General Election 2025

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Singapore setting aside funds to help future generations tackle climate change, says Grace Fu​

Find out how Singapore is pushing ahead with climate action on the latest episode of The Usual Place.

Chin Hui Shan
Mar 21, 2025

SINGAPORE – Protecting Singaporeans from the impacts of climate change is a long-term endeavour, and the country is starting to put aside funds now so future generations will not have to bear all the costs, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.

“Many aspects of the Budget are about getting ourselves ready for the long term,” she said, referring to Singapore’s spending plan for the year ahead.

“In the area of sustainability, the coastal protection fund (top-up) of $5 billion is a very clear sign that when we have resources, when we have a surplus, we are going to put that aside so that this generation will start to pay for the future generation and not load all the costs on them,” she added.

Ms Fu was speaking about how Singapore is tackling climate change on The Straits Times’ current affairs podcast, The Usual Place.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had announced in his Budget speech on Feb 18 that another $5 billion will be injected into the Coastal and Flood Protection Fund, which was set up in 2020 to protect Singapore against rising sea levels and enhance flood resilience.

As coastal protection is a long-term effort, the use of the fund is expected to ramp up towards the end of the decade to fund the design and construction of coastal protection measures, ST reported.

Despite the current geopolitical situation not being conducive for climate initiatives, with the United States scaling back on its climate plans, Ms Fu said Singapore is pressing on with climate action.

“We are a very small emitter in the overall scheme of things... whether we reduce our emissions or not, it’s not going to really move the needle,” she said. “But we always think that Singapore likes to do what’s right. We know that that’s our responsibility as a citizen, as an individual, as a corporate citizen, as a global citizen.”

On how the Republic is cutting emissions, Ms Fu cited various initiatives, including efforts to tap more renewable energy and import clean-generated electricity from elsewhere.

(From left) Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu speaking to ST assistant news editor Audrey Tan and podcast host Natasha Ann Zachariah on March 20 about how Singapore is tackling climate change.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
By importing renewable energy sources such as hydropower and solar power from other countries, Singapore will be able to have a more resilient grid, said Ms Fu, who is also Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations.

In South-east Asia, renewable resources are unevenly distributed, so having a connected grid could allow countries to trade electricity freely to meet rising demand. Such a grid would hedge against the intermittencies of renewables by distributing energy more efficiently.

Ms Fu said improving energy efficiency will also help the country to cut its emissions.

“We can swop fossil fuels for renewable energy. But if we can reduce the amount of energy that is needed, we can actually need to swop less,” she said.

Her ministry is also helping households contribute to energy-efficiency efforts, she said, pointing to the expansion of the Climate Friendly Households Programme.

The expansion, also announced during the Budget, will see all Singaporean families living in private property receiving $400 worth of vouchers to purchase more efficient household appliances, including certain types of air-conditioners.

All Housing Board households will also receive an additional $100 worth of vouchers. This means that HDB households that have not spent the first tranche of vouchers will now have $400 worth of vouchers to spend.

For households, although swopping older electrical appliances to more energy-efficient ones can be more costly, she said Singaporeans can tap the climate vouchers to offset some of the costs incurred.

She added that in the long run, utility bills could be lower as a result of being more energy-efficient.

But aside from cutting emissions, Ms Fu said that Singapore must also move to protect its people from climate impacts. Such adaptation strategies are also a key part of climate action.

The ever-thickening layer of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is like a person being cloaked in a growing number of blankets, she said.

“Imagine somebody putting on layers and layers of blankets on you... now you have something like 50 layers of blankets on you and you’re starting to sweat profusely. That’s exactly what’s happening to planet earth,” she said.

The move by the US to scale back on its climate plans will add on to these “layers”, she said.

Given this, Singapore also needs to protect itself from the impacts of climate change.

“It’s going to take a long while for us to remove those layers and we need to adapt,” she said.

“We have to really be serious with our adaptation. Whether it’s on heat, whether it’s on coastal protection, whether it’s on water security or food security, we need to keep our eyes on our plans and keep at it,” said Ms Fu.

To tackle sea-level rise, Singapore is conducting eight islandwide site-specific studies of its coastlines to determine the most suitable coastal protection solutions for each segment.

During the debate on her ministry’s budget on March 4, Ms Fu announced that two site-specific studies on Sentosa island and the nation’s south-west coast will begin by 2026.

 

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Opposition Red Dot United goes on walkabout in Jalan Kayu, introduces party member​

Red Dot United member Kala Manickam (second from right) and party volunteer M. Ravi greeting a resident at Fernvale LRT station during a walkabout on March 21.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Sue-Ann Tan
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE - The opposition Red Dot United (RDU) party went on its maiden walkabout in Jalan Kayu SMC on March 21 and introduced a party member who will lead the team in the newly carved out ward.

RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon said it is too soon to announce who the party will field in Jalan Kayu, but introduced former Progress Singapore Party (PSP) member Kala Manickam, an educator and a former Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officer.

Madam Kala, 57, has a Master of Arts in lifelong learning, and her work focuses on helping workers gain skills that lead to career advancement and job opportunities.

Speaking to reporters, Madam Kala said: “We have very hard-working and capable Singaporeans who go through all this retraining, but apparently they don’t seem to get job opportunities, and see stagnation in their wages and no recognition for the value of their work...

“So, that’s something that we need to explore, in terms of getting job opportunities.”

She added that Jalan Kayu has many young families with children, and she plans to tackle the issue of academic stress that families face.

She said: “Being a mother of a 16-year-old kid, I know what the child goes through.”


The Jalan Kayu single seat will take in parts of Ang Mo Kio GRC currently overseen by Ms Ng Ling Ling, as well as areas under the purview of Mr Gan Thiam Poh, who looks after Fernvale.

In the 2020 polls, Madam Kala contested Nee Soon GRC under the PSP banner, losing to the PAP team led by Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam.

In 2021, she sued PSP for terminating her party membership after the elections.

On March 21, she said the matter was settled out of court and that the details are confidential.

She said: “We are moving forward in a more amicable manner, and I’m wishing all the best to Dr Tan Cheng Bock, to win the election and get a seat in Parliament. So, for me, it’s the past, and I’m moving on.”

Mr Philemon said RDU will throw all its efforts in the days ahead into understanding the issues in the area, and talk to residents to find out how they can be better served.

He added: “We are ready for whoever the PAP fields... we are ready for the challenge.”


He also responded to questions on whether there would be a multi-cornered fight in Jalan Kayu, and if he has engaged other opposition parties on the matter.

Mr Philemon said: “Of course, as opposition party members, we’re always talking to one another. There’s a lot of friendship and goodwill among many of us.

“A multi-cornered fight is not in anyone’s interest, especially not in any of the opposition parties’ interest, and for RDU, we do understand the importance of opposition unity, and... we’ll do our part towards that.”

Other opposition parties that have shown interest in Jalan Kayu include People’s Alliance for Reform and People’s Power Party.

During the RDU walkabout, lawyer M. Ravi, who was disbarred in 2024, was spotted handing out fliers.

He said that he is not a party member, but that he volunteers with RDU.

He said: “I live here, and I was born in Jalan Kayu, and so this place is very special to me. So, I would like to pledge my support to RDU to have a strong alternative voice in Parliament.”

Party members walked around the area close to Fernvale LRT station and visited a hawker centre and a coffee shop near Block 437 Fernvale Road while handing out fliers and speaking to residents.

 

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GE 2025: PAP new face Valerie Lee joins five MPs at Pasir Ris event​

(From left) Ms Valerie Lee, Mr Sharael Taha, Ms Yeo Wan Ling, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, Ms Sun Xueling and Mr Desmond Tan at the Pasir Ris-Punggol Career Marketplace 2025 D’Marquee at Downtown East on March 22.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

Clement Yong
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE – One of the PAP’s touted new faces, Ms Valerie Lee Nai Yi, was spotted at a job fair at Downtown East on March 22 – fuelling speculation that she could be on the ruling party’s electoral slate in the new Pasir Ris-Changi group representation constituency.

Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Desmond Tan, who heads the Pasir Ris Central ward, told the press at the inaugural Pasir Ris-Punggol “career marketplace” that Ms Lee was there at the invitation of the team.

While Mr Tan said the ultimate composition of the team would depend on the Prime Minister, he added: “You can do the calculations. There are three of us now in the (new Pasir Ris-Changi GRC), and it’s going to be a four-man GRC. Naturally we’ll have one new face, a new candidate join us.

“Likewise for Punggol GRC. From time to time, we invite different people.”

Ms Lee, Sembcorp’s head of corporate affairs for Singapore and South-east Asia, has been seen in both West Coast GRC and East Coast GRC prior to this.

On March 22, she was was actively introduced to residents by the sitting MPs, and was frequently seen posing for photos next to Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean.

She declined comment, and would only say: “I am happy to be here.”


The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee on March 11 decided to split the former Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC in two to form Punggol GRC and Pasir Ris-Changi GRC.

This would leave the wards of SM Teo, Mr Sharael Taha and Mr Tan in the new four-man Pasir Ris-Changi GRC.

The wards of the other sitting MPs - Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary and Ms Yeo Wan Ling - would fall under the new Punggol GRC, which will also include Minister of State Sun Xueling’s Punggol West single member constituency.

Apart from Mr Tan, SM Teo, Mr Sharael, Ms Yeo and Ms Sun were also at the job fair on March 22.

It is as yet unclear how the PAP incumbents will be deployed to the new constituencies, which will have four representatives each.

Punggol GRC, especially, is expected to see a tight showdown between the PAP and the Workers’ Party.

Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC saw a three-way contest in the last election between the PAP, the Singapore Democratic Alliance and Peoples Voice (PV). The PAP prevailed with 64.15 per cent of the votes while the PV lost its deposit.

On March 22’s event, where more than 20 employers were hiring for over 1,200 jobs, it was announced that residents in North-East Singapore will soon find interactive kiosks with artificial intelligence interviewers and resume builders at their community clubs.

This is part of a fresh grassroots initiative to help job seekers.

The Pasir Ris-Punggol group constituency office under the People’s Association launched the initiative, in a “first-of-its-kind” collaboration with NTUC, non-profit organisation Project Success, and the North East Community Development Council.

There will also be on-site job advisors at community centres and other high footfall areas, as well as two-hour workshops on topics such as the use of generative AI tools to improve personal and business productivity.

No date for the rollout has yet been set and the People’s Association is still confirming the exact sites.

Mr Tan said that there has been an increase of professionals, managers, executives and technicians seeking help for mid-career switches in recent years.

“Whether you’re a fresh graduate entering a tech-driven workplace, a professional adapting to digital tools, or someone curious about how tech is transforming your industry – you’re here because you recognize that embracing tech is no longer optional; it’s essential,” he said.

 

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Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy lives on in every corner of Singapore and in its people: Indranee Rajah​

(From left) Radin Mas MP Melvin Yong; Tanjong Pagar GRC MPs Joan Pereira, Chan Chun Sing and Indranee Rajah; West Coast GRC MP Rachel Ong and former Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Koo Tsai Kee at a ceremony held at Duxton Plain Park to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s death.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Judith Tan
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE – The legacy of Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew can be found in every corner of Tanjong Pagar, where he stood for election throughout his political career, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah on March 22, the eve of his 10th death anniversary.

“In our green spaces that provide respite from urban living; in our modern housing that provides dignity and comfort, and most of all, a home in our community; in initiatives that bring people together and bond us; and most importantly, in the spirit of our people – resilient, forward-looking and committed to making Tanjong Pagar better with each passing year,” said Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development and an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC.

“What he did for Tanjong Pagar, he also did at scale for the whole country. He oversaw this extraordinary transformation of Singapore in its journey from Third World to First.”

Ms Indranee was speaking during a ceremony at Duxton Plain Park to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Mr Lee’s death.

Mr Lee died on March 23, 2015 at the age of 91. He was Tanjong Pagar’s first MP, after being elected in 1955 when it was a single-member constituency. He remained as MP of the constituency for almost 60 years. Tanjong Pagar is now a five-member group representation constituency.

Also at the ceremony were two other MPs of the GRC – Education Minister Chan Chun Sing and Ms Joan Pereira. Absent from the event were Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth as well as Social and Family Development Eric Chua; and Minister of State for Trade and Industry as well as Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan.

Other attendees included Mr Koo Tsai Kee, former MP of the Tiong Bahru division under Tanjong Pagar GRC from 1991 to 2011; and Ms Rachel Ong, an MP for West Coast GRC.

Ms Ong attended as a “special guest”, since her division was ceded to Tanjong Pagar GRC after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee dropped its report on March 11.

Mr Koo and Ms Ong joined the three Tanjong Pagar MPs in placing bouquets of yellow and white chrysanthemums at the foot of the Lee Kuan Yew Memorial Tree.

The tree was planted at Duxton Plain Park a month after Mr Lee’s death, witnessed by then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, along with some 500 residents from the constituency.

Among his many accolades, the founding father of the Republic was affectionately known as Singapore’s Chief Gardener.

Tree Planting Day, which began in 1963, became a tradition on the first Sunday of November before the start of the year-end monsoon.

“That is very much like everything else he did – with thought and purpose, and always with a view to helping something to grow, to be stronger and better,” Ms Indranee said.

Mr Koo said: “The late (US president) Richard Nixon called Mr Lee a big man on a small stage. Big was not referring to his size, but his stature on the world stage... His legacy is not just the physical infrastructure – the buildings, the roads, the airport, the port – but the institutions he left behind.

“Ten years have passed since Mr Lee died, yet the institutions that he built – honesty, efficiency, integrity – remain strong and thriving.”

Residents and members of the public gathering at the Lee Kuan Yew Memorial Tree at Duxton Plain Park on March 22.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Speaking to residents and members of the public gathered at the Lee Kuan Yew Memorial Tree, Mr Chan said Mr Lee left behind an ethos of meritocracy, multiracialism and incorruptibility.

“Our greatest tribute to Mr Lee is to keep Singapore going. When the job gets done while we are still around, we are not impressed. When the job still gets done even when we are no longer around, then we can be impressed,” he said.

A minute of silence was observed during the ceremony as a remembrance of Mr Lee and his contributions to Singapore.

Mr Ho Nai Chuen, a grassroots volunteer who had served with Mr Lee since 2003, said to most people, Mr Lee was stern and strict, but “when you got to know him, he was actually very caring and pragmatic”.

Mr Ho Nai Chuen (left) said to most people, Mr Lee Kuan Yew was stern and strict, but “when you got to know him, he was actually very caring and pragmatic”.PHOTO: COURTESY OF HO NAI CHUEN
“Some would even call him frugal. He was not an advocate for air-conditioning, and the large halls at the CC had only fans until recently,” Mr Ho said.

The most memorable event etched in his mind was in 2013, when Mr Lee, who was then frail, attended the National Day dinner.

“We had taken the rostrum from the stage down to the hall, but he insisted, despite his frailty, that it be returned to the stage as he wanted to address everyone, even those at the tables at the back of the hall,” Mr Ho recalled, wiping a tear from his eye.

A two-day art exhibition was also launched at Tanjong Pagar Community Club showcasing paintings and artefacts of Mr Lee, as well as a 67m-long painting named Singapore On Canvas by artist Ng Peng Sing.

It depicts Singapore’s transformation from a fishing village to the city it is today.

 

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Up to $1m set aside for community innovation projects at CCs over next 3 years​

(From left) Free Wheelchair Repair @ Geylang West volunteers Jaslyn Li and Daron Hoon taking a look at Madam Kwek Eng Noy's wheelchair at Geylang West Community Club on March 22.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Wong Pei Ting
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE – Aged 92, Madam Kwek Eng Noy uses her motorised wheelchair to go to the active ageing centre for karaoke sessions, or to navigate around her home to get chores done.

But like her frail body, the $1,500 mobility device has its limits.

After eight years, one of its levers came loose and would switch from automatic to manual mode on its own, requiring her to get help to adjust the lever.

However, thanks to a free wheelchair repair initiative at Geylang West Community Club (CC), located near her four-room flat at Kallang Heights, Madam Kwek is now mobile again.

On March 22, the CC became the first of 10 CCs to launch a dedicated collaborative space for residents, volunteers and partners to curate projects that address the community’s needs.

Such spaces are called “Sparks”.

The other nine CCs are: Pek Kio CC, Buangkok CC, Pasir Ris East CC, Nee Soon South CC, Zhenghua CC, Mountbatten CC, Kampong Chai Chee CC, Boon Lay CC, and Tengah CC.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, who is Deputy Chairman of the People’s Association (PA), on March 22 announced that the PA will support up to 50 initiatives under the Sparks umbrella over the next three years.

Speaking at the official opening of Sparks at Geylang West CC, he said each project will receive funding of up to $20,000, which means up to $1 million will be set aside in total.

Addressing the audience, Mr Tong said: “This is about helping you seed the initiative to allow you that little bit of support to make sure that that dollar goes further through the work and effort of all our volunteers.”

Each of the Sparks spaces will be staffed by a community innovation taskforce comprising three to eight grassroots leaders and partners who will formulate the activities at each CC’s innovation space.

On the need for such taskforces, Mr Tong said: “A space without soul, without leadership, without people, is only a space. This space is only viable if we can have a team that comes together, thinks about and brainstorms what it is that our community needs.”

The rolling out of such spaces at CCs was first announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the PA Community Club Management Committees (CCMCs) 60th anniversary on Nov 4, 2024.

He had said CCMCs must support the refreshed PA mission, which includes expanding ground-up community participation, and CCs have to go beyond just renting out rooms and hosting classes.

Speaking at the event where certificates of appointment were presented to the 10 CCs’ community innovation taskforces on March 22, Mr Tong noted Singapore’s population has changed.

He said: “At PA, it is important for us to match our population. We cannot be in one direction, and our population grows in a different direction.”

Geylang West Community Club (CC) is the first of 10 CCs to launch Sparks.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Citing the wheelchair repair initiative, Mr Tong said volunteers feel a sense of achievement, pride and giving back when they get involved.

Madam Kwek had her wheelchair fixed for free. The volunteers picked it up in the evening, and returned it to her the next morning, in working order.

The wheelchair repair programme came about as the Upper Boon Keng estate near Geylang West CC has a significantly elderly population, with 45 per cent of its residents aged 50 and above, with many requiring mobility assistance.

Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, who is the MP for Jalan Besar GRC where Geylang West CC is located, said wheelchairs are not easy to repair.

While they can be replaced, they can cost up to $2,000 if they are motorised, or $300 for non-motorised ones, she noted.

She said with the initiative, not only do the seniors feel they have got back the use of their wheelchairs, they feel a greater sense of dignity because they can move around on their own.

She added: “Working together with other partners, we hope to continue to make this programme available to even more of our residents, perhaps even those extending beyond Upper Boon Keng, to the whole of the GRC.”

Mr Wan Kwong Weng, who chairs the Geylang West Community Innovation Taskforce, said volunteers helping with the wheelchair repair include employees of Micron Semiconductor Asia Operations, which has a facility at Bendeemer Road nearby.

He said most of them are educated in the principles of engineering, which are transferable skills.

Said Mr Wan: “If a rivet or screw is loose, we tighten it. So, I don’t think it is rocket science. But at the end of the day, I think this is a very well suited service when we are faced with an ageing population.”

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Unite and work together to build Tengah into a vibrant, beautiful town: PM Wong​

PM Lawrence Wong with residents at the official opening of Tengah Community Club on March 22.ST PHOTO: TARYN NG

Tay Hong Yi
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE – The new estate of Tengah is starting to take shape and will be a vibrant town in a few years, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, as he urged residents to unite and work with the grassroots and Government to build a better home for themselves and their children.

Speaking at a March 22 ceremony to officially open Tengah Community Club, PM Wong said he spoke to a Tengah resident recently, who had said the town was like “the Punggol of the west”.

“If you have been to Punggol decades ago, people will say Punggol was very ulu (“remote” in Malay) and far away. Nobody wants to go. But today, you look at Punggol, it is a beautiful town, connected, vibrant, a lot of facilities there,” PM Wong said.

“Likewise now here in Tengah; today, you can see things already starting to take shape. In another few years’ time, I’m sure this will be even better. It will be like Punggol, if not better than Punggol.”

He called on Tengah’s residents to help build the community bonds that make estates like Punggol special, encouraging them to partner with the grassroots and volunteers, take part in activities, get to know their neighbours and serve the community in different ways.

“When you do that, you develop a special bond with your estate, with your community. You develop a stronger sense of identity and thrive as Tengah residents,” he said.

PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, pointed out that this solidarity and unity with one another will be even more important as Singapore charts a new way forward through what is a more turbulent and challenging world.


“It’s becoming a more dangerous world, but Singapore can navigate these challenges because we are strong and united as one Team Singapore,” he said.

“So we must continue to strengthen this partnership, working together as one people, and the Government will certainly do our part to support all of you and to work together with all Singaporeans. We will address the concerns you have, whether it’s in cost of living or in other areas.”

Also at the event were Chua Chu Kang GRC MPs Gan Kim Yong, who is Deputy Prime Minister; Low Yen Ling, who is Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth; Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim and Don Wee.

Hong Kah North MP Amy Khor, who oversees the Tengah estate, was also present.

People’s Action Party new face, entrepreneur Chua Wei-Shan, was spotted at the event.

Electoral boundaries in the area have shifted ahead of the upcoming general election. Ms Low’s Bukit Gombak ward has been carved out of Chua Chu Kang GRC and will be a single-member constituency.

Parts of Dr Khor’s Hong Kah North SMC, and Yuhua SMC, currently helmed by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, have been merged into a new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

After the ceremony, PM Wong and Dr Khor, who is also Senior Minister of State for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment, went on a walkabout at the newly opened Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre, causing a stir among residents who were there for breakfast.

Later, Ms Fu joined them for house visits at Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok, a block of community care apartments.

Ms Fu had on a March 20 podcast interview with The Straits Times expressed plans to familiarise herself with the Hong Kah North area and the issues that its residents face.

Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok lies within the boundaries of the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

Asked about whether she plans to continue serving in Hong Kah North, Dr Khor said it is up to PM Wong to announce the “best man or woman” for each constituency.

“Whether I will be fielded in the upcoming election and where I will stand is a decision that the Prime Minister, who is also the secretary-general for the PAP, will have to make,” she said, adding that this will be announced in due course.

In the meantime, Dr Khor said she will continue to serve residents, pointing out that she has been working closely with the Land Transport Authority to improve connectivity to Tengah.

She said more bus services have been rolled out and the frequency of these buses has also increased, though she acknowledged that some residents are still seeking quicker links to the nearest MRT stations and a wider range of routes.

The Tengah Community Club was officially opened on March 22.ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Among the residents soaking in the festivities at the new Tengah Community Club was Mr Eric Chua, 43, who was there with his neighbours.

The tourist guide has lived alone at the Plantation Grange development for 1½ years, and was one of the earlier residents to move into Tengah.

Mr Chua said the estate has changed a lot, especially with the opening of the Plantation Plaza mall, which is next to the new community club.

“I wanted to just come and see because this is my town... I’m interested in chess so I wanted to see if there were other like-minded residents too.”

 

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Opposition Red Dot United to contest Nee Soon GRC; People’s Power Party steps aside after talks​

People’s Power Party’s secretary-general Goh Meng Seng with Red Dot United secretary-general Ravi Philemon at a press conference in Yishun Town Centre on March 22.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Deepanraj Ganesan
Mar 22, 202

SINGAPORE – The opposition People’s Power Party (PPP) has said it will not contest Nee Soon GRC in the upcoming general election, after holding talks with Red Dot United (RDU), to avoid a three-cornered fight with the ruling PAP in the constituency.

This means RDU will likely face off against the PAP in Nee Soon GRC in the upcoming general election, barring the entry of another opposition party.

A press conference was held jointly by RDU and PPP on March 22 at Yishun Town Centre, where both party leaders confirmed that RDU will contest the five-member Nee Soon GRC.

Both opposition parties said they had been in discussions regarding who would contest in Nee Soon GRC since the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report on March 11.

PPP secretary-general Goh Meng Seng said: “I have had several conversations with Mr Ravi Philemon of RDU, and we have come to the conclusion that it is time for us to move on and let RDU have a clean fight in Nee Soon.

“We have come to the agreement we will not touch Nee Soon and allow RDU to carry on to contest in Nee Soon.”

Mr Philemon, RDU’s secretary-general, hugged Mr Goh before thanking him and the PPP for stepping aside.


“Both of us have worked the ground. Both of us know what our strengths are. And RDU, we will do our best to win Nee Soon GRC for a cause that we believe in,” he said.

He added that it is too soon to announce who the party will field in the five-man Nee Soon GRC, pointing out that there are “25 candidates who have been training with us since last year”.

Observers had initially expected a three-cornered fight in Nee Soon between the incumbent People’s Action Party, RDU and PPP, after both opposition parties declared previously that they would contest there.

Mr Philemon said talks are also ongoing with other opposition parties who have indicated an interest in contesting in the same areas.

He pointed out that there has been “a lot of speculation” that there would be multi-cornered fights.

“All this is just mere speculation. There is actually very little interest for the opposition parties to have multi-cornered fights, because in the context of Singapore, that always benefits incumbents, so conversations like what RDU has been having with PPP are ongoing with several other political parties,” he said.


The RDU party, which was founded in May 2020, had started walking the ground in Nee Soon in August 2024.

During the last general election in 2020, Nee Soon GRC was contested by the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and PAP.

PAP’s slate, which consisted of Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Mr Louis Ng, Mr Derrick Goh and Ms Carrie Tan, won with 61.9 per cent of the vote.

Apart from Nee Soon GRC, the RDU has also said it plans to contest in Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, Tanjong Pagar GRC, and the Jurong Central, Jalan Kayu and Radin Mas SMCs.

Meanwhile, the PPP has said it intends to contest the Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat SMCs, and the Ang Mo Kio and Tampines GRCs.

While both parties have averted a potential conflict over Nee Soon GRC, they have not sorted out which party will contest Jalan Kayu.

Mr Philemon said talks on the matter will continue.

Mr Goh said the PPP is “set for Ang Mo Kio and Tampines”, and will continue negotiations on the other two SMCs.

“But today is about Nee Soon. We will settle one by one, because if you (lump) everything together, it’s very difficult to solve problems.”

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GE2025: Former non-profit CEO Hazlina Abdul Halim seen at PAP walkabout in Marine Parade​

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng with PAP new face Hazlina Abdul Halim during the walkabout at 50A Marine Terrace Market on March 22.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

Shermaine Ang
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE - One of the ruling PAP’s potential candidates, Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim – the former chief executive of Make-A-Wish Singapore – was spotted at a walkabout in Marine Parade on March 22, raising the possibility that she could be fielded in the new Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

At the walkabout, which had all Marine Parade GRC MPs present, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng introduced Madam Hazlina to residents and stallholders at the Block 50A Marine Terrace Market.

Together with Mr Tan, Madam Hazlina – who was dressed in white and wearing a People’s Action Party badge – shook hands and posed for photos with residents in the hawker centre.

Madam Hazlina, 40, started her career as a radio presenter for Mediacorp’s Ria 89.7FM. She would go on to present live TV programmes on the broadcaster’s various channels, and was at one point an assignments editor on CNA’s Singapore desk.

She was formerly the president of PPIS (Singapore Muslim Women’s Association) from 2020 to 2024, and is currently also a director of Mendaki, among other roles.

Speaking to the media, Madam Hazlina said her experience serving in community organisations over the past decade has given her an understanding of how to help Singaporeans.

Dr Tan was coy about whether Madam Hazlina was part of the finalised slate of candidates in the new Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, pointing out that the PAP’s candidates are “very versatile”.


“The caveat is that the final line-up is not certain,” he said.

“Of course, we’ll be very happy if this is it. But really, at the end of the day, there’s a larger picture that is most important. And I believe that (our candidates) will be successful wherever they go.”

Mr Chan Sek Inn, who runs 132 Traditional Teochew Noodles, met Madam Hazlina for the first time during the walkabout, although he has seen Dr Tan on a previous visit.

“It’s good to see the young faces, it’s like a refresh. With Dr Tan taking care of them, she should be okay. I think he has done a good job for Marine Parade,” said Mr Chan, who has been running a hawker stall in Marine Terrace for 15 years.

The boundaries of the current Marine Parade GRC have shifted ahead of the upcoming general election. The new five-member Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC will take in the current MacPherson SMC, parts of the Mountbatten and Potong Pasir SMCs, and cede the entire Joo Chiat ward and Chai Chee Housing Board estates to neighbouring East Coast GRC.

MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling, who was also at the walkabout, gave a ringing endorsement of Madam Hazlina.

“She’s wonderful on the ground.... Having served alongside Hazlina, I think her personality, her ability to connect, I think there is no doubt about it,” said Ms Tin.

Also present at the walkabout were Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, Mayor of South East District Mohd Fahmi Aliman, and PAP new face, Dr Choo Pei Ling, an assistant professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology’s Health and Social Sciences cluster, and second adviser to the grassroots organisations in Kembangan-Chai Chee.

The boundary changes would result in Mr Tong’s Joo Chiat ward falling under East Coast GRC, but even after removing Mr Tong from the Marine Parade-Braddell Heights slate, adding Madam Hazlina would mean there are six potential candidates for the five-member team.

Asked about whether this meant one of the incumbents would be moved, Mr Fahmi said: “Nobody knows at this stage – we’re all waiting for our PM to give directions.”

Mr Seah appealed to voters to look at the team’s track record, saying: “We certainly have given our best to serve our residents as best as we can. So I will say residents do know us. They do know who we are. They know what we have done, and I will ask them certainly to look at us as a team, wherever we are.”

Both Dr Tan and Mr Tong also endorsed the new faces at the walkabout.

Dr Tan said Dr Choo has helped him at his Marine Parade ward, pointing out that residents in Kembangan-Chai Chee have taken to her very well.

Mr Tong said both Madam Hazlina and Dr Choo have championed initiatives and programmes that they feel would suit and benefit the local community.

“And I think these are some of the qualities that we really look out for to join the team, whichever team it is, and to also play a part at a national level, championing issues in Parliament,” he said.

Asked about whether he would move to East Coast, Mr Tong said it would be “painful and hard to leave behind” Marine Parade’s residents and volunteers after being in the team for 10 years.

“But I guess this is a consequence of population changes and other demographical impact on the boundaries. So I accept it, and I only hope that if I’m given a chance, I will be able to move with Joo Chiat to East Coast,” he said.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: Any party that comes to Tampines must know the ground, says Masagos​

Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli playing congkak during the launch of Hari Raya festivities at Our Tampines Hub on March 22. Looking on is PAP new face Charlene Chen.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO

David Sun
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE - Political parties that wish to contest Tampines in the upcoming general election must know the ground well and meet the needs of residents, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said, when asked about a potential showdown with the Workers’ Party at the polls.

Mr Masagos, the anchor minister for Tampines GRC, said: “Whoever wants to come here must be sure that they know what are in for, and they must meet the expectations of our Tampines residents.”

Speaking to the media during the launch of the Hari Raya festivities at Our Tampines Hub on March 22, Mr Masagos was asked about competition he would face in Tampines from other political parties, including the Workers’ Party.

There have been talks of a four-way fight in both Tampines GRC and the new Tampines Changkat SMC, with both the National Solidarity Party and People’s Power Party announcing that they intended to contest both constituencies.

The WP has also been seen walking the ground at the new Tampines North BTO projects as recently as March 18.

The recent boundary changes saw the new Tampines Changkat SMC carved out from Tampines GRC, which will remain a five-member GRC in the upcoming polls.

Mr Masagos, who has been an MP in Tampines for some 19 years, said: “I think it’s important for anyone who comes to Tampines to know the ground, (and not be someone) who comes just occasionally.


“The residents of Tampines are very special. We’re very proud of our home, very proud of our community, and we want to keep building it,” he said.

Also at the event were the other Tampines GRC MPs – Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng and Mr Desmond Choo – and PAP new face Charlene Chen, who is the second grassroots adviser in the Tampines East ward.

Other potential candidates previously spotted in Tampines were not present.

They include Mr Gabriel Lam, chief operating officer of Shalom Movers, and Mr David Hoe, director of philanthropy at The Majurity Trust, a registered charity.

Asked why they were not there, Mr Masagos said that people come and go.

“It’s not easy to say that just because they’re (here), you can speculate that they’ll be fielded. They may not even be fielded anywhere,” he said, adding that he did not know who would eventually be fielded.

As for the new Tampines Changkat SMC, Mr Choo, who is the Mayor of North East District, is currently overseeing most of the area that falls under the new seat.

During a public breakfast event at Tampines Mart on March 22, Mr Choo said he hopes to be fielded in the single-member constituency in the upcoming elections, as he has been serving residents there for 10 years.

He said he expected the road ahead to be tough, but he felt like he was not alone because he had the support of the residents in Tampines Changkat.

“Naturally, I would want to stay on and continue serving them by running for Tampines Changkat SMC, because these are the people that I’m familiar with and have worked with,” he said.

“But at the end of the day, it’s up to the PM, and we’ll know for sure only on Nomination Day.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: Competing plushies, giant banners – parties get creative in battle for hearts and minds​

Political parties have kicked their election campaigns up a notch since the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report on March 11.PHOTOS: CLEMENT YONG, ST FILE
Clement Yong and Lee Li Ying
Mar 23, 2025

SINGAPORE – Rows of teddy bears on a table, and tiny white shirts imprinted with the words “PAP Sengkang” neatly arranged at the side.

Multi-coloured ribbons could be pinned on the bears’ chest, or for a more feminine look, on their ears – these were among the custom options for some 30 residents who streamed into the People Action Party’s Sengkang East branch for a build-a-bear workshop on March 16.

The event at 124A Rivervale Drive, headed by the branch’s chairwoman and potential general election candidate Bernadette Giam, was among a series of outreach events held in recent weeks.

Political parties have kicked their election campaigns up a notch since the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report on March 11. Whether it is to forge a personal connection with voters or to bolster their war chests, they are investing in creative merchandise to make sure their messages are effectively conveyed – and brought home by – voters.

Since the 2015 General Election, the maximum amount that candidates can spend on each voter – expenses incurred before, during or after the election by a candidate or election agents – has been $4. It was previously $3.50 and was adjusted to account for inflation.

The PAP’s Sengkang team, which made the news in 2024 for its PAP-themed Labubu dolls, is distributing about 2,000 teddy bears in conjunction with International Women’s Day, which fell on March 8.

It told The Straits Times that the teddy bears are not intended for election campaigning, but Mrs Giam pointed out their appeal to a group representation constituency that contains a high proportion of young families.

Build your own bear: PAP’s Sengkang East branch chairwoman Bernadette Giam with residents. ST PHOTO: CLEMENT YONG
Using Department of Statistics data, ST’s estimates show that 16.6 per cent of residents in the GRC are between the school-going ages of seven and 20 – above the national average of 13.9 per cent.

Mrs Giam said: “The teddy bear is a well-loved symbol that transcends age, and we felt it could help us foster a sense of connection and care, particularly among young families.”

Already a hot commodity with plenty of inquiries from residents, the bears will also be handed out at upcoming party events, gatherings and during house visits.

“While fliers, posters and banners are tried-and-true methods, we’re constantly looking for new, creative ways to engage with residents,” Mrs Giam added.

Not to be outdone, the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has once more rolled out plushies of what it calls its chief compassion officer, an otter named Otica. The name is an acronym for openness, transparency, independence, compassion and accountability – values the party wants to associate with its campaign.

The Progress Singapore Party is selling plushies of its mascot, an otter named Otica.PHOTO: PROGRESS SINGAPORE PARTY
Otica was launched in 2020 and was so popular that the soft toy had to be restocked twice, said a PSP spokeswoman, who added that they are again expected to be snapped up rapidly once rallies begin. This time, the party has also created small keychains of the mascot.

A pair of big Oticas are up for “adoption” for $50, while four small keychains can be purchased at the same price. PSP is also selling T-shirts, caps and a Santa hat on its website, and is planning to include UV-protection umbrellas and a mobile fan on its merchandise list.

As for the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), a spokesman said it is in advanced discussions with its partners and vendors to replenish its inventory of items such as flags, clappers, T-shirts and copies of SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan’s books – the latest, It Starts With A Dream, was published in 2024.

SDP’s mascot, Danny the democracy bear, will also join in the plushie wars with its own dedicated Facebook page. It has given “interviews” to alternative media like The Online Citizen, and in 2020, came in at least three shades.

The Singapore Democratic Party’s mascot, Danny the democracy bear. PHOTO: DANNY THE DEMOCRACY BEAR/FACEBOOK
Asked if SDP intends to increase its stock of merchandise from the previous general election, an SDP spokesman said: “The quantity of all these assets will depend on the areas we eventually decide to contest in.”

Danny the democracy bear. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/DANNY THE DEMOCRACY BEAR
The Workers’ Party (WP) declined to provide details on its wares, saying that merchandise is not the focus of the general election.

Its teams have been seen handing out newsletters and party booklets during walkabouts in areas such as MacPherson, as well as distributing Hari Raya goodies to families in rental flats.

A supporter blowing a vuvuzela at a Workers’ Party’s rally at Yishun Stadium in 2015.ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
But the party is no laggard in the merchandise department: Umbrellas and flags have long been brandished by supporters at WP rallies.

Workers’ Party supporters taking shelter under a sea of blue umbrellas at Admiralty Secondary School, a nomination centre for the 2011 General Election.ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW

Banners, volunteers, but do they matter?​

With the Covid-19 pandemic firmly in the rear-view mirror, political parties have also taken pains to re-assert their physical presence.

This is seen clearest in the recruitment and designation of teams of volunteers on the ground, as well as banners – such as gigantic ones publicising candidates and “GRC report cards” that have been spotted around Singapore.

Updates to election advertising rules, introduced by the Elections Department in May 2024, state that the full name of every person who played an “active role” in publishing or displaying advertisements, including the printer, must be shown. Paid ads must indicate that they have been sponsored.

When approached for comment, the major parties would not be drawn in to say how the changes have affected their advertising.

The PAP, as the incumbent, is ahead in this race for visibility. A poster featuring North West District Mayor Alex Yam shows a statistical breakdown of hardware upgrades, such as the number of new sheltered linkways and fitness corners built in Yew Tee.

Residents of PAP wards such as Bukit Batok and Clementi have also received plenty of pamphlets detailing constituency masterplans for the next five years.

A banner of MP Rachel Ong in Telok Blangah.ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Ms Cynthia Oh, manager of printer Print & Print, a regular vendor for government collaterals, told ST that it has been approached by political parties since early March.

The company is expecting a 15 per cent to 25 per cent increase in its workload for the 2025 General Election, compared with five years ago. Orders are usually finalised four to five days prior to campaigning, and can comprise banners, posters, tissue packets, fans and door hangers. Amounts range from 2,000 to 64,000 pieces of marketing collateral depending on the scale of the campaign.

A banner of Workers’ Party members Faisal Manap, Sylvia Lim, Pritam Singh and Gerald Giam at a walkway at Kovan Market and Food Centre.ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN
Ms Oh said: “There is a resurgent interest in physical marketing materials for in-person events, local outreach and personalised engagement, and print is viewed as a complementing component in multi-channel efforts.”

Another printer, Republic Holdings, has also been alerted to be on standby by major political parties since “a few months back”. Its director, Mr Ben Ang, is expecting a surge of 100 per cent in demand for GE2025 compared with the previous election.

Mr Ang said parties can print up to a few hundred thousand fliers during election season, which will take three to five working days to deliver.

A campaign flier that was distributed in Bukit Batok.ST PHOTO: REI KUROHI
The firm will be hiring at least five part-time staff to cope with the increased volume of orders.

But Dr Lynda Wee, adjunct associate professor of marketing at Nanyang Technological University, said these numbers should not be taken at face value: Greater visibility cannot be equated directly with political support.

While many might brandish party paraphernalia to advertise their political leanings, others may be using functional merchandise, such as umbrellas, out of convenience.

She said: “This creates possible miscommunication if usage is interpreted as favourable popularity. Mindless usage might not reflect that a political brand is indeed their choice. They are just using the free products.”

For maximum impact, political parties must focus on marketing fundamentals. “They will have to demonstrate their ability to understand the needs of their voters and coin a slogan or catchphrase.”

Already, the WP appears to have struck a chord with the slogan Step Up, coined after its leader Pritam Singh was asked if he would consider stepping down following his conviction in court in February.

In past years, other more official slogans have included the SDP’s Now Is The Time, for the Bukit Batok by-election in 2016, and the PSP’s You Deserve Better, for its manifesto in 2020.

Voters whom ST spoke to agreed that the elections are not about merchandise, though they said outreach efforts through these tangible objects show that political parties care.

Ms Anna Thanam, a 53-year-old senior executive in the transport industry, said a party event with free haircuts rejuvenated her interest in grassroots activities and motivated her to volunteer.

Ms Vivian Yong, a part-time customer service assistant working in the transport industry, once felt slighted after a political party’s event that gave out game cards restricted the giveaway to children.

“It was not advertised that way,” the 53-year-old said. “But what is more important are activities. I can bring my mum to these events close to my home.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: SDP to field Chee Soon Juan in Sembawang West SMC, Paul Tambyah in Bukit Panjang​

Dr Paul Tambyah (left) and Dr Chee Soon Juan from the Singapore Democratic Party speaking to the press at Woodlands Mart on March 23.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Anjali Raguraman
Mar 23, 2025

SINGAPORE – Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan will contest the newly carved out Sembawang West SMC in the 2025 General Election, while the party’s chairman Paul Tambyah will once again run in Bukit Panjang SMC.

Flanked by party members and volunteers at the atrium of Woodlands Mart, Dr Chee announced his candidacy on March 23. He had distributed fliers to residents in nearby blocks earlier in the day, declaring his intent.

Running in Sembawang West SMC is part of the party’s larger “northern strategy” that focuses on constituencies in the northern part of Singapore, said Dr Chee.

“We’ve been campaigning here since the 2000s... so in a way it’s back to old stomping grounds,” he said of his decision to run in the new single seat, which was carved out of Sembawang GRC by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee.

Professor Tambyah recalled how Sembawang gave him his “first taste of electoral politics back in 2011”, when he spoke at an SDP rally there.

“We have been in Sembawang for a long time, but we had to leave in 2015 when Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC was hived out from Sembawang,” he said.

Prof Tambyah said the SDP has been going back to Sembawang since 2022. The carving out of Sembawang West SMC provides an opportunity for the party to contest another single seat, he added, given that Bukit Batok “was just taken away from us”.


“My decision to stand here is fuelled by a steadfast commitment to you and your family,” wrote Dr Chee in fliers distributed earlier in the day to HDB homes in Sembawang West.

He said he had poured his energies into serving residents in the now defunct Bukit Batok SMC.

Dr Chee first contested Bukit Batok in the 2016 by-election, securing 38.8 per cent of the vote. At the 2020 General Election, he obtained 45.2 per cent of the vote in the single seat, which will become part of the newly formed Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

“I am ready to bring the same passion to Sembawang West,” he wrote. “I believe that Sembawang West is not just a constituency, but a vibrant community full of promise – one that can shine as a beacon for all of Singapore.”

Dr Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party mingling with residents at 888 Plaza in Woodlands on March 23.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
Besides Sembawang West and Bukit Panjang, the party also plans to send a team to Sembawang GRC, among other areas. It said more details will be revealed in the next few weeks.

In 2020, Prof Tambyah garnered 46.26 per cent of the vote share in Bukit Panjang SMC.

Speaking to reporters, he said he has made significant headway in Bukit Panjang, having covered around 135 of the 150 blocks.

“We’ve had a number of community interactions, we’ve met with residents who have gotten to know us... we’re definitely looking forward to a good contest both in Sembawang GRC, and especially in Sembawang West SMC,” he added.

Before this, only the National Solidarity Party had signalled its intention to contest the new SMC.

Dr Chee said they are “always in touch” with fellow opposition parties, “and we’ll certainly be discussing this matter with them to work out a solution”.

“But we won’t see, or at least we hope not to see, a three-cornered fight.”

Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan announced his candidacy on March 23, in fliers distributed to residents during a walkabout in the area.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who anchors Sembawang GRC, had earlier said the change in electoral boundaries was not surprising as more residents have moved into the area, and the population has expanded considerably over the past few years.

It is not yet known if incumbent MP Poh Li San, who oversees the Sembawang West ward, will helm the new SMC.

Sembawang GRC has five MPs: Mr Ong, Ms Poh, Mr Vikram Nair, Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Ms Mariam Jaafar.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Honour Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy not just in remembrance, but in action: PM Wong​

Residents, grassroots leaders and members of the public gathering to lay flowers at the Lee Kuan Yew memorial tree in Duxton Plain Park on March 22.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Andrew Wong
Mar 23, 2025

SINGAPORE – On the 10th anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s death, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called on Singaporeans to honour the legacy of Singapore’s founding father through their actions.

Modern Singapore stands as a testament to Mr Lee’s vision for the nation, having become a clean and green city-state that is “admired and respected around the world”.

“Together with his pioneering team, Mr Lee defied the odds to build a nation anchored in meritocracy, strengthened by economic resilience, and held together by a deep commitment to harmony,” said PM Wong in a Facebook post on March 23.

He added: “The Singapore story is still being written. Together, let’s forge a brighter future worthy of the foundation he laid.”

Mr Lee became Singapore’s prime minister in 1959, serving in that office until he stepped down in 1990. He remained in politics as a senior minister and minister mentor until his retirement in May 2011. He was then appointed as senior adviser to the GIC sovereign wealth fund.

Mr Lee died on March 23, 2015, at 91.

“Ten years on, the recent rains remind us of that solemn day in March 2015, when Singapore stood united under heavy skies to bid farewell to our founding prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew,” said PM Wong.


Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was Mr Lee’s eldest child, also marked the 10th anniversary of his father’s death with a Facebook post.

“Singaporeans remember him for all he did for the nation. To me and my family, he was our father or grandfather, and meant the world to us. May we live up to his hopes and expectations, and always do him proud,” said SM Lee.


President Tharman Shanmugaratnam paid tribute to Singapore’s growth under Mr Lee’s charge, saying the nation would have looked very different if not for him.

“We survived as a small nation, became a multiracial society, and kept climbing up in the world because of him, the team he led, and his insistence that every generation should have its own leaders – and its own ideals and aspirations for the future,” said Mr Tharman on Facebook.

He added that Singaporeans can live up to Mr Lee’s legacy by constantly imagining a better future, working to make it possible, and to become a nation that uplifts every citizen.

On March 22, a ceremony was held at Duxton Plain Park in Tanjong Pagar GRC to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Mr Lee’s death.

Mr Lee was Tanjong Pagar’s first MP, after being elected in 1955 when it was a single-member constituency. He remained an MP of the constituency for almost 60 years.

The ceremony was attended by three out of five Tanjong Pagar MPs: Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, and Ms Joan Pereira.

Mr Koo Tsai Kee, former MP of the Tiong Bahru division under Tanjong Pagar GRC from 1991 to 2011; and Ms Rachel Ong, an MP for West Coast GRC, were also in attendance. Under the latest changes to the electoral boundaries, parts of Ms Ong’s Telok Blangah ward in West Coast GRC have been ceded to Tanjong Pagar GRC.

All five placed bouquets of yellow and white chrysanthemums at the foot of the Lee Kuan Yew memorial tree to mark Mr Lee’s death anniversary.

(Front row, from left) West Coast GRC MP Rachel Ong, Tanjong Pagar GRC MPs Indranee Rajah and Chan Chun Sing, Radin Mas MP Melvin Yong, Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Joan Pereira and former Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Koo Tsai Kee observing a minute of silence at a ceremony at Duxton Plain Park, on March 22, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s death.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
The memorial tree was planted at Duxton Plain Park a month after Mr Lee’s death. Its planting was witnessed by then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, along with some 500 residents from the constituency. Among his many accolades, the founding father of the Republic was known as Singapore’s Chief Gardener.

Said Ms Indranee on March 22: “What he did for Tanjong Pagar, he also did at scale for the whole country. He oversaw this extraordinary transformation of Singapore in its journey from Third World to First.”

 

[True Believer]

The General Erection is coming

 

[True Believer]

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Around 1,000 attend mass break-fast meal at Kampong Glam​

This is the third year the communal break-fast meal has been held in the area.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Lee Nian Tjoe
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE – A stretch of Arab Street between North Bridge Road and Beach Road was closed off on March 22, as around 1,000 attendees gathered for a mass iftar, or communal break-fast meal.

It was part of the Gemilang Kampong Gelam 2025 Ramadan Bazaar, and guests included beneficiaries from non-profit organisations and Jalan Besar GRC.

This is the third year the communal break-fast meal has been held in the area.

In 2024, over 1,500 people attended the event.

Addressing attendees, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who was the guest of honour, said it was not common for people from different backgrounds, religions and races to celebrate the meaning of Ramadan and break fast together in this way.

He said: “In fact, it is very unique, and it’s something we should always cherish and protect here in Singapore, and always be that oasis of peace, stability and harmony, regardless of race, language or religion.”

PM Wong also distributed goodie bags to the beneficiaries.


Each bag included refreshments, a green packet and a voucher.

Mrs Josephine Teo, who is the Minister for Digital Development and Information and who helms the People’s Action Party team in Jalan Besar GRC, was present.

Her fellow MPs in the GRC – Mr Heng Chee How, Ms Denise Phua and Dr Wan Rizal – also attended.

Minister of State for National Development and Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim was also at the event.

Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month in the Muslim calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. Iftar is the evening meal that marks the end of the fasting day during this period.

Mr Zaki Ma’arof, chairman of One Kampong Gelam, an association that aims to enliven and establish Kampong Glam as a vibrant cultural district, said: “Ramadan is a time of reflection, generosity and togetherness. Through this mass iftar, our aim is to foster a spirit of inclusivity and bring people from all walks of life together in a meaningful way.”

Safety officer Abdillah Hashim, 43, his wife, Madam Nur Raisah, 39, a homemaker, and four of their five children, were invited by the Muslim Handicap Society of Singapore to the event. The family was surprised by the scale of the mass iftar.

The communal iftar is part of the Ramadan festivities in the Kampong Glam heritage precinct that run till March 25. Among the activities is a food bazaar that features 80 food and beverage operators.

Since it opened on Feb 19, the bazaar has seen 900,000 visitors. It is open from 2pm till 11pm, other than Sunday, when it closes at 11.30pm.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: Despite encounters with unfriendly residents, Edwin Tong says he still engages them as MP​

Deputy Prime Minister and East Coast GRC MP Heng Swee Keat (right) and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong (second from right) on a walkabout at the food centre at Block 16 Bedok South Road on March 23.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Goh Yan Han
Mar 23, 2025

SINGAPORE – Despite occasional encounters with unfriendly residents, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said he still engages them.

“In fact, I do, and I will continue to do so, because it’s our responsibility as MPs to look after all residents, even if they might have difficult issues,” he said on March 23.

He was responding to a question about a video that had surfaced from a walkabout the day before in Marine Parade GRC, where he is currently an MP.

The video had spliced together Mr Tong’s interactions with residents at a coffee shop in Marine Terrace, a part of the newly renamed Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

It had been reposted by online media sites that questioned how Mr Tong would be received by residents in East Coast GRC.

It showed Mr Tong greeting and chatting with people at the coffee shop, some of whom did not engage in conversation with him.

When asked about the incident at the end of a walkabout in Bedok, Mr Tong said that the reception he had at the walkabout in Marine Parade the day before was warm.

The video was taken by some sites and used in a way that thrust him in a negative light, he said.

“I think it is obvious (that it was) to push an agenda, I think, quite clearly for a political objective,” he said.

He pointed out that the person who had uploaded the original video on Facebook has since clarified that the video had been used out of context.

The person who had posted the video said in his video caption that it was “disappointing that some people have taken my video out of context and twisted the truth”.

Mr Tong said: “Since that has been clarified by him, I think we can let that clarification speak for itself, although it’s unfortunate that it’s happened.”

He added that he had told his team not to get distracted by such incidents, and to focus on the real work on the ground, connect with people and continue to win their confidence.

Mr Delane Lim, a volunteer with Mr Tong who was also captured in the video, posted his account of the incident on Facebook on March 22. He has been volunteering with Mr Tong for a few months.

He said Mr Tong had been briefed by a volunteer that a particular table at the coffee shop seemed unfriendly, and asked if they should still go over.

Mr Lim said Mr Tong’s response was that as residents, they must be engaged and their concerns heard.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: MP Xie Yao Quan hopes to be fielded in new Jurong Central SMC​

Jurong GRC MP Xie Yao Quan (second from right) chatting with residents during his walkabout in Jurong Central Plaza on March 23.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Christine Tan
Mar 23, 2025

SINGAPORE – Jurong GRC MP Xie Yao Quan said he hopes to stand in the new Jurong Central SMC in the upcoming general election, so he can continue serving residents there.

Mr Xie, who has represented the Jurong Central ward since he was elected in 2020, said: “We have rolled out a number of initiatives and programmes in the last few years, but in our minds, really, we’ve only just begun.”

“Whether I will stay here or not, ultimately, it’s up to PM (Lawrence Wong) to decide,” he told reporters during a walkabout in Jurong West on March 23.

He added that the plan is for Jurong Central to form a town council with Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, if the ruling party’s MPs in those constituencies are elected.

“So in terms of municipal matters, Jurong Central SMC will be well taken care of,” he said. “As it is, the Jurong Central division, together with four of the divisions in the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, are already served by the same town council, so we want some continuity there.”

Jurong Central SMC will have 29,620 voters, drawing 25,668 from Jurong GRC and the rest from Yuhua SMC, which will be dissolved. Current Yuhua MP Grace Fu said on March 20 that residents have asked her the reason for the change.

Ms Fu, who is Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, said she explained to residents what prompted the boundary changes and assured them that there will be a proper handover.


Mr Xie said he has been in “very active discussions” with Ms Fu on the existing programmes in Yuhua and Jurong Central, and how these will come together.

He added that they are working out the details, and said their focus is to ensure residents continue to be well taken care of.

Opposition party Red Dot United (RDU) has said it plans to contest in Jurong Central SMC, as well as Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

When asked about RDU, Mr Xie said he hopes the single seat will be contested.

“It is going to be good for residents to have a chance to exercise their democratic right, and to make a choice that’s in their best interest,” he added.

RDU on March 23 introduced piano teacher Emily Woo, 59, as its team lead for Jurong Central.

Madam Woo will front the groundwork in the single seat, said RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon. But he added that it is too early to confirm any candidates for the upcoming general election.

In previous elections, Jurong GRC has been one of the PAP’s strongest-performing constituencies. A key figure behind the ruling party’s strong performance was President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who represented the area for more than two decades until he stepped down in 2023 to contest the presidential election.


When asked about his chances in the election without Mr Tharman around, Mr Xie replied: “My mantra is, we take good care of residents, we let the rest take care of itself.”

Madam Ng Choon Khim, 62, a housewife who has lived in Jurong Central for more than 40 years, said she was used to having a group of representatives in a group representation constituency, but welcomed the change to a single seat.

She said Mr Xie has visited her estate about three times in the last five years, and added in Mandarin: “I’m confident in Mr Xie. He’s usually on the ground and is very approachable.”