General Election 2025

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GE2025: Singaporeans will go to the polls on May 3, Nomination Day on April 23​

Singapore will elect 97 MPs in 33 constituencies – 18 group representation constituencies and 15 single seats.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Linette Lai
Apr 16, 2025

SINGAPORE – On May 3, Singaporeans will cast their votes in a general election that will be fought against a backdrop of unprecedented global economic instability.

The date of the election – Mr Lawrence Wong’s first as prime minister and secretary-general of the ruling PAP – was announced on April 15. It came an hour after President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, dissolved Singapore’s 14th Parliament and later issued the Writ of Election.

Nomination Day will be on April 23, giving candidates the minimum nine days of campaigning before Cooling-off Day on May 2. The deposit they have to pay remains unchanged from the 2020 General Election, at $13,500.

The election has been called so Singaporeans can decide on the team to lead the nation, at a time when the world is undergoing profound changes, PM Wong said in a social media post after the writ was issued.

He added: “The global conditions that enabled Singapore’s success over the past decades may no longer hold.”

The Returning Officer for this election is Mr Han Kok Juan, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. There will be nine nomination centres.

The Elections Department released a seven-page statement reminding candidates to abide by laws on campaigning during the hustings, and to guard against foreign interference.

“The outcome of Singapore’s elections must be for Singaporeans alone to decide,” it said. “As such, candidates must play their part to mitigate the risk of becoming vectors or victims of foreign interference.”

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore also warned people to stay alert for cyber threats, such as phishing attempts and fake social media accounts spreading misinformation.

Singapore’s 14th election since independence will see the PAP contest all 97 seats in 33 constituencies – 18 group representation constituencies and 15 single seats – and likely be challenged for all of them.

The ruling party will field more than 30 new faces – its largest slate in recent years.

It will face another tough fight from opposition parties, which have gained ground over the years on the back of bigger appetites for greater political checks and balances, as well as more alternative voices in Parliament.

In 2020, the PAP was returned to power with 61.23 per cent of the vote, but lost a second GRC – Sengkang – to the WP. Party chief Pritam Singh was subsequently appointed Leader of the Opposition.

The WP will likely seek to win at least 30 seats in the east. Besides defending its Hougang single seat and the nine seats in Aljunied and Sengkang GRCs, the WP looks set to contest another five constituencies, including the new Punggol GRC.

On April 15, the party unveiled what looks to be its slogan for the general election: “Working for Singapore.” In its social media posts, it said its slogans may have changed over the years, but its mission remains the same.

“The Workers’ Party prides ourselves on contributing to unity in diversity. Our voices aim to represent the diverse Singaporean population, while working towards a First World Parliament,” it added.

The Progress Singapore Party will field candidates in at least five constituencies. It held a meeting on the evening of April 15 to discuss plans following the confirmation of the election timeline. Party chief Leong Mun Wai told reporters that its candidates will be confirmed over the next few days.

The PSP’s A-team is expected to run in West Coast-Jurong West GRC – an amalgamation of the existing West Coast GRC and parts of neighbouring Jurong GRC. In the 2020 General Election, its team, led by party founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock, won 48.32 per cent of the vote in West Coast. It was the PAP’s narrowest victory.

Smaller opposition parties have also staked overlapping claims on the ground in between. This sets the stage for multi-cornered fights in several areas, unless parties can come to a consensus soon.

For voters, one consideration will be the looming uncertainty presented by the world’s two largest economies – the US and China – as they fire the opening shots in a trade war. In the past few years, bread-and-butter issues – the cost of living, job security and the continued affordability of public housing – have also dominated the national conversation.

Inflation peaked in 2022 at 6.1 per cent, but moderated the following year to 4.8 per cent, before coming down further in 2024 to 2.4 per cent. Recent Budgets have seen PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, roll out extensive measures to soften the bite of higher prices. The question is whether external events, such as renewed American tariffs, will spark a fresh round of global price hikes.

Resident employment rose in 2024, a turnaround from the previous year’s decline. But graduates fresh out of university also found it harder to find full-time jobs, and retrenchments ticked up in the last quarter.

In response to job jitters, resources have been pumped into the SkillsFuture movement to help workers adapt to changing industry demands, with a new scheme launched to support those who have lost their jobs and are making efforts to bounce back.

The prices of resale Housing Board flats went up after a pandemic-induced supply crunch, with a small but growing number of flats transacting at a million dollars or more. Following efforts to ramp up supply and cool the market, both public and private housing prices showed early signs of moderation in the first quarter of 2025.

Political scandals that shook parties on both sides of the aisle could also cast a long shadow at the ballot box. They include two extramarital affairs, the arrest of former Cabinet minister S. Iswaran after a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau probe, and a trial involving Mr Singh, who was charged with lying to a parliamentary committee.

Iswaran pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months’ jail.

Mr Singh was found guilty after a 13-day trial and fined, but is appealing against his sentence, which does not affect his eligibility to stand for election.

The PAP has started introducing its candidates by constituency and will continue to do so in the coming days, with the WP and PSP expected to do so as well. But all parties could still serve up surprises on Nomination Day, when slates have to be finalised.

This year will also see the return of physical rallies – which were not permitted in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic – with campaigning to begin in earnest after nominations close on April 23.

 

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GE2025: PSP says it has been hard at work despite the redrawn boundaries, is ready to engage voters​

Party chief Leong Mun Wai said that PSP has been hard at work to prepare for GE2025 despite the short time to engage new residents.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Chin Hui Shan and Osmond Chia
Apr 16, 2025

SINGAPORE - The opposition Progress Singapore Party has been hard at work to prepare for the 2025 General Election despite the redrawn boundaries and the short time to engage new residents, said party chief Leong Mun Wai on April 15.

“Hazel and I have worked hard in Parliament over the past five years, having filed over 700 parliamentary questions, eight private member’s full motions, six adjournment motions and one private member’s Bill, the only one to have been filed by an opposition MP,” said Mr Leong in a statement after the Writ of Election was issued, paving the way for a May 3 ballot.

He was referring to Ms Hazel Poa, the party’s first vice-chairperson. Both Mr Leong and Ms Poa are incumbent Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs).

“PSP stands on our track record, and we are ready to engage the voters to buy into our vision of ‘Progress For All’ for Singapore,” he said. “Progress For All” is the party’s new campaign slogan.

At roughly 8pm on April 15, PSP members, including leaders and potential candidates, streamed into the party headquarters in Upper Bukit Timah Road for a meeting to discuss plans following the confirmation of the election timeline.

Potential candidates, including Mr Lawrence Pek, Mr Sani Ismail and Ms Wendy Low, were among more than 20 people who were seen entering the office.

The party has yet to confirm its line-up of candidates and where they will be deployed.

Ms Poa was also seen entering the office via the back door. She declined to comment when approached by the media.

Speaking to the media, Mr Leong said the party’s candidates will be confirmed over “the next few days”.

Former Workers’ Party MP Leon Perera was also seen entering the PSP headquarters in the evening.

In a Facebook post on April 15, he said the party has put forward “sensible ideas for policy formation and holding the Government to account”.

He had also been seen at several PSP events and posted about it on social media as early as 2024.

Asked on April 15 about his role with PSP in the upcoming election, Mr Perera declined to comment.

Singaporeans will cast their votes on May 3 in a general election that will be fought against a backdrop of unprecedented global economic instability.

Nomination Day will be on April 23, giving candidates the minimum nine days of campaigning before Cooling-off Day on May 2.

The date of the general election – which will be Mr Lawrence Wong’s first as Prime Minister and secretary-general of the ruling PAP – was announced on April 15. It came an hour after President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, dissolved Singapore’s 14th Parliament.

The country will elect 97 MPs in 33 constituencies – 18 group representation constituencies and 15 single seats. There will be nine nomination centres.

In a Facebook post on April 15, PSP also featured a video lasting almost five minutes highlighting the contributions Mr Leong and Ms Poa have made over the past five years in Parliament.

The video highlighted issues raised by the NCMPs in Parliament, such as the GST hike, the need to reduce healthcare costs, the need to make homes more affordable through a scheme to lower the cost of HDB flats, and better transport options for the western region, among others.

“Over the past five years, we have done our best for you as NCMPs. As fully elected MPs, we will do better,” the PSP said in the video.

On March 11, changes in electoral boundaries were made to several constituencies, including West Coast GRC where PSP has been active.

At GE2020, PSP contested West Coast GRC with a slate that included Mr Leong and Ms Poa, and lost to a PAP team led by former transport minister S. Iswaran.

The PAP won the constituency by the narrowest margin in that election, getting 51.68 per cent of the vote against the PSP.

But with the changes, the constituency’s borders have shifted. It will absorb parts of Jurong GRC and become West Coast-Jurong West GRC when Singaporeans go to the polls.

West Coast GRC is also ceding areas including HarbourFront and Sentosa to the new Radin Mas SMC, and Dover and Telok Blangah to Tanjong Pagar GRC.

The PSP has been active on the ground in Telok Blangah over the last five years.

The party has said that it will contest West Coast-Jurong West and Chua Chu Kang GRCs as well as Marymount, Kebun Baru and Pioneer SMCs in the upcoming election.

 

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WP kickstarts GE2025 campaign with slogan ‘Working for Singapore’​

WP chief Pritam Singh at the party's Neighbourhood Conversations event in Bedok Reservoir on April 12.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Wong Pei Ting
Apr 16, 2025

SINGAPORE – The WP has released what looks to be its campaign slogan for the 2025 General Election: “Working for Singapore.”

Releasing this shortly after the Writ of Election was issued on April 15, the WP said its slogans may have changed over the years, but the party’s mission remains the same.

“The Workers’ Party prides ourselves on contributing to unity in diversity. Our voices aim to represent the diverse Singaporean population, while working towards a First World Parliament,” it said on its social media accounts.

The party urged Singaporeans to “step up” as it continues to work for Singapore. “None of this could have happened without your continuous support. By making your vote count in 2020, we made history by having the highest number of opposition MPs in Parliament,” it said.

“From 2020 to 2025, our ideas were heard and acted upon by the Government. Together, we have shown that constructive opposition leads to better outcomes. But the work is not done. We cannot stop here. We will continue to work for Singapore, and we hope you will step up and do so too.”

The WP followed up with the release of a teaser video with the tagline: “It’s time. #StepUp with us. Together, we’re #WorkingForSingapore.”

The video featured all eight of the party’s elected MPs – Aljunied GRC MPs Pritam Singh, Sylvia Lim, Faisal Manap and Gerald Giam; Hougang SMC MP Dennis Tan; and Sengkang GRC MPs Louis Chua, He Ting Ru and Jamus Lim.


In the video, Mr Giam said it is important to have balance in the political system. “We cannot have one party that is dominating everything in Singapore. There needs to be more diversity,” he said.

Associate Professor Lim said the only way that successful new ideas can come to fruition is through a contest. “That is necessary and healthy for any mature democracy,” he added.

Ms Lim added: “If the PAP fails, what is our Plan B?”

Before the video ended with the “Working for Singapore” tagline, Mr Singh called Singaporeans the “true agents of change”.

“The Workers’ Party is just the platform to bring their voices into Parliament, and the true people who have power are the voters. And they control the future,” he said.

WP chief Pritam Singh (fourth from right) with the party’s other elected MPs (from left) Dennis Tan, He Ting Ru, Faisal Manap, Gerald Giam, Jamus Lim, Sylvia Lim and Louis Chua.PHOTO: PRITAM SINGH/FACEBOOK
The WP is currently the most successful opposition party in Singapore. Its candidates in the 2020 General Election clinched 10 seats in Parliament after winning two group representation constituencies – Aljunied and Sengkang – and the single-member constituency of Hougang.

Mr Singh, the party secretary-general, was designated Leader of the Opposition after the 2020 polls, making him the first opposition leader to formally hold such an office. The post granted him the right of first response among MPs, more time to speak in Parliament, staff support and resources to carry out the role, double the allowance of an elected MP, and office space at Parliament House.

Up till the writ’s release, the WP has heavily guarded its election plans, including the constituencies it would contest and its slate. The party was explicit only about its medium-term goal to win one-third of the seats in Parliament.

Based on observations at walkabouts and party sources, The Straits Times gathered that the WP is likely to field a bumper crop of at least 30 candidates in eight constituencies this time round.

These are: Aljunied, Sengkang, Punggol, East Coast, Marine Parade-Braddell Heights and Tampines GRCs, and the single seats of Hougang and Tampines Changkat.

This would be the WP’s largest slate in an election yet – the party contested 23 seats in 2011, 28 seats in 2015, and 21 seats in 2020.

At least 17 of the WP’s 2025 candidates are expected to be new faces, many of them professionals, including lawyers and management consultants. This would surpass the record 16 newcomers in 2011 and 2015, and almost double the nine fielded in 2020.

ST has identified 14 names so far, with the latest addition to the list being lawyer Sufyan Mikhail Putra, who was spotted in Punggol back in February.

The party put forward Mr Sufyan to be interviewed by Associate Professor Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, a political scientist from Nanyang Technological University, on his podcast on April 17.

The other newcomers identified thus far include Dr Ong Lue Ping, 47, who was IMH’s director of allied health from 2022 to 2024; Mr Michael Thng, 37, a master’s graduate from Harvard Kennedy School; and Mr Kenneth Tiong, 36, the former head quant developer of Brahman Capital.

 

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PM Wong calls election at time of ‘profound changes in the world’​

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Singaporeans have to decide on the team that should lead the nation.PHOTO: ST FILE
Chin Soo Fang
Apr 16, 2025

SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he has called a general election now as the world is undergoing profound changes, becoming more uncertain, unsettled and even unstable, and Singaporeans have to decide on the team that should lead the nation.

“The global conditions that enabled Singapore’s success over the past decades may no longer hold,” he said on his social media accounts on April 15.

“That is why I have called this general election. At this critical juncture, Singaporeans should decide on the team to lead our nation, and to chart our way forward together.”

PM Wong’s posts came shortly after he advised President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to dissolve Parliament and issue the Writ of Election. Nomination Day is on April 23, and Singaporeans will head to the polls on May 3.

The upcoming election is PM Wong’s first as prime minister and secretary-general of the PAP.

At an April 12 press conference to announce his Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC team, he stressed that the world is looking at a messy and unpredictable transition to a completely different, new global order.

“There is a gathering storm, and we are flying straight into turbulence,” he said.


“In such conditions, who you have in the cockpit matters,” he added. “Singaporeans will have to decide on the team they trust to navigate the storm and chart the way forward for our nation.”

Leading the ruling party into election, PM Wong said then that he would present the PAP’s case to Singaporeans, and that he hopes Singaporeans will give him and his team the chance to do their best for the people in these difficult times.

He also said then that the ruling party will field more than 30 new candidates – the largest number in recent history – in its 2025 slate.

GE2025 comes at a time when there is an ongoing trade war between the United States and China, and follows US President Donald Trump’s imposition of sweeping tariffs on most of the world’s countries.

On April 9, the US said it would pause the “reciprocal tariffs” for 90 days, with the exception of tariffs on China, which are currently at a staggering 145 per cent. This sparked retaliation from China, which raised its tariffs on American goods to 125 per cent, effective from April 12.

Singapore is subject to the flat duty of 10 per cent that Mr Trump placed on goods arriving from all foreign countries, which took effect on April 5.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on April 14 that a functioning global trading system that had helped Singapore to bounce back from past crises was no longer a given. The US’ tariffs could also result in a downward spiral on global trade should other countries retaliate, which would upend business models and possibly lead to recessions in time to come.

“Some people say ‘don’t get excited, don’t over blow the issue, we’ve weathered bigger storms before, we haven’t failed’,” SM Lee said in a speech ahead of a dialogue with National Trades Union Congress leaders.

“We should take it in our own stride, but we do need to be concerned and to understand what is happening and what this means for us, because this time, something important is different.”

He added: “I hope that Singaporeans understand what is happening, what is at stake, and what we must do together to secure our future.”

This election will be for 97 seats across 33 constituencies. They comprise 18 GRCs and 15 SMCs.

The 2020 General Election, held amid the Covid-19 pandemic, saw the PAP secure 61.24 per cent of the vote, winning 83 out of 93 seats.

 

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GE2025: Polling Day on May 3 a public holiday, says MOM​

If Polling Day is a non-working day for the employee, he or she is entitled to either a day off or salary in lieu.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Angelica Ang
Apr 16, 2025

SINGAPORE - May 3, when Singaporeans will vote in the general election, has been declared a public holiday.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a press statement on April 15 that the day should be treated in the same manner as any other public holiday.

This means that all employees covered by the Employment Act are entitled to paid public holidays, it said.

If Polling Day is a non-working day for the employee, he is entitled to either a day off or salary in lieu. The day off should be discussed between employers and employees and is not the next Monday (May 5) by default.

If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, he is entitled to an extra day’s salary for the day’s work, or be given a day off.

Employers also have the additional option of granting time off in lieu, should employees work on the public holiday. This applies to the following groups of workers:

• Workmen, or manual labourers, earning more than $4,500 a month
• Non-workmen earning more than $2,600 a month
• All managers and executives.

Workers and companies can visit MOM’s website for more information on public holiday provisions under the Employment Act.

 

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GE2025: PM Wong says he has assembled dedicated team with ‘heart to serve’​

PM Lawrence Wong posted a video on Facebook on April 15 featuring nine potential PAP candidates – (clockwise from top left) Mr Jeffrey Siow, Ms Valerie Lee, Mr Alex Yeo, Mr David Hoe, Ms Elysa Chen, Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim, Mr Foo Cexiang, Dr Choo Pei Ling and Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash.PHOTOS: PAP, LIM YAOHUI, HESTER TAN, NG SOR LUAN

Goh Yan Han
Apr 19, 2025

SINGAPORE – In a video featuring another nine potential PAP candidates, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he has assembled a team of dedicated Singaporeans with a heart to serve.

“We need your support. Let’s build a better Singapore for ourselves and all our loved ones,” he said.

Three of the nine names in the video, posted online hours after the Writ of Election was issued on April 15, have already been unveiled as part of various constituency line-ups.

Former permanent secretary Jeffrey Siow and academic Choo Pei Ling were both introduced as part of the Chua Chu Kang GRC line-up in a press conference on April 14, while charity director David Hoe was introduced as part of the Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC slate on the same day.

By lifting each other and supporting one another, Singapore will secure a brighter future together, PM Wong said in his Facebook post.

It is this approach that makes Singapore special, he added.

“You see this every day in Singapore, not in headlines, but in the hands that provide and the hearts that refuse to give up. A nation where individuals pursue their passion, serve with dedication and commit themselves to making a difference,” he said in the video.


“We believe that success is not just about how well we do, but also how we uplift one another.”

This is his third video since April 12 that has featured potential newcomers.

The PAP will field more than 30 new candidates – the largest number in recent history – in its 2025 slate.

Other names from the April 15 video include former Transport Ministry director Foo Cexiang, who has been seen in Punggol GRC, and Sembcorp’s head of corporate affairs for Singapore and South-east Asia Valerie Lee, who has been on the ground in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC.

Ms Elysa Chen, executive director of charity CampusImpact, is also in the video. She was recently spotted at a Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC walkabout with Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.

Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim, who has been confirmed as Dr Maliki Osman’s successor in the Siglap ward of East Coast GRC, is also featured.

She is the former chief executive of Make-A-Wish Singapore and is now the senior vice-president of strategy and communications at advisory firm Teneo.

Former chief of the Agency for Integrated Care Dinesh Vasu Dash is the last new face featured in the video.

He is the first former public servant to be spotted on the ground, appearing at a mosque visit in Chai Chee on March 31 with East Coast GRC MPs.

Mr Alex Yeo, a lawyer who contested Aljunied GRC in 2020, is also featured in the video.

The previous two videos featured a total of 17 PAP candidates set to contest the upcoming election, including those who had been introduced in the opposition-held constituencies of Hougang, Aljunied and Sengkang. The names are a mix of individuals from the public and private sectors, including former senior civil servants.

 

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GE2025: Ong Ye Kung will be tested at the ballot box on May 3 – and so will his brother in Australia​

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung (left) and his elder brother Howard Ong are set to be tested at the ballot box on the same day.PHOTOS: AZMI ATHNI, HOWARD4TANGNEY/FACEBOOK

Rhea Yasmine
Apr 16, 2025

SINGAPORE - With Polling Day for Singapore’s general election being on May 3, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and his elder brother are set to be tested at the ballot box on the same day – one in Singapore and the other in Australia.

It was announced on April 15 that Singaporeans would head to the polls on May 3, the same day that Australia’s national election will be held.

Mr Ong Ye Kung is expected to defend his Sembawang GRC seat, while his Australian sibling, Mr Howard Ong, is contesting as the Liberal candidate for the seat of Tangney in Perth.

Mr Howard Ong, who moved to Australia to study at Curtin University more than 28 years ago before meeting his wife and starting a local IT business, is facing Malaysian-born politician Sam Lim, the sitting Labor MP.

Mr Howard Ong told The Straits Times in an earlier statement: “Our family has always had a strong commitment to serving the community, and I have carried that commitment with me. I am working hard to earn the trust of my local community here in Australia as the Liberal candidate for Tangney.”

The two brothers are not the only ones in their family who are in politics.

Their father, Mr Ong Lian Teng, was a politician with opposition Barisan Socialis and served as MP for Bukit Panjang from 1963 to 1968.


Their cousin is Mr Xie Yao Quan, who is poised to represent PAP in the newly created Jurong Central SMC.

 

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GE2025: PAP new face Kawal Pal Singh rules himself out of running for election​

Lawyer Kawal Pal Singh was spotted in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC with Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat on April 13.ST PHOTO: HESTER TAN

Samuel Devaraj
Apr 16, 2025

SINGAPORE – Lawyer Kawal Pal Singh has ruled himself out of running in the upcoming general election, two days after he was spotted in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC with Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.

In a Facebook post on April 15, the 41-year-old said that as a long-time PAP member, his visit to Toa Payoh on April 13 had sparked speculation about his potential candidacy in the upcoming general election. He added that he received many messages of support and encouragement after the visit.

“As for the speculation surrounding my involvement in the coming GE, I am here to share that after discussing with my family and my uncle (former PAP MP) Inderjit Singh, I will not be involved in the GE as a candidate,” he said.

“At this stage of my life, I want to focus on balancing my professional commitments with time for my young family. I will continue to support the PAP in other meaningful ways and remain committed to serving both the Sikh and wider Indian communities.”

Mr Singh, who is managing partner at law firm Tito Isaac & Co, was previously a PAP volunteer in Sengkang.

The Straits Times has contacted Mr Singh for comment.

On April 13, he was spotted speaking to residents alongside Mr Chee and Ms Elysa Chen, executive director of charity CampusImpact, at Toa Payoh West Market and Food Centre.

Asked if the pair would be running in the 2025 General Election in Bishan-Toa Payoh, Mr Chee said this would be confirmed on Nomination Day.

On April 15, Ms Chen was announced as a PAP candidate in a video posted on Facebook by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

In his post, Mr Singh extended his support and best wishes to the PAP candidates standing in the May 3 election.

Speaking to The Straits Times on April 16, Mr Inderjit Singh said that following the Toa Payoh visit, his nephew’s family had a discussion about the commitment he may have to make and in the end decided he should focus on the things he mentioned in the post.

“He asked me and I supported his decision,” he added.

 

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‘We don’t take anything for granted’: Every vote in East Coast GRC vital to PAP, says Edwin Tong​

Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong (seated, centre) with (seated, from left) PAP new face Hazlina Abdul Halim, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and National Development Tan Kiat How, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jessica Tan and PAP new face Goh Pei Ming after an event at Bedok Food Centre and Market on April 15.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

David Sun
Apr 16, 2025

SINGAPORE - Every vote will be vital to the PAP in East Coast GRC, and the ruling party’s team there will not take anything for granted, said Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong.

During a media interview on April 15, Mr Tong was asked for his thoughts about a contest against the opposition WP and how confident he was, given the PAP’s narrow win in the constituency at the last election in 2020.

“We don’t take anything for granted,” said Mr Tong.

“Every vote will be vital and critical for us, and we will endeavour to persuade our voters, our residents of East Coast, that we merit and we deserve to win their vote of confidence and trust.”

The PAP garnered 53.39 per cent of the vote in East Coast GRC at the last election, with the WP capturing 46.61 per cent.

Mr Tong was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a briefing for the launch of the East Coast Plan website, which sets out the plan’s history, as well as initiatives that the PAP’s team in the constituency has in the pipeline.

He added that while the most important aspect of an MP’s job is looking after residents, voters also need to consider Singapore’s broader interests.

“We respect our opponents, whoever they might be, but we do want to emphasise the work that has been done, and we will continue to endeavour to work hard to look after our residents,” he said.

“An election is not just about the local MP, but also the selection of the Government, and the ability of the Government to look after Singapore and Singaporeans’ longer-term interests.”

Mr Tong was also asked if he could confirm if he would be the anchor minister for East Coast GRC.

In response, Mr Tong said this will be confirmed only when the team has been cleared by the party’s secretary-general, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“There is a regular cadence of teams being announced, starting a few days ago, and in due course, (the slate at) East Coast GRC will be announced,” he said.

“All I will say is that for myself, I have asked to be in East Coast,” said Mr Tong, who oversaw the Joo Chiat ward under Marine Parade GRC before Parliament was dissolved on April 15 ahead of the general election on May 3.

His ward was carved out of Marine Parade GRC with the latest electoral boundary changes and drawn into East Coast GRC.

Mr Tong said: “I felt that my best value is really to continue to serve the residents in Joo Chiat. And, if that meant moving to East Coast GRC, I would like to do that, and I have made a request for that to happen.”

Also at the briefing on April 15 was former SAF chief of staff – joint staff Goh Pei Ming, who was last seen at a walkabout with the East Coast GRC team at Bedok 85 Market on April 12.

Asked if his presence at the briefing was an indication he would be fielded in East Coast GRC, Mr Goh said he was still waiting for his deployment to be finalised.

“But in the meantime, I think I am making full use of every opportunity to better understand the ground,” he said, adding that he is familiar with Kampong Chai Chee and Bedok as he grew up there.

He said there are other parts of East Coast GRC that he is eagerly making his way around.

Mr Tong said Mr Goh brings value to the team and has been going around understanding East Coast and its residents.

Mr Tong added: “He knows the needs of our residents, and I think, in particular, he knows how to address their concerns.”

 

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Candidates’ election deposit remains at $13,500 for GE2025: ELD​

Candidates’ election deposits will be forfeited if they are not elected and do not secure more than 12.5 per cent of the votes polled.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Lim Min Zhang
Apr 16, 2025

SINGAPORE - Candidates contesting this year’s general election will need to pay $13,500 each – the same as in the 2020 election.

This and other details were revealed on April 15 by the Elections Department (ELD) shortly after President Tharman Shanmugaratnam dissolved Parliament and issued the Writ of Election.

Polling Day will be on May 3, a Saturday, if more than one candidate or group of candidates are nominated for an electoral division on Nomination Day. Nomination Day will be on Wednesday, April 23.

Candidates’ election deposits will be forfeited if they are not elected and do not secure more than 12.5 per cent of the votes polled.

The deposit is set as the fixed monthly allowance payable to an elected MP for the month immediately before the date of dissolution of Parliament, rounded to the nearest $500. The current fixed monthly allowance is $13,750.

Candidates are encouraged to pay their deposits early, and not wait until Nomination Day to do so. Other than using a cheque, electronic payment methods, such as PayNow and bank transfer, are also available.

Candidates are also encouraged to use the digital services at the ELD website to prepare their nomination papers. This helps them check that their proposer, seconder and assenters are from the GRC or SMC the candidates are contesting.

Completed papers should be printed and signed, and the nomination papers must be delivered in person to the respective nomination centres between 11am and noon on Nomination Day.

The candidate, or group of candidates, must be accompanied by a proposer, a seconder and at least four assenters when delivering the nomination papers.

Each candidate must also apply for a political donation certificate from the Registrar of Political Donations by April 19. This may also be done online.

Candidates must adhere to election expenses limits stipulated in the Parliamentary Elections Act, which is currently $5 for every elector in their electoral division.

If a candidate is contesting a group representation constituency, the limit is $5 per elector for that GRC, divided by the number of candidates in the group.

Under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act, only Singapore citizens aged 21 and above or Singapore entities are allowed to make political donations, which include gifts, loans and voluntary labour.

For groups of candidates seeking election in a GRC, a relevant certificate from either the Malay Community Committee or the Indian and Other Minority Communities Committee is required. These applications will close on April 19.

The chairman of the Malay Community Committee is Mr Mohamed Sa’at Abdul Rahman. The other members are Dr Hadijah Rahmat, Dr Mohamed Ali, Madam Rahayu Mohamad and Mr Zulkifli Baharudin.

The chairman of the Indian and Other Minority Communities Committee is Associate Professor Narayanan Ganapathy. The other members are Mr Khiatani Manohar Ramesh, Mr Ravinder Singh, Mr Vincent Schoon and Dr Zahabar Ali.

There will be 18 GRCs and 15 single-member constituencies up for contest, up from the current 17 GRCs and 14 SMCs. The number of elected MPs will increase from the current 93 to 97.

May 3 will be a public holiday. Every employer should allow their voters a reasonable period of time to vote, said ELD.

The Ministry of Manpower, in a separate statement, reminded companies that Polling Day should be treated the same as any other public holiday. Employees are entitled to either a day off or salary in lieu, if Polling Day is a non-working day for them, added the ministry.

The Returning Officer is Mr Han Kok Juan, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, who will oversee the smooth conduct of the election. He took over the role from Housing Board chief executive Tan Meng Dui on April 1.

The election, Singapore’s 14th since independence, is likely to again see the PAP challenged for all seats – as was the case in 2020.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

PAP plans for East Coast GRC unveiled on new website​

(From left) PAP new faces Hazlina Abdul Halim and Goh Pei Ming, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, Deputy Speaker Jessica Tan and Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How at the launch of the website on April 15.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Joyce Lim
Apr 16, 2025

SINGAPORE - A vision to make the “East Side Best Side” was unveiled on April 15, with the PAP representatives for East Coast GRC laying out a refreshed slate of promises and plans on a new website.

The promises were organised around eight pillars – A Place To Learn, Care, Eat, Pray, Conserve, Play, Shape The Future, and A Place For All – and can be found on oureastcoast.sg, which went live at noon.

The website features work completed in the constituency over the past five years, and a road map that looks forward to 2030.

At a media briefing on April 15, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said core infrastructure is already in place, so the next phase of the East Coast Plan will centre on residents’ lived experiences.

“Now that we have the baseline of infrastructure, we are going to take off from there and construct a plan moving forward, based on how our residents would like to use the facilities and how they organise themselves and their family,” said Mr Tong.

The plan is organised around how people live, work and play, not around “public shelters or how many footpaths or how many walkways”, he said.

The East Coast Plan was first introduced during the 2020 General Election by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, the five-member group representation constituency’s anchor minister. He was not present at the briefing.

The team of five providing the update comprised Mr Tong, Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How, Deputy Speaker Jessica Tan and PAP new faces Hazlina Abdul Halim and Goh Pei Ming.

On April 12, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Maliki Osman, who was part of the team that stood in East Coast GRC in 2020, said he would not be contesting there in the upcoming election and named Madam Hazlina as his successor.

Madam Hazlina, the former chief executive of Make-A-Wish Singapore, started her career as a radio presenter for Mediacorp’s Ria 89.7FM.

She later transitioned into television, and was at one point an assignments editor on CNA’s Singapore desk.

Mr Goh was Singapore Armed Forces chief of staff – joint staff.

The refreshed East Coast Plan for the next five years aims to equip residents with opportunities to learn and grow. It covers programmes such as digital inclusion for seniors, youth leadership, mental wellness and support for caregivers.

Preserving hawker culture and fostering interfaith harmony are central themes, alongside efforts to create inclusive public spaces and support for pet owners, families and lower-income households.

Environmental sustainability – such as expanded green spaces, electric vehicle charging points and community-led conservation initiatives – also features in the plan.

It also outlines planned infrastructure improvements in the area, such as the upgrading of Tanah Merah MRT station, new Build-To-Order projects in Simei, revamping Kampong Chai Chee Community Club into a community hub and the construction of Safra Bayshore.

“We thought to create a plan that was not centred on hardware facilities, but on the way in which our residents saw these facilities as improving their lives,” said Mr Tong.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: Opposition parties ramp up election preparations, as some criticise date of Polling Day​

The various opposition parties put out statements after the Writ of Election was issued on April 15.PHOTO: ST FILE
Deepanraj Ganesan and Aqil Hamzah
Apr 16, 2025

SINGAPORE - The various opposition parties will ramp up efforts to win over voters, as some expressed concerns over the short runway to the general election.

Parliament was dissolved on April 15, with Nomination Day on April 23. Singaporeans will head to the polls on May 3 to elect 97 MPs across 33 constituencies.

The various opposition parties put out statements after the Writ of Election was issued.

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)​

The SDP criticised the “impossibly short” timeline between the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report for the 2025 General Election and the dissolution of Parliament.

The report on the new electoral boundaries was released on March 11, 35 days before Parliament was dissolved.

In 2020, the EBRC report was published on March 13 that year with the Writ issued three months later on June 23.

In 2015, there was a month’s gap between the release of the report and the issuance of the Writ.


SDP, which plans to contest Sembawang GRC, Sembawang West SMC, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, said Singaporeans need the time to thoroughly examine issues like the cost of living before casting their votes.

“Elections are solemn exercises where the people are given ample time to become thoroughly familiar with the parties, their platforms and candidates so that they can make informed decisions at the polls,” the statement said.

However, with the short amount of time left, Singaporeans have been denied “this crucial opportunity”, the party said.

Red Dot United (RDU)​

Mr Ravi Philemon, secretary-general of the RDU, said opposition parties now have just over two weeks to organise themselves for “a defining election”.

He also questioned why Nomination Day was taking place on April 23. Having it on April 22 instead would allow Cooling-off Day to be on May 1 – Labour Day – and Polling Day on May 2.

“Instead, this election has been timed so that Labour Day will be followed immediately by Cooling-off Day – a day when all political parties are legally barred from speaking,” he said.

The opposition parties will not be able to respond to statements put out by the ruling party during the May Day Rally, Mr Philemon said.

He added that RDU has been preparing since 2020 and is ready for the election.

The party’s candidates will be revealed in the lead-up to Nomination Day, he said, adding that RDU will remain focused on championing issues that residents face such as cost of living, jobs and quality of life.

RDU has thus far introduced its team leads for Nee Soon GRC, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC and Jurong Central SMC.

People’s Power Party (PPP)​

The PPP said it was deeply disappointed that the PAP had called an election “without allowing sufficient time” between the issuance of the Writ of Election and Nomination Day.

It said the timeline appeared to be a move to capitalise on the fear stoked by US President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs.

The party said there are urgent national issues demanding attention, such as the rising cost of living, job insecurity, overpopulation, and a persistent lack of effective checks and balances in the system.

Thus far, the PPP has signalled its intentions to contest Tampines GRC and Ang Mo Kio GRC.

Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA)​

Mr Desmond Lim, chairman of the SDA, which will contest Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, says his party is ready for the election.

“We are in operational readiness (mode). We’re just like soldiers on reservist,” he said.

His team has already printed 50,000 campaign fliers and 2,000 campaign posters.

The party currently has about 200 volunteers ready to act as polling and counting agents, and held training sessions at its headquarters in Changi Road on the night of April 15.

Mr Lim said that instead of holding a physical rally, which may “inconvenience the elderly”, the party will conduct one online, having started to record the materials this week.

National Solidarity Party (NSP)​

Secretary-general Spencer Ng told The Straits Times that the party was unsurprised by the date.

“This is detrimental to the spirit of democracy, but nonetheless, the opposition parties have to play by the rules set by the PAP and be ready as best we can.”

Currently, the party is planning to ramp up its campaign, having filled up its slots for volunteers in the constituencies it has laid claim to.

These comprise Sembawang GRC, Sembawang West SMC, Tampines GRC, Tampines Changkat SMC and possibly Jalan Besar GRC.

Singapore People’s Party (SPP)​

SPP said in a statement that the upcoming election represents a pivotal moment in Singapore’s political landscape, being the first under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and the Republic’s fourth-generation leadership team.

“The SPP views this as an opportunity for Singaporeans to voice their concerns, aspirations and frustrations, so as to shape the future direction of our country,” it said.

Secretary-general Steve Chia has called for people to step up as volunteers, urging them to “come together and make a meaningful difference”.

SPP added that it is committed to “participating actively in this democratic process” with five candidates standing in Potong Pasir SMC and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

“Our focus will be on addressing the pressing concerns of Singaporeans, including the rising cost of living, income inequality, and the need for more inclusive policies that cater to all segments of society,” the party said.

Singapore United Party (SUP)​

Mr Andy Zhu, secretary-general of SUP, which is contesting Ang Mo Kio GRC, said the election is an opportunity for residents to shape the future of Singapore.

In the coming days, SUP will be increasing the frequency of its outreach and coordinating its proposers, seconders and assenters.

It is also waiting for the completion and delivery of its election posters and fliers by Nomination Day when it will announce its slate of candidates.

People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR)​

Mr Lim Tean, the secretary-general of PAR – an alliance of three parties – said in a Facebook post that it welcomes the calling of the general election.

The alliance is looking to contest the single-seat wards of Potong Pasir, Mountbatten, Radin Mas, Queenstown and Yio Chu Kang, as well as Jalan Besar GRC and Tanjong Pagar GRC.

In a video, he said the PAR has been waiting and preparing for the election for a “very long time”.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: Josephine Teo continues to helm PAP’s Jalan Besar GRC slate​

(From left) PAP new face Shawn Loh with Jalan Besar GRC MPs - Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, Dr Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah and Ms Denise Phua - at Whampoa Park on April 16.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

Judith Tan
Apr 17, 2025

SINGAPORE - Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo will continue to helm the PAP team in Jalan Besar GRC to contest the 2025 General Election.

The four-member team will include political newcomer Shawn Loh, 38, former director of security and resilience programmes at the Ministry of Finance.

The upcoming election is taking place during SG60, a nationwide effort to celebrate the next chapter of Singapore’s growth after 60 years of independence in 2025.

But recent developments, including fears of a trade war following sweeping US tariffs and geopolitical uncertainties, show very clearly a change.

“The changes are profound… (and) it does impact the way we think about prioritising programmes for the residents in the area,” said Mrs Teo, adding that the team has a track record and a five-year masterplan for Jalan Besar.

Introducing the PAP slate at a press conference on April 16, Mrs Teo said Mr Loh has valuable experience in both the public and private sectors.

“I believe that he will be an excellent fit with the team here, and he comes with many years of experience, not just in the public sector, I think it is also his private sector experience that I value in particular,” she said.

Mr Loh is currently the deputy group managing director of Commonwealth Capital Group, a Singapore-based investment company that focuses on the food and beverage industry.

In his previous public service roles, Mr Loh was vice-president of Singapore businesses and of industry manpower development at the Economic Development Board from 2021 to 2023, before joining the Finance Ministry as its director of security and resilience programmes.

Mrs Teo made her political debut in the 2006 General Election when she contested Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC as part of a five-member People’s Action Party team.

Following a walkover, she became the MP representing the Toa Payoh East ward of Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.


In 2020, Mrs Teo moved to contest Jalan Besar GRC, one of the oldest constituencies in Singapore, to help with the party’s renewal.

Along with Ms Denise Phua, Dr Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah and Mr Heng Chee How, she contested against the Peoples Voice slate and won about 65 per cent of the vote.

Mrs Teo then became the MP overseeing the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng ward of Jalan Besar GRC.

Ms Phua, who is the incumbent MP for the Kampung Glam ward, said she will continue building a caring society for her ward as well as the constituency.

“Because we know the profile of our residents quite well, we have actually developed a number of local initiatives. For example, in Kreta Ayer, there is a whole series of what we call ‘plus programmes’ to help those who are in need, those who are disadvantaged – both young and old,” she said.

At the GRC-wide level, Ms Phua said the team has developed programmes such as the monthly “Give and Take” free markets that target low-income families in rental flats with children below 21 years old.

This is to ensure the GRC is inclusive and every resident is given an equal chance to thrive, she added.

Dr Wan Rizal, who took over the Kolam Ayer ward in 2020 from Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, told the media he was very happy “to have served alongside a dedicated and compassionate team” for the past four years.

The programmes launched in his ward to help residents are “rooted in dignity, care and sustainable long-term support”, something he said the community appreciates.

“We had also conducted a number of leadership and character-building programmes, which I feel gave our youth the platform to have a voice, be more confident, but most importantly, for them to give back to the community,” added Dr Wan Rizal.

The April 16 event held at Whampoa Park saw Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How, 63, stepping down after serving as a Jalan Besar GRC MP for 24 years.

Mrs Teo thanked Mr Heng, who has been the MP in charge of the Whampoa ward of Jalan Besar GRC since 2001.

He also served as mayor of the Central Singapore District between 2001 and 2006.

“It’s very difficult to find someone who is like Chee How, and I looked very hard. So when Shawn became available, I grabbed the opportunity,” said Mrs Teo, adding that Mr Loh has “very big shoes” to fill.

Mr Heng has handed the Whampoa baton to Mr Loh.

Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How (left) is stepping down after serving as a Jalan Besar GRC MP for 24 years and will be handing the Whampoa baton to Mr Shawn Loh (right).ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Speaking to the media, Mr Heng said that as he steps down, his wish is for his successor to continue the work and also have the heart and drive to serve the people.

“And I want to say that in Shawn, I think we have found the person,” he said.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: PAP newcomer Shawn Loh says his son wants to know how he’s going to address the cost of living​

One of the issues Mr Shawn Loh hopes to address through his candidacy is the need for accessible childcare.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Judith Tan
Apr 17, 2025

SINGAPORE - When PAP candidate for Jalan Besar GRC Shawn Loh, 38, told his four children that he was going to run in the 2025 General Election and serve the country, his elder son wanted to know how he would be addressing the cost of living.

And it is not just Mr Loh’s entry into politics that makes the boy, aged 12, more tuned in to current affairs, despite his young age.

The family of six does not have a television set at home, so the four children, two boys and two girls, are encouraged to read The Straits Times daily.

“I am a subscriber of the hard-copy paper, and I strongly believe that is why my children must also read the paper on a daily basis,” said Mr Loh, speaking to reporters at the Whampoa Drive Market and Food Centre on April 15. His three other children are aged four, seven and 10.

“That is why they are a bit more aware of current affairs,” he said.

Mr Loh, who is currently the deputy group managing director of Singapore-based investment company Commonwealth Capital Group, said he and the family have been discussing his entry into politics for a few months.

“It did not come as a surprise to the children. I think my two older children understand a bit more. The younger two are still coming to terms with not seeing me around as often.

“We are still finding a new balance in this new phase of life,” he said.

On April 16, Mr Loh was introduced by Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo at a press conference as a new joiner to the incumbent PAP team that will contest Jalan Besar GRC in the upcoming election.

He will take over the Whampoa ward from Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How, who will be stepping down from the team.

The other members of the team are Ms Denise Phua and Dr Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah.

Mr Loh, a former director with the Ministry of Finance (MOF), was first spotted in Jalan Besar on April 6, fuelling expectations of his candidacy there in the upcoming general election.

A week later at the area’s Kids’ Carnival, Mrs Teo, who helms the incumbent team, called him “an excellent fit for the residents of Jalan Besar”.

Mr Loh has his age going for him as the group representation constituency he is in – one of the oldest in Singapore – is transitioning.

There have been a number of Build-to-Order (BTO) flats springing up in the GRC, and many younger families have moved into the area in the past 10 years.

In the last five years, two BTO developments came up in the Whampoa area, and Mr Loh said there will be six new ones coming up in the next five years.

“There will be a new generation coming in, hopefully with me, to the estate,” he said.

One of the issues he hopes to address through his candidacy is the need for accessible childcare.

“It is important to have childcare within walking distance,” Mr Loh said, adding that over the past eight years, he has been walking his children from their block to a nearby childcare centre.

“I have at least another three more years to go until my youngest goes to Primary 1. So, I understand the importance of having accessible, quality and affordable childcare within walking distance. At some of our new developments, because they built a BTO first, we do not have that currently,” he said.

Mr Loh was group director of business strategy and innovation at Commonwealth Capital Group during the Covid-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, before making the jump to the public sector.

He was vice-president of Singapore businesses and of industry manpower development at the Economic Development Board from 2021 to 2023.

After joining the MOF in 2023, Mr Loh was director of security and resilience programmes. He was the Budget director for 2024 and 2025, which were the first Budgets to include programmes from the Forward Singapore engagement exercise.

Mr Loh rejoined Commonwealth Capital Group earlier in 2025.

His experience in both the public and private sectors also stood him in good stead in helping home-grown businesses in the area thrive in the current economic uncertainty.

Citing an example of a logistics company that was in distress during the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Loh said he remembered going in as a buyer of last resort to acquire the company that would have closed down within the next two months and would have resulted in 300 families losing their livelihoods.

Commonwealth Capital Group had at the time bought over the logistics firm.

“I just recently returned to the company a couple of weeks ago and found it very fulfilling because I saw the same people in the company – so five years on, I still see the same friends, the same business managers, the same logistics managers, operating managers. So, I really feel the sense of satisfaction and the ability for companies to make a positive difference in the right environment,” he said.

Mr Loh also emphasised trust as the basis that brings people together.

“We have a moral duty to do more for others if we are in a position to do more... It is really about building a trust with the community as its new public figure, its new candidate. My focus is on the community first,” said Mr Loh, who has been volunteering at Jalan Besar GRC’s Jobs Connect programme.

“I am meeting the young families, meeting the residents in the Whampoa estate and understanding their points of view, so I would be able to represent them in Parliament if I am picked,” he said.

Mr Loh, who married his junior college sweetheart at age 24 in 2011, became a father two years later.

“My wife worked at Singapore Prison Service for seven years, so you can guess who plays the ‘bad cop’ in the family. She sometimes even calls me her fifth child,” he said, laughing.

She now works “in the broader civil service”, he said.

Calling himself lucky, Mr Loh wrote on his LinkedIn profile that when he is not spending time with family, “raising four independent-minded kids, I hope to do other things that I love: Working with people and leading teams to tackle complex issues and make a large positive impact in Singaporeans’ lives”.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: Public warned against irresponsible online conduct ahead of election​

Voters are urged to be cautious about what they share online, and verify information with official sources if in doubt.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Vihanya Rakshika
UPDATED Apr 17, 2025, 02:36 AM

SINGAPORE - Members of the public have been warned to refrain from spreading misinformation, engaging in online harassment, or posting content that could incite racial or religious tensions during the upcoming general election.

Singaporeans go to the polls on May 3, with Nomination Day falling on April 23.

Irresponsible online conduct may constitute criminal offences and undermine the integrity of the electoral process, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) in a joint statement on April 16.

They reminded Singaporeans that while they have the right to participate in online discussions, they must do so responsibly.

The authorities highlighted the risk of misinformation and disinformation in the lead-up to the polls, warning that false or manipulated content – including deepfakes – can be easily created and used to deceive the public and influence the election outcome.

For instance, former president Halimah Yacob had, on April 15, said she was filing a police report after discovering a deepfake video of herself allegedly making negative remarks about the Government.

The SPF and MDDI urged voters to be cautious about what they share and to verify information with official sources if in doubt.


Individuals who spread falsehoods online may face prosecution under various laws.

These include communicating false messages under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act; knowingly spreading falsehoods against the public interest under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act; and publishing digitally altered election-related content that misrepresents a candidate’s actions or words under the Parliamentary Elections Act.

The statement also warned against online harassment, which includes making comments that cause alarm, distress, or harassment to others.

Acts such as doxxing – publishing someone’s personal information with the intent to harass or threaten – are punishable under the Protection from Harassment Act. The public is reminded to keep election-related discourse civil and respectful.

The police and MDDI further cautioned against posts that could wound racial feelings, incite enmity between different racial groups, or promote hatred on religious grounds.

Such actions may constitute offences under the Penal Code and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. The authorities said they will not hesitate to take action against offenders.

Emphasising the importance of safeguarding public trust and democratic integrity, the authorities called on all Singaporeans to use the online space responsibly during this critical period.

GE2025: Public warned against irresponsible online conduct ahead of election​

Voters are urged to be cautious about what they share online, and verify information with official sources if in doubt.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Vihanya Rakshika
UPDATED Apr 17, 2025, 02:36 AM
SINGAPORE - Members of the public have been warned to refrain from spreading misinformation, engaging in online harassment, or posting content that could incite racial or religious tensions during the upcoming general election.
Singaporeans go to the polls on May 3, with Nomination Day falling on April 23.
Irresponsible online conduct may constitute criminal offences and undermine the integrity of the electoral process, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) in a joint statement on April 16.
They reminded Singaporeans that while they have the right to participate in online discussions, they must do so responsibly.
The authorities highlighted the risk of misinformation and disinformation in the lead-up to the polls, warning that false or manipulated content – including deepfakes – can be easily created and used to deceive the public and influence the election outcome.
For instance, former president Halimah Yacob had, on April 15, said she was filing a police report after discovering a deepfake video of herself allegedly making negative remarks about the Government.
The SPF and MDDI urged voters to be cautious about what they share and to verify information with official sources if in doubt.
Individuals who spread falsehoods online may face prosecution under various laws.
These include communicating false messages under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act; knowingly spreading falsehoods against the public interest under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act; and publishing digitally altered election-related content that misrepresents a candidate’s actions or words under the Parliamentary Elections Act.
The statement also warned against online harassment, which includes making comments that cause alarm, distress, or harassment to others.
Acts such as doxxing – publishing someone’s personal information with the intent to harass or threaten – are punishable under the Protection from Harassment Act. The public is reminded to keep election-related discourse civil and respectful.
The police and MDDI further cautioned against posts that could wound racial feelings, incite enmity between different racial groups, or promote hatred on religious grounds.
Such actions may constitute offences under the Penal Code and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. The authorities said they will not hesitate to take action against offenders.
Emphasising the importance of safeguarding public trust and democratic integrity, the authorities called on all Singaporeans to use the online space responsibly during this critical period.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: PAP stalwart Heng Chee How to step down from Jalan Besar GRC​

Mr Heng Chee How has served Whampoa residents for nearly 30 years, and will be succeeded by new face Shawn Loh.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Chin Soo Fang
Apr 17, 2025

SINGAPORE - PAP stalwart Heng Chee How is stepping down from Jalan Besar GRC after 27 years serving the Whampoa ward in the GRC. He will be succeeded by former Ministry of Finance director Shawn Loh, 38, at the upcoming general election.

Mrs Josephine Teo, who helms the group representation constituency, announced this at a media conference held by the PAP at Whampoa Park on April 16.

Mrs Teo, who is Minister for Digital Development and Information, thanked Mr Heng, 63, for serving with dedication and distinction in the GRC all these years.

She said that she knew him from their time in the labour movement, and that he has a heart for workers, particularly the senior ones. She also said that he has “a great sense of humour”.

“Chee How is the elder brother I have never had. He is a complete gentleman, fully honourable. You can try, but you will never find a nasty bone in him,” Mrs Teo told reporters, while also announcing the new Jalan Besar slate for the election.

She added that Mr Heng is well loved by the residents, and they are going to miss him terribly.

When asked if Mr Heng was going to retire from politics or be fielded in another ward, Mrs Teo said that everything is still open, and it is for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to decide.

“It means that up to Nomination Day (on April 23), you can never say for certainty who is running and who is not running,” she said.

Mr Heng, who is Senior Minister of State for Defence, started out as a grassroots adviser in Whampoa before he became the MP serving the ward following the 2001 General Election.

Several grassroots volunteers who were attending the event teared up as Mr Heng spoke about his time in the ward.

“It has been an absolute honour and privilege to have been given the chance to serve Whampoa and to serve our people here,” he said, adding that he will always be grateful for the kindness residents have shown him “every day of this journey”.

Mr Heng made his political debut in the 1997 General Election, contesting as a solo PAP candidate in Hougang SMC against the incumbent – the Workers’ Party’s Mr Low Thia Khiang. He secured 41.98 per cent of the vote.

His breakthrough came in the 2001 General Election, when he joined the five-member PAP team led by Dr Lee Boon Yang contesting Jalan Besar GRC. The team won decisively, with 74.48 per cent of the vote, and Mr Heng became the MP looking after the Whampoa ward, a seat he has consistently retained since then.

In 2020, the PAP team led by Mrs Teo, then manpower minister, secured 65.37 per cent of the vote against the Peoples Voice team headed by party chief Lim Tean in the four-member GRC.

With the demography of the Whampoa area mostly consisting of older and ageing residents when Mr Heng became the MP, he focused on strengthening the infrastructure and services for seniors there.

At the same time, he also lobbied for rejuvenation of the constituency through new public housing and amenities to attract younger people.

Mr Heng said that his joy as an MP has been being able to relate to his residents, young and old.

“There is no greater joy for me than to be told by our residents that they treat me like family, and this gives me immense satisfaction and a sense of gratitude,” he added.

Before entering politics, Mr Heng served in the Singapore Police Force, rising to the rank of superintendent. He later joined the National Trades Union Congress in 1995, where he subsequently became deputy secretary-general in 1999, a position he has held for more than two decades.

Over the years, he has served in various ministerial capacities, including as minister of state for trade and industry, national development, health, and in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). He became senior minister of state in the PMO from 2011 to 2018, before he was appointed to his current position as senior minister of state for defence in 2018.

Mr Heng was also mayor of the Central Singapore District from 2001 to 2006, and deputy leader of the House from 2011 to 2015.

He also left his mark in labour advocacy.

As a union leader, Mr Heng championed the rights of older workers, playing a pivotal role in strengthening employment protections, advocating fair employment guidelines and improving Central Provident Fund contribution rates for older workers.

Through various roles in the labour movement, he strived to make the intent of “Every Worker Matters” more real and equitable amid an ever-changing economy and workforce.

Mr Heng was a key advocate for skills upgrading and lifelong learning, helping to promote initiatives such as the Workfare Training Support Scheme and SkillsFuture.

He also pushed for policies supporting older workers, including raising the re-employment age and enhancing older worker employability and retirement adequacy.

He also acted as a bridge between government, unions and employers, promoting tripartism as a cornerstone of Singapore’s industrial harmony.

Mr Heng said that as he relinquishes his role in Whampoa, he hopes that the work the team has done together for the residents can continue, and that somebody with the heart and capability will take care of his ward and residents.

“I think we have found the person,” he said, looking at Mr Loh. “And, of course, Shawn will also have even more specific plans for our people here.”


He added that it was of utmost importance to serve with a pure heart, saying: “We step forward, we say we want to serve, then we do it properly... and sincerely. And when it is the time and the season to hand over, let us do so with joy and gladness and gratitude.”

As the media conference drew to an end, Mr Heng requested a group photograph with all the media present, for his keepsake.

 

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GE2025: Ex-army chief David Neo, academic Charlene Chen confirmed among PAP’s Tampines GRC slate​

(From left) Mr Desmond Choo, Dr Koh Poh Koon, Dr Charlene Chen, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Mr David Neo and Mr Baey Yam Keng at the party's line-up announcement on April 16.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
David Sun and Aqil Hamzah
Apr 17, 2025

SINGAPORE - Former chief of army David Neo will contest Tampines GRC in the general election for the ruling PAP.

The 47-year-old will run alongside Dr Charlene Chen, 43, an assistant professor of marketing at Nanyang Technological University, the constituency’s anchor minister Masagos Zulkifli said on April 16.

Mr Neo and Dr Chen will contest the five-member constituency alongside three incumbents: Mr Masagos, 62, who is Social and Family Development Minister; Dr Koh Poh Koon, 53, Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Sustainability and the Environment; and Mr Baey Yam Keng, 54, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment.

Incumbent Desmond Choo, 47, will contest the newly carved-out Tampines Changkat SMC. He oversaw the Tampines Changkat ward of Tampines GRC until Parliament was dissolved on April 15 ahead of the polls on May 3.

Mr Masagos confirmed the slate of PAP candidates who will contest in Tampines at a press conference on April 16 held at a multi-purpose hall in the Tampines GreenVines estate.

He said the team will be one that cares for the town.

“Anyone can build a town, but Tampines is a model town. It can only be built by a caring community,” he said.

He noted that Tampines has numerous eco-friendly initiatives such as food waste recycling facilities, a shared cooling system and a comprehensive cycling network.

“This is what our team, the PAP team, will be with our residents. A town where we show that we care for one another and for our town, and that we’re inclusive, and no one will be left behind.”

On a potential multi-cornered fight, Mr Masagos said the team in Tampines GRC has expected a hotly contested election since five years ago.

The focus, he said, is on the residents and delivering on the promises made.

He added: “We will not busy ourselves on what may or can happen. (We will) focus on the residents, work together when we are operating in our various divisions, and be there, care for our residents, even as we’re going through the election.”

Mr Masagos had on April 12 formally introduced Mr Neo, who handed over the reins as army chief on March 21, as the newest member of the PAP’s Tampines GRC team. But he had then stopped short of confirming him as part of the team’s line-up for the election.

Mr Neo, who is married with a son, joined the Singapore Army in 1996 and was army chief from March 2022. He last held the rank of major-general.

He was programme director of the Pioneer Generation Office and the founding group chief of the Silver Generation Office under the Agency for Integrated Care.

Mr Neo said on April 16 that his areas of focus include putting people first and building a relationship with them, and fostering a caring community in Tampines.

“Purpose, people and being practical – these three key beliefs drive me,” he said. “People really don’t care how much you know, unless they know how much you care.”

He added that he would speak up on the pace of digitalisation for seniors.

Mr Neo said seniors have no problems using a digital interface to watch their favourite Hokkien dramas, but face difficulties when they have to use digital products that are only in English.

“It’s not that they cannot get used to digital products. It’s that some of them do not know English, and you’re actually asking them to both learn English and digitalise at the same time.”

He added: “I ask for your support, and I hope to have a chance to serve here.”

Tampines GRC anchor minister Masagos Zulkifli introducing Dr Charlene Chen and Mr David Neo on April 16.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Meanwhile, Dr Chen was introduced to Tampines residents in June 2024 and is the second grassroots adviser in the Tampines East ward.

A former Buona Vista grassroots volunteer, she had been helming Meet-the-People Sessions for residents in Tampines East since late 2024.

Dr Chen, a social and consumer psychologist who holds a PhD in marketing from Columbia Business School in the US, thanked residents for welcoming her into their homes, chatting with her at coffee shops, and sharing their stories with her over the past year.

The mother of two said some residents have asked how a “little girl” like her is going to help represent their voices in Parliament. Adding that she has a “classic baby face”, she said it turns out that this is “a bit of a superpower”.

“It helps me connect with young people, especially when I work with them on mental well-being.”

She added that while she may look young, she has spent her life studying people and serving the community.

“At the heart of it, leadership isn’t about how old you look,” she said.

“It’s about how deeply you listen. It’s about understanding people’s lives. It’s about bringing energy, empathy and ideas to make things better for everyone.”

There had been much speculation about whom the PAP would field to fill two spots in Tampines GRC, after the exit of former MP Cheng Li Hui and the carving out of the Tampines Changkat single seat.

Ms Cheng, who managed the Tampines East ward, resigned in 2023 over an extramarital affair with then Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin.

Tampines is set to be hotly contested at the polls, with up to three opposition parties expected to vie with the PAP for Tampines GRC and the Tampines Changkat single seat.

In the 2020 General Election, the PAP team in Tampines GRC won 66.41 per cent of the vote against the National Solidarity Party (NSP), which garnered 33.59 per cent.

Shortly after the electoral boundaries were redrawn on March 11, the NSP and People’s Power Party threw their hats into the ring.

The WP has thus far kept its cards close to its chest, but has been spotted actively engaging Tampines residents over at least the past two years.

 

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GE2025: PAP to field ex-Aljunied branch chair Alex Yeo in Potong Pasir, Sitoh Yih Pin stepping down​

Mr Alex Yeo thanked Mr Sitoh Yih Pin for teaching him the ropes in Potong Pasir. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Gabrielle Chan and Vanessa Paige Chelvan
Apr 17, 2025

SINGAPORE – Lawyer Alex Yeo will stand in Potong Pasir under the PAP banner at the upcoming polls, replacing three-term MP Sitoh Yih Pin, who is stepping down from politics.

Mr Yeo, 46, entered politics in 2020, when he was fielded in Aljunied GRC as part of a PAP slate. The PAP lost with 40.05 per cent of the vote against the Workers’ Party, which won with 59.95 per cent.

In a press briefing in Potong Pasir on April 16, Mr Yeo said he is not new to Potong Pasir because he started volunteering in the constituency in 2013.

“It feels like I have come home... A part of me never actually left Potong Pasir,” he added.

In his opening remarks, he thanked Mr Sitoh for teaching him the ropes in Potong Pasir.

He said: “He is a dear mentor of mine, and I have learnt many lessons in community leadership and service from him.” Mr Sitoh, 61, has been the MP for Potong Pasir SMC since 2011.

Mr Yeo added that he had been coming back to the estate – even when he was on the ground in Aljunied – to run a community legal clinic he set up in 2016. He also launched a pro bono Lasting Power of Attorney programme.

“I am just a viaduct away,” he said, referring to the proximity of Aljunied to Potong Pasir.

In the pipeline is a manifesto he is preparing to launch soon, which will provide details of a five-year plan for Potong Pasir, said Mr Yeo.

It will contain what he called the “hardware” or infrastructure improvements, and “heartware”, which are initiatives aimed at supporting families and strengthening community bonds.

Improvements could include more sheltered walkways, overhead bridges and directional signs.

Mr Yeo also hinted at plans to refresh and rejuvenate mature estates in Potong Pasir, and look after seniors in the community by, for instance, bringing in mobile clinics.

He said: “We derive these plans through listening, observing, engaging Potong Pasir residents across the constituency. We do not set out to propose these plans lightly, and intend to deliver on every promise made.”

Mr Yeo added that he appreciates the area’s “political history and legacy, and what voters expect of their representatives, regardless of what political party they represent”.

“I know I cannot simply ride on the good work of my predecessors,” Mr Yeo said, adding that he will work to earn the trust of residents.

Anyone who wants to serve Potong Pasir residents, he said, will need to understand “how to blend the rich heritage of the past with the dreams and aspirations of residents in the future”.

Mr Sitoh joined politics in 2001, when he was tasked with winning back the Potong Pasir single seat, which was held by veteran opposition MP Chiam See Tong for 27 years.

Mr Chiam, 90, who has retired, won the seat in 1984 when he beat Mr Mah Bow Tan, who would go on to hold several Cabinet positions.

In 2011, Mr Sitoh finally wrested the seat from the opposition, having failed twice before in 2001 and 2006.

An accountant by profession, Mr Sitoh defended his Potong Pasir seat successfully against the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) at the 2015 polls, winning 66.39 per cent of the vote, and again at the 2020 polls, garnering 60.67 per cent.

When asked about his future plans, Mr Sitoh said he hopes to spend more time with his family and three-year-old granddaughter.

Mr Yeo, who is married with two children, served as branch chair of the Paya Lebar ward in Aljunied GRC, which has been held by the WP since 2011.

When asked why he has moved to contest Potong Pasir after spending more time in Aljunied GRC, Mr Yeo said: “I am not a stranger here... I have always been in and out of Potong Pasir.”

He added: “This is a constituency that I have many links with, and I have served here for many years, and continue to serve here for many years, so I am looking forward to taking a bigger role moving forward.”

Most Potong Pasir residents live in Housing Board blocks, with only 7.8 per cent in landed property. The majority of the residents are 46 years old and above.

On a potential three-cornered fight in Potong Pasir, Mr Yeo said his focus is on himself and his team, and “what we can give to the residents”.

The SPP is expected to contest the constituency again in the upcoming election.

Mr Yeo added that serving in Aljunied has had an impact on him.

He said: “Having served in Aljunied for eight years, I can tell you, if you are not frank and honest and brave, you will probably not survive serving in Aljunied GRC.”

 

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GE2025: PAP’s Desmond Choo to contest Tampines Changkat SMC​

Mr Desmond Choo, who previously oversaw the Tampines Changkat ward in Tampines GRC, will contest the newly carved out single-seat constituency.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Aqil Hamzah
Apr 17, 2025

SINGAPORE - After a decade overseeing the Tampines Changkat ward as part of the PAP’s Tampines GRC team, Mr Desmond Choo will contest the newly carved out Tampines Changkat SMC.

The 47-year-old was announced as the party’s candidate in the single seat by Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli during a press conference at Tampines GreenVines on April 16.

Mr Masagos is the anchor minister for the PAP team in Tampines GRC.

“For more than a decade, I have had the honour of serving our Changkat residents, not just as a Member of Parliament, but also as their advocate and friend,” Mr Choo said at the same press conference.

“Changkat, to me, has always been more than a constituency. It is our home, a place where we have built a caring, resilient community.”

Joining politics in 2010, Mr Choo made his political debut during the 2011 General Election in Hougang SMC, when he lost to WP’s Yaw Shin Leong, who secured 64.8 per cent of the vote.

He was fielded by the PAP again the following year during the Hougang SMC by-election, this time losing to WP’s Png Eng Huat, who received 62.08 per cent of the vote.

The two losses taught him “how to serve better, how to guide my people better, and how to be a better person”, he said on April 16.

Mr Choo, who is assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress and director of its policy division, added that the experiences he had gleaned then later shaped his approach to serving residents in the Tampines Changkat ward since 2015, when he was first elected as an MP for Tampines GRC.

He added that since the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report in March, some residents in the ward have asked him to stay on to represent them.

With Tampines Changkat SMC now carved out of Tampines GRC as a single seat, and Mr Choo moving over to contest the constituency, the PAP slate for the group representation constituency has had to undergo a refresh.

The five-member team, led by Mr Masagos, will continue fielding incumbents Koh Poh Koon and Baey Yam Keng.

Two PAP newcomers – former army chief David Neo and marketing professor Charlene Chen – will make up the rest of the Tampines GRC team.

At the press conference, Mr Masagos said the Tampines Changkat single-member constituency is “still part of Tampines”.

He added that Mr Choo “will always remain part of our team”, and that the ward will continue to be included in plans for the town.

Mr Choo, who is also North East District Mayor, said: “With the formation of our new single-member constituency, some may ask, ‘Are we on our own?’ Let me assure residents, as Mr Masagos had, (that) our deep ties with Tampines GRC continue.”

 

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Political parties can apply for rally sites from Nomination Day onwards​

Physical rallies were last seen in GE2015, as they were prohibited during GE2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.PHOTO: ST FILE

Lim Min Zhang
Apr 17, 2025

SINGAPORE - Election rallies will make a comeback in 2025, with political parties able to start applying for sites from Nomination Day on April 23.

Candidates must obtain a police permit to hold rallies, with a ballot to take place if there is more than one application for a given timeslot.

On April 16, the police gave details on the use of election rally sites, assembly centres for supporters to await the election results, and vehicles for broadcasting campaign messages.

Singapore is headed for its 14th election since independence, with Polling Day set for May 3. The ruling PAP is set to be challenged in all 97 seats up for contest, across 33 constituencies.

Rallies at stadiums and open fields – last seen in GE2015 – will make a return during the campaign period. In GE2020, which was held during the Covid-19 pandemic, physical rallies were prohibited.

The police said candidates may hold such election meetings only at designated sites due to safety and security concerns.

The list of sites will be released after the nomination proceedings end, as was the case in GE2011 and GE2015. There were 41 designated rally sites in 2011 and 46 in 2015.

Rental rates for stadiums start from $1,647. Open fields will cost at least $109.

Applications for election meetings to be held on April 24 – the day after Nomination Day – must be submitted by 4pm the day before. For the rest of the nine-day campaign period, applications must be submitted by 2.30pm the day before.

People will not be allowed to fly drones, kites and balloons over outdoor rally sites, from one hour before the rally begins until one hour after it ends.

The police also gave details on how candidates and their election agents can apply to use assembly centres, where they can gather with supporters to await the announcement of election results on May 3.

The earliest that candidates can apply for their use is Nomination Day. The list of centres allocated to contesting parties and candidates will be announced on Cooling-off Day on May 2, after permit applications close.

Permits must also be applied for vehicles that broadcast pre-recorded messages during the campaign. Such vehicles can be used from one day after Nomination Day.

From Nomination Day, exemptions for public assemblies and processions at the Speakers’ Corner will be temporarily revoked. This means that no public assembly or procession may be held at the open space at Hong Lim Park without a police permit.

These exemptions will be reinstated after the election period.