General Election 2025

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GE2025: Results signal voters’ trust in PAP to steer Singapore through uncertainty, say analysts​

The PAP’s landslide victory of 65.57 per cent of the vote share, which won it 87 of 97 seats, was an overall flight to safety.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Anjali Raguraman and Vanessa Paige Chelvan
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE - The PAP’s resounding victory at the 2025 General Election reflects voters’ trust in the ability of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his party to steer the country through the brewing global turmoil, political analysts said.

The PAP’s landslide victory, in which it won 87 of 97 seats, or 65.57 per cent of the vote share, was an overall flight to safety informed by the Government’s track record over the past five years, including its handling of the Covid-19 crisis, analysts added.

“It is a critical GE because the PAP is (in the midst of) a leadership change, and the voters have shown they support the new PM and the 4G PAP team to be the government to steer us into the future,” said former PAP MP Inderjit Singh.

The results also showed that even as voters become more receptive to political pluralism, some opposition parties are struggling to stay relevant to voters, experts said.

The WP has solidified its standing as the dominant opposition party in Singapore.

In addition to retaining its 10 seats in Aljunied and Sengkang GRCs and Hougang SMC, the WP will get both Non-Constituency MP seats, as the “best losers” this general election in Tampines GRC and Jalan Kayu SMC.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has outpaced the PSP’s performance, while smaller parties faced a “wipeout”, losing by such large margins that some candidates are set to lose their deposits.

With two parties in Parliament, this shows that “Singapore is settling into a ‘one-and-a-half party’ system”, said Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) senior research fellow Gillian Koh.

“This has been an excellent first outing for Mr Lawrence Wong as the new secretary-general of the PAP and incumbent prime minister,” said Dr Koh, who pointed out that PM Wong’s predecessors had “more challenging” maiden campaigns.

For instance, Mr Goh Chok Tong saw his party concede four seats to the opposition in his first campaign in 1991, while Mr Lee Hsien Loong saw an 8.7 percentage point dip for the PAP in 2006.

This election, the PAP also saw historically high vote share margins in certain areas.

Three constituencies were secured with margins over 80 per cent: Tanjong Pagar GRC (81.03 per cent), Queenstown SMC (81.12 per cent) and Jurong Central SMC (80.51 per cent).

The results point to Singaporean voters’ need for stability and security at a time when the “global order that Singapore has thrived under is being upended”, said Associate Professor Eugene Tan, a political analyst and law don at the Singapore Management University.

IPS Social Lab research fellow Teo Kay Key, agreed, saying: “Worries about cost of living and global uncertainty likely led to voters wanting to ensure that the ministers who are in charge of these task forces and relevant ministries continue to work for Singapore in these capacities, thus voting in that direction, overwhelmingly in some cases.”

But other external factors may also have contributed to voters’ perception of the PAP as being a safe choice, noted Professor Terence Ho, adjunct associate professor in practice at the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

He cited the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, PAP MPs’ work on the ground in the past five years, as well as the national vision communicated by PM Wong’s 4G leadership team through the Forward Singapore exercise as factors that worked in the incumbent’s favour.

The PAP also ran a disciplined campaign, said Prof Tan. “They were not unduly defensive and also kept their focus on their key campaign messages.”

Strategically, the PAP also made some good moves, such as fielding DPM Gan Kim Yong in the newly-formed Punggol GRC, said Mr Singh.

This was despite several swaps of anchor ministers, IPS’ Dr Koh noted, pointing to DPM Gan’s eleventh-hour move to Punggol GRC. Manpower Minister Tan See Leng was moved to Chua Chu Kang GRC to take on DPM Gan’s post.

In Punggol, the PAP team led by DPM Gan eventually beat a team of first-time candidates from the Workers’ Party, taking 55.17 per cent of the vote.

“It was a great strategy, as voters feared losing an important team member for PM Wong, and swing voters came back to the PAP. I expected a narrow win for PAP and that happened,” said Mr Singh.

He said that the ruling party learned from its previous mistake – Sengkang GRC in GE2020 – where it “fielded a weak team not anchored by a heavyweight minister”. The WP team won with 52.12 per cent against the PAP. “They learned and brought a heavyweight this time,” Mr Singh added.

Notably, the ruling party’s vote share saw vast improvements where it faced smaller opposition parties, Dr Koh said.

“That we have a record number of candidates losing their deposits is revealing,” added SMU’s Prof Tan. “Far too many opposition parties are increasingly irrelevant, even as voters are more receptive to greater political pluralism and competition.”

Two candidates from the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR) will lose their deposits, after polling less than 12.5 per cent of the vote. In Potong Pasir SMC, PAR secretary-general Lim Tean secured 8.35 per cent of the vote. Over in Radin Mas SMC, Mr Kumar Appavoo secured 7.36 per cent of the vote.

Two teams from the National Solidarity Party (NSP) that contested Sembawang GRC and Tampines GRC will also lose their deposits. The party secured 2.32 per cent of the vote in Sembawang, and 0.18 per cent in Tampines, where there was a four-cornered fight.

Candidates from the People’s Power Party (PPP) will likewise lose their deposits after doing poorly in Ang Mo Kio and Tampines GRCs, as will the Singapore United Party’s team in Ang Mo Kio GRC.

On what is next for the WP, Mr Singh said the party must focus on winning more seats in the next general election, as it did not make any inroads this time. It could also aspire to go beyond being a check and balance on the Government.

In the short term, the party must field enough candidates to deny the PAP a supermajority in Parliament, he added. That would require WP fielding at least 33 candidates. In GE2025, the WP fielded 26 candidates in eight constituencies.

“WP made a strategic error by spreading thin their good candidates,” he said. “Had they put their star catches in one GRC, they might have won.”

WP’s vice-chairman and former Aljunied GRC MP Faisal Manap moved to helm WP’s team in Tampines GRC, while new face senior counsel Harpreet Singh, widely considered WP’s star catch, contested Punggol GRC.

Prof Ho said that while WP has clearly distinguished itself from the other opposition parties, it “might have performed even better had they reinforced their teams in (Punggol and Tampines) with other party heavyweights”.

Mr Singh said in the long term, “they need to... start talking about being a future government”.

Singapore is close to a two-party system, and if the WP can strengthen themselves, “all other (opposition) parties will not be taken seriously”, he added.

 

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News analysis​

GE2025: WP holds its place amid national swing against opposition​

Tham Yuen-C and Wong Pei Ting

WP chief Pritam Singh speaking at Serangoon Stadium on May 3.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE - An air of disappointment hung over Serangoon Stadium, where WP supporters and members had gathered late on May 3 to await the results of the general election.

Many had turned up with flags bearing the party’s hammer logo, as well as inflatable hammers.

But as sample counts trickled in and it became apparent that WP had failed to win any new constituency, dejected supporters started leaving the stadium grounds.

This was a far cry from the mood at the party’s rock-concert-like rallies over the nine days of hustings, which was jubilant and hopeful, with crowds busting the capacity of the venues.

For WP, there was perhaps a sense of deja vu.

In 2015, spurred by its historic 2011 win in Aljunied GRC, the party had gone all out to try to seize East Coast GRC.

It fielded its best team, which then WP chief Low Thia Khiang described as the party’s next generation of leaders.

In the end, WP was blindsided by a drubbing at the ballot box. Not only did it not gain any new constituency, but it also came within a hair’s breadth of losing Aljunied, winning just 50.96 per cent of the vote.

This time around, the party had gone into the election again hoping to build on the momentum of its 2020 win in Sengkang GRC.

Even before the hustings, party members had described the polls as “high-stakes”, and were cautiously hopeful about winning another constituency.

After all, the party felt it had assembled a stellar team – what with a “star catch” in senior counsel Harpreet Singh – and other highly qualified candidates, including a former diplomat and a clinical psychologist.

WP chief Pritam Singh and chairwoman Sylvia Lim even described them as the party’s best-ever slate.

So what should one take away from the eventual results?

Much will be made of whether the party may have made a tactical error in gunning for Punggol and Tampines GRCs, where it is said to have fielded its best candidates.

Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but would the party have won at least one new constituency if it had sent a stronger candidate to Jalan Kayu instead?

Its candidate there, new face Andre Low, received 48.53 per cent of the vote, losing to labour chief Ng Chee Meng from the PAP.

But even if WP did not do as well as anticipated by some, it did hold on to all its three existing constituencies, improving slightly on the vote share in Hougang SMC with 62.17 per cent of the vote, and Sengkang with 56.31 per cent, and maintaining the vote share in Aljunied, with 59.68 per cent of the vote.

Where it lost, WP teams also polled above 40 per cent. For instance, in Punggol against a team led by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, the WP received 44.83 per cent of the vote, and in East Coast against a team led by Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong, it got 41.24 per cent.

Seen against the landslides in many other constituencies, where the PAP won with 70 to 80 per cent of the vote against other opposition parties, the results show there is clearly a strong desire for a continued WP presence. Perhaps, even a strong mandate for the party as the entrenched opposition.

What this means for WP, though, is that it will become harder to capitalise on its underdog status in future elections.

This election, it sought to show the impact it has made in Parliament and its competence in running town councils.

No doubt voters will be expecting more results in these areas as expectations climb.

Also, the message of an opposition wipeout, which the party used to its advantage in 2020, may no longer work in future elections, since it is clear that sophisticated voters know which parties they want around and which they have had enough of.

As WP goes about its post-mortem, it will have to think of another message that will resonate with voters in the next general election, if it wants to repeat the comeback it made in 2020.

What the results also show is that it will be a long, hard slog for the party to win one-third of the seats in Parliament – its medium-term goal.

But while in the near term, it may seem as though it is not making many gains, WP has clearly put itself on course to be the closest alternative to the PAP and set Singapore on the road to a two-party system.

In such a system, there can be a strong mandate for the PAP, but also a strong desire for the WP.

Both can be true, and in this GE, one did not take away from the other.

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GE2025: PM Wong and team greet residents in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC after election victory​

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (centre) and other members of the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC team at Marsiling Market on May 4.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Angelica Ang
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his PAP team greeted voters in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC on the morning of May 4, after retaining the constituency at the General Election.

A small crowd gathered at Marsiling Market as PM Wong, along with his teammates Alex Yam, Zaqy Mohamad and Hany Soh, arrived at about 8.55am to thank residents for their support.

Residents lined up to congratulate and shake hands with the PAP team. One elderly woman even pulled PM Wong and each of his teammates into a bear hug.

Marsiling-Yew Tee’s PAP slate, which has remained the same since 2020, prevailed against a Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) team comprising Mr Jufri Salim, Mr Alec Tok, Mr Ariffin Sha and Dr Gigene Wong.

The PAP team garnered 73.46 per cent of the 110,110 valid votes, against the SDP’s 26.54 per cent. The PAP has won thrice in a row against the SDP in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC since its formation in 2015.

PM Wong and his team later got onto an open-top bus for a victory parade from Marsiling Market to Yew Tee Square, as supporters waved and cheered.


On the sidelines of the event, Mr Yam told The Straits Times that the election results are a “strong sign of support for PM (Wong)’s agenda”, but a “higher result means higher responsibility for us to deliver on what we promised for our residents”.

Mr Chesda Aw, 55, was having breakfast at Marsiling Market with his wife and their two children when PM Wong and his team showed up.

Mr Chesda Aw, 55, and his family were having breakfast at Marsiling Market when PM Wong and his team showed up. ST PHOTO: ANGELICA ANG
The family of four, who live in Sembawang GRC, excitedly got in line to get a photo with them.

Asked for his thoughts on the election results, Mr Aw said: “I wish that Workers’ Party can have more seats (in Parliament) because I think they’re good.

“In Tampines, they lost only by a very small percentage. And also in Punggol. You need to have some opposition in Parliament for citizens to have a say.”

Mr Shariff Mazlan, 32, was out shopping with his wife and two-year-old son when he stopped to greet PM Wong and his team at Yew Tee Square to show his support for the prime minister.

Mr Shariff Mazlan, 32, was out shopping when he stopped to greet PM Wong and his team at Yew Tee Square to show his support for the prime minister. ST PHOTO: ANGELICA ANG
The Yew Tee resident, who works at a subsidiary of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), said: “We’re really blessed to be residing here in Yew Tee with his support and leadership.”

He said he was sure that the PAP’s landslide win “will boost their confidence and help us in the long run”.

 

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GE2025: Strong support comes with huge responsibility in uncertain times, says Shanmugam​

Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam (centre, right) with his Nee Soon GRC team on May 4.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

Deepanraj Ganesan
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE – The results of the 2025 General Election reflect the “strongest mandate” for Nee Soon GRC, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, and with that comes “huge responsibility” to Singaporeans amid an uncertain global economic climate.

Mr Shanmugam led a five-member PAP team to secure 73.81 per cent of the vote against a team from Red Dot United. This represents a vote share increase of nearly 12 percentage points, and is the biggest margin Nee Soon GRC has been won by since it was formed in 2011.

At the 2020 General Election, PAP garnered 61.9 per cent of the vote against a team from the Progress Singapore Party.

Speaking to the media during the walkabout, Mr Shanmugam said that as a Cabinet minister, he would have a hand in steering Singapore out of looming economic headwinds.

“We are facing a potentially very difficult time and it looks quite certain that there will be a lot of trouble. There is a lot of uncertainty – investors are not investing, companies are not expanding. These are things we need to deal with,” he said.

Ms Goh Hanyan, a former director at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information who is part of the Nee Soon GRC slate, said she felt “extremely humbled” by the strong mandate that residents have given her team.

“The mandate that I’m grateful that we got... will help us steer Singapore through these times, given the global climate. We will stand united and firm throughout this next phase of our journey,” she said.

She added that the team will spend the coming weeks meeting more residents in the area.

“We’ll spend the coming weeks getting to know them, listening to them, knowing what they want, so that we can better serve their needs,” she said.

All four of Mr Shanmugam’s teammates had contested their first general election. The veteran minister, who has been overseeing the Chong Pang ward within the GRC for 37 years, said he was confident his younger charges would excel.

The other three members of the team are Ms Lee Hui Ying, 36, director of communications for Temasek Foundation; Mr Jackson Lam, 40, head of a pest control and cleaning company; and former Nominated MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi, 40.

Mr Shanmugam had previously said that said the team brings a range of experiences to bear, and that it contains potential political office holders.

He added on May 4 that Nee Soon residents would expect “old-fashioned values” such as honesty, sincerity and hard work from the team.

Mr Shanmugam said: “It is a covenant we make once every five years. Some have said, ‘Four new MPs, how are you going to handle (it)?’ Having talked to them, having interviewed them, having seen them on the ground, I fully believe that they will discharge their duties in a way that Nee Soon residents expect and in a way that merits the tremendous support that has been given by people.

“So we will do our best. And then, at the end of five years, people will judge.”

 

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GE2025: Unity is ‘strongest chip on the table’ for S’pore as it competes with the world, says Chan Chun Sing​

Minister Chan Chun Sing greeting residents at Holland Drive market and food centre on May 4.ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Gabrielle Chan
May 04, 2025


SINGAPORE - The real competition after the election is not among Singaporeans but with the rest of the world, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on May 4, a day after his commanding victory in Tanjong Pagar GRC.

Singapore has to ensure it fields its best team, with strong support from its people, he said, speaking to media at Holland Village Market and Food Centre during a walkabout.

“This is so that when we negotiate with the rest of the world, when we want to create opportunities, we want to do a new deal with the rest of the world, the rest of the world can look at Singapore with confidence that our people are cohesive and united, and working together with the government,” Mr Chan said.

“That is our strongest chip on the table.”

And in any election, the focus should be on core issues like the ongoing trade war, and global challenges and uncertainties, said Mr Chan, whose PAP team won the Tanjong Pagar GRC in the May 3 election. These include ensuring good jobs are created for Singaporeans, and that wages continue to rise as a way to counter inflationary pressures, he added.

“We are also very glad that Singaporeans have come together and reject identity politics, where people might mix race and religion together,” Mr Chan said. “I think there are some core fundamentals that we must all agree upon, regardless of which parties we belong to, because we are all fellow Singaporeans.”

Helmed by Mr Chan, the PAP won Tanjong Pagar GRC with a historically high 81.03 per cent of the vote, against the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR). This is the ruling party’s best performance in a GRC since such electoral divisions were created in 1988.

Overall, the PAP returned to power with 65.57 per cent of the popular vote, an increase from the 61.25 per cent it garnered in the 2020 general election.

When asked about his role in the Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s new cabinet, Mr Chan said: “I’m sure (PM Wong) will look at the possible contributions by all members of the team, and put them in the positions that allow them to best contribute to the team, best contribute to the work to take Singapore forward and to take care of fellow Singaporeans.”

In an early morning press conference after the PAP’s landslide victory, PM Wong had said that his immediate task was to form his next Cabinet, which will be announced when ready.

The ruling party won 87 out of 97 seats, handing PM Wong a strong and clear mandate in his first electoral contest as head of government and party leader.

In Tanjong Pagar GRC, which was once the stronghold of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, the margin of victory was significantly wider than in the 2020 General Election, when PAP secured 63.1 per cent of the vote.

In Tanjong Pagar, the PAP team included Mr Chan; backbencher Joan Pereira, who joined politics in 2015; Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan; and Ms Rachel Ong, whose Telok Blangah ward was redrawn into Tanjong Pagar.

The PAP also posted strong showings in neighbouring single-member constituencies: Mr Eric Chua won 81.12 per cent of the vote in Queenstown, while Mr Melvin Yong clinched 69.17 per cent in Radin Mas.

However, the focus of the team’s campaign was never about the results, but about serving residents, said Mr Chan, in response to questions about the high vote share. He was referring to his five-member team, along with Mr Chua and Mr Yong.

“If we take care of the residents, the residents will take care of the results,” he said.

The team’s approach, he added, was not about what was done in the final ten days of the campaign, but the consistent work they had put in on the ground over the years.

This was also why the team chose not to hold a rally, Mr Chan said. “We focused our efforts on the ground. All seven of us spent all our time engaging with residents at a personal level.”

There was also no victory parade for them following the results. Instead, all the candidates were back on the ground early on May 4, meeting residents at markets in the area from as early as 8am.

Asked about their plans moving forward, Mr Chan said the team will continue to meet residents, understand their needs, so they can be well taken care of.

His immediate priority is to “reconfigure” the town council, which will now include Queenstown SMC, newly carved out of Tanjong Pagar GRC this election.

The town council will be chaired by Mr Yong, and supported by Mr Chua and Ms Ong.

“(Residents) can all be rest assured that we will take care of them as one family, and this is what we have always done in the past,” Mr Chan said.

“This result is not about us. This result really belongs to all our residents, all our activists, all our partners, community partners, because it’s together that we achieve this result for our residents.”

 

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GE2025: PAP’s Tampines team plans to ‘go back to the ground’, gather feedback after narrow win​

Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli (right) and the PAP's Tampines GRC candidates doing their thank-you walkabout on May 4.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
David Sun, Shermaine Ang and Ng Keng Gene
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE – The PAP team that retained Tampines GRC intends to go back to the ground to better understand issues facing residents, including those that run “really deep”, said its leader, Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli.

“We just finished the general election, so give us time. We want to go back to the ground, understand what these are, where there are really deep (issues), and where we need to bring people together,” he said on May 4, the day after the polls.

“Let’s heal, let’s work together as one united Tampines, and also as one united Singapore.”

He was speaking to reporters during a walkabout in Tampines to thank residents after his team won 52.02 per cent of the vote in one of the most hotly contested group representation constituencies in this election.

This was the PAP’s narrowest winning margin in a group representation constituency for the 2025 General Election.

In the four-cornered contest for Tampines GRC, WP came in second with 47.37 per cent of the vote. The other two opposition parties polled less than 1 per cent each – the People’s Power Party received 0.43 per cent of the vote, and the National Solidarity Party, 0.18 per cent.

Asked for his thoughts on the close winning margin, he said his team was humbled to have been voted in.

“Over the horizon, we are all worried about what may affect every one of us in every aspect of our lives, and we will bring everyone together to make sure that we come out of this always better than before.”

Mr Masagos, who is also Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, did not respond to questions about whether the team had expected such a close margin, or what could have led to it.

The winning PAP team included incumbents Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, and Manpower Koh Poh Koon; and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng; and new political entrants, former army chief David Neo and academic Charlene Chen.

On May 4, the team did walkabouts in Tampines avenues 2, 3 and 9, and Tampines North Drive 2.

The Sunday morning crowd in the neighbourhoods surrounded the team, with many queueing for photos with them under the blazing sun.

Dr Chen said the team was ready to serve all Tampines residents, including those who did not vote for them.

“Our team is ready to hear whatever feedback, and we are ready to do the real work,” she said.

“We will need to hit the ground and start listening. That is what we need to do, but also to start acting on some of these things.”

Mr Neo added that he wants to champion greater support for young families.

“We work for all the residents, so that we can make every day great,” he said.

Tampines Changkat SMC​

In the neighbouring Tampines Changkat single seat, the PAP’s Desmond Choo made his way around Tampines Mart, coffee shops and a market to thank residents for electing him, despite getting only three hours of sleep after the result was announced.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of his walkabout, Mr Choo said it was not an easy campaign, adding that his WP opponent Kenneth Foo had campaigned with conviction.

“I am happy because it is the whole team’s win, not just mine, but also for Tampines GRC,” said Mr Choo, who won 56.17 per cent of the vote.

PAP’s Desmond Choo during a walkabout at Tampines Mart on May 4.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Mr Choo said he has plans to address the issues brought up by residents months before the campaign.

He received an e-mail just 10 minutes after he was elected asking for help on these issues, he noted.

For instance, he said, he plans to raise funds to help chronically ill elderly residents with their medical expenses, and deal with the needs of younger residents of new Housing Board Build-To-Order flats in the area.

On the nationwide swing towards the PAP in the general election, Mr Choo said: “That is a testimony of not only the efforts over the last term of office, but also faith that there is a good team of people that can navigate Singapore through potentially very choppy waters.”

East Coast GRC​

The elected MPs for East Coast GRC spent the morning on an open-top bus tour to thank residents for supporting them.

Waving PAP East Coast flags, Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong; Senior Minister of State for Digital Development, and National Development Tan Kiat How; Ms Jessica Tan; Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim; and Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash made stops across the various divisions of the constituency, where they greeted residents and gave out magnets bearing the team’s slogan, “east side, best side”.

Mr Tong, the anchor minister for the team, said the five MPs’ priority is to divide the constituency among themselves. They won 58.76 per cent of the vote, beating the WP.

“There will have to be some alignment and some adjustments to make, given that we need to amalgamate different divisions among the five of us,” said Mr Tong, who was an MP for Marine Parade GRC in his previous term in Parliament.

The PAP’s East Coast GRC candidates (from left) Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Edwin Tong, Mr Tan Kiat How, Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim and Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash on May 4.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
The Joo Chiat ward he oversaw was carved out of that constituency to become part of East Coast.

Mr Tong said he will look into integrating “the new kid on the block”, Joo Chiat, with the rest of the constituency in terms of infrastructure and social programmes.

He had previously said that when planning for Joo Chiat’s integration, the emphasis will be on minimising disruption to residents, while ensuring that programmes that have been promised or have started will continue.

Meanwhile, Mr Tan is the incumbent MP for the Kampong Chai Chee ward, while Ms Tan is the incumbent for the Changi Simei ward.

Madam Hazlina is expected to oversee the Siglap area, while Mr Dinesh takes over Bedok from outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

The MPs have yet to announce who will oversee retiring East Coast MP Cheryl Chan’s Fengshan ward.

Since their team’s win was confirmed in the early hours of May 4, Mr Tong has repeatedly mentioned the need to reach out to those who did not vote for the PAP.

At one of the stops on the bus tour, he told residents at a Siglap community event: “We are looking forward to serving our East Coast residents even more, even better, and especially for those who did not support us.

“We will do our best to turn them around. We will do our best to improve their lives, and we will do our best to make sure that next time they will be on our side.”

 

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GE2025: Defeated WP candidate Andre Low thanks residents for support after narrow loss in Jalan Kayu​

WP newcomer Andre Low lost to labour chief Ng Chee Meng, with 48.53 per cent of the vote in Jalan Kayu SMC.ST PHOTO: KIMBERLY KWEK

Kimberly Kwek
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE – WP candidate Andre Low expected his first electoral campaign to be tough when he went up against labour chief and former Cabinet minister Ng Chee Meng in the Jalan Kayu single seat.

Mr Ng, 56, edged out Mr Low at the ballot box with 51.47 per cent of the vote on May 3.

Despite his defeat, Mr Low said he was thankful for the support from residents and is proud of what his team achieved in a constituency newly carved out of Ang Mo Kio GRC.

He said: “I always knew it was going to be close. It would be fine margins, and unfortunately, it didn’t swing our way. The starting point was a tough climb, and I’m very proud of my team and my volunteers who came together. We ran a strong campaign, and we fell just short.”

Less than twelve hours after the election results were announced, Mr Low, 33, was back in Jalan Kayu early in the morning on May 4 and made his way around the estate to thank residents. Residents leaned out of their windows to shout “Workers’ Party!” and waved at Mr Low, who travelled in an open-top vehicle. Some residents waved a toy hammer, the symbol of the WP.

“I really feel the warmth of Jalan Kayu residents, who’ve been very welcoming,” he said.

On the roads, drivers wound down their windows to give a thumbs-up sign when they passed Mr Low, and more than a few offered words of encouragement. Others honked their car horns.

When asked for his views on why the vote count tipped in favour of Mr Ng, he said: “It’s very difficult to speculate, whether one thing or another swayed things in either direction... We put together a good campaign, and almost half of Jalan Kayu residents preferred the message that I brought to the table, and so for that, I’m very, very grateful.”

With the election over, the lawyer turned tech professional said he has not decided on his next step. It is likely the WP will be offered two Non-Constituency MP seats, with Mr Low and the Tampines GRC team securing the highest vote shares among the losing candidates.

More on this Topic
WP holds its place amid national swing against oppositionPAP’s Ng Chee Meng wins Jalan Kayu with 51.47% of votes against WP candidate Andre Low
The WP Tampines team garnered 47.37 per cent of the vote, losing a four-cornered fight to the winning PAP team.

As for taking up an NCMP seat, Mr Low said it was not just his decision to make.

“When we’ve all had some time to breathe, for myself, the Tampines team, party leadership – after we’ve had some time to decompress and digest the results, we’ll have a conversation, and then we’ll make a decision.”

He said: “If I get the blessing of the party leadership, I would love to remain here and stay on the ground. This was my first campaign, and I don’t think it will be my last. I would love to step up once more.

“We came so close this time. With five more years of experience and work on the ground under my belt, I think I’ll be able to contribute that much more.”

 

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GE2025: ‘This will be my best term,’ says veteran MP Liang Eng Hwa of upcoming term in Bukit Panjang​

Bukit Panjang MP-elect Liang Eng Hwa (right) and Holland-Bukit Timah MP-elect Edward Chia (centre) at a Mother's Day event on May 4.ST PHOTO: CHRISTINE TAN

Christine Tan
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE - Bukit Panjang elected MP Liang Eng Hwa is looking forward to what he says would be his “best term” in the area, as he acknowledged surprise at the significant swing in vote share in the May 3 General Election.

The backbencher’s 61.41 per cent victory was an improvement of over seven percentage points from the result in the nail-biting race in 2020 with the same rival, Singapore Democratic Party’s chairman Paul Tambyah.

That showdown, where Mr Liang narrowly beat Dr Tambyah with only 53.73 per cent of votes, was the closest contest among all single-member constituencies in that election.

So Mr Liang was surprised to see his vote share improve this time, when observers had touted Bukit Panjang as a “hot ward” in this election.

“I also expected it to be a close race, like anyone else who observed these elections,” said Mr Liang, who was in a buoyant mood on May 4 as he thanked supporters in the Fajar area.

He credited the vote swing to the hard work he had put in to improve the town and bring people together.

It was also a race which ended graciously, with Mr Liang and Dr Tambyah exchanging phone numbers at a counting centre after the sample count results were announced.

He said Dr Tambyah, an infectious diseases expert and professor of medicine, had extended his congratulations.

Describing the race as a “gentleman’s contest”, he said of his SDP opponent: “He’s a good man. I’ll find some time to meet up with him.”

Mr Liang, a managing director at DBS Bank, had represented the Zhenghua ward in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC for three terms from 2006, and was moved to Bukit Panjang SMC in 2020 after the retirement of its PAP MP Teo Ho Pin.

In a victory parade that took him from Bangkit Market to Fajar Shopping Centre, Mr Liang was greeted by rapturous cheers from residents who were eager for handshakes and photos.

With him was Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP-elect Edward Chia, and the pair were greeted by a lion dance performance at Chi Hock Keng Temple in Fajar Road, where they attended a Mother’s Day event.

In unison, the crowd sang Teresa Teng’s classic Small Town Story, a song which Mr Liang had often referenced in his speeches to describe Bukit Panjang: “There are many stories in this small town / Filled with joy and happiness.”

Asked about his upcoming fifth term, he said: “This will be my best term.

“Every term, I get better, in terms of resourcing, effectiveness, and connectedness with the residents. I’ve built it up over the years,” he added.

Municipal issues he hopes to tackle immediately include resolving the lack of lift access in some Housing Board flats in Bukit Panjang, which was a talking point during the campaign.

Dr Tambyah had commented about how such municipal issues were not resolved, and Mr Liang responded that HDB was already looking into solutions, and that he was confident the works could be done.

Mr Liang told ST he would work with Holland-Bukit Timah’s Mr Chia – whose team, led by Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, won 79.29 per cent of the votes – on making their neighbourhoods a “wellness heartland”.

This was one of the main pitches for the PAP’s campaign in both constituencies, which include new active ageing centres and the upgrading of Bukit Panjang Neighbourhood 5 Park, among other plans.

On the national front, Mr Liang said he would speak up in Parliament on more support for graduate employment and mid-career individuals, and discuss how to lower or stabilise the cost of living.

He said: “I will do my best. That’s why I’m standing, to bring about better lives.”

 

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GE2025: PSP’s poor showing shows party needs to rethink branding, policy proposals, say analysts​

The PSP team that contested and lost in West Coast-Jurong West GRC – (from left) Mr Sani Ismail, party chief Leong Mun Wai, Mr Sumarleki Amjah, chairman Tan Cheng Bock and vice-chair Hazel Poa – during a walkabout on April 30.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Chin Hui Shan
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE - The opposition PSP’s poor showing in the 2025 General Election signals the need for the party to brand itself beyond its founder as well as reflect on its policies’ resonance with voters, said political observers.

Experts noted that PSP still relied on the branding of its founder Tan Cheng Bock – who contributed to the party’s strong showing in the 2020 polls – and that it is not making headway in transitioning away from it.

Political analyst Loke Hoe Yeong said the presence of two of its leaders – party chief Leong Mun Wai and first vice-chair Hazel Poa – in the 14th Parliament as non-constituency MPs did not help PSP gain the traction it desired at the polls.

Dr Tan remained the most recognisable figure in the party during the hustings, he added.

“For too long, the PSP had been too reliant on Tan Cheng Bock’s symbolic leadership and public recognisability,” said Mr Loke. “Questions will now be asked whether the PSP has done enough to prepare for the post-Tan Cheng Bock era.”

The party had said during the campaign that the 2025 General Election will likely be the last one that Dr Tan, 85, will contest.

PSP fielded 13 candidates in six constituencies, and obtained between 24.17 per cent and 39.99 per cent of the vote share, including in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, where it sent its A-team featuring Dr Tan, Mr Leong and Ms Poa.

The results also mean the PSP will lose its parliamentary presence since NCMP seats are given to the top losers in the polls – a title that now belongs to the WP.

The influence of Dr Tan had waned in the 2025 polls, as compared with the 2020 General Election when he was portrayed as a “larger-than-life persona”, said observers.

In 2020, when the election was mainly held online due to Covid-19 restrictions, the party had capitalised on the star power of the octogenarian.

He was in touch with the younger audience and experimented with slang like “hypebeast” – a person in tune with the latest trends – and became an unlikely Instagram hit for his “hypebeast ah gong” persona.

“A lot of it was done online, and a lot of memes came out regarding Dr Tan that were very popular. We didn’t see that this time round,” said Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian from NUS’ department of political science.

Associate Professor Eugene Tan, a political analyst and law don at the Singapore Management University, said: “The party has not built on its maiden showing in 2020. It is a relatively new party but has not conveyed its youthful appeal in any significant way.”

PSP was founded in 2019.

Prof Chong noted that hype aside, a party’s performance in a general election is also a reflection of whether voters feel it is able to address their concerns in the constituency.

During this election, the PSP had launched a strong campaign around its ability to debate policies with the PAP, building on the parliamentary performance of its two NCMPs.

But observers said the party’s policies may have fallen flat with some voters.

SMU’s Prof Tan said the policy alternatives proposed by the party could come across as being “too radical and fiscally unsustainable”.

The party’s manifesto had set out over 60 policy ideas, including reversing the goods and services tax hike, imposing a universal minimum wage and making housing more affordable by exempting Singaporeans from the cost of the land their flats are built on unless they later sell the units.

Other ideas it proposed were nationalisation of the MediShield Life and CareShield Life schemes, creation of statutory retrenchment benefits that are legally binding and introduction of a new levy of $1,200 per month on Employment Pass holders.

It also proposes that more support be given for mental health services and an increase of annual leave entitlement from seven to 14 days.

Commenting on its proposals in general, IPS Social Lab adjunct principal research fellow and academic adviser Tan Ern Ser said the recommendations may be attractive to some voters, but others may find the proposals are not helpful to Singapore in the longer term.

“I think its narrative was getting too populist-oriented and this does not go down well with the low-income who benefited from the Assurance Package,” he said, referring to the government scheme to help households cope with the rising cost of living.


It may also fail to strike a chord with the middle-income earners who are “critical, informed citizens who understand the need for prudence, and recognise trade-offs, and strike a balance between meeting immediate needs and long-term planning”, IPS Social Lab’s Dr Tan said.

“Nevertheless, it is important to give more support to citizens when it is ‘raining’ but without abandoning prudence and future generations,” he added.

SMU’s Prof Tan said: “Finding issues that resonate with voters is the easy part. Proposing alternative policies, however, is the real challenge.

“This is where the PSP either reveals its lack of policy nous or its reliance on seemingly radical measures, which help draw attention to itself but voters may find lack viability.”

Observers also noted the frequent changes of the party’s secretary-general.

Since its founding in 2019, PSP has seen a change of hands four times. Before the hustings, Mr Leong was re-elected as party chief on March 26.

He is the party’s fifth leader since it was founded in 2019, after first becoming secretary-general in April 2023.

This has not helped perceptions of the party’s internal stability, said Mr Loke.

Observers said it remains to be seen how the party intends to reinvent itself to appeal to voters, and the need for the party to have a strong identity beyond its founder Dr Tan.

Independent political observer Felix Tan said: “There is a strong need for PSP to position itself with a clear identity, especially in a political field that has been dominated by one party.”

Overall, observers say that while the party has kept the PAP on its toes with parliamentary questions, PSP will need a clearer direction and a rethink its strategy and core objectives.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: Newly elected PAP MPs vow to continue work for residents in West Coast, Jurong​

Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC MPs-elect went on a victory parade on an open-top bus and alighted at various spots to thank residents.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Andrew Wong and Michelle Ng
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE – The support that residents of West Coast-Jurong West GRC gave to the PAP was “very humbling”, said Minister for National Development Desmond Lee on May 4, adding that his team will not take their trust lightly.

Speaking to the media while on a walkabout at Boon Lay Place, Mr Lee said: “When we heard the results, it was very humbling that the residents of West Coast and Jurong West gave us (such) strong support, certainly, compared to five years ago.”

The PAP won 60.01 per cent of the vote share in the group representation constituency against the opposition PSP.

During the 2020 General Election, the PAP had secured just 51.68 per cent of the vote in a tight contest against the PSP in the then-West Coast GRC. The narrow margin sent two members of the PSP – party chief Leong Mun Wai and first vice-chair Hazel Poa – into Parliament as Non-Constituency MPs.

Given this, Mr Lee, who is the anchor minister for the PAP in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, said he had expected another close fight when Singapore went to the polls on May 3.

But as the sample count trickled in late on Polling Day, it became clear that the PAP team led by Mr Lee had taken a convincing win in the newly formed GRC in 2025.

The minister attributed the support from residents to how his team, which includes newly elected MPs Shawn Huang, Ang Wei Neng, Hamid Razak and Cassandra Lee, worked with residents in the constituency and in Parliament.

“So certainly, we have a strong sense of responsibility to continue to support the residents who entrusted us with the support they gave us yesterday,” he said, adding that his team will not take this lightly.

He also thanked the PSP team, which included the party’s top leaders – party chair Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Leong and Ms Poa – for giving residents in the constituency a choice.

“It was a dignified, though robust campaign, and I think that is something we would like to see continue in Singapore… we can be robust, but we continue to be respectful of one another,” he said.

Mr David Sim, a Boon Lay resident of more than 30 years, told The Straits Times he had no doubt Mr Lee’s team would prevail at the polls. But he acknowledged the importance of having a strong opposition voice in Parliament.

“We need (the opposition) to raise questions and check the government, but the PAP has been doing a very good job taking care of us, and we cannot belittle that,” he said.

The boundaries of West Coast GRC were redrawn ahead of this election, with about 41,000 voters from Jurong GRC – mainly from Jurong Spring and Taman Jurong – added to the renamed West Coast-Jurong West GRC.

The reconfigured five-member GRC now comprises Boon Lay, Nanyang, West Coast, Ayer Rajah-Gek Poh, Taman Jurong, and parts of Jurong Spring. The number of registered voters rose from 146,089 to 158,836.

In Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, PAP’s MPs Grace Fu, Murali Pillai, Rahayu Mahzam, David Hoe and Lee Hong Chuang went on a victory parade on an open-top bus and alighted at various spots around the five divisions in the constituency to thank residents.

Speaking to ST at Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre, the team’s last stop, Ms Fu, who is also the Sustainability and the Environment Minister, said her team’s winning margin came as a surprise.

Her team won 76.66 per cent of the vote against the opposition Red Dot United.

“We went out without actually having any expectations, because we are made up of three SMCs and two (of us) from a GRC. And so, there (were) many uncertainties and unknown factors going into the election, but I think we are very pleased with this outcome,” she said.

Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC comprises part of the former Jurong GRC as well as the Bukit Batok, Yuhua and Hong Kah North SMCs.

Jurong GRC had consistently been among the PAP’s best-performing constituencies in recent elections, securing 74.61 per cent of the vote in the 2020 General Election.

Moving forward, Ms Fu said her team will start by looking at the social programmes that are implemented in some divisions and see how to pool resources to implement them across the group representation constituency.

“Some things we’ll do straight away, such as municipal issues – cleanliness, pests – we’ll definitely act on them in the short run. But in the longer term, we’ll look at how to improve the overall living conditions for our residents,” she said.

Clementi resident Audrey Chew, 86, was elated to see the PAP team when they alighted the bus for a brief walkabout at Clementi Central.

“I stayed up till 3am to watch the election results, and I’m very happy they won. I like Grace Fu a lot. My mother, when she was alive, used to like our Singapore ministers a lot too,” she said.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: WP did well despite vote swing to PAP, says Pritam​

WP chief Pritam Singh and his Aljunied GRC teammates greeting supporters at Block 630, Bedok Reservoir Road market on May 4.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Aqil Hamzah and Wong Pei Ting
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE - In an initial assessment of his party’s electoral performance, Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh attributed the swing against the opposition to people giving Prime Minister Lawrence Wong a strong mandate amid a difficult international environment.

In this context, the WP had done “very commendably”, consolidating its hold over Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC, he said.

Even in the other five constituencies that it did not win, the party’s candidates “came really close”, the 48-year-old Leader of the Opposition told reporters.

“I’m very proud of the results in Hougang, Aljunied and Sengkang, where we have consolidated the position of the party,” he said.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the team. I think they did a very, very good job. They fought very hard, they tried very hard for each vote, and I think they should be proud of themselves, and I’m very proud of them.”

Mr Singh was speaking at a doorstop interview at Block 630, Bedok Reservoir Road market on May 4, a day after his party failed to gain new ground at the polls, despite anticipation that it might win a new constituency.

WP won Aljunied GRC with 59.68 per cent of the vote, Sengkang GRC with 56.31 per cent and Hougang SMC with 62.17 per cent. It lost in Punggol GRC, Tampines GRC, East Coast GRC, Tampines Changkat SMC and Jalan Kayu SMC, with its teams garnering above 40 per cent of votes.

Based on its results in Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC, WP will be able to send two Non-constituency MPs into Parliament. When asked, Mr Singh said the party had not made a decision on the matter.

As the polls closed at 8pm on May 3 and results trickled in over the course of the night, the ruling PAP saw a nationwide swing in its favour with 65.57 per cent of the popular vote, compared with its 61.24 per cent share in 2020.

The WP’s vote share, meanwhile, inched down slightly from 50.5 per cent in 2020 to 50 per cent this time around.

Amid the showing, there have been suggestions that the party may have made tactical missteps by stretching its higher-profile candidates thin across two new battlegrounds in Punggol and Tampines GRCs, instead of consolidating them in places like East Coast GRC, where it previously got 46.61 per cent of the vote in the 2020 General Election against a PAP team led by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

Some also questioned the party’s decision not to contest in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, seemingly taken at the last minute. The WP has contested in the constituency since 2015, prior to the redrawing of electoral boundaries.

Of the party’s strategies, Mr Singh said he was proud that WP was not boxed in by electoral boundary changes, adding that the party’s capacity to “break out” of its original stomping grounds to move into other areas “speaks well of (it) organisationally”.

“In hindsight, everybody is a master, but I am actually very warmed by how the party responded to the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report,” he added.


In moving from Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC to Punggol GRC, the party also did very well, said Mr Singh, adding that he was “delighted at how quickly the party was able to pivot its resources” towards the new constituency.

Mr Singh was also asked if WP should have fielded more established candidates in Tampines GRC and Jalan Kayu SMC, where the party lost by narrow margins. He said that while he understood the reasoning, the party’s strategy was based on its understanding of the ground.

“If you put somebody else, then either you weaken another team, or you strengthen another team, and then your overall strategy is... not in equilibrium any more,” he said.


With the national vote swing of about 5 percentage points towards the PAP, “there’s always going to be one party that’s going to be on the ascendancy, (and) one party that is not”, he noted.

He pointed to similar patterns in the 2015 election, where the WP did not win any new constituency, and in 2020, where voters instead swung in the opposition’s favour and the WP took Sengkang GRC.

Such “gyrations” were likely to keep happening in future elections, he added.

Meanwhile, WP chair Sylvia Lim, 60, also speaking at the interview, said the results presented the party with a chance for renewal, as several of its “up and coming young leaders” were elected into Parliament.

She noted that three of the 10 elected MPs will be new MPs, namely, Mr Fadli Fawzi and Mr Kenneth Tiong in WP’s Aljunied team, and Mr Abdul Muhaimin from its Sengkang team.

“So I mean, having been in this business for quite long, I do see that there’s an opportunity here for us,” she said.


This election, the WP had also pulled further apart from other smaller opposition players, some of which performed badly enough to lose their election deposits.

Mr Singh declined to comment on the results of other parties when asked, but said : “They know how they did, why they did, where they put their chips.”

He also addressed the WP’s decision not to address talks with other opposition parties to avoid multi-cornered fights.

“I would just say that we’ve got our agenda, and they’ve got their agenda,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see more three- or four-cornered fights in the future, but we have to be clear as a party why we are going to a certain place and whether we can give the voters there a good fight and make sure that we can represent them faithfully in Parliament. That would be our objective.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: WP supporters left with mixed emotions over results​

WP supporters at Serangoon stadium on May 3.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Shawn Hoo and Akshita Nanda
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE - The colourful party streamers were still draped on the trees outside the coffee shop at Block 322 Hougang Avenue 5 and there were smiles aplenty, but WP supporters said they had mixed feelings.

Mr Ng, a 60-year-old who declined to reveal his full name, said that a WP victory in Hougang, the party’s stronghold of more than three decades, was expected.

But the party’s showing in other constituencies was not.

WP contested and lost in Punggol, East Coast and Tampines GRCs, as well as in Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat SMCs.

“I wouldn’t say that we are disappointed — but we had hope,” said the driver in Mandarin.

He had hoped for the WP to gain more seats in Parliament in the 2025 General Election, saying that cost of living concerns are top of mind.

His group of six friends - all senior citizens and long-time residents of Hougang - had gathered on May 4 near the coffee shop to greet elected MP Dennis Tan.

The 54-year-old was re-elected for his second consecutive term in the single-seat constituency.

Mr Ng, with his friends chiming in, said that WP MPs have been a consistent presence on the ground over the years.

“Unfortunately, for the PAP candidate in Hougang, they only have a chance to win if they are moved to other constituencies,” said a resident in her 60s, who declined to reveal her name.

At the polls on May 3, Mr Tan beat PAP newcomer Marshall Lim, 38, with 62.17 per cent of the vote share.

Mr Wang, a Tampines GRC voter and WP supporter, was at the coffeeshop as well.

WP supporters watching the results of the general election at the coffeeshop at Block 322 Hougang Avenue 5 on May 3.ST PHOTO: HESTER TAN
Residents have often gathered there across the different elections to wait for results on polling day.

Mr Wang, who declined to reveal his full name, was armed with a copy of Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao.

He said: “I thought Tampines GRC had a 50-50 chance.”

The PAP team retained the seat with 52.02 per cent of the vote in the constituency.

Hougang residents, who have collectively voted for WP MPs in the constituency since 1991, poked their heads out of their windows to applaud Mr Tan.

They shouted cheers of “Workers’ Party”, when he arrived in Hougang Avenue 5 for a victory parade at about 12.20pm.

Elected Hougang MP Dennis Tan (right) waving to residents during a victory parade on May 4.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Residents greeting Mr Tan during his victory parade in Hougang Avenue 5 on May 4.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Mr Eric Goh, who there was with his two children, said: “MP Dennis Tan has been such a constant presence that even my 5-year-old daughter recognises him.”

The taxi driver said Mr Tan had previously attended an event at his daughter’s infant care centre.

The WP team in Sengkang GRC also held a victory parade.

The opposition party won 56.31 per cent of the vote share against the PAP in the 2025 General Election, up from 52.12 per cent in 2020.

The team - elected MPs Ms He Ting Ru, 41; Mr Jamus Lim, 49; Mr Louis Chua, 37; and Mr Abdul Muhaimin, 36 - waved to supporters from a truck.

The WP team in Sengkang GRC - (from left) Ms He Ting Ru, Mr Jamus Lim, Mr Abdul Muhaimin and Mr Louis Chua - holding a victory parade on May 4.ST PHOTO: ANGELICA ANG
Mr Chua spoke with The Straits Times during a brief stop at Rivervale Community Club (CC).

He said: “We’re out here this morning to thank our residents for their support.

“We are very grateful for the support that they have given to us and their trust.”

Sengkang resident Andrew Yap, 60, made a special trip to catch a glimpse of the “Sengkang Four,” as they are known on social media.

The businessman, who usually spends Sundays resting at home, said he took a walk that morning in hopes of meeting them.

“They came in only five years ago but really made a difference.

“When the lift in my block was spoiled, they fixed it quickly. When any facilities are spoiled, they fix it quickly,” Mr Yap said.

Other WP supporters in Sengkang told ST that the MPs have gained residents’ support over the past five years through estate improvements, including the introduction of more bus services and sheltered linkways.

Ms Shirley Leong and her friend Pamela Tan, both 30, have lived in Sengkang since they were children, but arrived too late to meet the WP at Rivervale CC.

Ms Tan, who works as a freelancer in the construction industry, said the improved infrastructure has made it easier to take public transport to her places of work.

Both attended four WP rallies during the campaign period and said GE2025 had felt more personal than the 2020 election.

Ms Tan said: “I felt the kampung spirit, with people from different backgrounds getting together even outside the rallies.”


At around 10.30am, a handful of WP supporters waited at Kopitiam Square near the Compass One mall, but missed WP’s victory parade.

Among them was a 40-year-old mother of two, who declined to give her name. She said she and her family had moved over from Punggol a few years ago because Sengkang was held by the WP.

“I’m touched by what they contribute, not just to Sengkang, but by speaking up in Parliament about issues like housing.”

She added: “My husband asked me what we would do if they lost the election.

“I said: ‘We can move again.’”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

‘We never take your support for granted’, says PSP’s Tan Cheng Bock after losses in GE2025​

PSP founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock acknowledged that the party had gone through a “rough night”.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Chin Hui Shan
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE - Opposition PSP founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock has thanked his supporters following its GE2025 losses.

In his first remarks after the party lost all six constituencies it contested in, Dr Tan acknowledged on May 4 that the party had gone through a “rough night”.

“To those who voted PSP, we offer our deepest and most heartfelt thanks. We never take your support for granted,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

“I share your hurt and disappointment... Together, we stood not just against political opponents, but against an entire machinery who came at us with boundary line changes and limitless resources. And yet, you brought courage, heart and an unquenchable spirit,” he said.

For those who did not vote for PSP, Dr Tan said the party respects their choice and pledges to work harder to earn their trust in the future.

He also congratulated Minister of National Development Desmond Lee and his team for winning and said that Mr Lee has conducted his campaign admirably.

“My team and I offer our sincere congratulations for your electoral success. I especially thank you for your gracious message to PSP last night, for “putting up a strong contest, for raising good ideas, and for engaging with us for a better Singapore”,” wrote Dr Tan.

Dr Tan’s team - which included PSP chief Leong Mun Wai and party vice-chair Hazel Poa - contested the West Coast-Jurong West GRC against the PAP team led by anchor minister Mr Lee.

The party had said during the campaign that the 2025 General Election will likely be the last one that Dr Tan, 85, will contest.

PSP had fielded 13 candidates in six constituencies, and obtained between 24.17 per cent and 39.99 per cent of the vote share. The PSP also contested Chua Chu Kang GRC and the Pioneer, Bukit Gombak, Kebun Baru and Marymount SMCs.

The results also mean the PSP will lose its parliamentary presence since NCMP seats are given to the top losers in the polls – a title that now belongs to the WP.

Dr Tan called on its young supporters to not lose heart. “Today, we tend to our political wounds. But in time, those wounds will heal.

“And the scars we carry will not be marks of defeat, but lasting reminders that we dared to stand up, we dared to speak out, and together, we made sacrifices - not just for ourselves, but for the common good of all Singaporeans.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

PAP leaders pledge to draw lessons from GE2025, focus on unity and global risks​

Hariz Baharudin
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE – A day after the PAP was returned to power with 65.57 per cent of the vote, its elected leaders said the country must draw lessons from the election, remain united, and stay alert to the risks and uncertainties in the external environment.

Speaking at walkabouts and victory parades to thank voters on May 4, several PAP ministers said the results reflected support for the party. But they also pointed to the importance of strengthening trust with Singaporeans and preparing the country to navigate an increasingly challenging global climate.

The PAP won 82 out of 92 contested seats, retaining all the constituencies it previously held. One group representation constituency, Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC, was uncontested, bringing the total number of PAP-held seats to 87 out of 97 in the 15th Parliament.

The WP retained its foothold in Aljunied and Hougang and successfully defended Sengkang, winning a total of 10 elected seats. The PSP did not win any constituencies and lost both Non-Constituency MP seats it had held since 2020.

At Holland Village Market and Food Centre, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said the real competition for Singapore lies not within the country but with the rest of the world. The country must continue to field its best team, backed by the people, he added.

The PAP team led by Mr Chan in Tanjong Pagar GRC achieved the party’s best GRC result since the scheme was introduced in 1988, securing 81.03 per cent of the vote against the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR).

Over in Jalan Besar GRC, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, whose team received 75.21 per cent of the vote against PAR, said observers overseas had remarked that Singapore voters had been “very rational in recognising the risks and uncertainties”.

Speaking at Beo Crescent Market and Food Centre, she added that the Government would explore how to strengthen Singapore’s position amid global shifts.

In Nee Soon GRC, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said the PAP’s strong win came with significant responsibility, especially given the uncertain economic outlook. His team secured 73.81 per cent of the vote in the five-member constituency against a team from Red Dot United

“We are facing a potentially very difficult time and it looks quite certain that there will be a lot of trouble. There is a lot of uncertainty – investors are not investing, companies are not expanding. These are things we need to deal with,” he said.

At an interview at Blk 630 Bedok Reservoir Road market, WP chief Pritam Singh said the party had done “very commendably” in consolidating its hold over the three constituencies it currently controls.

“I’m very proud of the results in Hougang, Aljunied and Sengkang, where we have consolidated the position of the party,” he said.

Mr Singh noted that even in the other five constituencies the WP did not win, its candidates “came really close”. He said the party’s ability to shift quickly to contest in new areas such as Punggol GRC showed organisational strength and adaptability.

Asked about the performance of other opposition parties and the lack of coordination to avoid multi-cornered fights, Mr Singh said the WP had its own agenda, and others had theirs. He added that the party’s focus was on contesting where it could represent voters faithfully in Parliament.

The party won Aljunied GRC with 59.68 per cent of the vote, Sengkang GRC with 56.31 per cent, and Hougang SMC with 62.17 per cent. It lost in Punggol GRC, Tampines GRC, East Coast GRC, Tampines Changkat SMC and Jalan Kayu SMC, with its teams garnering above 40 per cent of votes.

Based on its results in Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC, the party will be able to send two Non-constituency MPs into Parliament. When asked, Mr Singh said the party had not made a decision on the matter.

In a social media post, PSP chair Tan Cheng Bock said the party had “punched above its weight” despite facing “an entire machinery who came at us with boundary line changes and limitless resources”. He added that the efforts of the party’s supporters were not in vain but a testament to their courage, spirit and sacrifice for the common good.

Across the island on the morning of May 4, candidates from both winning and losing teams returned to the ground to thank residents. Victory parades and walkabouts were held by teams from both the PAP and the opposition.

This included the WP’s Sengkang and Aljunied teams, as well as PAP teams in Bishan–Toa Payoh, Marymount, Chua Chu Kang, East Coast, and West Coast–Jurong West.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s team, which contested Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC, greeted residents and stallholders at Yew Tee and Marsiling markets. The PAP garnered 73.46 per cent against the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) there.

Newly elected MPs were also seen thanking constituents at hawker centres and MRT stations, accompanied by campaign volunteers and supporters.

Some losing candidates made the rounds as well. WP’s Andre Low, who lost narrowly in Jalan Kayu SMC with 48.53 per cent of the vote against former Cabinet minister Ng Chee Meng, toured Fernvale in a vehicle to thank residents for their support.

Some newly-elected MPs also announced on May 4 that they would begin holding Meet-the-People Sessions. These include Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong in Punggol GRC, Mr Jeffrey Siow in Chua Chu Kang GRC, and Mr David Hoe in Jurong East–Bukit Batok GRC, who said in social media posts that their sessions would begin on May 5.

 

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Strong mandate for Government in GE2025 big advantage for S’pore globally: Vivian Balakrishnan​

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (second from right) and his fellow Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MPs (from left) Christopher de Souza, Sim Ann and Edward Chia retained their seats in the constituency with 79.29 per cent of the votes.ST PHOTO: SYARAFANA SHAFEEQ

Syarafana Shafeeq
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE - For a new prime minister to emerge from the 2025 General Election with a strong mandate is a very big advantage for Singapore, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan.

In an interview with The Straits Times on May 4, he said that the PAP’s strong showing during the general election is beneficial to the nation’s global standing.

The PAP secured 87 of 97 seats and won 65.57 per cent of the vote, up from its 61.24 per cent share in the 2020 election.

Stressing the importance of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong receiving a strong mandate, Dr Balakrishnan said: “If the Prime Minister says something, other leaders know we can deliver and can make it stick. When any of the ministers say something, you know that the position is coordinated.

“No one is freelancing, this is not a solo performance. This is a finely tuned, coordinated team.”

The world is transitioning into a new order, a period of maximal danger, Dr Balakrishnan said, although it is not possible for now to define what shapes the new world.

As Singapore is a tiny city-state for whom trade is three times its gross domestic product and which depends on unimpeded free trade, the way things are shaping up in the world will create severe headwinds for the country, he said.

Likening Singapore to a “little ship”, he said that one would need to make sure the boat is shipshape and that everyone on board feels secure when going into a storm.

“In times like that, you need a captain who has got an overview of the larger picture, that has a sense of direction, of where you want to sail, and has got all hands on deck.

“The next few years are not going to be easy. We mustn’t believe that the success of yesterday suddenly means everything is fine. It’s not. We are preparing to get our ship and everyone on board safely to the other side.”

Dr Balakrishnan was speaking to ST after greeting residents at Bukit Panjang Plaza with fellow Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MPs: Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann, 50, lawyer Christopher de Souza, 49, and businessman Edward Chia, 41.

The team retained its seats in the constituency with 79.29 per cent of the votes against new challenger Red Dot United. This is up from 66.36 per cent in the 2020 election.

It is historically the best performance for the four-member group representation constituency, apart from a walkover in 2006 when the GRC was created.

On whether they expected such a rise in vote share, Mr de Souza said that though it is a strong encouragement and incentive, the team is not focused on numbers.

“We are completely focused on the residents and their priorities. The nine days of campaigning were really an extension of what we have been doing for the past five years, week in and week out.”

The team conducted a relatively quiet campaign, choosing to do house visits and walkabouts instead of holding rallies.

Dr Balakrishnan said: “The voters are very discerning – they are aware of global issues and the state of the world. What we have decided is to spend more time on intimate conversations on these issues, which you can’t really have at rallies.”

Mr de Souza pointed out that adversity does not discriminate. “You can live in a landed home and be very lonely, or live in a rental home and life can be difficult, too.”

Rallies can sometimes be a monologue or a unilateral message, he said. “So, when we look at what is best for our residents, we thought having face-to-face and personal interactions to understand the concerns on the ground and translate that into real action to improve lives was important.”

With hustings over, the work continues, said Ms Sim.

She has been familiarising herself with the work Mr Shawn Huang has done in a part of Jurong GRC that was added to Holland-Bukit Timah GRC after electoral boundary changes were announced in March. “I want to build on that work and identify the top concerns of residents in the area.”

Mr Chia said he is “laser-focused” on executing the many plans the team has announced during campaigning, such as renovating a local community centre, the upgrading of sports facilities, and extending park connectors.

​

 

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GE2025: SM Lee, Ang Mo Kio MPs thank residents for success​

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) with fellow PAP MPs from Ang Mo Kio GRC and SMCs in the "Ang Mo Kio extended family" (from left) Victor Lye, Nadia Ahmad Samdin, Henry Kwek, Darryl David, Yip Hon Weng, Jasmin Lau and Ng Chee Meng on a victory parade on May 4.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Chin Soo Fang
May 04, 2025

SINGAPORE - Some residents waved from their flats and cars, while others ran from the void deck to catch glimpses of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his team as they thanked residents for their electoral success from an open-top bus.

With SM Lee on May 4 were fellow Ang Mo Kio GRC MPs Darryl David, Nadia Ahmad Samdin, Jasmin Lau and Victor Lye.

The MPs of the “Ang Mo Kio extended family” – Mr Henry Kwek from Kebun Baru SMC, Mr Yip Hon Weng from Yio Chu Kang SMC, and Mr Ng Chee Meng from Jalan Kayu SMC – were also on board.

The bus departed from PAP’s Teck Ghee branch office in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, after supporters were treated to a lion and dragon dance performance. Over three hours later, it stopped in Hougang street 61, where a community getai event was held by the Hougang Village Merchants’ Association.

Speaking to residents at the final stop, SM Lee expressed his gratitude for their support at the general election on May 3.

“We promise we will do our best,” he said. “We promise that we will work hard with you, and we ask you to work closely together with us to make this a good Ang Mo Kio and a good Singapore for many years to come.”

He said Hougang Village was where newcomers Ms Lau and Mr Lye were spotted with him in April. He had stopped short of confirming them as part of his Ang Mo Kio team then.

“Now I introduce you to my team,” he said. “We are very honoured and touched to get the trust and support of the residents here.

“We should work hard not just for ourselves but for our children and grandchildren, building a better future for Singapore together.”

The PAP team secured a resounding victory in Ang Mo Kio GRC, garnering 78.95 per cent of the votes against the Singapore United Party (SUP) and People’s Power Party (PPP). This is a 7.04 percentage point increase from the last contest in 2020, when it won with 71.91 per cent of the votes against the Reform Party.

This is also its best performance in the constituency since the first contest was held in 2006.

The largest of the 18 group representation constituencies with 161,499 electors, Ang Mo Kio GRC was contested by three parties for the first time since it was created in 1991.

Kebun Baru and Yio Chu Kang SMCs did well too, garnering 68.5 per cent and 78.73 of the votes respectively.

Jalan Kayu, a newly-minted seat carved out of Ang Mo Kio GRC, was won by Mr Ng with 51.47 per cent of the vote, beating WP newcomer Andre Low in a fierce contest.

Speaking to reporters at the event, Mr Ng, who is labour chief, said it had been an eventful nine days.

“Now I’m going back to Jalan Kayu to focus on my residents, going to hit the ground running,” he said.

 

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GE2025: WP chief Pritam Singh to remain Leader of the Opposition, says PM Wong​

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (right) said WP chief Pritam Singh will continue as the Leader of the Opposition, with staff and resources to support him in performing his duties.PHOTO: LAWRENCE WONG/FACEBOOK

Vanessa Paige Chelvan
May 06, 2025

SINGAPORE – WP chief Pritam Singh will remain the Leader of the Opposition, with staff and resources to carry out his duties, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“The WP fielded a strong slate of candidates and put up a tough fight in this election,” said PM Wong, who added that he has spoken to Mr Singh.

The WP has also consolidated and increased its presence in Parliament, the Prime Minister added in a Facebook post on May 5.

The opposition party retained Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC in the May 3 election, with 10 WP MPs elected.

The PAP won 87 out of 97 seats, and garnered 65.57 per cent of the popular vote.

As the “best losers” at the polls – narrowly losing to the ruling PAP in Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC – the WP will be able to take up two Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) seats in Singapore’s 15th Parliament.

While the party did not win any new constituency, it polled above 40 per cent in the five constituencies where it lost – namely the Punggol, East Coast and Tampines GRCs, as well as the Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat SMCs.

PM Wong said: “I look forward to the contributions of the Workers’ Party members in Parliament.”

In Jalan Kayu, WP newcomer Andre Low received 48.53 per cent of the vote and lost to labour chief Ng Chee Meng. The WP team in Tampines garnered 47.37 per cent of the vote, losing to the PAP in a four-cornered contest.

This means that Mr Low, a disputes lawyer-turned-staff product manager, and one member of the WP’s Tampines team will be offered NCMP seats in the next Parliament.

The Tampines team, helmed by party vice-chair Faisal Manap, included Mr Jimmy Tan, co-founder of an industrial equipment supply firm; senior principal clinical psychologist Ong Lue Ping; former diplomat Eileen Chong; and technology start-up co-founder Michael Thng.

When asked on May 4 whom the WP will send into Parliament as NCMPs, Mr Singh said the party had not made a decision.

The Straits Times has asked Mr Singh and the WP for comment.

The NCMP scheme guarantees a minimum of 12 opposition MPs in Parliament. As there are 10 elected opposition MPs in this election, there will be two NCMP seats.

Mr Singh was appointed Leader of the Opposition by former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong after the last general election in 2020, which saw the WP win its second group representation constituency – Sengkang.

As Leader of the Opposition, Mr Singh has certain parliamentary privileges, such as the right of first response among MPs, according to a 2020 statement from the offices of the Speaker of Parliament and the Leader of the House.

He also receives confidential government briefings on select matters of national security and external relations, and will be briefed in the event of a national crisis or emergency, the statement said.

Mr Singh was also given more time for his speeches, equivalent to that given to political office-holders.


Based on the Standing Orders of Parliament, all MPs are allowed to speak for 20 minutes in response to questions raised, and can address a committee of the whole of Parliament for up to 10 minutes.

Ministers and parliamentary secretaries are entitled to speak for up to 40 minutes.

As Leader of the Opposition, Mr Singh is also entitled to an annual allowance of $385,000, double that of an elected MP, said the 2020 statement.

He was also given extra allowance to hire up to three additional legislative assistants, on top of the allowance that all MPs receive to hire one legislative assistant and a secretarial assistant.

Besides having a secretary to support him administratively with parliamentary business, he was given an office and the use of a meeting room in Parliament House.


In the May 3 polls, the WP triumphed in its traditional strongholds of Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC, returning its core leaders – including Mr Singh, its secretary-general – to Parliament.

Despite a national swing towards the ruling party, the five-member WP team in Aljunied GRC maintained its hold over the constituency with 59.68 per cent of the vote.

In Hougang, the WP polled 62.17 per cent. The party also held on to Sengkang GRC, winning 56.31 per cent of the vote.

​

 

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Leadership transition for Singapore complete with strong mandate from GE2025: Analysts​

(From right) Prime Minister Lawrence Wong with his Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC teammates Alex Yam, Zaqy Mohamad and Hany Soh at the Jurong Pioneer Junior College nomination centre on April 23.PHOTO: ST FILE
Chin Soo Fang
May 06, 2025

SINGAPORE – The strong mandate Singaporeans gave Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 3 settles a leadership succession that began more than a decade ago, said political analysts.

The PAP’s 65.57 per cent national vote share is also an endorsement of PM Wong’s call for voters to return his experienced ministers while he injects new blood into the Government, and all eyes are now on who will be in the Cabinet, they added.

“The process of political succession from the third prime minister to the fourth prime minister of Singapore – that spanned from 2011 from (Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s) first mention of the intent to 2025 – is indeed now complete,” said Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) senior research fellow Gillian Koh.

Observers such as political scientist Walid Jumblatt Abdullah said how Singaporeans voted means PM Wong has wide latitude to shape his Cabinet: Not only was the PAP’s result improved from the last election, he also improved his vote share on his home turf of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, while Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong prevailed in a hot contest in Punggol GRC.

“It is as resounding a victory as it could be for a new prime minister,” said Associate Professor Walid, who is from NTU. “It strengthens his position both in the country and the party.”

Given that the PAP argued during the campaign that Singapore faces a troubled external environment, it now has to put together Singapore’s leadership team “post-haste”, said Dr Koh.

This is especially so as several key ministers will be retiring, such as Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean and Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

Associate Professor Reuben Wong of NUS’ department of political science said PM Wong is facing a shake-up of the international economic and security order.

These changes fundamentally call into question Singapore’s continued viability as a small state, and the most trade-dependent economy in the world, he said.

Dr Koh added that DPM Gan looks set to continue as PM Wong’s right-hand man and remain in charge of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce, given that this was the pitch that was repeatedly made to voters.

All eyes will instead be on whom the other deputy prime minister will be from the 4G cohort of ministers, and observers said the shortlist includes Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and National Development Minister Desmond Lee.

Two other heavyweight portfolios will also be closely watched: that of defence and finance.

IPS Social Lab research fellow Teo Kay Key said the Cabinet has to be firmed up ahead of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, which is scheduled from May 30 to June 1.

Singapore’s defence minister is the host and convenor of Asia’s premier security summit, and has traditionally been a plenary speaker at the event.

The summit is also where Dr Ng meets his counterparts from around the world bilaterally, as well as in larger groups such as under the auspices of the Five Power Defence Arrangements.

Dr Koh said Mr Chan, a former chief of army, is a likely candidate for this post given his experience and knowledge of Singapore’s defence philosophy, policies, strategies and his international networks.

Independent political observer Felix Tan said PM Wong, who is currently double-hatting as Finance Minister, may also want to pass this heavyweight portfolio to another member of his team.

The candidates include Mr Chee Hong Tat, who is currently Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance.

The upcoming Cabinet reshuffle is likely to be considerable, and could include the promotion of some next-generation leaders to political office, he added.

In May 2024, then DPM Wong had said that he planned to rotate the 4G ministers to different portfolios and give them wider exposure and experience after the general election.

The PAP fielded 32 new candidates for the 2025 General Election, the largest batch of fresh faces in decades, as PM Wong asked voters to give him the best team to steer Singapore through the storms ahead.

During the hustings, he also highlighted how some of the newcomers could grow into larger leadership roles, and name-dropped Mr David Neo from Tampines GRC, Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash from East Coast GRC, and Mr Jeffrey Siow from Chua Chu Kang GRC.

Mr Neo was previously chief of army; Mr Dinesh was formerly chief executive at the Agency for Integrated Care; and Mr Siow was second permanent secretary for trade and industry and manpower and a previous principal private secretary to then PM Lee Hsien Loong.

Others whom the PAP leadership has spotlighted as potential office-holders are former Nominated MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi and Ms Goh Hanyan, who was previously a director at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.

There are serving senior ministers of state who could be promoted to full ministers, said IPS Social Lab adjunct principal research fellow Tan Ern Ser.

The current senior ministers of state who will be in the 15th Parliament are: Mr Tan Kiat How, Ms Low Yen Ling, Ms Sim Ann, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Dr Koh Poh Koon and Mr Desmond Tan.

IPS’ Dr Tan added: “Perhaps SM Lee may be upgraded to minister mentor, and the 4G would be fully in charge.”

Dr Koh said there could also be changes to who helms the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Home Affairs, which are both currently under Mr K. Shanmugam.

If Mr Shanmugam leaves his law portfolio, the question is whether Mr Edwin Tong – who is Second Minister for Law – could take over. Mr Tong is also Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.


Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said the election outcome means PM Wong and his team are well placed to manage the pace of political change, even as the desire for a more balanced political system grows.

“The pace and tone of change will be watched as a measure of the confidence and authority (PM) Wong brings to his leadership,” he said. “In other words, how he governs will matter immensely.”

​

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Voter turnout at GE2025 the lowest since 1968, at 92.47%​

Voters at the polling station at a HDB pavillion located at Blk 208, Woodleigh Link, on May 3.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Kok Yufeng
May 06, 2025

SINGAPORE - The 2025 General Election saw the lowest voter turnout by percentage since 1968, with 92.47 per cent of the 2,627,026 registered voters in contested constituencies casting their ballots in Singapore on May 3.

Political observers said the likeliest explanation for the lower turnout in 2025 was that Singaporeans had already made travel plans before the election was called, taking advantage of the May Day holiday that fell on a Thursday.

They noted that even if more voters had turned up, it may not have altered the final outcome as there is no way to know for certain how those who did not vote would have leaned.

The 92.47 per cent figure, which the Elections Department (ELD) released on May 4, does not include the votes cast at overseas polling stations or by post, which will be added to the final count no earlier than 10 days after Polling Day.

Of the 18,389 registered overseas voters in the 2025 General Election, 1,152 did not participate in the ballot as they were registered to vote in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, where the PAP won in a walkover.

Historically, overseas voter turnout has hovered between 60 per cent and 80 per cent.

However, even if the remaining 17,237 eligible overseas voters had all cast their ballots abroad, the overall voter turnout percentage in 2025 would stand at 93.13 per cent.

This is lower than the 95.81 per cent turnout in 2020 when the election was held during the Covid-19 pandemic; 93.7 per cent in 2015; and 93.18 per cent in 2011.

The lowest ever voter turnout by percentage for parliamentary elections in Singapore was in 1968, the first general election since the country’s independence.

Then, 91.83 per cent of eligible voters showed up to cast their ballots, but there were only seven contested seats out of 58, as the now-defunct Barisan Sosialis had boycotted the polls.

At the 2025 General Election, Mountbatten SMC had the lowest voter turnout as at Polling Day out of the 32 constituencies contested – at 87.83 per cent. The single seat was won by first-time PAP candidate Gho Sze Kee with a 63.84 per cent vote share against independent candidate Jeremy Tan.

The next lowest turnout was in Tanjong Pagar GRC, where 89 per cent of registered voters had cast their ballots in Singapore at the close of polls.

There, a PAP team led by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing won with 81.03 per cent of the vote against the People’s Alliance for Reform – the ruling party’s best performance in a GRC since such electoral divisions were created in 1988.

On the flip side, the constituency with the highest turnout as at Polling Day was Sembawang West SMC, at 94.14 per cent.

The new single seat was narrowly won by PAP’s Poh Li San in a six-point victory over Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan.

In the hotly contested constituencies of Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC, where voter turnout was 93.82 per cent and 93.55 per cent, respectively, the number of electors in Singapore who did not vote exceeded the PAP’s margins of victory.

In Jalan Kayu, where at least 1,710 local electors did not vote, labour chief Ng Chee Meng won by 806 votes against the WP’s Andre Low.

In Tampines, where the PAP beat the WP by 6,379 votes, there were at least 8,908 local voters who did not cast their ballots.

On whether a higher turnout could have changed the election results, especially in tighter races, observers said this is purely speculative.

Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, said there is no way to know for certain how those who did not vote would lean if they were at the ballot box.

“It is interesting that the turnout is lower than in previous elections. But I think every election should be looked at on its own terms,” he added.

Associate Professor Eugene Tan, a political analyst and law don at the Singapore Management University, said the takeaway is that every vote matters. This applies to spoilt votes as well, he added.

Based on the ELD’s tally so far, there were a total of 42,829 rejected votes at the close of polls on May 3, or 1.76 per cent of the total ballots cast.

In comparison, there were 45,822 rejected votes in the 2020 General Election, or 1.8 per cent of the total ballots cast then.

Voting is compulsory for Singaporeans aged 21 and older, and those who do not vote will have their names removed from the Registers of Electors.

Those with valid reasons for not voting, however, can apply to restore their names without a fee.

Some acceptable reasons include being overseas on holiday, or medical issues such as illness.

Undergraduate Basile Chen, 26, who flew to Bangkok on May 2, was among those who already made travel plans before the Writ of Election was issued on April 15.

Mr Chen, who has never voted, also missed the 2023 Presidential Election as he was on an overseas exchange programme at the time.

The East Coast GRC resident, who has been following the 2025 campaign closely, said it was unfortunate that he was unable to participate in the ballot.

“The right to vote is fundamental in a functioning democracy, and it would have been nice to have had my views accounted for by taking part in this election,” he said.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: Independents Jeremy Tan, Darryl Lo plan to use new-found platforms to speak up on issues​

Mr Darryl Lo (left) and Mr Jeremy Tan meeting after the rally at Home of Athletics on May 1.ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
Vanessa Paige Chelvan and Esther Loi
May 06, 2025

SINGAPORE – The two independent candidates who contested the May 3 election intend to use their new-found platforms to engage with Singaporeans on local and national issues, even though neither was elected.

Mountbatten candidate Jeremy Tan, 34, told The Straits Times on May 5 that he has not ruled out contesting the next general election.

Mr Darryl Lo, 28, who contested in Radin Mas, was coy about his plans, saying he was unsure if he would continue being involved in politics.

Political observers said the pair – part of an “evolving profile” of political independents – had polled better than expected, and were able to put their views across coherently during their campaigns.

They also noted that Mr Tan and Mr Lo performed better at the ballot box than some candidates from small opposition parties fielded in single seats.

Mr Tan, a retired business owner, ran against maritime lawyer Gho Sze Kee from the ruling PAP in Mountbatten. Both are political newcomers.

Mr Tan polled 36.16 per cent – the highest vote share for an independent candidate since the 1972 General Election, when independent Ng Teng Kian garnered 41.87 per cent of the vote in Punggol.

Mr Tan said he spent about $17,000 on his campaign, including $10,000 on the stage and set-up for his rally.

Mr Lo, a law graduate who worked in the technology sector, was in a three-cornered race for Radin Mas.

He was up against the PAP’s Mr Melvin Yong – who has held the seat since 2020 – and Mr Kumar Appavoo of the People’s Alliance for Reform, who had contested Radin Mas twice before, in 2015 and 2020.

Mr Yong retained his seat in 2025, while Mr Lo garnered 23.47 per cent of the vote, surpassing Mr Kumar, who polled 7.36 per cent.

Mr Tan and Mr Lo fared better than candidates from small opposition parties, including Ms Kala Manickam from Red Dot United, who won 19.49 per cent of the vote in Jurong Central.

Mr Tan said he plans to use his social media platforms to discuss issues that interest him.

These may include the rise of autism and pets on public transport, as he feels strongly about these issues and has received public feedback on them.

He also intends to speak up about issues such as the impact of the US tariffs on Singapore.

Mr Tan has around 19,400 followers on Instagram.

Encouraged by the positive response from voters who were willing to give him a chance, Mr Tan said he saw this as a “positive sign” to work on municipal issues.

He plans to prioritise raising funds for and calling attention to the plight of low-income households in Mountbatten and Marine Parade.

He is also talking to some opposition parties that are regrouping to determine their future.

Mr Lo, meanwhile, said his goal was to deny Mr Yong an increased vote share in Radin Mas, and he is happy he did so.

Mr Yong garnered 74.01 per cent of the vote in 2020 against Mr Kumar, who received 25.99 per cent. In 2025, Mr Yong received 69.17 per cent of the vote.

On outperforming Mr Kumar in 2025 by about 16 percentage points, Mr Lo said: “It shows that the residents are looking for someone who is more credible. Just because you have been in politics for the past 10 years and participated in the same SMC doesn’t mean that your vote share (is guaranteed).”

Mr Lo said he spent around $12,000 on his campaign, of which almost $8,000 went to the printing of fliers and posters.

He has about 6,000 followers on Instagram.

Mr Lo said he plans to use his platform to talk about politics and issues being debated in Parliament.

He will also write about municipal issues in Radin Mas, such as the cleanliness of the Bukit Purmei area, where he lives, and having a dog run in the constituency.

Institute of Policy Studies Social Lab research fellow Teo Kay Key said Mr Tan’s and Mr Lo’s results show that they were perceived to be sufficiently credible, and their policies resonated with some voters.

Mr Tan advocated the termination of Housing Board flats being used as retirement assets and for digital currency Bitcoin to be incorporated into Singapore’s financial system.

Mr Lo campaigned for harsher penalties for drink drivers and for singles above 21 years old to be allowed to buy HDB flats, among other things.

Dr Teo added that both candidates positioned themselves as independent of party whips, which may have led voters to think that they could champion issues they believed in. She noted that Mr Tan and Mr Lo were “different types of independent candidates” from those who contested previous elections. They offered “rational perspectives” and concrete suggestions, instead of merely criticising and opposing the Government.

Both men performed significantly better than other independents in the last two elections.

In GE2020, independent candidate Cheang Peng Wah received 2.78 per cent of the vote in Pioneer.

Mr Samir Salim Neji obtained 0.6 per cent of the vote in Bukit Batok in GE2015, while in that election, Ms Han Hui Hui won 10.03 per cent of the vote in Radin Mas.

Independent political observer Felix Tan said Mr Tan and Mr Lo were well-spoken, more sensible, rational and able to articulate their thoughts more coherently.

Dr Tan noted that their relative success signals that voters may not see how partisan politics – supporting various political parties – was necessarily beneficial.

He also attributed the independents’ positive results to their strong political conviction to help Singaporeans and their neutrality, given that they were not entering politics to ensure the survival of any political party.

“There are voters who are very tired of the same gimmicks that political parties use to articulate their stance,” said Dr Tan.

He added that the independents were “far more knowledgeable” than some members from smaller political parties, which was why voters, especially younger ones, were more willing to support them.

Associate Professor Eugene Tan, a political analyst and SMU law don, said the Singaporean electorate “does not automatically write off independent candidates, contrary to popular belief”.

“The evolving profile of such independents is a welcome development,” he added.

He believes more individuals will seriously consider running as independents in the next election, going by the relative success of the two men this time.


On why voters may have chosen to cast their ballots for independents, Prof Tan said it boils down to “choice”.

If the PAP and Singapore’s main opposition party, the WP, were in a straight fight in a constituency, the independent’s appeal may be significantly reduced.

“But where you just have the PAP, and the independent candidate is perceived to be credible, then voters see themselves as having a real choice.”

On what the independent candidates’ results spell for smaller opposition parties, Prof Tan said smaller parties are “facing the existential issue of political relevance”.

This election has shown that independents can be competitive even against party candidates, and where there are strong independents, those from smaller parties will struggle even more to be competitive and electable.

“The smaller parties’ struggle for relevance... is made more stark by independent candidates performing better,” he said.