General Election 2025

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GE2025: SDP calls for nationalising mental health care, universal healthcare at Woodlands rally​

SDP's deputy head of policy James Gomez put forth the party’s proposals at the rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Lee Li Ying
Apr 29, 2025


SINGAPORE – The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is calling for mental health to be a critical component of the national healthcare system, in a bid to stem a “deepening mental health crisis” in Singapore.

Its deputy head of policy James Gomez put forth the opposition party’s proposals at the SDP rally for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC at Woodlands Stadium on April 28.

These include formal mental health leave, increasing financial support for caregivers, expanding green spaces, a nationwide mental health education campaign to encourage people to seek help early, and building community wellness centres.

“(The) bulk of mental health services are mostly in the private sector, and are unaffordable for ordinary Singaporeans,” Dr Gomez said, pointing out that 22 (out of Singapore’s 26) polyclinics offer mental health services, while there are more than 100 private clinics addressing mental health.

As a result, he said, many Singaporeans have “no option but to seek costly private options they simply cannot afford, or avoid mental health care altogether”.

The SDP candidate for Sembawang GRC pointed out five root causes of mental health issues in Singapore – “uncontrolled” immigration, fierce competition for jobs due to foreign labour, rising cost of living, cyber bullying, and the burden of caregiving placed on working adults. He added that SDP’s policy proposals in these areas lay the groundwork for addressing the root causes of mental health issues.

Also on the healthcare front, SDP chairman Paul Tambyah reiterated his call for universal healthcare, which the party detailed in its manifesto.

SDP has proposed a “single-payer system”, leading Health Minister Ong Ye Kung to call on the party to clarify its policy.

Mr Ong said on April 26 that such a system would mean either relying on government subsidies and abolishing national health insurance scheme MediShield Life, or relying purely on national health insurance and doing away with subsidies.

Singapore’s current framework for healthcare payments uses a combination of subsidies, MediShield Life, MediSave – a mandatory medical savings scheme – and MediFund, a financial assistance scheme.

At the rally – the party’s fifth in six days of hustings – Professor Tambyah said that subsidies would not be needed in a single-payer system, which would mean “huge savings”.

Based on the party’s proposal, every citizen would have a national health insurance card and pay a fixed premium out of their Central Provident Fund savings, said Prof Tambyah, adding that programmes like the Community Health Assist Scheme and Pioneer Generation and Merderka Generation schemes would be merged to “cut wasteful duplication”.

Other speakers called on voters to cast their ballots for the SDP as a check on the ruling PAP.

Referencing the scuppered Income-Allianz deal, which came under public scrutiny after questions were raised about Income Insurance’s ability to continue its social mission after the sale to the German insurer, another SDP candidate for Sembawang GRC, Ms Surayah Akbar, said there was no transparency and consultation with stakeholders.

“Unchecked power is reckless. The PAP’s idea of accountability is, ‘don’t worry, we supervise ourselves’. It’s no different to students marking their own exams and rewarding themselves with F1 and Taylor Swift concert tickets,” said Ms Surayah.

Multiple SDP candidates also sought to assure voters that estate and infrastructure upgrading works would not be affected should the opposition be voted in.

Sembawang GRC candidate Damanhuri Abas referenced the manifestos and town plans that have been rolled out in various GRCs.

He said: “(The PAP) gives you five-year town plans that are actually routine works of the URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) and HDB – non-partisan government agencies – timed perfectly for the election.”

Inequality also emerged as a theme of the night, with multiple candidates making references to the “privileged elite”.

Party secretary-general Chee Soon Juan, who is contesting Sembawang West SMC, listed more than 10 foreigners who had purchased multimillion-dollar properties such as good class bungalows (GCBs) here, as well as PAP ministers who live in or who have sold their GCBs.

SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan speaking at Woodlands Stadium during the party rally on April 28.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
“When billionaires come in by the hundreds and snap up expensive properties in Singapore, they raise land prices. And when land prices go up, they drive up property prices and the cost of living for us,” he said.

He added that while generational wealth can be accrued through the transfer of freehold properties, Housing Board flats must be returned to the HDB at the end of their 99-year lease.

“As the PAP keeps stoking the spectre of race and religion that will split our society, it is the widening inequality between the rich and the rest of us that will tear our society apart,” he said.

 

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GE2025: SM Teo’s shoes too big to fill, but Indranee says she will serve with the same passion​

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah speaking at the PAP’s rally for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC on April 28. Seated behind her are (from left) Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Maliki Osman, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Desmond Tan and Mr Sharael Taha.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Clement Yong and Harith Mustaffa
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah says she cannot fill Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean’s big shoes in the newly created Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, but will serve with the same commitment if elected.

At the PAP’s rally for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC at Tampines Meridian Junior College on April 28, the new anchor minister for the constituency promised that she would build on what Mr Teo had accomplished in the area as a representative for 28 years.

She said: “Some have asked me, ‘Can you fill his shoes?’ Have you seen how tall, how big SM Teo is? No, I can’t. But what I can do, what I will do, is I will serve with the same dedication and the same passion that he has for all of you.”

In a rally speech that was notable for its relaxed atmosphere, Ms Indranee reflected on how SM Teo started her on her journey into politics, hosting her first PAP tea session in 2001.

She was late for that session, and left that meeting thinking she had made a bad impression. “But for some reason, he thought I had some potential, so he sent me up along the chain. I really didn’t think on that fateful day when I had tea with him, that one day I would be taking over as the lead anchor for his constituency,” she said.

Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development, is leading a team comprising Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Desmond Tan, Mr Sharael Taha and new face Valerie Lee in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC.

They are up against a team headed by Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) chairman Desmond Lim, which also includes SDA secretary-general Abu Mohamed, Mr Harminder Pal Singh and political newcomer Chia Yun Kai, who had initially announced that he had founded his own party – Most Valuable Party – to contest East Coast GRC.

The PAP candidates spoke of how they had worked with residents over the years to improve their lives, from enhancing connectivity in the area to making sure that those who had slipped through the cracks had ways to pick themselves back up.

Mr Tan, giving his maiden rally speech, shared his personal experiences of working with residents, including inviting a “die-hard” opposition supporter to help his team out after a house visit where the man complained about the estate and life in Singapore.

The resident is now a “key member of my team”, helping to deliver bread every Saturday to residents and writing appeal letters for his neighbours. “I share this story to show you how I work,” Mr Tan said. “I listen to residents. Because you live here, you know best. We don’t make decisions behind closed doors.”

He also referenced infrastructural improvements in the estate that he has overseen in the past five years, pointing to the new Pasir Ris bus interchange that opened a day earlier.

Mr Tan is the MP behind Project Success, which has helped connect 400 residents with job placements each year. “Residents have told me that ageism is real. They had rejection after rejection in their job application. I feel their pain.”

Mr Sharael highlighted the town’s municipal initiatives to support the vulnerable, such as a community care store which provides free groceries that has helped more than 300 lower-income families.

He spoke about meeting a 68-year-old woman caring for her bed-ridden husband and mother, which drove him to fight for stronger caregiver support. The Home Caregiving Grant has tripled from $200 in 2022 to $600 in 2025.

He said: “These are the real stories behind the policies that we fight for because we fight for the people, not for the headlines.”

Mr Sharael, who is seeking his second term as MP, has also focused his efforts on mentoring youth and providing them with mental health support.

He said his team has overseen the building of four new MRT stations along the Cross Island Line, the widening of Pasir Ris Drive 4, and the installation of electric vehicle chargers and solar panels to facilitate sustainability efforts.

Ms Lee spoke about support for the country’s “sandwich generation” who are required to juggle work and caring for their families and elderly parents.

The mother of a two-year-old girl said she understood the hardship of young families who are juggling managing their parents’ medical appointments and answering work e-mails, all while putting their children to sleep.

“There are many, many stories like this. And what I hear again and again is this, we’re trying our best. The Government does have good initiatives that have improved over time, but I think we need more support.”

Former Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MPs also lent their support at the rally. Though they did not speak, Mr Charles Chong, Mr Zainal Sapari and Mr Ahmad Magad were all on stage to greet Pasir Ris-Changi GRC constituents.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Maliki Osman – whose Siglap ward was moved into Pasir Ris-Changi GRC – addressed the recent issue of political posts linked to race and religion circulating online.

Dr Maliki, who announced his retirement from politics earlier in April, was Singapore’s representative at Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican City. He said he kept himself updated on the hustings while there.

“One of the legacies of Pope Francis is his advocacy for interfaith understanding and dialogue. We know that we have built a harmonious society through conscious effort at deepening our interfaith harmony through dialogues, but this should be kept separate from politics,” he said.


He also said that the Malay/Muslim community has done well under the PAP government, particularly in the areas of education and social development.

The establishment of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies realises the community’s long-held aspirations of having its own Islamic university, with a vision of producing religious teachers and leaders “who understand what is at stake in our unique context and who have the right competencies and skills to guide the community”, he said.

“While we are a multiracial society pillared on values of justice, equality and meritocracy, the Government recognises the unique circumstances of each community and is committed to support them accordingly.”

SM Teo called for voters to give the new team their support, especially at a time of “great change and uncertainty”.

“We don’t know what will happen the next week, the next 90 days. Tariffs on, tariffs off. We don’t know the answers because we don’t even know the questions that we have to answer,” he said.

“How do we prepare for this? The best way to prepare is to have a strong and stable Government who can see you through these uncertain times.”

 

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GE2025: Ong Ye Kung criticises SDP for downplaying role of PAP MPs in transforming Sembawang​

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung refuted the SDP's claims that it did not matter who the MP on the ground is, as long as the PAP forms the government.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Deepanraj Ganesan
Apr 29, 2025


SINGAPORE – Sembawang would not have transformed into the town it is today, if not for the role played by PAP MPs past and present, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.

He was refuting claims made by the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) that it does not matter who the MP on the ground is, as long as the PAP forms the Government.

Speaking at a rally near Sun Plaza in Sembawang on April 28, Mr Ong said the SDP was making sweeping statements.

He said: “One of the parties, SDP... They have a lot to say, but one thing they say, I think, is disingenuous. They say all these plans are going to happen anyway because the PAP will be the Government.

“Whoever is the MP... all these things that I just mentioned, will still happen. Really ah? I don’t think they can come here for one month and make all these sweeping statements.”

Mr Ong ran through a list of completed projects, including the Bukit Canberra integrated sports and community hub, the Yusof Ishak Mosque, the Woodlands Health hospital and the Sembawang Hot Spring Park.

Upcoming ones he named included the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link and the Woodlands North Coast precinct.

Each project required extensive discussions with the authorities, he added.

Said Mr Ong: “I spoke to the Defence Ministry and asked, can you give us some land to build the hot spring park? Mindef agreed, that’s why today we have a hot spring park.

“If it was the SDP in charge, do you think Hot Spring Park will happen? I raised money for the performance stage... in Sembawang Park. If it is the SDP in charge, do you think a stage will come up in Sembawang Park?”

He added that he was also in discussions with the Urban Redevelopment Authority on future plans for the site on which Sembawang Shipyard sits, and that in the “usual Sembawang GRC style”, residents will be consulted.

Mr Ong, 55, is helming the PAP team in Sembawang GRC against the SDP and National Solidarity Party (NSP) in a three-cornered fight.

His five-member team includes two new faces – Mr Ng Shi Xuan, 35, and Mr Gabriel Lam, 42, as well incumbent MPs Vikram Nair, 46, and Mariam Jaafar, 48.

When rolling out larger national projects like the Thomson-East Coast Line, the community is less involved because the Cabinet makes the decisions, said Mr Ong.

Addressing the crowd, he asked: “When those decisions are made in Cabinet... do you not want the anchor minister of Sembawang GRC to be in the room making that decision?”

The audience roared and chanted Mr Ong’s name, accompanied by a swell of clappers and whistling.

Mr Ong also addressed several recent policy proposals put forward by the SDP in its speeches and manifesto, and explained why the ideas were not feasible or realistic.

For instance, the core of the SDP healthcare proposal, he said, is a single-payer, universal healthcare system in which the Government manages a central healthcare fund.

Mr Ong said he designs healthcare systems and develops policies as part of his job, but he was not able to figure out what type of healthcare set-up the SDP is proposing.

Patients in Singapore pay their hospital bills with government subsidies, claims from MediShield Life, and through MediSave or what can be called the S+2M system.

Mr Ong asked: “A single-payer system. What does it mean? It means S+2M – get rid of two of the (letters) and live with one? So, my question to SDP is, which two are you getting rid of?”

He added that the SDP plan would mean getting rid of all the subsidies or getting rid of MediShield Life. Without subsidies, all hospital bills must be paid by the health insurance scheme MediShield Life, he said.

Mr Ong said: “What does it do to premiums? Shoot through the roof. They never tell you, right? If there’s no MediShield Life, then you depend only on the subsidy, and your taxes will shoot through the roof.

“When something sounds so good, it is usually fake.”

The SDP’s housing policies appear to have taken a leaf from the PSP’s book, he said.

It is proposing to remove the cost of land from the price of Build-To-Order and Sale of Balance units to lower the cost of Housing Board flats.

The idea may sound appealing, Mr Ong said, but he questioned the broader implications of such a policy move, asking what effect it would have on existing home owners and the overall resale market.

He said: “If you have a proposal or an alternative, be prepared to be scrutinised by the PAP and by the people. SDP proposals, they don’t have a snowball’s chance of contributing to a thriving Singapore.

“Their proposals show that the SDP doesn’t know how public policies work. They don’t seem to really understand the experiences of other countries and learn from them. These are populists calls to get them a ride to Parliament.”

It may be the opposition’s role to challenge the status quo by being a critic of national policies, but the true test comes when it is time to take over and govern – a role that the PAP has to do every day since it is in government, added Mr Ong.

“We do, they talk. We implement, they claim credit. In terms of policy contributions, in terms of affecting the lives of Singaporeans, the opposition is a pale shadow of the PAP government,” he said.

 

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GE2025: Seize chance to vote for most promising batch of WP candidates, says Sylvia Lim​

If the candidates do not get elected, there may not be a next time as the electoral boundaries may change, said WP chair Sylvia Lim.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Nadine Chua
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE - The current slate of WP general election candidates is the most promising batch the party has fielded thus far, said party chair Sylvia Lim as she urged Singaporeans not to miss the chance to vote for them.

If the candidates do not get elected, there may not be a next time as the electoral boundaries may change, she added.

“So there is no time to waste on this. Let us not dither about whether to cast your vote for WP this time or not. If you do not do it this time, you may not have a chance the next time,” she said.

Ms Lim was speaking on April 28 at the party’s third rally, held at Yusof Ishak Secondary School.

The WP has fielded 26 candidates in Aljunied, Sengkang, Punggol, Tampines and East Coast GRCs and Hougang, Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat SMCs. They include lawyers, entrepreneurs, a psychologist and a former diplomat, among others.

Devoting much of her speech to the women candidates, Ms Lim said being in the opposition camp was a high-stakes and high-risk activity, especially for women.

Once elected into Parliament, women candidates were expected to confront ministers robustly, but not too aggressively, she said, noting that she had been called many names and had also been “fiercely attacked by some ministers”.

Yet, Singapore needs female political leaders in Parliament, especially in the opposition, to ensure that policies are more balanced and sustainable, she said.

To this end, the WP is fielding six women this time round – Ms Alia Mattar, Ms Alexis Dang, Ms Eileen Chong, Ms Paris V. Parameswari, Ms He Ting Ru and Ms Lim herself, she added.

“Looking at the slate of female candidates this GE, all I can say is, ‘mama bear here is proud’,” said Ms Lim, who is WP chair, to cheers and laughter from the crowd.

More than their credentials, though, WP MPs can reject government policies that they feel are not in the interest of Singaporeans, unlike PAP MPs, she said.

It was a point that Associate Professor Jamus Lim also brought up.

The Sengkang GRC candidate said the ruling PAP had “manufactured” problems for Singapore through various policies, such as pricing land used for HDB flats at market value and hiking the goods and services tax amid inflation, that have increased the cost of living.

“The decades and decades of parliamentary supermajority that the PAP has enjoyed has bred policy complacency, intellectual stagnation and unimaginative thinking. This is no longer your father’s and my grandfather’s PAP,” he said.

Other WP MPs cited examples of how the PAP had continued to insist on its own way, to Singapore’s detriment.

Ms Alia, who is on the WP’s Punggol slate, took aim at the Government’s preferred practice of addressing tricky issues “behind closed doors”, asserting that such discussions should be had in the open.

“We keep hearing the term ‘behind closed doors’, that heated debates and discussions had already taken place behind closed doors, that some people have friends in higher places where they can ask for special help, even for national programmes, apparently,” she said.

Calling for the practice to end, she said: “This is our nation. We are the stakeholders. Involve us in the decisions, especially when they are taken in our name and on our behalf.”

Meanwhile, Mr Andre Low, who is up against PAP’s Ng Chee Meng at Jalan Kayu SMC, said he had no doubt his opponent is “a good man”, but what Mr Ng represents is a party that has allowed issues such as the high cost of living and high housing prices to fester.

In contrast, said Prof Lim, WP MPs will bring new perspectives and innovative policy proposals to Parliament, and have done so.

Urging Singaporeans not to “blindly unite” in voting for the PAP, Prof Lim added: “The PAP dismisses our arguments, calling them theoretical or irrelevant. But 10 or 20 years later, they show up in government policies.

“Let us be your voices that the Government can no longer choose to ignore.”

 

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GE2025: SDP’s Chee has walked long political path, but not served the community, says PAP’s Poh Li San​

The PAP's Sembawang West candidate Poh Li San speaking at a rally on April 28.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Zaihan Mohamed Yusof and Tay Hong Yi
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – Organising town hall meetings to hear residents’ issues, reducing waiting times at Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS), and arguing for full-time MPs to manage estate work make for good rally speeches.

But such suggestions demonstrate a lack of understanding of how PAP MPs work, said Ms Poh Li San, the party’s candidate for Sembawang West SMC.

Ms Poh, 50, was speaking at a PAP rally next to Sun Plaza on April 28, together with the party’s Sembawang GRC team members.

In her speech, Ms Poh countered Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan’s recent rally pledge to hold town hall meetings to address residents’ concerns and shorten MPS waiting times, if he is elected.

Dr Chee, at an April 26 rally in Sembawang, had also said SDP candidates will outdo those from PAP in managing town councils and raising issues in Parliament as they are committed to becoming full-time MPs if elected.

Dr Chee is contesting Sembawang West SMC.

Ms Poh, who is senior vice-president at Changi Airport Group, said: “This is a fundamental mistake about what MPS is about. MPS is a safe, private space for residents to tell me of their life challenges so we can work on these together. It is not a town hall for public political theatre.”

She acknowledged that there are some weeks when an MPS can last for hours and end past midnight, but said this is because “we don’t leave until we see the last family, the last man or the last woman leave. We work when no one is watching”.

Ms Poh said she replies to residents’ e-mails directly to eliminate the need for them to physically attend an MPS. She also meets older residents during house visits and walkabouts to follow up on the problems they face with agencies.

She added: “I am your MP, not just during MPS but every day when you need my help.”

Ms Poh admitted that Dr Chee has walked a long political path. However, that path has not been spent serving the community.

“Yes, he’s passionate,” she said. “But passion alone does not build playgrounds nor support seniors nor comfort a struggling family.”


At the same rally, Sembawang GRC candidate Vikram Nair, who has been the chairman of Sembawang Town Council for the past seven years, gave a report on the work done in the GRC.

The 46-year-old lawyer noted that residents’ feedback is gathered and discussed among the MPs and with the town council with the aim of delivering improvements.

“In the last five years, we’ve built 154 sheltered walkways... We’ve upgraded 44 parks and fitness corners, community gardens,” he said, adding that the number of gardens has grown from 28 to 60 during the period.

In addition, 340 Housing Board blocks have undergone repairs and redecoration, while 47 blocks comprising 3,138 units have benefited from HDB’s Home Improvement Programme, Mr Nair said.

When it was her turn to speak, Ms Mariam Jaafar, a first-term MP, said she and her team have walked alongside and championed causes for students, seniors, caregivers, job seekers and former offenders.

Ms Mariam, 48, is managing director and senior partner of the Boston Consulting Group.

She said: “I’ve heard your stories, your worries about costs of living, your frustrations about the costs of doing business, your fears about not being able to afford a home, your hopes for your children, your fears about ageing without support.”

Mr Gabriel Lam, one of two new PAP faces contesting Sembawang GRC, said he would stand for second chances.

The 42-year-old chief operating officer of Shalom International Movers said: “I believe in giving second chances because my father was given a second chance. And I saw how he took it to better our lives and that of others.”

The other new face for the GRC is Mr Ng Shi Xuan, 35, who said residents have welcomed him warmly. Mr Ng, a director at Powermark Battery and Hardware Trading, was a grassroots volunteer in MacPherson for a decade and vice-chairman of the MacPherson Youth Network.

He said: “In MacPherson, I work closely with and for youth and young families. And here in Canberra, we meet so many young people and families daily. I feel like I fit right in like a fish in water.”

 

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‘Mission Possible’: Voting for WP in Punggol GRC will benefit all S’poreans, says Pritam Singh​

WP chief Pritam Singh called on voters to send a strong message to the PAP.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Kok Yufeng and Aqil Hamzah
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – Voters in Punggol GRC who choose the Workers’ Party at the ballot box will be doing so to the benefit of all Singaporeans who want a more balanced Parliament, and a fair and accountable electoral boundary review process, said WP chief Pritam Singh.

In a pitch to voters in the new constituency on April 28, he called on them to send a strong message to the PAP, and show the ruling party “the limits and futility” of redrawing electoral boundaries and announcing them only a month or two before the polls.

“This is not Mission Impossible. It is Mission Possible,” Mr Singh told spectators at a rally at Yusof Ishak Secondary School in Sumang Walk. There are 123,820 registered electors in Punggol GRC.

“Your role in this election is very significant... If you vote (for) the Workers’ Party, you will be doing an incredible service to the nation,” he added.

“The PAP government’s Electoral Boundaries Review Committee cannot merge Punggol GRC into Johor,” Mr Singh quipped.

He added: “Punggol, you can send a strong message to the PAP: You can change some electoral boundaries every year. But don’t mess with Punggol. Don’t mess with Singaporeans.”

Speaking at WP’s third rally this general election, Mr Singh and other WP candidates also took swipes at the PAP’s team in Punggol led by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and criticised again the timing of the GST hike.

The Leader of the Opposition said WP had done all it could in Parliament to stop the ruling party from raising the goods and services tax when inflation was raging.

But the PAP was able to get away with making such decisions as it does not face enough political pressure from elected WP MPs, he argued.

“When the PAP loses votes and seats to the Workers’ Party, it has to take corrective action,” said Mr Singh.

“It will think twice, or even three times, before further raising the GST or implementing other policies that people object to. Or, at the very least, the PAP will consider the timing of their policies much more carefully,” he added.

Mr Singh said having WP MPs in Parliament also means the PAP has no choice but to justify its actions, as opposition backbenchers “ask the questions that Singaporeans want to ask”.

Noting that three of the four PAP candidates in Punggol – DPM Gan, Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary and Minister of State Sun Xueling – are political office-holders, Mr Singh added: “Do you think they can question the Government? They are the Government.”

He took aim at Dr Janil, the PAP’s party Whip, and how he did not ensure there were enough PAP MPs to vote for a constitutional amendment for a new legal framework to combat new psychoactive substances in March 2023, which required the support of 63 out of the 93 elected MPs.

“Lucky for them, there were Workers’ Party MPs around,” Mr Singh added.

On DPM Gan, Mr Singh said it was “very strange” that the Cabinet minister was not elected into the PAP’s latest central executive committee in 2024.

“Could it be that he was ready to retire and did not plan to run in this election? If so, can he be so critical to the PM’s plans?” he asked.

“You mean the PM has no one else in his Cabinet that can negotiate with the United States on tariffs? If this is true, to quote Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, si liao lah (die already).”

He also took a jab at DPM Gan’s comments at an earlier PAP rally in Punggol, where the Deputy Prime Minister said he would “talk to his good friend”, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, to get funds for infrastructure in the town.

“Do I need to be his friend for taxpayer funding to be allocated to Punggol? No,” Mr Singh said.

“As a Singaporean, I expect fair allocation of taxpayer resources to all our people,” he added, noting that despite WP winning Aljunied GRC, his Eunos ward will have a new polyclinic and a new general hospital.

Added Mr Singh: “The PAP has learnt through the years that putting opposition wards last for upgrading and last for national projects creates a backlash against them in all constituencies in Singapore. So I have every confidence Punggol will be well served.”

WP’s Punggol candidate Alexis Dang said statements such as that made by DPM Gan about being good friends with PM Wong reflect a troubling reality about Singapore’s politics today.

She also called on voters to reject the use of key government figures as political pawns.

Mr Harpreet Singh, who leads the WP’s Punggol team, sought to deal with three main concerns he had heard from Punggol residents during the hustings.

He assured voters that national plans, such as the Punggol Digital District, will carry on regardless of the party that is voted in, and the WP team will conduct townhall meetings to get views from residents to drive town improvements.

If elected, the team will take over the town council and run it effectively, said Mr Harpreet Singh.

“You can ask your friends and family in Sengkang. Has the condition of Sengkang gone down after the Workers’ Party took over? Absolutely not,” he said.

He promised to pare down his legal work and “give practically all of (his) time” to Punggol voters, if elected.

The senior counsel also called on DPM Gan, who chairs the Monetary Authority of Singapore, to respond to an open letter by Mr Tan Suee Chieh, former chief executive of NTUC Income, about Mr Gan’s role in the scuppered deal to sell a majority stake of the home-grown insurer to German multinational Allianz.

Mr Harpreet Singh said Punggol GRC residents are ultimately not voting just for Punggol, but for Singapore’s future direction.

“You’ll be voting not just for present generations, but generations unborn.”

​

 

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GE2025: Labour chief Ng Chee Meng plans to draw on NTUC experience to help Jalan Kayu residents​

Mr Ng Chee Meng said he is looking into innovative ways to reach out to younger workers, especially those under 35.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Sue-Ann Tan
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE - Labour chief Ng Chee Meng plans to tap his experience working with the unions and drawing up creative solutions for workers when it comes to helping Jalan Kayu residents with their job concerns.

His work as National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general also means he can make policy ideas more accessible to workers on the ground, he added.

Mr Ng, 56, who is facing off against Workers’ Party candidate Andre Low, 33, said he has new ideas and is looking into innovative ways to reach out to younger workers, especially those under 35 and professionals, managers and executives (PMEs).

“Maybe with that dose of age, of having seen different things, I am able to translate fresh ideas into real possibilities,” he said. For instance, Mr Ng was involved in helping private-hire drivers get Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions.

Speaking to The Straits Times at a coffee shop in the Jalan Kayu area, Mr Ng fielded questions on his political experience, his plans for the district should he be elected, and the ups and downs of NTUC life.

One key issue he raised is how young residents have concerns about job security, and the long wait for Build-to-Order (BTO) flats. Residents of all ages are also concerned about the rising cost of living, he added.

Meanwhile, the elderly struggle with municipal issues like needing more lifts and sheltered walkways, he said.

Asked what he can bring to the table, Mr Ng said: “On the NTUC side, I have experience running a big organisation, understanding the macro picture and translating what matters to the residents. I think that will be a key value-add.

“If you really want to go for jobs upskilling, what will be the most relevant to a resident? What are the things that are practical to your profession... I can definitely bring that to Jalan Kayu.”

He added that one of the most important things he has learnt at NTUC is “matching head and heart” in policymaking, and making trade-offs.

“If I’m all head in making policies and don’t know what’s happening on the ground, then we are not really fulfilling the mandate the people have given to us. If I’m all heart on the ground, I could be destroying the system... with unsustainable policies,” he said.

For instance, there is a need to maintain the delicate balance between supporting the local workforce and bringing in foreign labour, he said.

“If we reject foreigners, our economy will collapse, but it’s about how we can trust, build on foundations... and always make sure that when there is success, there is always an element for the workers to share,” he said.

He was also asked about NTUC’s aborted Income-Allianz deal, especially the criticism from former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Suee Chieh, who has raised questions on the issue in a letter that has been circulating online.

Mr Ng said he had already addressed the issue at a Jalan Kayu rally on April 27.

The Government halted the deal in October 2024 after questions were raised about Income’s ability to continue its social mission after the sale.

In his rally speech, Mr Ng said he has initiated a review in NTUC Enterprise – the parent entity of Income – so “we can learn the right lessons humbly”.

“In NTUC, we will do our best, and sometimes, I’m sorry that it is not good enough, but... we will do better.”

Mr Ng also said he has learnt lessons from his 2020 election loss, when the WP won Sengkang GRC.

He said: “The most important one is the humility that one learns over 10 years in political service. You do your best, and really listen more and more.”

As for WP chief Pritam Singh’s remarks about the labour movement becoming a “guaranteed trampoline” for losing PAP candidates, he said: “I very much prefer fair, respectful contests. At the end of it, after the election period, we must come back together regardless, so that we can position Singapore to face challenges.”

Will Mr Ng remain in the labour movement if he is returned to Parliament? He said: “I’d be happy to, if Prime Minister Lawrence Wong deploys me in the labour movement, but I can’t tell exactly... But whatever I do, I will make sure I get the blessings from those in the unions.”

Still, he will continue to push for policies that will help workers, Mr Ng said. “Our basic philosophy is, a good job is the best way to ensure that you can cope with any costs, because if you have real wage growth, it means you are beating inflation.”

His message to Jalan Kayu residents is a simple one, he added.

“I hope through the interactions, they will see me, not so much from my professional life, but see me as a person, as part of their community.”

 

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GE2025: WP’s Andre Low says he offers ‘something different’, cites private sector experience​

WP's candidate for Jalan Kayu Andre Low says he has a breadth of experience from his career in the private sector.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
Chin Soo Fang
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE - WP candidate Andre Low hopes to rely on the breadth of experience he has gathered across different industries to serve Jalan Kayu residents and Singaporeans.

Referring to labour chief Ng Chee Meng, a former lieutenant-general who is the PAP candidate for Jalan Kayu SMC, he said: “I think I have, in many ways, much more to offer than he does. He comes with his military background. He’s been in the labour movement. I offer something different. I worked in the private sector my entire career.”

In each of his career paths in law, technology and consulting, he has worked at the largest companies, he said. He started as a disputes lawyer with Drew & Napier, then moved on to the technology sector with Amazon Web Services, before he joined the Boston Consulting Group.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from University College London and a Master of Business Administration from Insead.

The only child of two teachers, he joined WP in 2020 and was appointed secretarial assistant to Sengkang GRC MP Louis Chua immediately after the election.

Speaking to The Straits Times under a block of flats at Fernvale Link on April 28, the 33-year-old tech professional with a global fintech company said he is a unique proposition that differs from many current parliamentarians.

Mr Low, who had previously referred to himself as the underdog in this contest, added: “I may be young, but that means I have a long runway ahead of me. If I have the privilege of being their MP, I hope to serve them for many, many years to come.”

For the residents, he will be continuing the good work that has been done in terms of the estate’s cleanliness and maintenance, he said.

“I want to reassure residents that there will be continuity. If there’s any kind of ongoing projects that have been funded already, we’ll keep those going. And I think residents can be assured that the WP now has a very solid, long track record of running, managing town councils.”

Besides addressing their needs, he hopes to focus on four main thrusts in Parliament if elected: cost of living, housing affordability and access, education reforms to encourage creative thinking, diverse skill sets and exploratory mindsets, as well as future-ready jobs and skills.

Mr Low, who is married with a baby on the way, was initially walking the ground in Tampines.

However, the party leadership had made it clear that as electoral boundaries and strategic considerations change, the team might change too.

After the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report was released, WP chief Pritam Singh broached the idea of him running in Jalan Kayu SMC.

“I told him, I would want to take up the challenge,” he said, adding that there were already “rumours” then about who his opponent would be.

While WP had been engaging Jalan Kayu residents after the EBRC report was issued in March, Mr Low started doing so daily over two weeks ago.

He noted that this was due to the party’s strategic considerations to keep its cards close to its chest.

“I seek the residents’ forgiveness for not being able to engage on the ground at an earlier stage,” he said.

On WP’s foray into the newly minted ward, he said that it is an extension slightly west of Sengkang, which would bring the single-member constituency into the Sengkang family. The WP wrested Sengkang GRC from the PAP team led by Mr Ng in the last election.

He said: “I think it will be close. It’ll be a tough fight. It will swing either side on very fine margins.”

Even if he loses, he said he would still fully commit himself to Jalan Kayu residents, but would defer to the WP leadership’s decision.

Noting that the former Joo Chiat SMC was absorbed into a GRC after fellow WP member Yee Jenn Jong narrowly lost the contest in 2011, he added: “I think it will also depend on whether we still have the Jalan Kayu SMC.”

 

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GE2025: WP’s Alexis Dang on a health scare, preparing for rallies and going up against DPM Gan​

The WP's Punggol GRC candidate Alexis Dang greeting a resident during a walkabout at One Punggol Hawker Centre on April 26.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

Nadine Chua
Apr 29, 2025


SINGAPORE – When the gates at Temasek Junior College opened ahead of WP’s second rally on April 26, the party’s supporters streamed into the compound with banners, inflatable hammers and loudhailers.

Backstage, WP candidate Alexis Dang paced back and forth, quietly mouthing her script to herself as she prepared to emcee the rally.

She took copious notes as former Hougang SMC MP Png Eng Huat briefed her on the rally line-up and gave her tips on how to engage the audience.

“The first rally went well, so we need to keep that energy up,” he told her.

After exchanging hugs, handshakes and pats on the back with fellow WP candidates, Ms Dang took several deep breaths before walking up on stage to greet the throng of supporters.

Ms Dang, 39, is part of the WP slate for Punggol GRC – one of the most hotly contested constituencies in the election.

The senior director at global advertising tech firm Teads gave her first rally speech at the party’s Sengkang GRC rally on April 24.

‘I went through a lot of soul-searching’​

Her path to becoming a new WP candidate began in 2020, when she joined the party as a volunteer and started helping with house visits and Meet-the-People Sessions.

Campaign videos by the WP drew her attention, she said, because of the party’s “willingness to work hard for the people, even though it is not easy”.

“That resonated with me, because I think I’m definitely not somebody who likes to take the easy route, and that’s the reason I’m here,” she added.

For Ms Dang, a turning point came after a routine check-up in April 2024 detected high levels of tumour markers in her body.

The results meant there was a likelihood she had cancer, and a doctor she consulted said the tumour markers likely indicated late-stage cancer.

After months of scans and tests, doctors eventually found that it was a bacteria infection that caused her tumour markers to spike. She has since been cleared of the infection.

“During that period, I went through a lot of soul-searching. When facing something like that, you don’t think about the things in life you regret doing. Instead, you think about what you did not do. It really put things in perspective for me,” said Ms Dang.

She began thinking about what she wanted to do with her life that would give her more purpose and fulfilment. While her health scare turned out to be nothing serious, she said: “If I had not gone through this, I don’t think I would have been strong enough to stand in this election.”

WP candidate Alexis Dang with former Hougang SMC MP Png Eng Huat before a rally at Temasek Junior College on April 26.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Ms Dang, who is single, lives with her mother and her younger sister.

Her younger sister, who is two years her junior, is her greatest source of support and “100 per cent aligned in this political endeavour”, she said.

Her older sister supports the PAP.

“She didn’t really understand why I wanted to align myself with the opposition initially,” Ms Dang said, adding that her sister was surprised by the amount of support the WP received after campaigning started.

“Now, she is more open-minded about hearing what people have to say, and I think that is a good start. We definitely don’t have to be aligned in our political views, and we can agree to disagree in this family.”

Jitters on Nomination Day​

Things have moved quickly for Ms Dang since the Writ of Election was issued.

On April 18, she was introduced as one of the WP’s new faces. On Nomination Day, it emerged that the party had decided to field her in Punggol GRC alongside three other political newcomers: Mr Harpreet Singh, Mr Jackson Au and Ms Alia Mattar.

Describing it as an exhilarating experience, Ms Dang said: “Before we left for the nomination centres, (WP chief Pritam Singh) gave us a pep talk and we were all very pumped up. We thought – okay, we got to do this well, we’re here for a mission.”

(Clockwise from left) Ms Dang and her fellow Punggol GRC candidates Jackson Au, Harpreet Singh and Alia Mattar taking a wefie after a walkabout at One Punggol Hawker Centre on April 26.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Going head-to-head with Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and his PAP team is something she does not take lightly.

“This is a formidable opponent that we are up against... More than a week ago, I was just a typical, average Singaporean, just like everyone else. Now, my team and I are going up against the DPM,” she said.

If elected, Ms Dang said she will bring up issues residents have raised as pain points, including two topics close to her heart – with the first being education.

She views education as the main driver of social mobility today. “I hope I can help to look into new policies that will enable students from all sorts of family backgrounds to put their potential to the best use, absorb well and not just rush through the syllabus,” she said.

Ms Dang added that she intends to look into helping students whose families are unable to afford tuition, by providing them with supplementary educational support.

She also wants to help those making career transitions. She said she had switched jobs, from a role in finance to one in the technology sector, and knows such transitions are not easy.

“I want to help put together a programme that will empower our citizens to improve their skills in the right way and prepare them for a new economy. That is something I want to champion,” she said.

On the campaign trail​

On April 26, Ms Dang began her day early in the morning with a cup of iced milk tea with honey.

She then rushed out to meet her teammates at One Punggol for a walkabout, which The Straits Times observed.

Ms Dang said she would usually take long morning walks at MacRitchie Reservoir, but has given those a miss since the start of the hustings due to a packed campaign schedule.

As she made her rounds at One Punggol Hawker Centre with her fellow Punggol GRC candidates, queues formed as residents waited to meet them.

The four of them have grown close over the course of the campaign, Ms Dang said.

Mr Au is the “backbone of the team”, and Mr Harpreet Singh is the one that she and Ms Alia turn to for advice.

“Our WhatsApp group chat name is ‘solid solid team’, which is what Harpreet referred to us as on Nomination Day,” she said.

Ms Dang posing for photos with residents during a walkabout at One Punggol Hawker Centre on April 26.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
When Ms Dang sat down for lunch, her plate of ayam penyet was barely touched as residents continually went up to her for handshakes and photos.

Speaking to ST between bites, she said: “The Punggol residents have been nothing but warm and welcoming to us. We definitely have to give it our best shot. We cannot disappoint the residents.”

Asked how she felt about the comments on her appearance when she was first introduced as a WP new face, Ms Dang said: “I was definitely a little bit surprised, because I don’t think of myself in that way.

“I think what we should be focusing on is the work we are trying to do here. I am appreciative of any positive feedback that people have shared so far, but I definitely hope that people can also focus on what the Workers’ Party is trying to bring to the table, which is diversity of thoughts and more representation in Parliament.”

She added: “Ultimately, we want to bring different voices from different communities to Parliament to help us formulate better policies that are reflective of what Singaporeans need and want.”

 

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Commentary​

GE2025: Sharp political rhetoric in campaign’s final stretch is healthy – if within bounds​

Bhavan Jaipragas

In a rally on April 27, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered a forceful rebuttal to attacks by WP chief Pritam Singh a day earlier.PHOTOS: LIM YAOHUI, BLOOMBERG
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – If there is a pattern emerging in this election’s main campaigns – between the ruling PAP and its rival WP – it follows a clear arc: a steady, almost equanimous start, followed by a decisive sharpening at the midpoint.

This tougher stance will likely hold until campaigning concludes at the end of May 1, though I expect a certain restraint will prevail throughout.

One has seen electoral campaigning in other countries descend into ugly m&d-slinging as Polling Day nears. Yet my read on Day 6 of these nine days of hustings suggests we will not go down that road.

Both sides are likely to slug it out with very fierce attacks, certainly. But decency and mutual respect will hold. On the PAP’s part, its trademark sharp elbows during hustings will not suddenly disappear – this much is clear.

One can surmise from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s lunchtime Fullerton rally speech on April 28 that his overarching message in this campaign remains one of hope.

While he had some choice words for the opposition, what stood out to me – standing in the blazing sun with thousands of others – was how his speech concluded with optimism about Singapore as the against-all-odds nation that will see better days yet, provided voters back the PAP resolutely.

Among his sharper criticisms was the charge that the opposition had wilfully ignored full ventilation of the debate on why the goods and services tax (GST) had to be raised from 7 per cent to 9 per cent, instead rehashing arguments that had been rebutted.

“Because politically,” he said, “they know it’s to their advantage to make this an issue, to stir up unhappiness, just to maximise their votes.”

This ramping up of sharp rhetoric became evident over the weekend.

Commentators, journalists and voters I met during the early part of the campaign – at least until Saturday – all noticed the same thing: Both the PAP and WP seemed to be holding back, avoiding direct confrontation even when it might have made political sense to attack.

At a doorstop interview with the media on Saturday morning, I put this impression to the WP chief, Mr Pritam Singh.

His response was telling: This approach reflected “the sensible politics we want in the country” – though he carefully noted there were policy differences that would be ventilated in rallies.

The shift happened rapidly. That very evening, Mr Singh went on the attack against the PAP’s Mr Ng Chee Meng, dedicating a sizeable portion of his remarks to criticising the NTUC chief – perhaps revealing the WP’s assessment of Jalan Kayu SMC’s contestability, where its candidate Andre Low is running.

Forceful rebuttal​

Mr Singh would have known his attacks would draw a response.

Indeed, they did – and from no less than Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the PAP’s most seasoned and arguably most effective campaigner. While stumping for Mr Ng on Sunday, he delivered a forceful rebuttal to Mr Singh’s comments.

His offensive – sharp yet accessible to the mass audience and peppered with colloquialisms – surely accomplished its purpose, even as some opposition-leaning commentators lamented his departure from the gentler tone of the campaign’s early days.


SM Lee’s barbs covered considerable ground: questioning what he described as feet-dragging by the opposition on the widely reported foreign interference efforts (“You didn’t notice, you didn’t know, or buat bodoh?”), forcefully rebutting Mr Singh’s arguments that the WP had performed better than the PAP and labour MPs in asking questions about the Allianz-Income saga (“wow, lawa”), and imploring voters to follow in the footsteps of pioneers who had backed the PAP. “They knew it’s not masak-masak, it’s not main-main, it’s not playing guli; it is your lives, our lives, our children’s futures.”

Partisans may not appreciate such directness, but I have to say, standing with the obviously pro-PAP crowd at the rally in Fern Green Primary School, I could see these lines landed very effectively. There was no fiddling with phones, no chatting. Rallygoers were all ears as SM Lee first spoke in Malay, then Mandarin and English.

As much as the WP and its top campaigner, Mr Singh, will in all likelihood continue a campaign of strategically taking on a more forceful attacking line in rallies in the coming days, they should expect equally firm responses from the PAP’s prominent campaigners.

Reflecting on non-negotiables​

With both sides now certain to engage in sharper rhetoric, it’s worth reflecting on the boundaries that should sustain our political culture as we enter the final campaign stretch.

Non-negotiable, of course, is the firewall against exploiting racial and religious divisions, as well as the rejection of foreign interference.

These principles have been unhesitatingly embraced by the PAP, WP and other contesting parties in the aftermath of PM Wong’s comments on Saturday, following the authorities’ warnings about foreign attempts to sway voter sentiment along racial and religious lines.

I can think of a few other guard rails, or at least cautionary lessons, drawn not just from past campaigns but also from the current one unfolding before us.

Political decency stands foremost among these.

Politicians should resist the temptation to brand opponents as morally contemptible simply because they hold different positions.

I’ve made this point previously, but it bears repeating – portraying political adversaries as inherently malevolent or morally compromised doesn’t merely inflame tensions for a news cycle. The damage runs deeper. It gradually erodes public faith in the entire political ecosystem, making compromise and governance increasingly difficult long after Polling Day.

Rhetorical discipline matters equally. PM Wong, for example, had taken issue with how some opposition parties framed the GST hike.

Now, opposition to the increase is legitimate democratic positioning – that’s not the issue. Opposition parties can make their substantive points forcefully, explaining why they disagree with the Government’s rationale.

But when rhetoric veers into inflammatory territory, we must ask: Whom does this truly serve? When politicians characterise the PAP as an “arsonist that sets fire to your house and then gives you a cup to put the fire out”, they demonstrate a fundamental misreading of our electorate.

Singaporean voters have consistently shown sophistication in distinguishing between robust critique and theatrical hyperbole. There exists a general wariness – perhaps even distrust – of political polemics here that savvy campaigners understand. This explains why most of them have not made – nor are they likely to make – incendiary remarks. Singapore voters do not reward such behaviour.

So as we enter these final campaign days, expect and even welcome the sharper exchanges. They help crystallise choices and illuminate distinctions that might otherwise remain blurred.

When robust debate stays within appropriate bounds – free from racial politics, fearmongering or voter intimidation – it strengthens rather than weakens our democratic process. The contestants can fight fiercely, but they would do well to remember what they’re fighting for: the right to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.

 

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GE2025: ‘A ridiculous argument’ that losing ministers will not weaken Govt, says SM Lee in Aljunied GRC​

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the PAP Aljunied GRC team at 630 Bedok Reservoir Road Market and Food Centre on April 29.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Isabelle Liew
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – It is a ridiculous argument to say the PAP can lose ministers without weakening the Government, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on April 29.

This is as every team has a range of members, some more critical and others playing complementary roles, he said at a walkabout at 630 Bedok Reservoir Road Market and Food Centre in Aljunied GRC.

“If it doesn’t matter who is in the team, then there should be no difficulty making a good government with anybody (and) you don’t need to assemble a strong group of people,” he said.

SM Lee was responding to comments by WP chief Pritam Singh that it would be a serious problem if the PAP needed more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats to govern properly.

On April 28, the Leader of the Opposition had said that the Government would still have “enough leeway, enough focus” even if all 26 WP candidates were voted into Parliament this election.

At a rally that evening, Mr Singh also said Singapore would be in trouble if Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had no one else in his Cabinet to negotiate with the US on tariffs besides Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.

Mr Singh posited that DPM Gan had been ready to retire before GE2025 and, if re-elected, he was likely to stay for just one more term.

SM Lee noted that Mr Singh was trying to make inroads in the new Punggol GRC. DPM Gan is anchoring the PAP team there against a WP team.

“He can’t very well say that Mr Gan Kim Yong is a very valuable minister but nevertheless, ‘Please vote for me’, so he has to say that,” said SM Lee.

On Mr Singh’s argument that amenities such as hospitals and train stations will continue to be built if the opposition is elected, SM Lee said basic facilities and government services are developed across the island.

“But does the MP in a constituency make a difference? The answer is yes,” he said.

The PAP candidates in Aljunied GRC will have their residents’ interests at heart and will be able to work with the Government to help make sure it understands these concerns and needs, he added.

Asked about the WP’s charge that the ruling party had not put out a five-year plan for Aljunied GRC, SM Lee said that was “rich”, as WP chairwoman Sylvia Lim had also said the opposition party has no five-year plans for the new constituencies they are contesting.

Ms Chan Hui Yuh, 48, who is leading the PAP team in Aljunied GRC, said the candidates will rejuvenate the towns and make them more liveable if elected.

SM Lee said: “(For) the PAP, if you want to know what our plans are, look around you. Look at the houses we’ve built, the trains which are running, the services which we enjoy – that is what we have built for Singapore all over.”

He noted that the WP had said it has achieved green ratings for its town councils in the Ministry of National Development’s town council management report.

“But some markers are greener than others,” he added, citing a park in Aljunied “where the swings have no swings for two years.”

“Any number of such things, if I can just start by putting those things right and getting them up to scratch as they ought to be, which I’m sure our PAP team is able to do, that already is significant,” he said.

SM Lee said he was visiting places like Aljunied and Jalan Kayu to show voters that these were important constituencies for the PAP and the ruling party was taking these contests seriously.

“We go where we are most needed, and the fact that we go there sends a signal,” he said. “The signal is this fight is important, please take it very seriously.

“This is about your future, about Singapore coming through a very troubled period in the world safely, with the best team to help you secure your lives and your future.”

This is the second time during the hustings where a heavyweight minister has made an appearance in Aljunied GRC. On April 25, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is not contesting in this election, joined the PAP candidates for a walkabout at Bedok 538 Market and Food Centre.

The PAP is the underdog in Aljunied GRC, which the WP has held since its historic win there in 2011.

SM Teo Chee Hean (seated, centre) and the PAP Aljunied GRC candidates interacting with residents at Bedok 538 Market and Food Centre on April 25.PHOTO: ISABELLE LIEW
Besides Ms Chan, a second-time candidate, the PAP team for Aljunied GRC comprises four new faces – dental surgeon Faisal Abdul Aziz, 37; company director Adrian Ang, 42; urban planning consultancy chief Daniel Liu, 40; and trade unionist Jagathishwaran Rajo, 37.

They are up against the WP team of Mr Singh, 48; Ms Lim, 60; Mr Gerald Giam, 47; new face Kenneth Tiong, 36; and Mr Fadli Fawzi, 44, who contested Marine Parade GRC under the WP banner in 2020.

At GE2020, the WP clinched Aljunied with 59.95 per cent of the votes.

 

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GE2025: Opposition strengthens Govt with new ideas, debates on issues, says RDU’s Kala Manickam​

Red Dot United party candidate Kala Manickam for Jurong Central SMC during a walkabout at a wet market at Jurong Central Plaza on April 29.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Syarafana Shafeeq
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE - Having opposition MPs in Parliament would strengthen, not weaken the Government, because they bring new ideas and perspectives to the table, Red Dot United’s (RDU) Kala Manickam said.

The Jurong Central SMC candidate was asked during a walkabout in Jurong Central Plaza on April 29 about Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s statement during the Fullerton Rally the day before, where he said having more opposition voices would weaken the Government amid challenging times.

Madam Kala said: “We are actually bringing in new ideas and co-creating, and we can debate on topics and issues which are best for Singaporeans.”

“How can they say that the opposition coming in will weaken the Government? In fact, it will be better,” added the 52-year-old, who previously contested Nee Soon GRC in 2020 as part of the PSP.

Madam Kala was also asked for her comments to Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu’s rally speech on April 28, where the latter said tough decisions like raising the GST always comes with trade-offs. The Government recognises the struggles faced by those with little or no income, Ms Fu had also said.

In response, Madam Kala said Singaporeans are stretched because of PAP’s policies. If the policies are “able to provide stress relief and happiness, then people may not necessarily seek out opposition parties”, she added.


Madam Kala said: “Who comes up with the policies? It’s PAP. We only have 12 opposition party members in Parliament, how much can they do? They don’t have a say in what is passed through because we don’t have a one-third majority.”

In Singapore, constitutional amendments require the support of a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

“Basically, they created the policy, they stretched the people, and now they’re saying it is very challenging. They need to review themselves,” the former SAF officer said.

Madam Kala also disagreed with Ms Fu’s statement on April 28, that debates do not lead to better policies and good governance.

The RDU candidate said credible opposition candidates can speak up on issues in a matured manner, and there will be “a very instructive culture” if there are no debates in Parliament.

She added: “Are you saying that when children have debates in school and open up and speak up, it’s not healthy for the teachers or the principal? It is developing a ‘thinking society’.”

Madam Kala also countered what Ms Fu said about it being easy for the opposition to ask the Government to give out money to Singaporeans, but their proposals lack in detail on where the money will come from.

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Madam Kala said: “We have a surplus of Budget every year. Why can’t we take certain portions from the surplus Budget?”

She added it would help people if part of the surplus can be distributed to the people as a $200 dividend - a proposal in the RDU manifesto.

This proposed dividend is expected to cost between $2 and $4 billion, RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon said previously, adding that the proposal would not dip into the national reserves.

Madam Kala said: “If we are really unable to take from the Budget’s surplus, then I will find ways to raise money.”

“Raising money in Singapore is not a difficult thing, because Singaporeans are very kind and good-hearted people. When there are disasters in any country, Singaporeans are the first ones to actually donate money.”

Madam Kala said she hopes to emulate President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who used to anchor Jurong GRC when he was part of the PAP. Jurong Central SMC comprises part of the former GRC, as well as portions of the former Yuhua SMC.

She said: “Residents hold him in very high respect - they told me Mr Tharman is a very nice and a very compassionate man. That is the path I want to walk.”

“If they can love Tharman, they can love Kala also.”

 

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GE2025: Race, religion shouldn’t be mixed with politics in S’pore, says SM Lee at Tampines GRC visit​

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the PAP Aljunied GRC team interacting with residents during a walkabout at Bedok Reservoir Road Market and Food Centre on April 29.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Aqil Hamzah
Apr 29, 2025


SINGAPORE - Although race and religion has gotten mixed up with politics recently, this is not the way in Singapore, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Referring to social media posts that had called for voters to select candidates along racial and religious lines, the 73-year-old stressed that political parties here are not structured along such lines, unlike the case in Malaysia.

It was for this reason that SM Lee said he had come to Tampines on April 29, after a walkabout in Bedok Reservoir with the PAP Aljunied GRC candidates - to show support to Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli.

Mr Masagos is leading the PAP team in Tampines GRC, with the incumbents going up against the WP, National Solidarity Party and People’s Power Party in a rare four-cornered fight.

Speaking to the media outside a supermarket in Tampines Street 81, SM Lee said that despite Mr Masagos being the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, he represents residents of all races and religions in the constituency, while also “looking after the interests of all Singaporeans” as a cabinet member.

“Singaporeans have to understand that, and have to understand the games which are being played online,” he said, citing the Facebook posts made by foreigners that attempted to interfere in Singapore’s May 3 general election.

On April 25, the authorities said they had directed Meta to block access to posts by two Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) politicians and a former Singaporean who was an Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee.

PAS national treasurer Iskandar Abdul Samad had expressed support for WP’s vice-chairman and Tampines GRC candidate Faisal Manap, and shared several other posts showing support for other opposition politicians from the Muslim community.

Mr Noor Deros, a Singaporean self-styled religious teacher living in Malaysia, had also singled out Mr Faisal as the candidate to vote for.

Meanwhile, former ISA detainee Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff, an Australian citizen, had accused several Malay/Muslim MPs here of failing to represent the interests of the Muslim community, asserting that the local Muslim community did not need another Malay MP who did not reflect their concerns.

Speaking to reporters in Malay, SM Lee said: “We are one people, one united nation, and we are not divided along racial or religious lines. I hope we can continue working like that for the good of our nation, and for a brighter future for everyone in Singapore.”

He added that the Government has been working hard for the Malay/Muslim community here, citing the construction of new mosques, like the one in Tampines North, and the introduction of an Islamic College that will hopefully begin operating in a few years.

Speaking at the same doorstop interview, Mr Masagos said that while divisive discourse along racial or religious lines has ceased at the rallies, this continues to be circulated across the internet and this is “concerning.”

He said: “It just shows that when you start a poison going, it just spreads.”

When asked about the sentiments of residents, Mr Masagos said that several had expressed worry when he met them during home visits.

“Especially those who are seniors, they went through racial riots. Some of them actually cried and said they couldn’t sleep,” he said.

Reiterating that peace and harmony should never be taken for granted, he warned of the risks of divisive discourse. “It’s like a peat fire, right underground. It spreads and then turns up somewhere else,” he said.

He added: “It’s very hard to pin, and I know this because I used to take care of the haze. The fire cannot be seen... and we will suffer for this.”

Besides race and religion, SM Lee also criticised comments made by WP candidates at the party’s rally on April 28 about Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who is leading a PAP team in Punggol GRC.

While SM Lee declined to go into specifics, saying Prime Minister Lawrence Wong would probably have something to say about this later, he said it was “regrettable” and “deplorable” that the opposition had made personal attacks on individuals.

Rather than tackling issues or the interests of Singaporeans, he said the opposition was merely trying to go after people from the ruling party.

“I hope Singaporeans can see through this and will vote for the parties which will represent their interests and which will also be able to take them forward.

“And this way of personal attacks is not the way forward.”

SM Lee also hit back at WP’s explanation on why it had abstained from voting on a Bill to amend a law that would allow the Government to block the proposed sale of NTUC’s Income Insurance to German insurer Allianz.

On April 28, WP chair Sylvia Lim told reporters in Tampines that the party had abstained because suddenly changing the law to affect a live transaction would not be good for Singapore in terms of business certainty.

She added that to pass a law that would affect parties in a live transaction, the logical and right thing to do would be to let it go to a parliamentary select committee, to understand how the law might jeopardise or undermine affected parties.

Describing the explanation as “excuses”, SM Lee said: “You are presented with this decision. You have to make a choice. Do you act and do the right thing, or do you wring your hands, make general, complicated explanations and let it through, and then say ‘Sorry, it can’t be helped’?”

 

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GE2025: PAP’s David Hoe wants better access to opportunities for those from disadvantaged backgrounds​

The PAP's Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC candidates (from left) Murali Pillai, David Hoe, Lee Hong Chuang, Rahayu Mahzam (third from right) and Grace Fu (right) on a walkabout at Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre on April 29.ST PHOTO: MICHELLE NG

Michelle Ng
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – Ensuring that people with disadvantaged backgrounds have access to opportunities is what political newcomer David Hoe, 37, hopes to champion if elected into Parliament.

This is an issue “closest to his heart”, said the PAP candidate for Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, during a lunchtime walkabout at Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre on April 29.

Mr Hoe, who in his childhood had brought his blind mother to various coffeeshops to sell tissues, said he had wanted to be a “chicken rice store uncle”. Then, he thought it was a way “to break out of poverty”, said Mr Hoe in his first speech at the PAP lunchtime Fullerton rally on April 28.

But in secondary school, he had the chance to teach his friend mathematics, which sparked his interest in being a teacher. He realised then that “aspiration is a function of our experiences”, like how some children want to be badminton players as they had access to badminton courts.

Mr Hoe, a former educator who is now director of philanthropy at Majurity Trust, noted that much has been said about the definition of success in Singapore.

But young people can do well even in non-traditional pathways, if they are given the opportunity to discover their strengths and area of interests, he added.

“My take is, we can only define success if we know what our strengths and our areas of interests are. I think more can be done (to help) youths in Singapore discover their interests, and it could be a non-academic pathway,” he said. “In my opinion, if we want to see greater GDP growth, that’s about people pursuing passion, and not just doing the same thing over and over again.”

Mr Hoe said he also plans to champion issues that youths in Singapore care about.

“I care for people’s aspirations. If there is something they care for, I’ll be a voice and speak up for it, even though I may not be fully competent about the issue… If they care about the issue, then I have the responsibility to speak up on it,” said Mr Hoe.

Enabling seniors to age well by ensuring the right municipal infrastructure is in place is another issue he will bring up too, he added.

Mr Hoe is part of the ruling party’s Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC team in this election, representing the Clementi ward. He takes over from former Jurong GRC MP Tan Wu Meng, who is not seeking re-election.

The PAP team is headed by Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu and includes Ministers of State Murali Pillai and Rahayu Mahzam, as well as former Hougang branch chairperson Lee Hong Chuang.

The PAP team is up against the opposition Red Dot United in the group representation constituency.

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On the campaign trail, Mr Hoe said he has been striving to meet every resident in the Clementi ward by going door-to-door.

His social media posts show him, often drenched in sweat, running from unit to unit in various HDB blocks in the ward.

Mr Hoe said: “I don’t deny the fact that, because I’m quite new to the residents, I don’t really know (them) yet. That’s why to me, every minute matters – if I can save a few seconds from walking by running, it gives me a few more seconds to speak to the residents and understand their concerns.”

He added: “I take this role with full responsibility and full seriousness, that’s why every second matters.”

​

 

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GE2025: PAP’s Gho Sze Kee wants to have a ‘clean fight’ with independent candidate Jeremy Tan​

Esther Loi
Apr 29, 2025, 02:55 PM

SINGAPORE – The PAP’s candidate for Mountbatten SMC, Ms Gho Sze Kee, said she wants to “agree to disagree” on politics with independent candidate Jeremy Tan, whom she is challenging in the upcoming election.

Describing Mr Tan as an “affable fellow” and a “great guy”, Ms Gho said on April 29: “Gone are the days where (opponents) see each other and try to be aggressive. I told Jeremy, let’s have a clean fight.”

Ms Gho and Mr Tan had briefly crossed paths on April 27 when they were both visiting landed properties in Mountbatten and exchanged friendly greetings. They also had a short conversation on Nomination Day on April 23.

Speaking to The Straits Times on the sidelines of house visits in Pine Close on the seventh day of the hustings, Ms Gho said that while Mr Tan is a “worthy opponent”, she feels the campaign should be about fighting to win the hearts and minds of the residents and “never about the opposition”.

This is the first time Ms Gho, a maritime lawyer, is contesting, taking over from incumbent PAP MP Lim Biow Chuan, who is stepping down after four terms.

Mr Tan, a 34-year-old retiree, is a first-time independent candidate and plans to be a full-time MP if elected.

On her campaign so far, Ms Gho, 46, said she believes in “hitting the ground hard” and “not assuming that any vote is hers”.

“We go door to door canvassing for votes, and we do it the hard way,” she added.

“I know I’m a new candidate, although I have 13 years as a senior activist, so I do ask them humbly for their support (and) that they give me a chance to serve them,” said Ms Gho.

She has been a PAP activist since 2012 and the party’s Bukit Timah branch secretary since December 2020.

When asked about the challenges of being a new face in an single seat, Ms Gho said it is not that challenging, as she has a strong team of activists behind her and Mr Lim’s endorsement.

Mr Lim has also been accompanying Ms Gho on house visits during the campaign.

Responding to a question on how he feels about Ms Gho as his successor, Mr Lim said on April 29: “What struck me – and what I’m happy with – is her sense of compassion. She’s kind... I think these are, to me, ideal traits of an MP.”

“She has those aspects that I feel are important, which is why I’m campaigning with her practically everyday.”

On the advice he has been giving Ms Gho, Mr Lim said: “Really, the most important (thing) is your character. You must want to serve for the right reasons.”

“If you serve for the right reasons, I think people will grow to like you. Your residents will have faith in you – they will be confident that you are there and want to look after them,” he added.

 

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GE2025: WP taking ‘cavalier and irresponsible approach towards livelihood of S’poreans’, says PM Wong​

Ng Keng Gene and Zhaki Abdullah
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has rebuked the WP’s ‘negative tone’ and ‘negative attacks’ in its criticism of Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and his team, as well as his deployment in Punggol GRC.

“We may have our differences, but there is no need to go into negative attacks on individuals, especially (towards) someone like Gan Kim Yong, who has done so much for Singapore and he continues to do so. I made him my number two and my deputy because I’ve seen him in action. I know what he’s capable of,” said PM Wong.

He added: “It’s regretful and disappointing that the WP will make such negative attacks on someone who is spending so much time tackling national issues, trying to make things better, who has done so much for Singapore and continues to do so much for Singapore.”

“Let’s reject this kind of negative politics, you should be better than this.”

WP chief Pritam Singh and other WP candidates had taken swipes at the PAP’s team in Punggol at its rally on April 28.

On DPM Gan, Mr Singh said it was “very strange” that the Cabinet minister was not elected into the PAP’s latest central executive committee in 2024, and asked whether it could be because he was ready to retire and did not plan to run in this election.

“If so, can he be so critical to the PM’s plans?” he asked.

He also took a jab at DPM Gan’s comments at an earlier PAP rally in Punggol, where the Deputy Prime Minister said he would “talk to his good friend”, PM Wong, to get funds for infrastructure in the town.

“Do I need to be his friend for taxpayer funding to be allocated to Punggol? No,” Mr Singh said.

PM Wong said that while DPM Gan is a friend, he is also a key member of his team, adding that such senior ministers in the Cabinet bring with them experience and proven capabilities.

“They can think about new solutions that will improve things on the ground, innovative ways to get things done,” PM Wong said.

“They bring these up in our Cabinet meetings, we discuss, we share and we implement them. That’s how we improve things in Singapore. That’s how we have built today Singapore, and that’s how we will continue to make life better for Singaporeans,” he added.

In a surprise move, DPM Gan was confirmed as the anchor minister for the PAP’s team contesting the newly formed four-member constituency on April 23, Nomination Day.

The decision by Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean - the anchor minister for the former Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC - to step down left a gap in Punggol, Mr Wong explained.

Describing SM Teo as a heavyweight, Mr Wong said another heavyweight was needed to replace him, adding that Mr Gan had agreed to the request to head the PAP’s team in Punggol.

He pointed to Mr Gan’s co-chairmanship of the taskforce tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as his current role chairing the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce – set up to help affected businesses and workers navigate the uncertainties sparked by US tariffs on Singapore goods.

Mr Wong also noted that as chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, DPM Gan allowed for the Insurance Act to be amended, giving the Government the legislative ability to put a stop to the deal between Income and German insurer Allianz after questions were raised about Income’s ability to continue its social mission after the sale

“Who in the WP team will take over all this work?,” he said, adding that such major national issues could not be treated lightly.

He suggested the WP had dropped its plans to contest Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC and “parachute” into Punggol as it had not anticipated the move to field DPM Gan in the new constituency.

“No doubt the WP would have preferred me to field a new minister here, or maybe even just go with the existing team and a new candidate,” he said. “Let’s be clear - WP didn’t step up, they stepped away from Marine Parade.”

PM Wong asked Singaporeans to “consider carefully” their choices in this election.

“Choose carefully. Vote with your heart. And if you believe that the PAP remains the best party to take Singapore forward, vote for the PAP,” he said.

Responding to a question on what he would like to say to first-time voters, PM Wong said he understands that the connection and the familiarity with the PAP may not be the same as with the older ones, and there may be sympathy for the underdog.

What I would appeal to younger and first-time voters is: Give me and my team a chance to work with you, to empower you, give you space and voice to make Singapore better and to pursue your dreams,” he said.

Mr Wong was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a walkabout at the One Punggol Hawker Centre on April 29.

He was with DPM Gan and the PAP’s candidates for Punggol GRC. Also present was Mr Alex Yam, one of the PAP’s candidates for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, and former Potong Pasir MP Mr Sitoh Yih Pin.

Mr Gan leads a team comprising Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Health Janil Puthucheary, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Sun Xueling and National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general Yeo Wan Ling.

They face a WP team made up of senior counsel Harpreet Singh, ad tech firm senior director Alexis Dang, legal counsel Alia Mattar and corporate affairs senior manager Jackson Au.

 

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GE2025: Dos and don’ts on Polling Day​

Polling stations across Singapore will open at 8am and close at 8pm on Polling Day.PHOTO: ST FILE
Vanessa Paige Chelvan
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – Come May 3, Singapore’s 2.75 million voters will cast their votes for the nation’s future leadership.

Polling Day has been declared a public holiday and polling stations across Singapore will open at 8am and close at 8pm.

This is part of a series of explainers and listicles The Straits Times has put together ahead of the polls.

For those heading to the polls, here is what you need to know.

Do vote in person​

You must vote in person, and only at the polling station stated on your poll card or ePoll card. You cannot appoint a proxy to cast a vote on your behalf.

Voters should have received their poll cards by post two to three working days after Nomination Day on April 23, if their constituency is being contested. The cards would have been sent to the latest residential address registered with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).


Voters can also access their ePoll card via the Singpass mobile app, which can be used in place of the physical copy.

Eligible voters who do not vote will have their names removed from the Registers of Electors, but can apply to have their names restored after the election.

Do bring your poll card or ePoll card and proof of identity​

Bring your poll card and original identification documents – such as your NRIC or passport – to the polling station. Photocopies are not accepted.

You can also use the Singpass mobile app to access your ePoll card and use it in lieu of the hard-copy poll card.

Do travel light and mind what you wear​

You should travel light to the polling station, as any bag you carry may undergo security checks. Cameras and other photographic equipment are not allowed at polling stations. Alcohol and sharp objects are also forbidden.

Pets (except guide dogs) and children are also not allowed access into the polling centre.

There is no dress code for voters, but you should avoid bringing material or wearing any attire or badge that shows a political party’s or candidate’s symbol. The law prohibits canvassing and all forms of election activity on Polling Day, except voting.

Do mark your choice with an X on the ballot paper​

ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Clearly mark your choice with an X on the ballot paper, fold it inwards and drop the folded ballot paper into the ballot box. Do not put anything else into the ballot box.

Do take note that it is an offence to leave the polling station with the ballot paper.

If you leave any signature or make any other identifying mark on your ballot paper, your vote will not be counted.

Don’t damage, alter or write on your poll card​

If the name or address on your poll card is incorrect, do not try to change the information. Instead, call ELD or visit any community centre or club to get another poll card.

If there is an error in the name on your poll card, you can still head to the designated polling station on Polling Day to cast your vote.

Bring your poll card or ePoll card to facilitate checks by the election official. This will help to shorten your waiting time at the polling station.

Don’t help another person to vote​

Impersonating another voter is an offence.

There will be election officers on hand at every polling station to assist voters who need help, for example those with special needs or the elderly.

If voters are unable to mark the ballot paper themselves, they can seek help from election officials, who will mark the ballot paper in the manner directed by the voter and are under oath to keep the voter’s choice secret.

For visually impaired voters, stencils are provided at polling stations so that they are able to mark the ballot paper without assistance.

For those with mobility issues, there are special vehicle drop-off points near the voting areas at polling stations.

Voting areas are barrier-free, and wheelchairs are provided for voters who require them. Within the voting area, these voters are offered priority queuing for the issuance of ballot papers.

Don’t try to find out how another has voted or intends to vote​

Your vote is secret. So is theirs.

 

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GE2025: PAP’s Yip Hon Weng has plans for more elderly-friendly services in Yio Chu Kang SMC​

The PAP's Yio Chu Kang SMC candidate Yip Hon Weng with hawkers during a walkabout at the Block 628 Ang Mo Kio market on April 29.ST PHOTO: HAZEL TANG
Hazel Tang
Apr 29, 2025


SINGAPORE – When Mr Yip Hon Weng was introduced as the PAP candidate for Yio Chu Kang SMC in the 2020 General Election, he was a political newbie.

With just a few weeks to go before the election then, the first-time candidate had limited opportunity to introduce himself to residents – a challenge made even more daunting by the constraints of campaigning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As a newcomer, you need visibility. People need to know who you are, and with your face covered by a mask, it’s hard to build that familiarity,” Mr Yip told The Straits Times on April 29 before a walkabout.

Now, five years on, an endless stream of residents come up to Mr Yip as he walks through the Block 628 Ang Mo Kio market and the surrounding housing blocks. They greet him warmly – some offering candid feedback, others expressing steady support.

The incumbent Yio Chu Kang MP who is seeking re-election said he spent much of his first term earning the trust of residents “the hard way” – through tireless house visits, face-to-face engagement and a ground-up approach focused on listening to residents’ concerns, following up and delivering results.

But Mr Yip is not taking this trust for granted come Polling Day on May 3.

“Nearly every seat is contested. We must fight hard each time,” said Mr Yip, who is going up against the People’s Alliance for Reform’s Dr Michael Fang this election.

In the last election, Mr Yip secured 60.82 per cent of the vote against the Progress Singapore Party’s Ms Kayla Low.

Mr Yip said having a contest gives residents a choice at the ballot box, and it is important for people to make that decision for themselves.

Regardless of what the opposition is doing, he said he and his team remain focused on their outreach efforts and plans to serve residents.

He also urged voters to assess MPs on two fronts: whether they are present and effective on the ground, and whether they speak up in Parliament.

On the municipal level, he pointed to how he has tackled issues ranging from requests for more covered walkways to the placement of incense burners around the estate. He has also tried his best to explain the trade-offs and the thought process behind each decision to residents.

A map handed to the PAP’s Yio Chu Kang candidate Yip Hon Weng by a resident, pointing out areas where the resident hoped covered walkways could be added.ST PHOTO: HAZEL TANG
Beyond estate matters, Mr Yip said MPs have a responsibility to raise feedback in Parliament and ensure policies are scrutinised from various perspectives.

In Parliament, he has spoken on over 130 Bills and filed more than 500 parliamentary questions, covering both local and national issues. These include topics such as the cost of living, scams and education – which he said are concerns frequently raised during house visits.

Looking ahead, he remains committed to continuing the work he has started. If re-elected, he hopes to further improve the amenities and estate conditions in Yio Chu Kang, with projects like the upcoming neighbourhood renewal and home improvement programmes.

Drawing on his experience with the Ministry of Health and Agency for Integrated Care, Mr Yip plans to enhance Yio Chu Kang’s status as Singapore’s first fully dementia-friendly neighbourhood by introducing more services for seniors.

One of the plans is to have more clear signage, colourful zoning and wall murals, and he also hopes to introduce healthcare and wellness programmes to better support the growing elderly population.

“I want to ensure that our community remains well-connected, accessible and supportive for everyone,” he said. “It’s not about grand promises, but about delivering on what matters most – ensuring that residents’ needs are heard, and their concerns are addressed.”

 

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GE2025: Only elected opposition MPs can pressure the Government, says Pritam Singh​

(From left) WP chief Pritam Singh, incumbent WP MP for Hougang Dennis Tan and WP chair Sylvia Lim posing for photos with a resident during a walkabout in Hougang on April 29.ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Claudia Tan
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE - Only elected opposition MPs can pressure and push the Government, and that is why the ruling PAP prefers to have just Non-Constituency MPs in Parliament, said WP chief Pritam Singh.

“Look, let’s be very clear, the NCMPs have no voters, have no residents that they can solicit feedback from. They don’t have an office under a block in the constituency where they have worked at,” he told reporters in an interview during a walkabout in Hougang on April 29.

“Essentially this is where the PAP wants to keep the opposition,” he added.

Mr Singh was responding to remarks by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, who said on April 28 that alternative voices in Parliament are guaranteed because of the NCMP scheme, which provides for at least 12 opposition members in the House.

Under the scheme, introduced in 1984, seats are reserved for the losing opposition candidates with the highest vote shares.

Mr Singh, who was accompanied by WP chair Sylvia Lim and incumbent WP MP for Hougang Dennis Tan, said the purpose of the scheme was to slow down the growth of the opposition.

He added that his party was not just angling for more seats in Parliament, without more responsibility.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had pointed out at the April 28 Fullerton rally that while the opposition wants more seats, they still want the PAP to form the government.

“More seats, but not more responsibility,” PM Wong had said.

Asked about this, Mr Singh said: “I welcome him to give us more responsibility. He can have us on committees.”

He cited the all-party committee that was formed in 1959 to decide on the state emblems and flag, adding: “So there’s nothing stopping the Government from reaching out, and we welcome that, because if we want to work in the interests of all Singaporeans, then that is one way to do it.”

Currently, opposition MPs are appointed to some Parliamentary committees, such as the Public Accounts Committee.

Mr Singh also reiterated his point that having more opposition MPs in Parliament will not weaken the Government’s mandate.

“I believe when you have a diversity of views in Parliament, as long as we are moving in the same direction, this red dot will continue to be a bright, shining red dot,” he said, citing how the WP had not opposed the Government during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“A balanced Parliament will not result in a more divided Singapore.”

Mr Singh was also asked about his pointed remarks about Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong at the WP rally on April 28.

The WP leader had suggested that DPM Gan, at 66 years old and no longer a member of the PAP’s central executive committee, was near retirement and not all that important a member of PM Wong’s team.

“You mean the (prime minister) has no one else in his Cabinet that can negotiate with the United States on tariffs? If this is true, to quote Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, si liao la,” said Mr Singh referring to the Hokkien phrase by SM Lee which means “we are doomed”.

Mr Singh had also taken aim at DPM’s Gan’s remark about asking his “good friend” PM Wong for more funds to build infrastructure, saying that there should be a fair allocation of resources regardless of friendship.

DPM Gan is leading the PAP’s team contesting Punggol GRC.

Ask why he had focused on DPM Gan in his rally speech, Mr Singh said he was “stumping hard” for his teammates in Punggol.

“I wanted to put across certain perspectives which I think the Punggol voters should hear,” he said.

Both Mr Singh and Ms Lim also reiterated their call for voters to vote for the strongest slate the WP has ever fielded.

“This round, the people we have are of superb calibre, and it will be a wasted opportunity if voters do not realise how urgent it is for us to promote this aspect of Parliamentary representation,” said Ms Lim.

Meanwhile, Hougang candidate Dennis Tan said the WP was not resting on its laurels in Hougang, even though the constituency has been a WP stronghold since former WP chief Low Thia Khiang won there in 1991.

Since taking over from his predecessor Mr Png Eng Huat in 2020, said Mr Tan said he has been trying to engage as many residents as possible so that he can address their municipal concerns and also bring up issues in Parliament on their behalf.

He added that the WP has started upgrading the neighbourhoods, such as by building more sheltered walkways in the past five years.

“We continue to do our best, we can never be perfect but we can try to help our residents... that’s what my team and I aim to do,” said Mr Tan.

 

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GE2025: PAP West Coast-Jurong West team pledges stronger support for caregivers, people with disabilities​

The proposals are part of the team’s broader push to build a more caring and inclusive society.PHOTO: ST FILE

Hariz Baharudin
Apr 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – More help will be on the way for caregivers and people with disabilities (PWDs) in Singapore’s west, should the PAP team win the West Coast-Jurong West GRC at the May 3 general election.

The proposals, which the team released in a media statement on April 29, include a job-matching pilot for PWDs and an expansion of peer support efforts for caregivers.

These are part of the team’s broader push to build a more caring and inclusive society, which is one of the key pillars in its manifesto for the constituency.

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, who is leading the PAP slate in the GRC, said the team intends to scale up proven ground-up efforts such as those in Boon Lay, West Coast, and Nanyang. These initiatives support caregivers through peer networks and mental health resources.

“If given the opportunity to serve, our plan is to build on the existing programmes across the five divisions and Pioneer, and pilot new initiatives, such as this one in Nanyang, to benefit our residents,” said Mr Lee, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration.

He was referring to the Family of Purple Heart programme, which was introduced in Nanyang to provide emotional and mental health support for caregivers.

According to the team’s statement, the candidates plan to work with social service partners to expand outreach efforts in all divisions in the GRC and neighbouring Pioneer SMC, especially to caregivers who have yet to be connected with formal support services.

The team also plans to launch a year-long pilot programme to boost employment for PWDs in the region. Among other things, it wants to engage 10 to 15 per cent of employers within the GRC and SMC, match PWDs to suitable roles in various sectors and help employers redesign jobs to be more inclusive.

The statement added how the team also hopes by the end of 2025 to engage most of the PWDs in the region who are currently not using employment services.

Mr Ang Wei Neng, the incumbent MP for Nanyang and a candidate in West Coast–Jurong West GRC, said the employment pilot builds on the team’s track record of supporting caregivers and seeks to create more meaningful opportunities for families to thrive.

“Through Family of Purple Heart, we saw how a little support can transform lives,” he said.

“This new partnership takes us one step further, giving persons with disabilities and their families a real chance to thrive in meaningful work, while strengthening the spirit of care and inclusion in our community.”

The initiatives make up one of nine pillars of a plan that Mr Lee’s team has developed for the group representation constituency. The others include initiatives to help residents cope with rising costs of living, aid job seekers in their search for good jobs, and support seniors in their old age.

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Besides Mr Lee and Mr Ang, a three-term MP, the PAP slate for West Coast-Jurong West GRC includes Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Education Shawn Huang, orthopaedic surgeon Hamid Razak and lawyer Cassandra Lee.

They are up against a PSP team that includes the party’s top three leaders – chairman Tan Cheng Bock, secretary-general Leong Mun Wai and first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa. The other two candidates are Mr Sumarleki Amjah, head of packaged food and business development at a food and beverage firm, and in-house legal counsel Sani Ismail.

PAP’s overarching plan for the GRC was announced in a press conference on Nomination Day on April 23, just hours after it was confirmed that the PAP would once again face the PSP at the polls. The PAP and PSP had faced off in the then West Coast GRC at the 2020 General Election, with the ruling party winning 51.68 per cent of the vote.