General Election 2025

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Bill to combat digitally manipulated content, deepfakes during elections tabled in Parliament​

The Returning Officer can issue corrective directions to those who publish prohibited online election advertising content under the proposed new law. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Chin Soo Fang
Senior Correspondent

Sep 11, 2024


SINGAPORE - A new Bill will put in place measures to counter digitally manipulated content during elections including misinformation generated using artificial intelligence (AI), commonly known as deepfakes.
The proposed safeguards under the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill will apply to all online content that realistically depicts a candidate saying or doing something that he did not.
This includes content made using non-AI techniques like Photoshop, dubbing and splicing.
If the Bill is passed, candidates will be able to ask the Returning Officer (RO) to review content that has misrepresented them. A false declaration of such misrepresentation is illegal and could result in a fine or loss of a seat.
Others can also make requests to review such content, which is set to be made illegal from the time the Writ of Election is issued to the close of polling.
The move comes ahead of a general election that must be held by November 2025.
The RO can issue corrective directions to those who publish prohibited online election advertising content under the proposed new law. Social media services that fail to comply may be fined up to $1 million upon conviction, while all others may be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to a year, or both.

Corrective actions include taking down the offending content, or disabling access by Singapore users to such content during the election period.
Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam tabled the Bill in Parliament on Sept 9. It will be debated at the next available sitting and if passed, will amend the Parliamentary Elections Act and the Presidential Elections Act to introduce the new safeguards.
To be protected under it, prospective candidates will first have to pay their election deposits and consent to their names being published on a list that will be put up on the Elections Department’s website some time before Nomination Day.

If they choose to do so, it will be the first time that the identities of prospective candidates are made public before Nomination Day.
The measures will also cover successfully nominated candidates from the end of Nomination Day to Polling Day.
The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said in a press release that while the Government can already deal with individual online falsehoods against the public interest through the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma), targeted levers are needed to act on deepfakes that misrepresent candidates during elections.
“Misinformation created by AI-generated content and deepfakes is a salient threat to our electoral integrity,” said an MDDI spokesperson.
“We see this new Bill not as a replacement for Pofma, but rather as a means to augment and sharpen our regulations under the online election advertising regime, to shore up the integrity of our electoral process.”

The spokesperson added that with Pofma, the Government will respond when it knows what the facts are, for example, when someone makes a falsehood about the reserves or housing prices.
“However, in the case of deepfakes featuring political candidates, it is much more difficult for the Government to establish what an individual said or did not say, did or did not do. Therefore, we do need the individual to come forward and say that this is a misrepresentation.
“While we can use a set of technological tools to assess whether the content is AI-generated or manipulated, these tools give us a certain confidence level, but it is not 100 per cent. So there is quite a lot of weight given to what an individual claims is the truth, and this is where it differs from Pofma.”
Fraudsters have disrupted elections in many countries, including in Slovakia and India. More recently, fake videos of presidential nominees Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have proliferated on social media in what is widely billed as America’s first AI election in November.
In response, there has been a growing momentum worldwide to deal with deepfakes during elections.
For example, South Korea implemented a 90-day ban on political AI-generated content before its election in April.
Its National Election Commission said it busted a total of 129 deepfakes that were deemed to violate the laws on elections of public officials between Jan 29 and Feb 16.
Brazil has also banned synthetic content that will harm or favour a candidacy during elections in February.

Closer to home, then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned the public of deepfake videos circulating online in December 2023 which showed him and then Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong promoting investment platforms. The videos used AI to mimic their voices and facial expressions.
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo told Parliament in January that Singapore needs to grow new capabilities to keep pace with scammers and online risks.
She announced a new arsenal of detection tools Singapore is developing to tackle the rising scourge of deepfakes and misinformation. The tools will be designed under a new $50 million initiative to build online trust and safety.
Beyond elections, a new code of practice will be introduced to tackle deepfakes and other forms of manipulated content.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will introduce the code requiring social media services to put in place measures to address digitally manipulated content.
This will ensure that they do more to gatekeep, safeguard and moderate content on their platforms. IMDA will engage social media services in the coming months to work out the details of the code.

 

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askST: What are the proposed measures to deal with deepfakes during Singapore’s elections?​

The Bill will introduce new measures to protect Singaporeans from digitally manipulated content during elections, including deepfakes. PHOTO: ST FILE

Chin Soo Fang
Senior Correspondent

Sep 09, 2024


SINGAPORE - A new Bill was tabled by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) in Parliament on Sept 9 to deal with false content put out to sway elections here.
Called the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill, it will introduce new measures to protect Singaporeans from digitally manipulated content during elections, including artificial intelligence-generated misinformation, commonly known as deepfakes.
From the issuance of the Writ of Election to the close of polls on Polling Day, the Bill proposes to prohibit the publication of digitally generated or manipulated online election advertising (OEA) that depicts a candidate saying or doing something that he or she did not. It will apply only to OEA depicting people who are running as candidates for an election.
The Bill will amend the Parliamentary Elections Act and the Presidential Elections Act to introduce the new safeguards.

Q: Why is this Bill needed?​

A: Misinformation created by AI-generated content and deepfakes has been used during elections in other countries, and is also a salient threat to Singapore’s electoral integrity. Such content can realistically depict the appearance, voice or action of a candidate, which can deceive or mislead the public. Voters must be able to make informed choices based on facts and not misinformation.
In Singapore, there have been cases of AI-generated content being used to impersonate individuals, including political office-holders. While such content has so far primarily been used for scams, it can also be deployed during an election.

Q: How is it different from Pofma?​

A: While the Government can already deal with individual pieces of online falsehoods against the public interest through the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma), the Bill is targeted specifically at Singapore’s election periods.

If passed, it will allow an election candidate to report any misinformation about his or her words or actions. It also enables the Returning Officer (RO) to address deepfakes swiftly by directing their removal, given the fast-paced nature of information flow in an election context.

Q: Why limit the Bill to only elections?​

A: It is focused on the challenges and risks posed by AI-generated content in the high-stakes context of elections. Other laws such as Pofma and the Online Criminal Harms Act are safeguards that are in place to tackle such threats during non-election periods.
A new code of practice (COP) will also be introduced soon to ensure that social media companies do more to gatekeep, safeguard and moderate content on their platforms. Details of the COP will be shared at a later stage, said MDDI.

Q: What is and isn’t covered under the Bill?​

A: Content that will be covered includes realistic audiofakes or robocalls, and manipulated content using non-AI techniques such as splicing and photoshopping of videos that may affect electoral outcomes.
Besides covering fresh content, those who pay to boost, share or repost such content will also be liable.
What is not covered includes animated cartoons and characters, cosmetic alterations, entertainment content and memes, and campaign posters.
Also not covered is news published by authorised news agencies for factual reporting on prohibited content, as well as content communicated electronically between individuals that is of a private nature.

Q: What are some of the actions that can be taken against misinformation?​

A: The RO can issue corrective directions to individuals who publish such content. He can also issue such directions to social media services and internet providers to take down the content, or to disable access by Singapore users to such content during the election period. Failure to comply would be an offence punishable by a fine or imprisonment, or both, on conviction.

Q: How will the public be informed about any misinformation?​

A: The public will be informed by the authorities when there is a need to remove certain content.
The candidate can also put out his or her own press statement or social media post to inform the public of any misinformation, given the urgency and fast-paced nature of an election period.
Independent fact-checkers and media outlets may also separately do their checks and debunk such falsehoods.

 

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Bill to combat deepfakes during election timely despite challenges: Analysts​

The proposed measures will be in force from the issuance of the Writ of Election to the close of polling on Polling Day. PHOTO: ST FILE

Chin Soo Fang
Senior Correspondent

Sep 11, 2024

SINGAPORE – Proposed measures to combat deepfakes during elections are timely given the proliferation of such content worldwide, said analysts. But the effectiveness of such laws will depend on factors such as enforcement and public awareness, they added.
The Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill, tabled in Parliament on Sept 9, will prohibit the publication of digitally manipulated content during elections. This refers to content that realistically depicts an election candidate saying or doing something that he or she did not, and includes misinformation generated using artificial intelligence (AI) – commonly known as deepfakes.
These measures will be in force from the issuance of the Writ of Election to the close of polling on Polling Day, with the Returning Officer empowered to issue corrective directions to those who publish such content.
Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, director of NUS’ AI Institute, said the problem of misinformation and disinformation requires a combination of technical solutions, regulation and legislation, and public education. “These laws not only serve as deterrents, they also provide legal recourse post-publication. Such legislation is therefore necessary.”
He added that while such laws signal a proactive stance, enforcement in other countries has been challenging.
“Detecting and proving malicious intent behind deepfakes can be difficult,” he said. “However, these capabilities are constantly improving.”
Prof Kankanhalli cited the example of the 2020 US presidential election, where deepfakes were a concern, though their direct use was limited.

One notable case involved a manipulated video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which was slowed down to make her appear intoxicated or cognitively impaired. It showed how video manipulation could mislead the public, and demonstrated the potential for deepfakes to be used as a political weapon, he said.
He also cited the example of the 2019 Indian general election, when deepfakes were used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to create manipulated videos for campaign purposes. On one occasion, the party produced videos of Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, in which he appeared to speak in different dialects of Hindi and Haryanvi. The videos were designed to reach specific regional audiences more effectively without requiring him to physically record the same speech multiple times.
“Though this use of deepfake technology wasn’t meant to deceive in a malicious sense, it raised ethical concerns about the potential for such technology to mislead voters if misused,” Prof Kankanhalli said, adding that this incident also marked one of the first high-profile cases where deepfake technology was used in a political campaign.

Assistant Professor Roy Lee, from SUTD’s Information Systems Technology and Design pillar, noted that concerns have also been raised about deepfakes for the upcoming 2024 US presidential election. Manipulated videos targeting Indonesian politicians had also emerged during Indonesia’s recent election, he said.
In response to this growing problem, laws aimed at curbing deepfakes have been introduced in several countries.
For example, the US state of California passed a law in 2019 to criminalise the distribution of manipulated media such as deepfakes intended to mislead voters. Specifically, it prohibits individuals or entities from distributing such media with malice within 60 days of an election.
The European Union enacted in 2022 the Digital Services Act, which imposes stricter regulations on digital platforms, including measures to prevent the spread of manipulated content.

Prof Lee said: “These laws have been part of broader efforts to prevent election interference, although their effectiveness largely depends on timely detection and public awareness.”
Mr Benjamin Ang, head of NTU’s Centre of Excellence for National Security, noted that the US has also banned the use of AI-generated voices in robocalls, including those used in election campaigns to spread misinformation and mislead voters.
The decision came after AI-generated robocalls impersonating President Joe Biden sought to discourage voting in the New Hampshire primary election in January. Some experts noted that enforcing this law against foreign actors seeking to interfere in US elections may still be challenging, though it sends a clear message that exploiting AI to mislead voters will not be tolerated.
“The law is only one part of the battle to combat deepfakes and protect electoral fairness and integrity because this also requires vigilance and cooperation from tech platforms where the deepfakes are circulating, public education about the dangers of spreading deepfakes, and our own personal choice to stop and think very seriously before we share any videos or other content,” said Mr Ang.
He added: “The impact of this Bill, like all other laws, should be to set standards of behaviour by which our society can maintain order, resolve disputes, and protect rights.”
Dr Carol Soon, principal research fellow at Institute of Policy Studies and adjunct principal scientist at the Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety, said deepfakes also make it easier for political candidates to falsely claim genuine content to be manipulated or generated by AI, allowing them to benefit from the “liar’s dividend” in a polluted information ecosystem.
For example, during the recent Turkish election, a video that showed compromising images of an electoral candidate was said to be a deepfake when it was in fact real.
“This proposed Bill is surgical as it is focused both in terms of the defined offence and timeframe. The Bill thus seeks to strike the fine balance between upholding election integrity and allowing for non-harmful use of generative AI such as entertainment, education and creative usage,” she said.
To be protected under the proposed Bill, prospective candidates will first have to pay their election deposits and consent to their names being published on a list that will be put up on the Elections Department’s website some time before Nomination Day. If they choose to do so, it will be the first time that the identities of prospective candidates are made public before Nomination Day.
The proposed law will also cover successfully nominated candidates from the end of Nomination Day to Polling Day.
On the early disclosure of candidates’ names, Prof Lee said this primarily enhances transparency in the electoral process.
“This transparency can help mitigate the risk of misinformation and deepfake-related content as voters will have more time to scrutinise information about candidates and ensure its accuracy,” he said. “It also provides more time for online platforms and regulatory bodies to monitor and take corrective actions against manipulated content targeting these candidates.”

 

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Bill passed to counter digitally manipulated content, deepfakes during elections​

The new measure will prohibit the publication of online content that realistically depicts a candidate saying or doing something that he or she did not. PHOTO: ST FILE

Chin Soo Fang
Senior Correspondent

Oct 15, 2024

SINGAPORE – Deepfakes and other digitally manipulated content of candidates will be barred during the election period, under a new law to provide an additional safeguard against misinformation.
Parliament on Oct 15 passed the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill to put in place the new measure.
Presenting the Bill for debate, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said it is a carefully calibrated response to augment Singapore’s election laws under the Parliamentary Elections Act and the Presidential Elections Act.
The new measure will prohibit the publication of online content that realistically depicts a candidate saying or doing something that he did not. This includes misinformation generated using artificial intelligence (AI), or deepfakes, and content made using non-AI techniques like Photoshop, dubbing and splicing.
Such content will be illegal from the time the Writ of Election is issued to the close of polling.
“It does not matter if the content is favourable or unfavourable to any candidate. The publication of such prohibited content during the election period, including by boosting, sharing and reposting existing content, will be an offence,” said Mrs Teo.

Candidates will be able to ask the Returning Officer (RO) to review content that has misrepresented them, and the RO can issue corrective directions to those who publish prohibited online election advertising content.

Corrective actions include taking down the offending content, or disabling access by Singapore users to such content during the election period.
Social media services that fail to comply may be fined up to $1 million upon conviction, while all others may be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to a year, or both.
The new measure will not cover AI-generated or animated characters and cartoons, cosmetic alterations such as the use of beauty filters, or colour and lighting adjustments of images and videos, and entertainment content like memes.

Mrs Teo said it also does not extend to private or domestic communications shared between individuals or within a closed group such as group chats with family or a small group of friends, or news published by authorised news agencies.
The legislation will also provide a defence for a person who reshares messages and links without knowing that the content had been manipulated, she added.
The move comes ahead of a general election that must be held by November 2025.
To be protected under the new law, prospective candidates will first have to pay their election deposits and consent to their names being published on a list that will be put up on the Elections Department’s website some time before Nomination Day.
This will be the first time that the identities of prospective candidates are made public before Nomination Day.

Mrs Teo said candidates should also step forward to clarify and debunk content that they believe misrepresents them.
The Government will use a range of detection tools to assess if the content has been generated or manipulated through digital means, she said.
“We have placed significant weight on candidates’ declarations to the Returning Officer under this new prohibition, as a candidate is in the best position to speedily clarify if the content is a truthful and accurate representation of himself or herself,” said Mrs Teo.
“The Government is unlikely to have all the evidence of whether a candidate actually said or did something, especially if it was in a private setting.”
Making a false or misleading declaration is illegal. Those convicted can be fined up to $2,000, and become ineligible to be elected as a Member of Parliament or as president.
The public can also report potentially prohibited content of candidates to the authorities for review. To better equip them to make informed choices during the elections, the public will be notified about corrective directions that have been issued against offending content, Mrs Teo said.
Eight MPs raised questions about the Bill, with many, including Ms He Ting Ru (Sengkang GRC) and Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang), asking if the ban should cover private or domestic communication such as messages on WhatsApp and Telegram.
Mrs Teo said that when deciding whether a communication is of a private or domestic nature, the RO will consider various factors like the number of individuals in Singapore who can access the content, whether the group is closed or public, and the relationships between the individuals.
If the content is circulated in open groups which anyone can freely join, it will not be considered private or domestic communication, said the minister.

MPs like Dr Wan Rizal (Jalan Besar GRC) and Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) asked how a piece of content can be assessed to be realistic enough.
Mr Yip said that given broad terms such as “realistic but false representations” and “manipulated content”, there may be potential overreach in enforcement.
Clear definitions and guidelines are important so that the law meets its purpose while avoiding the stifling of legitimate political expression, he added.
In response, Mrs Teo noted that disinformation, even if believed by a small segment of society, can lead to drastic and violent consequences.
“We should not accept any segment, no matter how small, voting based on a false representation,” she said.
“We have no way of knowing in advance the extent to which it will alter the course of our elections. But why should we subject our elections to such risk at all, if we can prevent it or at least minimise it?”
Mr Ng asked if any candidate can request corrective directions to be issued, and not just the person who is the subject of the content.
He noted that a candidate who is benefiting from a deepfake may have no incentive to curb the spread of that deepfake.
Mrs Teo said other candidates and even non-candidates can make a request for review.
However, significant weight will be placed on the depicted candidate’s declaration, as he or she is in the best position to clarify if the content is an accurate representation of himself or herself.

 

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Timing of next GE not decided yet, but ‘as each day passes, I am more ready’: PM Wong​

The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee has not yet been formed, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at a press conference on Nov 8. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Anjali Raguraman
Correspondent

Nov 08, 2024

SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he has not yet decided when the next general election (GE) will be held and the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has not been formed.
“When the election is to be held... I have not decided, and when we start the process, people will know,” PM Wong said in a wide-ranging press conference with the Singapore media on Nov 8.
Responding to a question on whether the EBRC has been convened, PM Wong said: “When we do so, we will announce it, as we always do. We won’t do these things quietly.”
The past few GEs had been called between one and three months after the release of the EBRC report.
When asked if the upcoming Budget will be an election budget, he said Budget 2025 could potentially be the last budget in this term of government.
This is because “elections could still be done before the Budget, but potentially, if the elections are after, then it will be the last budget in this term of government”, PM Wong added.
Singapore’s Budget is typically delivered and considered in February and March each year.

On how ready he and his team is for the GE, the prime minister said: “As each day passes, I am more ready.”
He said the governing People’s Action Party (PAP) is “getting ourselves ready” and added that the country has till the end of 2025 to hold the election.
The next GE must be called by November 2025.

“We are continuing to prepare, and as we get better and better... as we get to the point when we are ready, then I will call the General Election,” he said.

As for potential candidates who will be fielded, he said that the search is continuing to actively identify candidates.
“When the time comes, I hope to be able to unveil a good slate of candidates for Singaporeans,” PM Wong said.
He also touched on renewal in the party, noting that MPs who have served two or three terms will be asked to step down, and the party will bring in “new blood”.
With elections in many places resulting in societies that are more divided and polarised, PM Wong said he hoped Singaporeans “will understand what’s at stake”.

Choosing the right party to govern is important, added the prime minister. “But it’s also about determining our future,” he said.
“If we are unable to hold together as a society, I think it will be very hard for us to stay relevant and very hard for us to survive and thrive,” he added.
“We try our best to not to go down the path of political capitalism, opportunism, but find ways to keep our society strong, united, and maintain that high level of trust, because that’s essential for Singapore to stay relevant and to survive in this new world.”

Asked for his takeaways on the recent US election that were relevant to Singapore, PM Wong said he does not take the people’s vote or mandate for granted.
“I do not assume that I will continue as prime minister or that the PAP will automatically form the next government,” he said.
“In the end, Singaporeans will have to decide, and when we get to elections, we will present to them our record, ... what we have done in this term of government. We hope that will be sufficient to earn the confidence and trust of Singaporeans, and we hope they will give us the chance to govern Singapore.”
PM Wong noted that as with any Budget, the priorities will centre on the immediate issues and concerns that may arise, such as cost-of-living issues.
Pre-Budget consultations will start in December with these broad themes: Singapore’s economic strategies; skills upgrading and jobs for workers; how support can be provided to Singaporeans across different stages of their lives; as well as strengthening solidarity as Singapore celebrates 60 years of independence.

 

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PM Wong hopes to field more women candidates in next GE​

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong urged the public to support the women political candidates when they are fielded. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Gabrielle Chan

Sep 01, 2024

SINGAPORE – There are plans to have more women candidates in the upcoming general election, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, noting his hope to increase the representation of women in Parliament.
“To me, having that diversity in the team is very useful,” said PM Wong, urging the public to support the women political candidates when they are fielded.
“Throughout my working life, I have benefited from working with men and women who bring a wider range of perspectives and help contribute to better solutions and better decision-making,” he said at the People’s Action Party (PAP) Women’s Wing conference on Aug 31.
PAP women MPs now hold close to one-third of the seats in Parliament. In contrast, all PAP MPs were men in the 1970s and early 1980s.
There is still work to be done to build an inclusive society, said PM Wong, noting that advancing the cause for gender equality in Singapore is not a zero-sum issue.
“Equality for women does not mean that men get less,” he said. “Gains that women make in society do not mean that men will inevitably lose out.”
He said that in some countries, there has been more divergence in views between men and women.

Boys and young men also struggle with challenges like education and mental health, he said.
“If they feel their concerns are not adequately addressed, men and young boys, then, out of a sense of insecurity, some may see the movement for equality for women as a movement against men,” said PM Wong, adding that this must not happen in Singapore.
“The fact is that we are all in this together,” he said, adding that men and women have to work and learn together, get married, form families and raise children together.

This is why he focused on these issues during his first National Day Rally speech earlier in August, mandating four weeks of paternity leave and introducing a new shared parental leave scheme.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong with (from left) Minister Indranee Rajah, Minister Grace Fu, former PAP Women's Wing chairwoman Lim Hwee Hwa, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann, former PAP Women's Wing chairwoman Aline Wong, Minister Josephine Teo and Ms Rachel Ong, organising chairwoman of the PAP Women's Wing conference. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
The PAP Women’s Wing started in 1989, 35 years after the PAP was established and three years after the youth wing was set up, PAP Women’s Wing chairwoman Sim Ann said at the conference.
“The relatively recent arrival of the Women’s Wing in the PAP family tells us that getting more women involved in political work has never been easy,” she said at the event held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Women’s Wing.
She acknowledged the first three women MPs elected in 1984 – Dr Dixie Tan, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon and Dr Aline Wong – who ended a 14-year drought of not having women represented in Parliament.
Speaking to the media after the celebration, Ms Sim said PM Wong’s commitment to fielding more women in the coming election is a sign of encouragement and affirmation for women’s capabilities and leadership skills.
It is also encouraging to those involved in ground activism, Ms Sim said, adding that there will be more women stepping up.

PAP Women’s Wing chairwoman Sim Ann speaking at the conference on Aug 31. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
When asked by the media if there is a target number for women fielded, Ms Sim said that in Singapore, there is no quota for representation and leadership, including political representation.
“It is very important for us to know that we hold these positions because of our merit and our ability,” she said.
A numerical target is not key here, Ms Sim said. “I think the fact that PM Wong has shared so openly about his confidence in fielding women speaks volumes about his belief and faith in women’s capabilities.”
The PAP Women’s Wing will continue to stay close to the ground, said Ms Sim, to ensure that it can identify issues that are of interest primarily to women but also to men.
Some of these areas include women’s health-related concerns, support for women in all stages of life, including marriage and parenthood, and caregiver concerns.
Ms Sim added: “We would like to advocate for policy changes that make it easier for women to fulfil their fullest potential, and we believe that this makes for a Singapore that is better for women and men.”

 

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New faces emerge across constituencies ahead of the next GE: Who are they so far?​

Two new faces, Dr Charlene Chen (left) and Dr Choo Pei Ling, have featured on banners with elected MPs in Tampines and Marine Parade GRCs. PHOTOS: ST FILE, LIANHE ZAOBAO
Ng Wei Kai and Goh Yan Han

Nov 09, 2024

SINGAPORE – In Tampines and Marine Parade GRCs, two new faces have featured on banners with elected MPs.
Dr Charlene Chen and Dr Choo Pei Ling are grassroots advisers in the two constituencies respectively.
The academics are among at least seven new faces in the PAP camp who have in the last 1½ years assumed leadership roles in opposition wards and almost every PAP-held constituency with empty seats.
All have been spotted alongside MPs at community events and made party branch chairs or grassroots advisers – roles sometimes held by those later fielded as candidates for the ruling party.
Only one spot, in West Coast GRC, remains publicly unspoken for. This is former transport minister S. Iswaran’s seat, vacant since he resigned in January 2024 following a corruption probe.
Analysts say getting new faces on the ground early could give the People’s Action Party (PAP) an edge in contested and opposition-held areas. For one thing, residents will have more time to get familiar with potential candidates, whose early start can signal a commitment by the party to winning over the voters.

Refreshing the slate​

In constituencies held by the Workers’ Party (WP) – Hougang, Sengkang and Aljunied – the PAP has brought in new blood.

Two new faces joined the Aljunied GRC line-up in August. Trade unionist Jagathishwaran Rajo now chairs the Eunos branch, while Paya Lebar’s new branch chairman is Mr Kenny Sim, the chief executive of an IT products firm.
Mr Marcus Loh, a director at a digital transformation services firm, also joined the PAP’s refreshed Sengkang GRC slate in November 2023. His team comprises former minister of state Lam Pin Min, as well as relative newcomers Elmie Nekmat and Theodora Lai. Both came on board in March 2022 after the last general election (GE).
Mr Loh’s move took place a week after trade unionist Jackson Lam was appointed Hougang branch chairman.

Up-and-comers have also been seen in Jurong, Marine Parade and Tampines GRCs, which have one vacant seat each. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam stepped down in Jurong to run for president in July 2023, while Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and Ms Cheng Li Hui – from Marine Parade and Tampines respectively – resigned after an affair between them came to light that year.
Their respective replacements are: orthopaedic surgeon Hamid Razak; Dr Choo, an assistant professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology’s health and social sciences cluster; and Dr Chen, an assistant professor of marketing at NTU.

Dr Hamid Razak (second from right) with (from left) Jurong GRC MPs Rahayu Mahzam, Tan Wu Meng and Shawn Tan at the NUHS Health Together carnival on Oct 12. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
All three are active on the ground, and some, like Dr Choo, have got the public backing of party stalwarts.
In April, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong – who was active in Marine Parade for over 40 years – lauded Dr Choo as the “present and future” of the estate.

(From left) Dr Choo Pei Ling, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng at Marine Parade’s 50th anniversary event in April. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Two months later, Dr Chen was introduced to Tampines residents by the GRC’s anchor minister Masagos Zulkifli. Mr Masagos, who is Minister for Social and Family Development, said she would be working with him to serve Tampines East – the ward vacated by Ms Cheng.

Dr Charlene Chen, a grassroots adviser in Tampines GRC, speaking to an attendee at the OTH Festival held at Our Tampines Hub on June 15. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
All three are second grassroots advisers (2GA).
While the majority of grassroots volunteers do not stand for political office, some sitting MPs such as Tampines GRC’s Desmond Choo and Nee Soon GRC’s Carrie Tan had held the 2GA post before they stood for election.
The newly minted appointees told The Straits Times they have been working to connect with specific demographics.
For Mr Jackson Lam, this means Hougang’s seniors and young people.
“We are working closely with the active ageing centres in Hougang. We want to reach out to as many seniors as possible, and promote healthy active living,” he said.
“At the same time, we actively reach out to the youth at rental blocks, such as during the festive seasons.”

Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Kiat How (foreground, left) and Hougang grassroots organisations adviser Jackson Lam doing warm-up exercises with residents of Hougang Central in June. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
Associate Professor Elmie, a communications expert from NUS, said Sengkang’s Malay community has been particularly welcoming and open to sharing their thoughts on issues.
“(These) include international ones such as the wars and conflicts in the Middle East, as well as local issues like the lack of halal eateries in the neighbourhood,” he said.
Prof Elmie said his team is planning more programmes and assistance for residents.
“Admittedly, there are limits to what I can do as a non-elected representative of the PAP in Sengkang,” he added.
“While I cannot write to agencies to appeal for help on behalf of residents, I will try to better understand their problems and offer help within what I can.”

Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat at the official opening of Buangkok Community Club in July. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Good to be seen early​

Publicly introducing potential candidates early may lead to more support at the ballot box, said political observers.
For one thing, they have more time to engage residents, and the party has a longer runway to gauge sentiments in the lead-up to the polls.
SMU law don Eugene Tan said the PAP may want to give new faces time to know the ground better.
It would also want to avoid “parachuting in” new candidates at opposition-held constituencies late, given the amount of legwork needed to wrestle these back, he added.
Early introductions can also help suss out sentiments on the ground, said independent political observer Felix Tan.
He said: “If there are any shifts, there will still be time for the PAP to make changes to the candidates when the time for an election comes.”
NUS’ Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian said that this strategy ensures there are fewer surprises, as was the case with Mr Ivan Lim in GE2020.
Mr Lim had been formally introduced as part of the Jurong GRC team, but withdrew after online criticism of his conduct emerged.
An early start may also serve as a signal of political intent to defend vulnerable constituencies and win back lost ones.
Former PAP MP Inderjit Singh, who retired from politics in 2015, said the early introduction of teams in opposition-held constituencies “shows PAP’s seriousness about serving the constituency and to win back the seats”.

There is usually less pressure to do so in constituencies where the PAP is the incumbent, as other MPs in the constituency can stand in for those who have stepped down at Meet-the-People sessions and community events, SMU’s Professor Tan noted.
But in the case of Marine Parade and Tampines, the PAP may face competition from the WP – the second-largest party in Parliament with 10 seats won at GE2020 – he noted.
During GE2020, the PAP won Marine Parade with 57.74 per cent of the vote to the WP’s 42.26 per cent. It was one of the slimmer margins of victory for the ruling party.
The PAP fared better in Tampines against the National Solidarity Party, where it got 66.41 per cent of the vote compared with the opposition’s 33.59 per cent. However, the WP has been carrying out walkabouts in the constituency, signalling a possible contest there as the party continues to expand in the east of Singapore.
Finally, introducing potential candidates early may help them stand out among the ruling party’s large slate. The PAP typically contests every elected seat in Parliament and refreshes about a third of its slate every general election.
In a large slate, it is easy for individual candidates to get lost in the crowd, Prof Chong said.
One downside of going public so early, though, is that potential candidates may become fodder for public and online debates.
“Social media has always been unforgiving and toxic, and with these new faces or replacements coming to the fore, there will be more vitriol one might expect to see online,” Dr Felix Tan said.

What about West Coast?​

West Coast GRC stands out. Unlike other constituencies, there is no clarity on who will fill the vacant seat left by former Cabinet minister Iswaran.
One possibility is entrepreneur Chua Wei-Shan, who is the Young PAP’s organising secretary. Ms Chua was acting branch chairwoman in Iswaran’s absence and has also been seen on the ground with MPs.
But she does not fulfil the GRC’s ethnic minority requirement, necessitating a reshuffle if she is fielded there.

Entrepreneur Chua Wei-Shan has been seen on the ground with MPs. PHOTO: ST FILE
West Coast saw the closest fight in GE2020, where the PAP line-up, anchored by Iswaran and National Development Minister Desmond Lee, won with just 51.68 per cent of the vote.
The Progress Singapore Party, led in its first hustings by former PAP MP Tan Cheng Bock, garnered 48.32 per cent of the vote.
“The razor-thin victory margin means this GRC is vulnerable electorally for the PAP and the circumstances under which the GRC has one fewer PAP MP there does not help matters,” said Prof Tan, referring to Iswaran’s criminal charges and subsequent jail sentence.
Prof Tan said the question for the party is whether it should deploy another heavyweight – such as a minister or popular backbencher – or a “new face” to replace Iswaran.
An overly hasty announcement could tie its hands unnecessarily, he added.
Another factor could be the fate of the constituency itself.
Dr Felix Tan noted that it is possible the GRC could be carved up to become a smaller one by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, with sections spliced out into SMCs or joining other GRCs.
Mr Singh has previously said changes in electoral boundaries in the west may be on the cards, due to a jump in voter numbers in Hong Kah North – which had a 65.33 per cent increase in voters between 2020 and 2024.
This may result in shifts in the boundaries of Jurong GRC and West Coast GRC.

WP’s guessing game​

Across the aisle, the WP has not publicly introduced potential successors for its two empty seats in Parliament – Ms Raeesah Khan’s seat in Sengkang and Mr Leon Perera’s in Aljunied.
Ms Khan resigned in November 2021 after admitting she lied in Parliament, while Mr Perera resigned in July 2023 after an affair between him and former WP East Coast candidate Nicole Seah came to light.
The WP seems to also be weighing its options for Sengkang and Aljunied GRCs, and may not want to give its opponent time to scrutinise its replacements, said Prof Tan.
This adds to the WP’s “guessing game” with the ruling party. It is very likely that the replacements would be among its strongest candidates, which the party may not want to reveal yet, he added.
Dr Tan noted that WP cadres and potential new candidates face much greater public scrutiny than those from the PAP.
“There are probably some who are already considered for those seats, but the WP could be waiting for a more opportune time to reveal,” he said.
Mr Singh added: “From their perspective, they will want to have an element of surprise so that the PAP will not have enough time to prepare a strategy to counter the particular candidate that will finally be sent.”

Also seen on the ground​

Apart from those who have been formally appointed to their various positions, there are others who have also been spotted on the ground.
Leaders from the civil service, the private sector and non-profits have been seen with PAP MPs at political party walkabouts and community events.
Possibly the most senior former civil servant to appear alongside PAP MPs so far is Singapore Business Federation chief executive officer Kok Ping Soon.
Mr Kok, who was until 2023 the chief executive of the Government Technology Agency, has been pictured with Nee Soon MP Derrick Goh since September, attending various events including North West Service Week, a quarterly assistance programme for those living in public rental flats.

Nee Soon MP Derrick Goh (left) and Singapore Business Federation CEO Kok Ping Soon (centre) at North West Service Week in September. PHOTO: DERRICK GOH/FACEBOOK
The 53-year-old has been chairman of Nee Soon Link Citizens Consultative Committee – a grassroots outfit – since June 2024.
Mr Kok has also sat on the boards of various agencies and institutes, including the Infocomm Media Development Authority and the Defence Science and Technology Agency.
He started his career at the Economic Development Board, and also held positions such as deputy secretary at the Ministry of Manpower.
From the private sector, shipping lawyer Gho Sze Kee, 45, has been seen alongside Mountbatten MP Lim Biow Chuan in photos since August.
She has accompanied Mr Lim to numerous events such as National Day celebrations with Thye Hua Kwan Active Ageing Centre and the Mountbatten Active Ageing Committee. She also attended a Deepavali light-up event in Jalan Batu with him in October.

Ms Gho is a long-term party volunteer who was among the speakers at the 2021 PAP party convention, where the then Bukit Timah branch secretary called for the inclusion of diverse voices across its ranks.
It is unclear if she is still in that role, but checks show she was still active in the area in the past year, as she received a Public Service Medal in 2023 as vice-chairwoman of the Bukit Timah Citizens Consultative Committee.
She is currently associate director at AsiaLegal, a boutique law firm that specialises in maritime law.
Mr Gabriel Lam, chief operating officer of Shalom Movers, was spotted at a Housing Board roadshow for Tampines GreenCrest residents with Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon in September.

Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon (second from left) and Mr Gabriel Lam (second from right) at an HDB roadshow for Tampines GreenCrest residents in September. PHOTO: KOH POH KOON/INSTAGRAM
Mr Lam, who is in his early 40s, was previously involved in Chong Pang grassroots work, taking on roles such as vice-chairman of the ward’s National Day dinner in 2023.
His LinkedIn biography says he is “passionate about giving back to society and to help the less fortunate”, and that he “dedicates his free time to community-related volunteerism and is a grassroots leader”.
Also seen in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Aljunied GRC is Dr Adrian Ang, a director at Chye Thiam Maintenance, a facility and environmental management company.
The 41-year-old was photographed with Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MPs during a market visit in April.
In a Lianhe Zaobao report that month, Mr Saktiandi Supaat said Dr Ang was a grassroots leader in Toa Payoh West, which Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat looks after.
Dr Ang, who was formerly a lecturer and section head at Temasek Polytechnic, is the secretary of the Toa Payoh West-Thomson Citizens Consultative Committee and branch secretary.
He was also in August appointed to the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council’s tender and contracts committee as vice-chairman.
More recently, Dr Ang was pictured alongside Mr Victor Lye – who has contested Aljunied GRC since 2015 – at home visits in late October. Some pictures, posted by Mr Lye on social media, show Dr Ang wearing a shirt with the PAP logo and the word “Aljunied” below it.

Dr Adrian Ang (second from right) during a home visit in October. PHOTO: VICTOR LYE/FACEBOOK
Also in the mix is Mr David Hoe, who is principal business architect at energy company YTL PowerSeraya.
Mr Hoe, 36, has been pictured alongside Jalan Besar GRC MP Denise Phua at various walkabouts, at times donning a PAP badge on his shirt as at one Pek Kio Market visit in June.
He has also been a district councillor for Central Singapore Community Development Council since 2019, according to his LinkedIn profile. Ms Phua is the mayor for the Central Singapore district.

Jalan Besar GRC MP Denise Phua and Mr David Hoe during a Pek Kio Market visit in June. PHOTO: DENISE PHUA/FACEBOOK
Mr Hoe scored poorly for his Primary School Leaving Examination, but worked his way to university and became a Ministry of Education scholarship holder and teacher. His educational journey has made headlines in the past.
One potential face from the non-profit sector is Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim, chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish Singapore.
The 39-year-old was pictured in photos with Marine Parade GRC MPs at the Harmony Fiesta in Marine Parade in September, as well in posts by MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling.

Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim (standing, second from right) at the Harmony Fiesta in Marine Parade with Manpower Minister Tan See Leng (standing, right), Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong (standing, second from left) and MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling (front, centre). PHOTO: TIN PEI LING/INSTAGRAM
Madam Hazlina, who started her career as a journalist at Mediacorp, 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.
The Straits Times has reached out to all of them for comments.
From the opposition, Mr Perera, 54, the former Aljunied GRC MP, has been spotted at Progress Singapore Party (PSP) events, and is volunteering with them.
He had resigned from the WP after his affair with Ms Seah, the party youth chair, came to light in July 2023.
He is not currently a member of the party, a PSP spokesperson said in mid-October.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

New face spotted as PAP team gives out teddy bears at Fengshan​

Wah & Hua CEO Melissa Tan (right) giving out the PAP teddy bears at Bedok 85 Market with East Coast GRC MP Cheryl Chan (background, in white) on Nov 17. ST PHOTO: WONG PEI TING
Wong Pei Ting
Correspondent

Nov 17, 2024

SINGAPORE – Bedok 85 Market was abuzz on Nov 17 with East Coast GRC MP Cheryl Chan and her team of volunteers – which included a new face – handing out People’s Action Party (PAP) teddy bears to residents as part of the ruling party’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
The bears, clad in white PAP T-shirts, made their debut at the popular market alongside Ms Melissa Tan, 46, chief executive officer of home-grown waste management firm Wah & Hua.
The long-time party volunteer – who was previously active in Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, and Transport Amy Khor’s Hong Kah North SMC – had joined the Fengshan team in its activities one to two weeks ago. At the Nov 17 event, Ms Tan greeted residents alongside Ms Chan.
When approached, she told The Straits Times: “As I have been with the party for many years, I take the opportunity to visit other areas to see how they conduct activities from time to time.”
She added that she has been volunteering with the PAP for 20 years and was currently “getting to know volunteers and residents” in Fengshan, which is part of the five-member East Coast GRC helmed by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. Apart from Ms Chan, the other MPs in the GRC are Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Maliki Osman, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, and National Development Tan Kiat How, and Ms Jessica Tan.

Wah & Hua CEO Melissa Tan fronting photographs with East Coast GRC MP Cheryl Chan at the event to celebrate the PAP’s 70th anniversary on Nov 17. ST PHOTO: WONG PEI TING
Ms Tan took over Wah & Hua in 2000 from her father Steven Tan, who started the company in 1978 as a waste collector with a small fleet of trucks. She is also chairwoman of the Waste Management & Recycling Association of Singapore.
In 2021, under her leadership, the company, which came to provide sustainability-driven solutions in the collection, recycling, processing and disposal of multiple waste streams, was acquired by Blue Planet Environmental Solutions, a regional investor.

Asked if she was a potential PAP candidate in the next general election due by November 2025, Ms Tan, who has also attended other activities in East Coast GRC, said she was unable to comment.
On Ms Tan’s public engagements in the area, Ms Chan said the party had been sending different members around. “Sometimes, we’re just testing the vibes on the ground,” the MP added.

A man leaving the event outside Bedok 85 Market with two PAP teddy bears on Nov 17. ST PHOTO: WONG PEI TING
For over an hour, residents queued up for the 1,200 teddy bears being given out. At one point, there were some 130 people in the queue.
Some drink stalls at the market, as well as two coffee shops nearby, were also giving out hot drinks in PAP mugs.
Ms Tan said she did not expect the turnout to be so big. “It’s nice to see that the residents here are warm and friendly,” she added.

Teddy bears, clad in white PAP T-shirts, were given out at the event. ST PHOTO: WONG PEI TING
Meanwhile, Ms Chan said her team wanted to celebrate the party’s 70th anniversary, which is on Nov 21, by giving away something that would be liked by many people, and the reception towards the event showed that the bears drew children, grandparents and working adults alike.
An 81-year-old resident who wanted to be known only as Madam Phoon learnt of the event from a notice pasted in a lift. She said she made it a point to finish her marketing by 9am so that she could queue for one of the bears.
She went home with a bear, two mugs and a flask filled with the hot beverage that came in the mugs.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

PAP to renew leadership at party conference; SM Lee expected to step down as party chief: Observers​

SM Lee Hsien Loong (left) is likely to step down from the PAP's top post of secretary-general, setting the stage for PM Lawrence Wong to become party leader. PHOTO: ST FILE
Goh Yan Han and Ng Wei Kai

Nov 22, 2024

SINGAPORE – All eyes are on the PAP this weekend as it gathers to renew its top decision-making body, paving the way for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to become party chief ahead of Singapore’s next general election.

On Nov 24, the ruling party’s inner circle will choose its 38th Central Executive Committee (CEC), which is re-elected every two years at the biennial People’s Action Party conference.

Political observers expect Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong to step down from the party’s top post of secretary-general, setting the stage for PM Wong to become party leader at the CEC’s next meeting. This is customarily held within a few weeks of the conference.

While the party’s CEC is not directly related to the Government, the 12 members elected this weekend will form the nucleus that will helm the PAP heading into the next general election, which must be held by November 2025.

Completing the transition from 3G to 4G​

SM Lee could announce this weekend that he will be handing over the party’s reins, based on past precedent.

He became PAP secretary-general in November 2004, three months after being sworn in as the country’s third prime minister in August.

At that year’s PAP conference, then Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong stated his intention to step down as party chief.


Weeks later, in early December, the party announced that then Prime Minister Lee had been appointed as the new secretary-general following the new CEC’s first meeting.

This was a quicker timetable than the previous handover to Mr Goh from then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The former became prime minister in November 1990, but assumed the post of party secretary-general only in 1992.


Emeritus Senior Minister Goh said he had initially wanted to take over the top party job in 1990, but felt that Mr Lee still had a role to play as secretary-general, and his continuing in the role would also recognise his contributions to the party and nation.

Political observers said this third transition is likely to play out in the same way as that between Mr Goh and SM Lee Hsien Loong, with PM Wong taking the PAP’s helm without delay.

Doing so would complete the transition from the third generation (3G) to fourth generation (4G) of leaders, given that PM Wong was sworn in as head of government in May, said Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan.

Besides closing the loop on the succession process, Associate Professor Tan said, the party conference this weekend is significant for another reason: It would make clear that PM Wong, as leader of the 38th CEC, will lead the PAP into the upcoming election that is due within a year.

This is in line with what SM Lee had said at the last party convention in 2023.

At the time, he announced his intention to hand over before the next general election to PM Wong, who would then lead the party’s campaign to win his own mandate and take the country forward with the nation’s full backing.

Once PM Wong takes over, it will be the first time the PAP is led by a leader born post-independence, noted Prof Tan. PM Wong was born in 1972.

Both PM Wong and SM Lee are slated to speak at this year’s party conference, which is being held just days after the 70th anniversary of the PAP’s formation.

Prof Tan said that with this being the last party conference before the election, Singaporeans can expect PAP leaders to not only rally the party faithful, but also make the case to the rest of the electorate that the PAP is deserving of another firm mandate.

The two leaders will likely reflect on the party’s uninterrupted hold on the reins of power since 1959, and share more on how it intends to continue to lead Singapore in the years ahead, he added.

They may also appeal to Singaporeans to step forward to serve the country and its citizens, and issue a rallying cry to keep Singapore exceptional as it marks 60 years of independence in 2025.

PM Wong may also provide the broad contours of what will eventually be the PAP’s election manifesto.

Taken together, his speeches from his May swearing-in, August National Day Rally and the party conference, and his February 2025 Budget statement will be a quartet of key messaging ahead of the next general election, noted Prof Tan.

At its 50th and 60th anniversaries, the PAP had likewise made its case for Singaporeans’ continued support, while also marking the milestones with a series of celebratory events.

In 2004, the party capped off a year of golden jubilee events with a rally at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. In 2014, a 158-page book was launched at Victoria Concert Hall – the site where the party was formed in 1954.

CEC positions closely watched​

The composition of the next CEC is likely to be largely similar to the current one, though observers said how the appointments shake out will be a strong signal on the line-up of the country’s leadership going forward.

“Many of the faces who serve as the 4G leadership have been rotated into the CEC over the years. They are likely to stay for some time yet, so I do not expect there to be major changes,” said NUS political scientist Chong Ja Ian.

Prof Tan agreed, highlighting that there are only two 3G leaders in the current CEC – SM Lee and Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam.

Besides them and PM Wong, the other members of the 37th CEC are: Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, National Development Minister Desmond Lee, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng, Mr Alex Yeo and Ms Cheryl Chan.

Former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin had also been elected to the CEC, but resigned as an MP and from the PAP in 2023 after an affair with fellow MP Cheng Li Hui.

On Nov 24 – the second day of the conference – the PAP will announce the 12 members who have been elected via secret ballot by its cadres. The party typically co-opts another two members on the same day, customarily the next highest vote-getters. The CEC can co-opt another four members, which it typically does at its first meeting after the conference.

The office-bearers who will be most closely watched are the first and second assistant secretaries-general, said Prof Tan.

For decades, PAP MPs who held these positions were also concurrently the Republic’s deputy prime ministers – among them Dr Tony Tan, Mr Wong Kan Seng, Mr Teo Chee Hean and Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, before he became president.

Prof Tan said the assistant secretaries-general appointed at the new CEC’s first meeting would therefore signal strongly who will be PM Wong’s direct lieutenants in the years ahead.

DPM Gan Kim Yong is unlikely to contest a spot in the new CEC, given that he had retired as party chairman in 2022, said Prof Tan.

The party’s current assistant secretaries-general are Mr Chan and Mr Desmond Lee.

Prof Tan noted that Mr Chan is the only other 4G leader besides DPM Heng who has been an elected member of the CEC since 2012, while Mr Lee is seen as someone who has been effective in dealing with the concerns of public housing affordability and accessibility.

Another CEC member to watch is Mr Tong, who was made full minister in 2020, said Prof Tan.

He noted that Mr Tong probably had the highest profile in 2024 after PM Wong, having been closely involved in key events such as singer Taylor Swift’s concerts and Pope Francis’ visit here, the Paris Olympics, and the scuttled Income-Allianz deal.

Prof Tan said that given the PAP and the National Trades Union Congress’ symbiotic relationship, labour chief Ng is likely to continue to have a seat on the CEC.

“The larger point, or question, is who will be the DPMs after the upcoming GE,” he added.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

PAP must continue to represent all Singaporeans, earn strong mandate in next GE: DPM Heng​

Deputy Prime Minister and PAP chairman Heng Swee Keat speaking at the PAP Awards and Conference on Nov 23. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
Wong Pei Ting

Nov 23, 2024

SINGAPORE – The People’s Action Party (PAP) must continue to represent all Singaporeans, even as it deepens its connection with a new generation of voters, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

While the party has continued to make good progress in uplifting Singaporeans and advancing the nation’s interests, the challenges ahead mean it needs to strengthen the country’s cohesion and bring all Singaporeans together, said DPM Heng on Nov 23, the opening evening of the two-day biennial PAP Awards and Conference.

DPM Heng, who is PAP chairman, also urged party members to rally the people’s support in order to earn a strong mandate in the coming general election, due by November 2025.

Speaking to more than 3,000 party activists and guests gathered at Singapore Expo, DPM Heng said the PAP is proud to celebrate its 70th anniversary this year.

“Against the odds facing a small, fledging nation, we secured water, food, jobs, housing and quality education for our people,” he said. “In the crucible of nation-building, we forged a deep trust with fellow Singaporeans.”

He also paid tribute to the outgoing party secretary-general, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who handed over the premiership to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in May.

SM Lee’s contributions include leading Singapore’s development into a smart nation and a global city that connects Asia with the rest of the world, said DPM Heng.

An appreciation gift is presented to Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong (third from left), the outgoing party secretary-general, on Nov 23. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
However, the world is changing rapidly due to big power contestation, technological disruption, ageing populations and climate change, he added.

“People around the world are stressed over bread-and-butter issues like the cost of living, jobs and immigration,” he said.

The PAP has responded with an exercise to refresh itself, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong with input from over 2,300 activists and partners.


“The message is clear: The PAP must continue to represent all Singaporeans – even as we deepen our connection with the new generation of voters,” he said.

Other ways that the party has responded to ground concerns in the past year include the launch of two party groups on mental health and climate action, he added.

Meanwhile, the PAP’s Women’s Wing continued to champion women’s health and development, and the PAP Seniors Group introduced a playbook to strengthen community support for seniors, noted DPM Heng.

Its Malay Affairs Bureau has also advocated for the evolving needs and concerns of the Malay/Muslim community, he added.
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DPM Heng said many of his foreign counterparts have expressed their admiration for Singapore’s ability to solve critical problems and make plans for the future.

“But with the more challenging external environment, we must continue to work hard, work smart, and rise to the challenges ahead,” he added.

“The starting point is to strengthen our internal cohesion, and bring all Singaporeans together to chart our future.”

At the event, DPM Heng urged party members to support PM Wong – who is deputy secretary-general of the PAP – in rallying fellow Singaporeans in taking the country forward.

With a strong mandate at the coming election, the PAP can take Singapore forward together, he added.

“Let us live up to our name as a party of action, by Singaporeans for Singaporeans. Let us build a Singapore of hope and opportunity for our children and the generations to come,” he said.

In short remarks after he was feted, SM Lee said: “I wish the party all the best, and I think we all have to work hard. There’s a general election coming next year.”

On Nov 24, PAP cadres will elect 12 members to form the party’s 38th Central Executive Committee (CEC) via secret ballot.

This will set the stage for PM Wong to take the top party post, and to lead the ruling party in the next GE.

The formal handover of the secretary-general position will have to wait until elected members of the CEC hold their first meeting after Nov 24’s election, said PAP assistant organising secretary Alex Yam.

It is at this CEC meeting that additional members are co-opted and the party’s office-holders appointed, the MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC told reporters at the event.

When Mr Goh Chok Tong announced he was stepping down as PAP secretary-general in 2004, there was a three-week gap between the CEC election and the announcement that SM Lee had taken over the post.

Asked if the outgoing CEC would nominate certain names to be elected and what these names are, Mr Yam said he was not at liberty to comment, as the way the CEC elections are run is a secret kept within the cadre membership.

“Of course, within the party, it will be transparent and made known to our members, but I’m unable to comment publicly on how the party decides its list of candidates (or) the process by which we arrive at the list together,” he added.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Stakes in GE2025 are high; no guarantee PAP will win and form a stable govt, says PM Wong​

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong outlined steps taken to refresh the party at the People’s Action Party conference on Nov 24. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Kenneth Cheng
Assistant News Editor

Nov 24, 2024

SINGAPORE - The upcoming general election in 2025 will be a high-stakes one, and Singapore risks ending up with a much weaker government if there is just a modest swing in popular votes against the ruling party, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Speaking at the People’s Action Party conference at the Singapore Expo on Nov 24, PM Wong told party members: “Please don’t think it is guaranteed that the PAP will win and form a stable government.”

In a speech lasting about 40 minutes, the Prime Minister also highlighted the need for Singaporeans to stay united in the midst of trying circumstances beyond its borders, and spoke of the urgency for the PAP to have a fresh crop of younger candidates who can take Singapore forward.

He noted that in the 2020 General Election, the Opposition had warned Singaporeans against an “Opposition wipe-out”.

“Actually, there is no chance of that happening at all,” PM Wong said, adding that the Opposition in Singapore is here to stay.

There have been opposition MPs in Parliament since 1981, and the Non-Constituency MP scheme guarantees at least 12 opposition MPs in the House, noted PM Wong, who is set to take over as the PAP’s secretary-general. He is now the party’s deputy secretary-general.

“In fact, given the desire for more opposition voices, the bigger risk we face is the loss of a stable and strong and good government,” he said.

The Opposition themselves admit they are far from ready to form the Government, he told an audience of about 3,000 PAP cadres, activists and guests.

“They say that partly because they know that Singaporeans will not support them if they openly declare their intention to govern,” he added.

But if more and more voters are persuaded by the Opposition’s argument to vote them in so they can oppose the government of the day, “you can be sure that what is now the Opposition will soon be the Government”, said PM Wong.


He cautioned that such a scenario would not require a large swing in votes at the next general election, which must be called by November 2025.

A modest swing in popular votes against the PAP, he noted, can lead to very different electoral outcomes, and very possibly the loss of another three or four group representation constituencies.

This means the party will lose four or five ministers - or a quarter of the Cabinet.

“We will end up with a much weaker government, with far less ability to solve the problems facing our people and our country at a time when the world is becoming more uncertain and troubled,” he said.

“So, comrades, the stakes in the next election are high.”

PM Wong urged the party to work hard for every vote, to earn the confidence and trust of Singaporeans, win the mandate to govern, and ultimately, serve fellow Singaporeans.

“We know from the last election, and more so in the next election, there are no longer any safe seats,” he said.

“So every resident, every vote counts, and all our efforts matter.”

He noted that the PAP faces a rather unique political challenge, having governed Singapore for 65 years.

It is the party’s desire to keep serving Singaporeans for as long as possible, but he warned that members must never assume they will not see a change in government in their lifetime.

He said the PAP has to refresh its approach, adding that the party can no longer “operate from the back” in a more contested political landscape.

The party must “come out in front” to explain its policies, engage Singaporeans on the issues they care about, and show them why they can trust and depend on the PAP, he added.

PM Wong outlined steps taken to refresh the party, including forming climate action and mental health groups. A new party app will be launched to engage members and widen the party’s network, he added.

Turning to leadership renewal, PM Wong said his priority is to form the best team for Singapore, and that it remains difficult to recruit good people into politics. This is the “most important, the most crucial, the most urgent thing I have to do”, he stressed.

While he has been spending a lot of time engaging potential candidates, Singaporeans who have excelled in their professional lives are very comfortable where they are and are very reluctant to change their lifestyles, he noted.

“Also, why subject themselves to public glare and scrutiny? Often, they tell me: ‘Let someone else do the job. So many people in Singapore; you find someone else.’

“Or they may say: ‘Don’t worry, the PAP is already in a very strong position. You have just started. Why are you in such a hurry? Take your time’,” added PM Wong.

Stressing the urgent need for younger candidates who can “provide vigour and continuity” and eventually form Singapore’s next leadership team, PM Wong, 52, said more than half of the 19 ministers in the present Cabinet are aged 60 and older.

The older ministers on the team provide experience and wise counsel, and many of them will still serve for another five to 10 years, assuming they are in good health.

“But can I wait until they retire before bringing in new blood? Surely not. I must start now to renew the team,” the Prime Minister said.

When new candidates are brought in, it is very hard to parachute them directly into ministerial roles, as they need time to learn, he added.

There is, therefore, tremendous value in having them start early, gain experience, and progressively build up the confidence and capabilities to take on larger responsibilities.

The Prime Minister said that he has made some progress in recruiting potential office-holders, but still hopes to persuade a few more to join the team.

“I look forward to presenting the candidates as our election campaign approaches,” he told party members.

“When we field them, please support all of them, and help me to spread the word and persuade our fellow citizens to support them too, because we cannot leave this to chance.”