder opposition parties”, he said.

“They might champion something that seems to be a bit more radical, but it’s not our party’s character,” he added, saying the party is more constructive and rational with its policy proposals.

One particular proposal that the party does not agree with is the lowering of GST.

Over 2023 and 2024, Singapore’s goods and services tax rose from 7 per cent to 9 per cent.

Mr Ng said that while he disagrees with the idea to lower GST, he does not want to see it rise above 9 per cent.

He added: “The moment you (introduce the tax), it is very hard to take away... Even if you call for a reduction of GST to 7 per cent, people will say – why not 5 per cent? Why not 3 per cent?

“And even if you reduce GST, how are you going to make sure everybody brings down prices?”

Mr Ng said the party’s manifesto released on April 23 proposes removing the GST for essential items and baby supplies to reduce cost-of-living concerns, although it did not provide information on what falls under “essential items”.

NSP also said it will unveil its proposed town plan for Sembawang in the coming days, with a focus on multi-generational living.

“We envision Sembawang as a lifestyle destination, for young couples who want to apply for housing with their parents, and good amenities for retirement folks,” said Mr Ng.

 

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GE2025: 8 parties to deliver TV and radio messages on April 25 and May 1​

PM Lawrence Wong and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh at Mediacorp Theatre on April 24.ST PHOTOS: LIM YAOHUI, GAVIN FOO

Raul Dancel
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE – Eight political parties contesting in the 2025 General Election will get to deliver their campaign messages on free-to-air television and radio on April 25 and May 1.

The two party political broadcasts (PPBs) for each party – once on television and once on radio – will be carried by six Mediacorp television channels, and 13 Mediacorp, SPH Media and So Drama! Entertainment radio stations, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said on April 24.

Parties may deliver their campaign messages in all or any of the four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil.

The English broadcasts will be at 8pm on both days on Channel 5, as well as on seven radio stations: Kiss92FM, Money FM 89.3, One FM 91.3, Class 95, CNA938, Gold 905 and Power 98. They will also be aired at 9pm on CNA.

Only eight political parties are eligible for the PPBs, it added.

Under guidelines set by the Elections Department, only political parties that field at least six candidates under a recognised party symbol are eligible for the PPBs.

Independents and political parties fielding fewer than six candidates are not eligible.

There are 11 political parties and two independent candidates in the race for 92 out of 97 parliamentary seats on May 3. A five-member People’s Action Party (PAP) team in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC was elected unopposed when nomination proceedings ended on April 23.

IMDA said the duration of airtime earmarked for each political party will be based on the number of candidates it fields.

The allocated airtime will be the same for the two broadcasts for each political party, it said.

The order of the PPBs on television and radio will be determined by the number of candidates fielded by the parties, starting with the party with the least number of candidates, and ending with the one that has the most candidates.

The National Solidarity Party, People’s Power Party and Singapore Democratic Party have each been allocated four minutes of airtime per language during each PPB, the IMDA said.

The People’s Alliance for Reform, PSP and Red Dot United will each have five minutes, while the Workers’ Party has been allocated six minutes per language per broadcast. The PAP has been allocated 14 minutes per language per PPB.

Details of the PPBs are as follows:

The duration of airtime earmarked for each political party will be based on the number of candidates it fielded. PHOTO: IMDA

The party political broadcasts will be carried by six Mediacorp television channels, and 13 Mediacorp, SPH Media and So Drama! Entertainment radio stationsPHOTO: IMDA

 

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PAP’s Hougang candidate Marshall Lim told party leadership he wanted to contest opposition ward​

PAP candidate Marshall Lim introducing himself to a Hougang resident on April 24.ST PHOTO: CLAUDIA TAN
Claudia Tan
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE - For PAP candidate Marshall Lim, contesting an opposition-held seat was a challenge he relished.

He told the party leadership that he was prepared and willing to take up that challenge, and they supported his decision.

Despite knowing the odds stacked against him, Mr Lim is determined to show Hougang residents he is sincere about serving them.

The 38-year-old is contesting Hougang SMC, a WP stronghold that is the longest-held opposition constituency in Singapore’s electoral history.

It has been in WP hands since former party chief Low Thia Khiang won it in 1991.

The incumbent MP, shipping lawyer Dennis Tan, 54, secured 61.21 per cent of the vote in the 2020 election – higher than his predecessor, Mr Png Eng Huat, who scored 57.66 per cent in 2015.


On April 24, Mr Lim greeted residents at a bus stop along Hougang Avenue 3 from 7.30am to about 9am during a walkabout.

Speaking to The Straits Times later, he said: “When I was exploring the possibility of stepping into politics, the one thing I told myself was my commitment to politics must include the commitment to stand in an opposition ward.

“And I told (party) leadership very clearly that I was prepared and willing because I don’t discriminate when it comes to service.”

Before joining the PAP, Mr Lim was a criminal lawyer with experience in both public and private practice.

From 2023 to 2025, he served as the assistant chief public defender in the Public Defender’s Office (PDO).

The PDO, launched in 2022, provides government-funded defence counsel to low-income Singaporeans and permanent residents accused of non-capital offences.

Mr Lim, who is a partner at local law firm Martin & Partners, said: “My practice as a criminal lawyer has always been about serving people. I chose criminal law because I wanted to touch the lives of ordinary Singaporeans in a very direct way.”

He is passionate about ensuring people with invisible disabilities, such as mental illnesses and special needs, have access to justice.

He felt that joining the PAP would allow him to serve more Singaporeans.

He was appointed chairman of the PAP’s Hougang branch in February, replacing business owner Jackson Lam, who is now one of the party’s candidates contesting Nee Soon GRC.

Since then, Mr Lim has been engaging Hougang residents at events and house visits, and intends to continue doing so throughout the campaign period.

While on his walkabout, he asked residents to follow him on social media – his main channel of communication.

For elderly residents who are less technologically savvy, Mr Lim said he listens to their concerns during his walkabouts and house visits.

He said: “Campaigning is not single-faceted. I want to hear everyone, so I have to use different mechanisms to reach them.

“For the elderly, they are usually at home in the evenings, so that is when I connect with them. It is more direct and more personal.”

When asked about his chances against Mr Tan, Mr Lim replied: “The incumbent will be judged based on what he has done over the past five years, and for new candidates like myself, the assessment will be based on my sincerity.”

 

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GE2025: ‘Daily, consistent work’ for residents most important, says Chan Chun Sing​

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing and his fellow Tanjong Pagar GRC candidate Rachel Ong greeting residents during a walkabout in Telok Blangah Drive on April 24.ST PHOTO: HESTER TAN

Vanessa Paige Chelvan
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE – For the PAP’s Tanjong Pagar slate, consistency is the name of the game.

“Our campaign is not about (the) nine days,” Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said, referring to the nine-day campaigning period ahead of the May 3 General Election.

Speaking to reporters during a walkabout in Telok Blangah Drive on April 24, Mr Chan, who is the anchor minister for Tanjong Pagar GRC, said: “It’s the daily, consistent work (for residents) that is most important.

“What we’ll do will not be very different from what we do every other day,” he said, noting his team’s efforts to maintain a consistent presence in the constituency and to connect with residents.

Mr Chan’s five-member Tanjong Pagar team includes fellow incumbents Alvin Tan, who is Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth, and Joan Pereira. New on the team is Ms Rachel Ong, whose Telok Blangah ward is now part of Tanjong Pagar. Her ward was previously in West Coast GRC.

Rounding out the group is political newcomer Foo Cexiang, a former director at the Ministry of Transport.


When asked whether he was concerned about the contest against the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), Mr Chan said his team’s focus remains on the residents of Tanjong Pagar. “Our plan is not based on who is coming or who is going,” he said.

“Our plan is to be resident-centric, and that will always be our guiding light.”

The PAR team in Tanjong Pagar comprises commercial banker Prabu Ramachandran; Mr Nadarajan Selvamani, a director of a private school; Mr Rickson Giauw, a site safety adviser and officer; Ms Han Hui Hui, a human rights fellow at a foreign university; and senior logistics assistant Soh Lian Chye.

The contest for Tanjong Pagar was the subject of intense speculation when Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah announced on April 21 that she would move to anchor the Pasir Ris-Changi GRC slate.

On April 23, it was revealed that Mr Foo would replace Ms Indranee, who had been an MP for Tanjong Pagar for 24 years.

Mr Chan said the PAP team would help Mr Foo find his feet and “guide (him) into his new role”, just as Ms Indranee had done before for each new member of the team.

Ms Ong is not a political newcomer, but she is new to the Tanjong Pagar team and constituency. She said that while her time as an MP at West Coast GRC was “great for (her) first term”, her Telok Blangah ward is a lot closer in proximity to Tanjong Pagar.

“So I think that the lines that have been drawn make sense… it’s a wise move,” Ms Ong said of the redrawing of electoral boundaries in March that brought her ward into Tanjong Pagar.

The PAP’s Tanjong Pagar team was also joined by their fellow candidates for the Queenstown and Radin Mas single seats, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth and Social and Family Development Eric Chua and National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general Melvin Yong, respectively, during the walkabout.

Mr Chua’s Queenstown ward that used to be part of Tanjong Pagar GRC is now a single-member constituency. He will up against PAR’s Mr Mahaboob Batcha, an oil and gas company director.

Mr Yong, the incumbent PAP MP for Radin Mas SMC, is in a three-cornered fight with PAR’s Mr Kumar Appavoo, who is a businessman, and independent candidate Darryl Lo.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: SDP to hold Bukit Panjang rally on April 25​

SDP supporters waving flags at Methodist Girls’ School nomination centre on April 23, 2025.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

Raul Dancel
Apr 24, 2025


The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) will hold an election rally on April 25 – the third day of the campaign period – in Bukit Panjang.

A permit has been issued for SDP’s rally at Beacon Primary School, police said in a statement on April 24.

The rally will be held from 7pm to 10pm.

The SDP’s Paul Tambyah is running against the PAP’s Liang Eng Hwa for the Bukit Panjang SMC seat.

Police said attendees are strongly encouraged to take public transport, owing to a large crowd expected at the rally.

They should also be prepared for traffic diversions, lane closures and slower traffic in general, which may also affect pick-up and drop-off points for ride-hailing services.


Police said the use of carparks near sites of election rallies has been restricted to season parking holders.

Vehicles found illegally parked or causing obstruction may be towed, police said.

Police said attendees – owing to large crowds expected at the rallies – are strongly encouraged to take public transport.PHOTO: SPF
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has prohibited the flying of unauthorised drones and other unmanned aircraft, as well as kites and captive balloons, over the sites from 6pm to 11pm.

The police listed a slew of items banned at the rallies. These are:

• Firearms/parts of firearms, including empty magazines and spent cartridges
• Live and blank bullets
• Air pistols and rifles or parts
• Spear guns
• Explosives, blasting caps, dynamites and corrosive substances
• Fireworks and firecrackers
• Parangs and machetes
• Bearing scrapers
• Walking sticks with daggers
• Antique pistols and guns
• Stun guns
• Batons and t-batons
• Night sticks
• Signal flares and other flammable materials
• Handcuffs
• Tear-gas and pepper sprays
• Nanchakus
• Knuckle dusters
• Crossbows
• Industrial acid
• Bulletproof vests
• Keychains in the shape of a bullet or gun
• Wooden or metal spears
• Lighters in the shape of a gun, pistol, bullet or grenade
• Toy guns that resemble actual guns
• Kirpans
• Sharp or long objects, such as knives, that can be used as a weapon
• Glass bottles
• Laser pointers
• Unmanned aircraft
• Canned items, including canned drinks.
  

  ​

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

PAP and WP teams spotted on the ground as they battle for votes in East Coast GRC​

East Coast GRC incumbent Tan Kiat How shaking hands with WP's East Coast GRC candidate Yee Jenn Jong during their walkabouts in Bedok on April 24.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Joyce Lim and Wong Pei Ting
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE - One day after Nomination Day, both PAP and WP candidates in East Coast GRC were out in full force as they sought to win residents’ support over the nine days of campaigning.

Their efforts on April 24 took them to MRT stations, food centres, coffee shops and HDB blocks in various parts of the constituency, including Bedok, Siglap and Changi-Simei.

PAP candidate Dinesh Vasu Dash, 50, who started his walkabout at The Marketplace @ 58 in New Upper Changi Road on April 24, said residents had been welcoming, though some raised concerns about rising costs and municipal issues.

“This is an area where there are many seniors, and I hope to do a lot more to support our seniors, especially those who may not be working or have limited sources of income.”

He added that government support measures are in place but that “this will be an ongoing conversation” if prices continue to rise.

Mr Dinesh will be taking over Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat’s Bedok division. Other candidates at the walkabout were Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, 55; incumbents Tan Kiat How, 47, and Jessica Tan, 58; and new face Hazlina Abdul Halim, 40.

PAP’s East Coast GRC candidates (from left) Hazlina Abdul Halim, Jessica Tan, Edwin Tong, Tan Kiat How and Dinesh Vasu Dash meeting a resident during a walkabout at The Marketplace @ 58 in New Upper Changi Road on April 24.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
But some residents said they were still adjusting to the changes – among them Madam Tan Yap Ngin, 78, who said she missed DPM Heng.

Meanwhile, WP’s East Coast team, led by former Non-Constituency MP and fourth-time candidate Yee Jenn Jong, 60, started their campaign as early as 7am, catching commuters at Bedok MRT station.

The rest of the WP’s East Coast team are Mr Nathaniel Koh, 41, and three new faces – Ms Paris V. Parameswari, 51, Mr Sufyan Mikhail Putra, 33, and Mr Jasper Kuan, 46.

Mr Koh, a second-time candidate, is an IT professional. Ms Paris is a former US Navy administrator and Mr Sufyan is a lawyer, while Mr Kuan is a payments expert.

Speaking to ST, Mr Yee let on that his team plans to start their activities at 7am and end at around 10pm throughout all seven remaining days of the hustings. Some nights will be spent on the ground and others making rally speeches.

WP’s East Coast team (from left) Mr Jasper Kuan, Mr Nathaniel Koh, Mr Yee Jenn Jong, Mr Sufyan Mikhail Putra and Ms Paris V. Parameswari meeting residents during a walkabout at Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre on April 24.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
On April 24, the team handed out flyers at Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre and Block 216 Bedok Hawker Centre, and went for house visits in Bedok North.

At the Block 216 hawker centre, the team bumped into with the area’s incumbent MP Tan Kiat How, who shook hands with Mr Yee and party CEC member Ang Boon Yaw, previously thought to be a possible WP candidate for East Coast.

Mr Tan, who is Senior Minister of State for National Development, was heard telling Mr Ang: “I thought you were running in this election.”

Mr Ang, who has been appointed election agent for the East Coast team, remarked “No, no, I am here to support my brother”, as he patted Mr Yee’s back.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Marine Parade MPs told about Tan See Leng leaving ‘later rather than sooner’: Seah Kian Peng​

Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng (centre) and Mr Goh Pei Ming (left) speaking to residents in Marine Terrace on April 24.ST PHOTO: NG KENG GENE

Ng Keng Gene
Apr 24, 2025


SINGAPORE – Manpower Minister Tan See Leng’s surprise move to Chua Chu Kang GRC was something that the PAP’s Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team was told about “later rather than sooner” on Nomination Day, said Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng.

Mr Seah, 63, who now leads the five-member team, told reporters on April 24 that they were not told about the move “first thing in the morning, but it was quite closer towards... if I were to put a time to it, it will be later rather than sooner”.

He declined to state a specific time that the team learnt of Dr Tan’s redeployment, to maintain the integrity of party strategy.

Mr Seah, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Ms Diana Pang and Mr Goh Pei Ming were confirmed MPs on April 23, after a walkover in the constituency.

The WP, which fielded teams in Marine Parade at the 2015 and 2020 polls, had been expected to mount a fresh challenge in 2025, but it finally decided not to, citing “limited resources”.

Mr Goh was a late addition to the team on a drama-filled Nomination Day morning.


On April 23, Dr Tan had showed up at PAP’s Mountbatten branch office – the gathering point for the party’s Marine Parade-Braddell Heights candidates – only to arrive about two hours later at the nomination centre for Chua Chu Kang GRC and contest that constituency.

Just days before, on April 20, Dr Tan had introduced PAP’s Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team as its anchor minister.

Asked if Dr Tan was redeployed because the PAP knew a walkover was on the cards, Ms Tin said: “It’s anyone’s guess. Likewise, I think the Workers’ Party also had their plans in mind.

“During a general election, it’s highly dynamic – there are always changes on the ground. So we just go with the flow.”

Mr Seah added: “Each party will have its own ways of getting inputs and all that, and we have our ways, I’m sure whichever opposition party, they will have their ways.”

Mr Goh, 43, who was formerly the Singapore Armed Forces’ Chief of Staff – Joint Staff, has taken over the Marine Parade ward that Dr Tan oversaw in his first term in Parliament.

(From left) Ms Tin Pei Ling, Ms Diana Pang, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng and Mr Goh Pei Ming at a doorstop at Marine Terrace on April 24.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Noting that he had walked the ground in other areas before Nomination Day, Mr Goh said: “I was preparing myself for a very good fight, either in Punggol or East Coast.”

“Given my background in the armed forces, I’m a fighter, and I was looking forward to a good contest,” he said, adding that he respects the party’s decision for the redeployment.

“The decision for me to be deployed here was made closer to the deadline,” said Mr Goh, who added that it was a “pretty late decision”.

In a live stream on the night of April 23 where the constituency’s MPs shared their manifesto, Mr Goh said he had looked through the publication “earlier today and yesterday as well”, suggesting that he had been preparing to be fielded in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights the day before Nomination Day.

Mr Goh said he is not unfamiliar with the area, as he was a resident in Marine Parade GRC until the latest electoral boundary changes.

For instance, he said, the Block 59 Marine Terrace coffee shop where the interview was being conducted is one he has visited for many years.

Mr Goh said he has sought Dr Tan’s help to understand Marine Parade residents’ needs.

Asked for his response to residents who may be disappointed by the sudden departure of a Cabinet minister from the team, Mr Seah said residents need not worry that plans for the area will change because of Dr Tan’s move.

The Marine Parade Town Council had on April 19 launched its five-year plan for 2025 to 2030.

Mr Seah said: “This is a plan that was worked out by the team, and the plan – whether Dr Tan is here or not – will still proceed. That’s something that we hold dear, that’s our promise to our residents.

“It’s out there, we will be accountable for it, and we stand to be accountable.”

Ms Tin, 41, who is entering her fourth term in Parliament and has overseen the MacPherson ward since 2011, said the team spent the rest of Nomination Day in their respective wards thanking residents after their walkover was confirmed.

She said she will respond to residents whose needs from her previous term in Parliament were left outstanding, and revisit ground that she had previously covered as “there are new needs that may emerge depending on the situation”.

Ms Pang, 51, said she looks forward to advocating the needs of caregivers.

She added that in the ward she will oversee – Geylang Serai – she looks forward to nurturing and mentoring volunteers, because she believes that “we all have natural talents in every one of us”.

“I’m going to spend a bit more time getting to know them, and groom them, and I’ll let you know when they have become phoenixes or dragons in their own right,” said Ms Pang, a licensed solemniser who has officiated more than 350 weddings since 2019.

Prof Faishal, 56, who entered politics in 2006 as a Marine Parade GRC MP and has served in Nee Soon GRC for the past 14 years, said he will be “walking the ground in the neighbouring GRC to help them” in the coming days.

While he did not specify which GRC he was referring to, he noted that some areas in Bedok North and Chai Chee that he used to oversee are now part of other constituencies, and that he will help party colleagues contesting these areas in the campaign.

As for the team, Mr Seah said they will spend the rest of April 24 in their own wards connecting with residents and supporting the party’s campaign in the coming days, including possibly speaking at rallies.

“We are all part of it. This is one team, but we are all part of a bigger team,” he said.

---

Dr Tan’s journey to the west​

• 9.24am at PAP Mountbatten branch office: Dr Tan See Leng arrives at the office. It is the gathering point for the party’s candidates for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC and Mountbatten SMC. Arriving shortly before or after him are the other candidates that the party had announced will contest the GRC – Mr Seah Kian Peng, Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim, Ms Tin Pei Ling and Ms Diana Pang.
• 10.23am at PAP Mountbatten branch office: On Facebook, Dr Tan posts a photo taken at the branch with the PAP team, saying he’s “heading to nomination centre in a bit”.
• 10.54am at PAP Chua Chu Kang branch office: Three members of the PAP team for Chua Chu Kang GRC – Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Mr Jeffrey Siow and Dr Choo Pei Ling – leave the party’s branch office on foot for Jurong Pioneer Junior College, which is the nomination centre for the constituency they are contesting. They are joined by three members of the PAP’s team for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, who leave without PM Lawrence Wong, their anchor minister. DPM Gan Kim Yong, who was supposed to lead the Chua Chu Kang team, was also not seen at the branch.
• 11.04am at Jurong Pioneer JC: The PAP’s Chua Chu Kang and Marsiling-Yew Tee teams enter their nomination centre, without PM Wong or DPM Gan.
• 11.20am at Kong Hwa School: PAP new face Goh Pei Ming, who was expected to stand in East Coast GRC, enters the nomination centre for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights alone.
• 11.22am at PAP Mountbatten branch office: PAP’s Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team – Mr Seah, Prof Faishal, Ms Tin and Ms Pang – leaves the Mountbatten branch office for Kong Hwa School. Dr Tan is not seen with them.
• 11.22am at Yusof Ishak Secondary School: DPM Gan is seen entering the nomination centre for Punggol GRC, where he is fielded.
• 11.23am at Jurong Pioneer JC: A car that Dr Tan is in arrives at the nomination centre for Chua Chu Kang, where he is fielded.
• 11.25am at Kong Hwa School: PAP’s Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team – Mr Seah, Prof Faishal, Ms Tin and Ms Pang – arrive at their nomination centre.
• 12.48pm at Kong Hwa School: An election official confirms that Mr Seah, Prof Faishal, Ms Tin, Ms Pang and Mr Goh are officially members of Singapore’s 15th Parliament, after a walkover.
  

  ​

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Reactions ‘quite positive’ so far, as Patrick Tay seeks to defend Pioneer SMC seat​

PAP candidate for Pioneer SMC Patrick Tay speaking to a resident as he went about distributing his manifesto on April 24.ST PHOTO: KIMBERLY KWEK

Kimberly Kwek
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE – It will be a straight fight between two candidates in Pioneer SMC in GE2025, but incumbent MP Patrick Tay says the shift from a three-cornered contest in the previous election will not change his campaign approach.

The PAP labour unionist is facing off against PSP newcomer Stephanie Tan, a 37-year-old full-time homemaker and former lawyer.

In GE2020, Mr Tay won 62 per cent of the vote in a three-way race against PSP’s Lim Cher Hong and independent candidate Cheang Peng Wah, who received 35.22 per cent and 2.78 per cent of the vote, respectively.

The 53-year-old said in an interview on April 24: “We have a strategy, we have a game plan, we just execute it, and we hope to have a clean, very good campaign so that the residents can make a judgment for themselves and go to the polls on May 3.”

Pioneer SMC, which has 25,195 electors, is one of nine constituencies that remained unchanged in the latest review of Singapore’s electoral map.

This is the first time Mr Tay is defending his seat. He entered Parliament in 2011 as an MP for Nee Soon GRC, and was fielded in West Coast GRC for the 2015 General Election. He was then deployed to Pioneer in GE2020, with then incumbent Cedric Foo retiring.


Asked how confident he was in being re-elected, Mr Tay said he “wouldn’t say, you know, super confident”, but pointed out that the people he has met in this campaign so far have been “quite positive”.

“I think I’ve managed to power up quite a lot of things here,” Mr Tay said, noting that he had completed two rounds of house visits to the 131 blocks in his constituency in the past five years, as well as had interactions with residents through activities there.

He pointed to ground-up community events, like barbecues, and support schemes such as pro bono legal clinics and centres for young children with development needs, initiated during his tenure.

But he said the most significant aspect of his term there was being able to mobilise more volunteers across the age groups in his constituency, which he said consists of 80 per cent to 85 per cent white-collared workers, living in four- or five-room HDB flats.

If re-elected, he intends to focus on three broad pillars – the youth, families and the elderly – in the next term. Three active ageing centres are already expected in the constituency by the first half of 2026, with the first officially opening next week.

Broader national concerns that surround employment and the rising cost of living also remain priorities for Mr Tay, who is the National Trades Union Congress’ assistant secretary-general.

He had introduced initiatives, such as a one-stop centre that provides legal and employment support, in his constituency, and plans to build on these initiatives if re-elected.

Mr Tay said he would share more plans on social media, and maybe a rally, during this campaign period.

Meanwhile, his electoral opponent Ms Tan told ST on April 21 that she hopes to address what she sees as the two main challenges caregivers face: financial and mental health struggles. She also intends to focus on issues surrounding children’s education, if elected.

Noting that her party had proposed an allowance for caregivers of young children in Parliament, she added: “We hope that other than it being a real recognition of the unpaid contributions they make to Singapore, it also helps with their financial difficulties.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: Singapore United Party proposes price cap on resale flats in manifesto​

Singapore United Party secretary-general Andy Zhu speaking to the media outside Deyi Secondary School on April 23. With him are the party’s Ang Mo Kio GRC candidates (from his left) Ridhuan Chandran, Vincent Ng, Noraini Yunus and Nigel Ng.PHOTO: ST FILE

Lim Min Zhang
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE - The opposition Singapore United Party (SUP) is calling for a price ceiling on resale Housing Board flats, in order to make quality housing accessible to Singaporeans.

It has also said that primary school education should be made free for all local children, and more flexibility should be accorded to workers to withdraw their Central Provident Fund retirement sums.

These were among the key proposals in SUP’s 20-page manifesto, which was released to the media on April 24. The party is making its electoral debut in the upcoming May 3 polls.

The relatively young party formed in 2020 is contesting just one constituency – Ang Mo Kio GRC – in the general election.

It faces the PAP, led by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and the People’s Power Party (PPP) in a three-cornered fight.

SUP’s slate includes secretary-general Andy Zhu and Ms Noraini Yunus, who both contested in the GRC under the Reform Party banner in the 2020 General Election. The others on the team are party chairman Ridhuan Chandran, flight attendant Nigel Ng, and businessman Vincent Ng.


In its manifesto, SUP sought rectification of the problems that, it said, get in the way of creating a more inclusive country. These include “inflexible withdrawal limits on the CPF retirement fund... exorbitant resale HDB prices and steep medical costs”.

It said that HDB flats have consistently shrunk in size over the years, and argued that public housing is no longer affordable, with recent transactions crossing $1 million.

“We therefore propose that a price ceiling be enforced on resale HDB flats instead of allowing the free flow of market forces to dictate the price,” it said.

The party did not specify what this cap should be.

In terms of CPF funds, SUP said that the retirement sum “can be made to work better in the hands of savvy individuals who should not be penalised for the mismanagement of others”, and called for the government to provide more liberty for Singaporeans to manage their wealth.

On healthcare costs, it proposed that the government introduce free medical care to those aged 14 and younger, “so as to lighten the financial burden on families, and in the long run, our nation”.

For seniors, despite subsidies such as those under the Merdeka Package and the Community Health Assist Scheme, healthcare costs are still an issue for many who no longer receive a stable income, said SUP.

“We would like to urge the government to relook at the healthcare model and possibly extend free medical care to those aged 67 and above.”

Primary education should be made free for all local children, so that they start on an equal footing and the financial burden on lower-income households can be eased, said the party.

Cost of living concerns have been central to many opposition parties’ proposals in this election. For one, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), in its manifesto unveiled on April 20, called for new flats to be sold for between $90,000 and $270,000.

Mr Zhu said previously that SUP’s manifesto will be shaped by feedback from residents.

This election, SUP is campaigning on a slogan of Moving Forward, Together.

Ang Mo Kio is the largest electoral division, with 161,235 registered voters.

In 2020, the RP team that included Mr Zhu and Ms Noraini secured 28.09 per cent of the vote in Ang Mo Kio GRC against the PAP, led by then Prime Minister Lee.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

‘A let-down’: Some Marine Parade GRC residents disappointed they will not get to vote in GE2025​

Some residents told ST they felt opposition parties should have coordinated better to contest the GRC.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Shermaine Ang and Syarafana Shafeeq
Apr 24, 2025,

SINGAPORE - Ms Grysell, 23, would have been a first-time voter in the May 3 general election, but she will not get to cast her vote due to a walkover in her constituency.

A five-member PAP team in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, which the WP was expected to contest, was elected unopposed when nomination proceedings ended at noon on April 23.

“I was looking forward to voting for the first time. I don’t really follow Singapore politics, but because I am a first-time voter, I started tuning in to the news to see what was happening,” said the online shop owner, who has lived in Geylang for 11 years. She declined to give her full name.

“So, of course I am quite bummed I won’t vote after all. I didn’t expect that possibility at all.”

This is the first walkover at a general election since 2011, when a PAP team for Tanjong Pagar GRC stood uncontested.

The WP had contested Marine Parade GRC in 2020 and 2015. In 2020, it garnered 42.26 per cent of the vote, losing to PAP’s 57.74 per cent.


Under the latest electoral boundary changes, the constituency absorbed MacPherson SMC and parts of Mountbatten SMC. It was renamed Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

On April 24, The Straits Times spent half a day speaking to Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC residents at Geylang East Market & Food Centre and Promenade Market @ 84 in Marine Parade Central, as well as nearby void decks and a park. Many residents declined to give their full names.

Some told ST they felt opposition parties should have coordinated better to contest the GRC, while others were disappointed that the PAP team did not have to enter into an electoral contest to win its mandate.

But several acknowledged that decisions on where to field candidates were strategic moves made by both the PAP and WP.

In a Facebook post explaining the decision not to contest Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh made reference to the constituency’s redrawn electoral boundaries. “To give our candidates the best chance of electoral success, the party must focus its best efforts this GE on a smaller number of constituencies than we would have hoped to contest,” he said.

Geylang East resident Mr Ashvin, 28, said he had voted in the last general election in 2020, but pointed out that campaigning was scaled down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“My parents told me it didn’t really feel the same,” said the tuition teacher. “I was excited to experience the rallies, the campaigning properly this time around, so I was shocked when they announced a walkover. It is definitely a let-down.”

Others said they had looked forward to opposition parties putting up a fight and seeing both parties’ vote shares.

Said Tanjong Katong resident and lawyer Aloysius, 36: “My family, friends and myself are disappointed because we can’t see the confidence levels in whoever wins.”

Kent, 65, a retired senior manager, added: “There has to be a contest so the winning team will work hard and know it’s not an easy job. Then they’ll be more willing to listen to our needs.”

“I am disappointed I will not get to exercise my right to vote. The opposition should put up candidates to fight,” said Mr CK Chan, a retired engineer in his 70s.

He described the walkover as a shame. “The opposition let down so many voters who now have to wait five years to vote.”

Residents also said they were surprised by the slate changes on Nomination Day, which saw Dr Tan See Leng joining the PAP team contesting Chua Chu Kang GRC. Dr Tan had previously announced he would lead the PAP’s Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team into the election.

Minister of State for National Development and Home Affairs Faishal Ibrahim, Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, former MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling, and PAP new faces Diana Pang and Goh Pei Ming will be part of Singapore’s 15th Parliament.

Executive officer Amarjit Singh, 59, said Dr Tan was “very visible”. He had seen him talking to residents at the hawker centre and market, and involved in grassroots events.

“I’m a bit disappointed that he’s not going to be the MP here, but I am sure he wouldn’t move unless he’s got a strong team in place to take over.”

On the PAP new faces, Ms Pang and Mr Goh, he added: “It’s always good to have new faces. They cannot become veterans unless you give them a chance.”

Some residents did not mind not getting to cast their vote this time.

Said homemaker Hajjah Rokiah Majid, 71, a Marine Parade resident of 39 years: “I’ve voted in too many elections already. To be honest, I’m just happy I don’t have to go this year.

“I’m okay with how things have been in my area. I don’t think anything big will change even if we all vote someone else in.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: A firm handshake and the fight is on in Punggol GRC​

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong (left) shaking hands with WP candidate Harpreet Singh outside Punggol MRT station on April 24.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
Zhaki Abdullah
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE – A day after the stage was set for a hot contest in Punggol GRC, both the People’s Action Party candidates and their Workers’ Party opponents were out in force to meet and greet residents.

Outside Punggol MRT station on April 24, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, 66, and his fellow PAP teammates crossed paths with WP team leader Harpreet Singh, 59, and his teammates, with the two men shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.

DPM Gan, who is also the Minister for Trade and Industry, had made a surprise move to the newly formed four-member constituency, and was confirmed as the anchor minister on Nomination Day on April 23.

Mr Singh, meanwhile, was also an unexpected candidate in the constituency as he was widely expected to be fielded in East Coast GRC where he was spotted on the ground.

After nomination proceedings ended, both parties wasted no time in hitting the ground and putting up campaign posters.

Residents on their way to work and school on April 24 took time out from their morning commute to greet the candidates outside the MRT station, with some stopping for pictures. Others also took the chance to air their concerns.


The PAP team, which also includes Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Health Janil Puthucheary, 52; Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Sun Xueling, 45; and National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general Yeo Wan Ling, 48, handed out fliers on their party’s five-year plan for the constituency.

The WP team, rounded out by Ms Alexis Dang, 39, senior director of publisher business development at an ad tech company; Ms Alia Mattar, 43, a legal counsel; and Mr Jackson Au, 35, senior manager of corporate affairs and marketing with the London Stock Exchange Group, gave out pamphlets of their party’s manifesto.

Candidates from both parties declined interviews with the media.

In a Facebook post on April 24, DPM Gan said his focus for now was on gaining the trust and confidence of Punggol GRC residents.

“While I might be new to the area, I will do my best to learn quickly, with the support of the rest of my team who has been serving you for many years,” he added.


Mr Singh, a senior counsel, in a Facebook post on April 23 addressed to Punggol voters, said: “We’re here to earn your trust – by listening, working hard, and, if given the opportunity, we would be honoured to stand up for you and the broader Singaporean community in Parliament.”


The new Punggol GRC, formed after the latest electoral boundary changes, comprises areas carved out from Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC as well as the former Punggol West SMC.

More than half of the constituency’s 120,000 voters are estimated to be working adults aged between 21 and 45, based on ST’s analysis using Department of Statistics data dated June 2024.

Millennial and Gen Z voters out-represent other age groups in the group representation constituency by a margin of more than 10 percentage points.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Don’t inflame sensitive issues or use domestic politics to divide S’pore: PM Wong at first PAP rally​

Whatever the differences, “we are all Singaporeans first and foremost”, said PM Lawrence Wong.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Goh Yan Han
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE – Do not inflame sensitive issues or use domestic politics to divide Singaporeans, PM Wong said to opposition parties in his first rally speech as head of government.

Whatever the differences, “we are all Singaporeans first and foremost”, he said.

There will be many external forces that will pull the population in different directions – the war in Europe, the war in Gaza in the Middle East – and people will have different views about these global developments.

“Under normal circumstances, we can discuss them, and we can forge a national consensus, but in the heat of an election campaign, it is easy for issues to get stirred up.

“If we are not careful, this can be exploited, and we will end up pitting Singaporeans one against another, we will end up dividing and weakening us,” said PM Wong.

“Let’s make sure that in everything we do, we always uphold multiracial politics. Do not inflame sensitive issues... There must be unity,” he said on the second day of the hustings.


Make sure that politics stops at the water’s edge when it comes to national interests, Singapore’s sovereignty and security and its place in the world, he said.

PM Wong was speaking in his first ever physical rally as prime minister and secretary-general of the PAP, at Woodlands Stadium in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.

His fellow constituency running mate, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, had made similar points earlier in the rally.

Mr Zaqy said that he had seen politics become a source of division across the world, including among those who are pro-LGBT and anti-LGBT, pro-abortion and pro-life, pro-Palestine and pro-Israel.

“We all have our belief systems, we all have our principles. We all also have our personal hurt and grievances as politicians, we too face personal conflicts when we have to put national interests first,” he said.

“But we must never, never allow politics to feed into this, to create division among our people,” he added.

Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad said that he had seen politics become a source of division across the world.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
PM Wong, who is incumbent and anchor minister in Marsiling-Yew Tee, was the last speaker in the line-up, drawing the loudest cheers from the crowd.

He called on Singaporeans to choose individuals of character, “whom you believe will serve you, your family, your constituency, and our nation well”.

“The opposition also says, don’t give a blank cheque for the PAP,” he said.

“Yes, look at the PAP candidates, and consider them carefully. But I would also say, don’t give the opposition a free pass.”

Apply the same standards to them as to the PAP – in terms of integrity, competence and readiness to serve, said PM Wong.

He reiterated the message of the changed world that Singapore faces.

“Remember, above all, when the election is over... it’s not the PAP versus the opposition. It is Singapore versus the world. It is our little red dot versus a dangerous and troubled world,” he said.

As he asked Singaporeans to vote for his party, PM Wong also said the opposition is here to stay, “and they are determined, they really want to grow”.

“You look at the Workers’ Party – most of their MPs are staying put in their wards to secure their seats in Parliament,” he said.

Their new candidates are fielded elsewhere to break new ground and hopefully increase their seats in Parliament, he added.

Red Dot United, which is contesting in its second election, is fielding 15 candidates, the second highest after the WP’s 26.

Other parties like the Progress Singapore Party, Singapore Democratic Party and National Solidarity Party “are all pushing hard”, contesting at least 10 seats each, said PM Wong.

“That’s why from the beginning I’ve said it will be a tough contest – I don’t assume the PAP will automatically win,” he said.

A renewed team with potential office-holders​

As he thanked the veteran PAP MPs who are stepping down this election, PM Wong said he would have liked them to stay – if he were to take a narrow perspective.

Those who are retiring include Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

“But I cannot just focus on my needs today. I also have to think about your future, and Singapore’s future,” said PM Wong. That is why he has worked hard to bring in new blood and renew the party.

Some of the new candidates that the PAP is fielding are people PM Wong had worked closely with during the Covid-19 pandemic – former chief of army David Neo and former Agency for Integrated Care chief executive Dinesh Vasu Dash.

“David was the SAF commander who helped to oversee the Covid operations... he also ensured close coordination with the other government agencies,” said PM Wong.

“I saw him up close in action, and I know he’s someone who will serve with courage and honour.”

Mr Dinesh, who was previously with the Health Ministry, was in charge of Singapore’s vaccination operations.

“It was not an easy undertaking, but Dinesh worked out the plans, he briefed the Cabinet, got our approval, and then he implemented them effectively on the ground,” said PM Wong.

“Many other countries had the vaccines but they couldn’t get the vaccinations done on time. In Singapore, we could, and it’s because of his leadership.”

PM Wong described Mr Neo and Mr Dinesh as “two very good men” with the potential to be more than backbenchers.

Both will face fierce contests – Mr Neo, in Tampines GRC, and Mr Dinesh, in East Coast GRC – and PM Wong said he hoped Singaporeans will support them, “because they will add significantly to the team that will serve you and take our country forward”.

“I didn’t just talent-scout from the public service or from people I worked with,” added PM Wong, who said he had done his best to recruit candidates from all sectors with diverse professional experiences.

These include Sengkang GRC candidate Bernadette Giam, a director at a local food and beverage company, and Nee Soon GRC candidate Syed Harun Alhabsyi, a psychiatrist and Malay/Muslim community leader.

They are among the 32 new faces fielded by the PAP, which is the most in recent general elections, the Prime Minister added.

“With these new additions, we will have a more effective team in the PAP to weather the storm ahead,” he said.

In addition to the new faces, PM Wong said he needs a good team in government to continue to manage the economy well.

“I have a good team in my Cabinet today. They say that government is about teamwork and it is, but the individuals in the team matter greatly,” he said.

He highlighted several key members of his current team – Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng – who had all played a part in Singapore’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

DPM Gan was his co-chair in the Covid-19 task force, said PM Wong. “He was experienced, he was steady, I could always depend on him for good advice and counsel. And now he’s my deputy and he is my right-hand man.”

He added that he is now depending on DPM Gan for many other things, such as chairing the Economic Resilience Taskforce that deals with the uncertainty of the US tariffs, and helming the PAP’s campaign at the new Punggol GRC.

DPM Gan had been a surprise switch on Nomination Day, moving from the slate in Chua Chu Kang GRC to anchor in Punggol.

Mr Chan, who was trade and industry minister during the pandemic, focused on supply chains and ensured access to medical supplies and other essential items, said PM Wong.

Mr Ong, “my good friend and former colleague in the civil service”, was transport minister then, with a difficult job of staying connected to the world while being concerned about new strains.

Dr Tan, who joined the Government after his debut in the 2020 General Election, brought his private-sector expertise and hands-on mindset to the virus fight.

“Without individuals like them, my team would not be what it is today,” said PM Wong.

Concluding his speech, PM Wong acknowledged that the PAP did not get everything right in the 60 years of nation-building.

“But we did get most things right, and we always walked with you, hand in hand every step of the way, to build this nation together,” he said.

“Now, like then, there will be sceptics and cynics who say we can’t make it. I say, let’s prove them wrong again!

“With your support and working together, we will work with you to keep our Singapore miracle going for as long as possible.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

We don’t just fight fires, we plan ahead: PM Wong​

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PM Lawrence Wong addressing supporters at Woodlands Stadium on April 24.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

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Health Minister Ong Ye Kung speaking at a rally held at Woodlands Stadium on April 24.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

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Supporters cheering during PAP candidate Hany Soh’s speech at a rally held at Woodlands Stadium on April 24.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

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Crowds in the stands ahead of the PAP rally held at Woodlands Stadium on April 24.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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Ng Wei Kai
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE – The PAP’s first and most urgent priority is to tackle economic uncertainties and address Singaporeans’ concerns over cost of living and jobs, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on April 24.

But it will do so while continuing to plan for the nation’s future, he said at the ruling party’s first rally of this general election.

“This is the PAP way – we don’t just fight fires. We plan ahead, and we never stop building a better Singapore with you,” he said.

In a rally speech at Woodlands Stadium, PM Wong said the Government recognised cost-of-living pressures – made worse because of tariffs and trade wars – and acted earlier in 2025.

Among the comprehensive support that has been rolled out are CDC and SG60 vouchers, as well as utility rebates. A typical family of four with two young children can receive about $5,000 in support in 2025, with vulnerable families receiving more help, he said.

The Government will not stop there, and will step up support if conditions worsen, he added. “We will do whatever we need to make sure you are well supported.”


PM Wong also acknowledged concerns over jobs, including the possibility of job losses and students’ concerns about employment once they graduate.

A national task force chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong set up earlier in April is focused on this, with labour chief Ng Chee Meng also coordinating these efforts.

The task force is looking at how to help businesses retain workers, and to support job seekers with traineeships, skills upgrading opportunities and jobs, he said.

“We will prepare these drawer plans and, if the need arises, we will activate them.”

Beyond immediate concerns, the PAP government’s long-term commitment is to continue to review and update its policies to make sure they serve Singaporeans better, said PM Wong.

He said this is what the Forward Singapore exercise is about, and that it has already led to changes, including to education, health and housing policies, such as the new HDB classification system.

“But this is just the beginning. We have much more to do and, with your mandate, we will go further in our next term.”

He highlighted two things in the party’s manifesto, and where the PAP intends to make further changes to address Singaporeans’ concerns and meet their aspirations.

On housing, PM Wong noted that the market is stabilising, as the Government has ramped up the supply of flats.

Once that happens, it will review policies – including the income ceiling to buy new flats and access for singles to buy Build-To-Order flats – to ensure that more Singaporeans can buy affordable homes, he said.

He also noted that many seniors want to age in their homes. While the Government has introduced Community Care Apartments – studio apartments with care facilities in close reach – not enough of them can be built to meet demand.

There is a need for new models that allow seniors to continue living where they are, but with easy access to the support they need, and the Government is working on this, he said.

PM Wong said his assurance to Singaporeans is that the PAP government will never cruise along, and will never be satisfied with the status quo.

“We will engage, listen to your suggestions, and we will continually strive to do better for you, and to build a brighter future for you,” he said.

“This is the PAP’s promise, this is my promise to you. This is our renewed resolve to all Singaporeans.”

 

[shock888]

We don’t just fight fires, we plan ahead: PM Wong​

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PM Lawrence Wong addressing supporters at Woodlands Stadium on April 24.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

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Health Minister Ong Ye Kung speaking at a rally held at Woodlands Stadium on April 24.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

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Supporters cheering during PAP candidate Hany Soh’s speech at a rally held at Woodlands Stadium on April 24.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

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Crowds in the stands ahead of the PAP rally held at Woodlands Stadium on April 24.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
››

Ng Wei Kai
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE – The PAP’s first and most urgent priority is to tackle economic uncertainties and address Singaporeans’ concerns over cost of living and jobs, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on April 24.

But it will do so while continuing to plan for the nation’s future, he said at the ruling party’s first rally of this general election.

“This is the PAP way – we don’t just fight fires. We plan ahead, and we never stop building a better Singapore with you,” he said.

In a rally speech at Woodlands Stadium, PM Wong said the Government recognised cost-of-living pressures – made worse because of tariffs and trade wars – and acted earlier in 2025.

Among the comprehensive support that has been rolled out are CDC and SG60 vouchers, as well as utility rebates. A typical family of four with two young children can receive about $5,000 in support in 2025, with vulnerable families receiving more help, he said.

The Government will not stop there, and will step up support if conditions worsen, he added. “We will do whatever we need to make sure you are well supported.”


PM Wong also acknowledged concerns over jobs, including the possibility of job losses and students’ concerns about employment once they graduate.

A national task force chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong set up earlier in April is focused on this, with labour chief Ng Chee Meng also coordinating these efforts.

The task force is looking at how to help businesses retain workers, and to support job seekers with traineeships, skills upgrading opportunities and jobs, he said.

“We will prepare these drawer plans and, if the need arises, we will activate them.”

Beyond immediate concerns, the PAP government’s long-term commitment is to continue to review and update its policies to make sure they serve Singaporeans better, said PM Wong.

He said this is what the Forward Singapore exercise is about, and that it has already led to changes, including to education, health and housing policies, such as the new HDB classification system.

“But this is just the beginning. We have much more to do and, with your mandate, we will go further in our next term.”

He highlighted two things in the party’s manifesto, and where the PAP intends to make further changes to address Singaporeans’ concerns and meet their aspirations.

On housing, PM Wong noted that the market is stabilising, as the Government has ramped up the supply of flats.

Once that happens, it will review policies – including the income ceiling to buy new flats and access for singles to buy Build-To-Order flats – to ensure that more Singaporeans can buy affordable homes, he said.

He also noted that many seniors want to age in their homes. While the Government has introduced Community Care Apartments – studio apartments with care facilities in close reach – not enough of them can be built to meet demand.

There is a need for new models that allow seniors to continue living where they are, but with easy access to the support they need, and the Government is working on this, he said.

PM Wong said his assurance to Singaporeans is that the PAP government will never cruise along, and will never be satisfied with the status quo.

“We will engage, listen to your suggestions, and we will continually strive to do better for you, and to build a brighter future for you,” he said.

“This is the PAP’s promise, this is my promise to you. This is our renewed resolve to all Singaporeans.”

Ah Wong conveniently forgot what Ah Long promised in GE2020:

https://www.pmo.gov.sg/Newsroom/Speech-on-GE2020-by-PM-Lee-Hsien-Loong

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: PSP raises issues like cost of living and job security at rally in Bishan​

PSP founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock (centre) made a surprise appearance an hour into the rally and was the evening’s final speaker.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Elisha Tushara and Chin Hui Shan
Apr 25, 2025

SINGAPORE - Job security, te rising cost of living and the need to check the dominance of the PAP were among the key issues raised by party members at the PSP’s rally in Bishan.

At the opposition party’s rally held at Catholic High School, speakers also touched on work-life balance and the well-being of seniors.

PSP founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock turned up an hour into the rally, at about 8.20pm, and was the evening’s final speaker.

He spoke about the importance of having an opposition presence in Parliament to avoid groupthink, especially when the ruling party’s candidates are largely drawn from the civil service and armed forces.

He said: “This is dangerous. There will be groupthink, which to me, is inbreeding. And when there is inbreeding, there is no way you can change policies within that system. For this reason, you must vote opposition.”

Earlier in the evening, Ms Hazel Poa, 54, candidate for West Coast-Jurong West GRC, said the PAP has remained dominant in Singapore politics for 66 years and has been able to amend the Constitution without opposition, due to its majority in Parliament.


The PAP’s dominance in Parliament is likely to continue for some time to come, but what does it mean for Singaporeans, she asked.

She said: “On the positive side, it ensures continuity in our policies and fosters stability. On a negative side, it allows the ruling party to put and keep in place rules that create an unlevel playing field and hinder fair political competition.”

The PSP’s West Coast-Jurong West GRC candidate Hazel Poa said the PAP has been able to amend the Constitution without opposition, due to its majority in Parliament.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
At the 2025 polls, the PSP is fielding candidates in the single seats of Marymount, Kebun Baru, Pioneer and Bukit Gombak and two group representation constituencies – West Coast-Jurong West GRC and Chua Chu Kang GRC.

Spectators at the rally started trickling in from about 6.30pm – some brought their own stools and one even brought his own portable table.

Armed with hand clappers, shrill whistles and even a tambourine, the crowd clapped and cheered as candidates gave their speeches at the rally, which started at 7.15pm.

Mr Leong Mun Wai, 65, the party’s secretary-general, said Singapore’s fourth-generation leadership has lost its way.

He added that he sees a lack of compassion in the Government’s socio-economic policies.

Referring to the Government’s decision to raise the goods and services tax to 9 per cent despite rising inflation and post-pandemic economic strain, he called for a return to the 7 per cent rate.


Kebun Baru candidate Tony Tan, 55, outlined his three key priorities – strengthening education, increasing parliamentary debate and improving constituency care.

Mr Tan, who credited education with lifting him out of poverty, proposed smaller class sizes in primary and secondary schools, making the PSLE optional and pathways for all students to attain at least a diploma.

He said the nation’s reserves should be used to invest in the younger generation, calling them Singapore’s “most precious resource”.

On parliamentary reform, Mr Tan called for more sittings and debates, citing PSP’s good track record despite having only Non-Constituency MPs in Parliament.

He spoke about the lack of discussion around issues such as the SimplyGo roll-out, which affected the elderly, and the prioritisation of $5 billion in taxpayer funds for the local stock market ahead of addressing the cost of living.

The PSP’s Kebun Baru candidate Tony Tan outlined his three key priorities – strengthening education, increasing parliamentary debate and improving constituency care.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Mr Tan also said there are plans to establish a PSP office in Kebun Baru and a range of people-focused initiatives.

These include an educational mentoring scheme for students, support for the sandwiched generation and care teams for seniors, singles and the sick.

Mr Jeffrey Khoo, 56, candidate for Marymount SMC, said stronger job protections and a minimum living wage were needed to address growing concerns over job insecurity among middle-aged Singaporeans.

Rising costs, stagnant wages and underemployment are key issues Singaporeans are facing today, he said.

He outlined key PSP proposals, including a minimum living wage of $2,250, a 40-hour work week, 14 days of annual leave, extended parental leave, a “right to disconnect” after work hours and tighter rules on hiring foreign professionals.

The PSP’s Marymount candidate Jeffrey Khoo said stronger job protections and a minimum living wage were needed to address growing concerns over job insecurity among middle-aged Singaporeans.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Four PSP members contesting Chua Chu Kang GRC also spoke at the rally. First-time candidate Lawrence Pek, 55, called for a minimum wage, and Ms Wendy Low, 48, called for more to be done to tackle workplace discrimination.

Another member of the PSP Chua Chu Kang GRC team, Mr S. Nallakaruppan, 60, said Singaporeans, especially those in their 40s, 50s and 60s who have been displaced by digitalisation, need more help.

Many of his peers have lost their jobs despite upskilling, he added, and training alone is not enough if there are no actual jobs waiting for those who need work.

Rounding up the night, Dr Tan – who said he will turn 85 in two days – said the two members of his party, Mr Leong and Ms Poa, have performed well in Parliament. The two are NCMPs, being the top two losers at the last polls.

He added that it has been a difficult experience for them, considering the number of “parliamentary wounds” they have suffered.

He said: “I feel sorry for them, but I say carry on, because it is for the good of the country. Don’t be afraid. Parliamentary wounds will heal.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: Vote for Poh Li San to stay in Sembawang family, and for Chee Soon Juan to be out, says Ong Ye Kung​

Minister for Health and PAP candidate for Sembawang GRC Ong Ye Kung speaks at a rally held at Woodlands Stadium on April 24.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Shermaine Ang
Apr 25, 2025

SINGAPORE - The contest in Sembawang West SMC is about voting for PAP’s Poh Li San to stay in the Sembawang family, and for her opponent, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan, to be out, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on April 24.

This is as Dr Chee has yet to give Bukit Batok residents a good explanation for why he abandoned them to come to Sembawang West, said Mr Ong, who is anchor minister for Sembawang GRC.

Speaking at the PAP’s rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 24 in English, Mandarin and Hokkien, Mr Ong also urged Sembawang West voters to be careful of politicians who are not honest about their intentions.

He said that after electoral boundaries were redrawn in March, Dr Chee had told Bukit Batok residents that he was not going anywhere, but “shortly after that, he packed up and left and came to Sembawang West”.

While Dr Chee’s explanation for going back on his commitment to Bukit Batok residents was that the SMC had been redrawn into a GRC, the fact that his party gave up on contesting in Holland-Bukit Timah – and instead formed a team to fight in Sembawang – meant it could easily have contested in the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC if Dr Chee so chose, said Mr Ong.

“He said ‘I have no choice, Bukit Batok is not there any more’,” said Mr Ong in Hokkien. “But if you go to Bukit Batok, the addresses are the same, the road names are the same. Bukit Batok is still there; it is the man who is not there.”


The minister added that while the SDP chief told Sembawang West residents that he was contesting in the new single seat for them, he “slipped” and told the media that going to Sembawang was part of SDP’s “northern strategy”.

SDP had said earlier that it would contest in Marsiling-Yew Tee and Sembawang GRCs, and Sembawang West SMC, as its northern strategy for this election. The party last contested Sembawang GRC in 2006 and 2011.

Dr Chee then said on a podcast that he chose to contest in the SMC as it was smaller and could be covered in a few weeks, said Mr Ong. “He acknowledged it as a beachhead – win it first, and then ‘strategise from there’.”

Mr Ong said there is nothing wrong with making a calculated political move and switching constituencies, but politicians should be upfront with voters about their motivations.

“For him to come to a new place and say ‘whatever I do is for you’, that is not being honest with voters,” he said in Mandarin.

He also responded to Dr Chee’s earlier comments that there was insufficient greenery in Sembawang West, and that it was controversial for the minister to assign Woodlands Galaxy Community Club to the new SMC. The CC falls just outside the SMC’s boundaries.

He said the comments were puzzling, given that Sembawang West residents have been using Galaxy CC for a long time, and they also enjoy the greenery in Admiralty Park and Bukit Canberra.

Dr Chee said these things as he does not want Sembawang West to be part of the bigger Sembawang family, as this would be politically disadvantageous to him, said Mr Ong.

“Better for him that Sembawang West, you become a lonely island, cut off from the rest of Sembawang Town,” he said.

“Make Sembawang West residents feel ‘this is unfair’. Make you feel upset, make you feel angry. Then he has a chance to win the election.”

Mr Ong said Sembawang voters are fair-minded and know that Ms Poh has been working hard for them for the past five years, and urged them to vote for an MP who is committed to them.

“You vote for (Ms Poh), she becomes the MP, I can continue to work closely with her, I can continue to pay close attention to Sembawang West,” he said.

“But if residents vote for Dr Chee Soon Juan, and he becomes the MP... I cannot do that... Because his job is not to work with me. His job is to challenge me, and his job is to challenge the government.”

Ms Poh, who also spoke at the rally, said that the SDP has offered “bold promises” such as reducing the goods and services tax (GST) to 5 per cent, but had not said how it would raise taxes from elsewhere to make up the shortfall.

“Let’s be honest, money doesn’t fall from the sky... We need well-thought-out policies to run this country well, not populist sound bites,” she said. “As your MP, my commitment has always been to speak up for you, to act in your best interest and also to deliver on what I had promised – not just during campaign season, but every day.”

The PAP’s Sembawang West candidate Poh Li San speaking at the rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 24.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Besides Mr Ong and Ms Poh, the PAP’s team for Marsiling-Yew Tee also delivered speeches at the rally.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad noted that more than 90 linkways and shelters had been built across Marsiling, and there are ambitious plans to further rejuvenate the town.

Ms Hany Soh said she spoke up in Parliament on matters such as shared parental leave and that she will continue to be a “strong ally” for young families, and to build a Woodgrove made for families.

PAP’s Sembawang West candidate Poh Li San (left) with Sembawang anchor minister Ong Ye Kung (third from left) and Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC candidates Alex Yam, Lawrence Wong, Zaqy Mohamad and Hany Soh.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Mr Alex Yam responded to SDP’s Gigene Wong, who on April 20 called the PAP “plain water that never changes”, and which could stagnate and lead to the “breeding of mosquitoes”.

Mr Yam said the PAP has never feared such a comparison, as water is healthy and vital, compared with alternatives like soft drinks that taste good but are unhealthy.

“Left out for too long, they attract ants and cockroaches,” he added.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: SDP says vouchers do not ease cost concerns; calls for opposition to check PAP spending​

SDP chief Chee Soon Juan meeting supporters after the party's rally at Choa Chu Kang Stadium on April 24.ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Christine Tan, Lee Li Ying and Andrew Wong
Apr 25, 2025

SINGAPORE - Distributing vouchers to help Singaporeans cope with the rising cost of living is not enough to tackle such concerns, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) said on April 24.

Instead, a greater opposition presence in Parliament could help to keep rising costs in check, with MPs scrutinising government expenditure and speaking out against policies that could impact people’s pockets.

This was a key message from the party’s first rally at Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

Veteran opposition politician and party chief Chee Soon Juan said Singaporeans are struggling with high costs of living that are due to “the PAP’s very own making”, and not due to global trends.

He said: “The PAP raises the GST and then tells you that it is giving you vouchers to help you cope with the increased GST. Am I missing something here?

“Or does this sound like the arsonist that sets your house on fire and then comes and gives you a cup of water to help you put it out?”

Cutting the GST from the current 9 per cent to either 7 per cent or 5 per cent has been a key policy proposal mooted by the opposition party, and was one of the key issues raised in the party’s manifesto released on April 21.

The party chief was the last in a line of 12 speakers that included the party’s candidates for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Sembawang GRC and Bukit Panjang SMC.

Dr Chee faces a straight contest in the new Sembawang West SMC, against PAP’s Ms Poh Li San.

Cost of living pressures and job security concerns were a common thread throughout the speeches.

Dr Chee accused the Government of “profligate spending”, which he said led to the need to raise taxes and GST, which the party has slammed in its manifesto.

He cited the Founders’ Memorial, the roll-out of touchless traffic light buttons and the $40 million needed to maintain the current ez-link and Nets FlashPay card system for public transport as examples of “wasteful spending”.

That is why SDP MPs are needed in the next Parliament, said Dr Chee.

He added: “We will not be fearful when it comes to engaging the PAP on cost of living. We will push the Government to lower expenses and costly, wasteful spending on unnecessary projects that don’t add value to your lives.”


SDP chairman Paul Tambyah, who is facing PAP incumbent MP Liang Eng Hwa in Bukit Panjang SMC again after narrowly losing in the 2020 election, argued that the GST affected low- or middle-income earners disproportionately.

He added that more opposition parties are needed in Parliament to voice concerns against such policies.

Professor Tambyah said people may question how SDP will bring down the GST if it does not form the government.

But he added: “Now, do you know when the vote was taken on the raise in GST, every single opposition MP in Parliament voted against the rise in GST, but there were too few of them?”

“Maybe two elections from now, we will really get a chance to bring you to a Singapore where everybody can thrive,” he said to applause.

SDP candidates in Marsiling Yew-Tee GRC and Sembawang GRC gave their support to Dr Chee and Prof Tambyah in their speeches.

Marsiling-Yew Tee contender Ariffin Sha, the founder of alternative news site Wake Up Singapore, asked voters to picture Dr Chee and Prof Tambyah in Parliament, adding: “Can you imagine the level of debates?”

Marsiling-Yew Tee contender Ariffin Sha argued that “a PAP that wins by 80 per cent is very different from a PAP that wins by 60 per cent”, as it would push the ruling party to work harder.ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Mr Ariffin said some had called his team the “suicide squad” for contesting Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s constituency.

“What matters in this election is not just who wins, but the margin of victory... The smaller the margins of victory, the better the policies and welfare for the people,” he added.

He argued that “a PAP that wins by 80 per cent is very different from a PAP that wins by 60 per cent”, as it would push the ruling party to work harder.

Sembawang GRC candidate and SDP’s deputy head of policy James Gomez made a push for the party’s presence in Parliament.

The political scientist and regional director of a think-tank said: “(Singaporeans) want MPs who are not afraid to challenge bad policies. MPs who will not be silenced. MPs who will ask the tough questions and fight for better answers.”

SDP’s deputy head of policy James Gomez made a push for the party’s presence in Parliament.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Marsiling-Yew Tee has been the battleground for SDP and PAP for the past three elections.

This round, the SDP slate for the four-member GRC includes Mr Ariffin, theatre director Alec Tok, SDP organising secretary Jufri Salim and former businesswoman Gigene Wong.

They face a straight fight against PM Wong’s team – an unchanged PAP slate from the 2020 elections comprising Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, North West District Mayor Alex Yam and Ms Hany Soh.

In Sembawang, the SDP slate – comprising Mr Gomez, party vice-chair Bryan Lim, treasurer Surayah Akbar, and party members Damanhuri Abas and Alfred Tan – face a three-cornered fight with the PAP and National Solidarity Party (NSP).

The PAP team is led by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, incumbent MPs Vikram Nair and Mariam Jaafar and two fresh faces – Mr Ng Shi Xuan, and Mr Gabriel Lam.

Meanwhile, the NSP team comprises party chief Spencer Ng, polytechnic lecturer Verina Ong, swimming coach Raiyian Chia, associate lecturer Lee Wei and business owner Yadzeth Hairis.

At the end of SDP’s rally, supporters – some dressed in red party colours – jostled to get photos and autographs with Dr Chee and Prof Tambyah.

PAP’s Mr Ong Ye Kung had in a separate rally on April 24 said that Dr Chee “abandoned” Bukit Batok for Sembawang West.

The Bukit Batok single seat was absorbed into the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC under the latest changes to electoral boundaries.

In response, Prof Tambyah drew a parallel to significant PAP slate changes in other constituencies.

For example, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng was moved from Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC to Chua Chu Kang GRC, while Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, formerly the anchor minister for Chua Chu Kang, went to helm the newly carved-out Punggol GRC.

Pointing out that Dr Chee had spent about a month in Sembawang West, Prof Tambyah said: “That is a lot longer than spending an hour in Chua Chu Kang or an hour in Punggol.”

Meanwhile, Dr Chee said this was a “silly season” for the PAP, and that Mr Ong’s words were a personal attack “when (PAP) finds that they cannot talk about the issues”.

He added: “Voters have had enough of these things already, and they want to see a good debate, a good contest, but on the policies, on what affects them.”