This fear must go

[True Believer]

The SG Govt can take the first step towards lowering the cost of living by addressing population density and tax structures. Reduce the population from 6 million to 3.5 million; limiting the inflow of foreign white-collar labour in PME roles would prioritise job opportunities for S'porean fresh graduates and older workers. A lower population density would subsequently cause a decrease in property prices and COE premiums, making them more affordable to more citizens. Furthermore, a reduction in both the number and % of indirect taxes which contribute significantly to the financial burden faced by S'poreans; lowering them would alleviate cost of living pressures.

 

[k1976]

17 HDB neighbourhoods across Singapore to be upgraded at cost of S$165 million​

Upgrading works under the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme may include amenities such as covered linkways, drop-off porches and playgrounds.

An artist's impression of a therapeutic garden trail. (Image: A D Lab)



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4 min
06 Apr 2025 10:00AM (Updated: 06 Apr 2025 05:53PM)
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FAST
SINGAPORE: Seventeen Housing Board (HDB) neighbourhoods will undergo upgrading works under the latest phase of the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP), Minister for National Development Desmond Lee announced on Sunday (Apr 6).

More than 25,000 households are expected to benefit from the upgrading, which will cost over S$165 million (US$123 million).

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The 17 projects form the 16th batch of the NRP, and for the first time, include blocks built between 1996 and 1999. These projects are located across Singapore, including in Bukit Panjang, Sembawang and Sengkang.

Upgrading works under the programme are tailored to residents’ feedback and may include block-level features such as residents’ corners and seating areas, as well as precinct-level amenities like covered linkways, drop-off porches, playgrounds and landscaping, said HDB and the Ministry of National Development (MND) in a press release.

The works will be fully funded by the government and implemented by town councils, which will engage their own design consultants and building contractors, as well as monitor the progress of the projects.

 

[k1976]

The SG Govt can take the first step towards lowering the cost of living by addressing population density and tax structures. Reduce the population from 6 million to 3.5 million; limiting the inflow of foreign white-collar labour in PME roles would prioritise job opportunities for S'porean fresh graduates and older workers. A lower population density would subsequently cause a decrease in property prices and COE premiums, making them more affordable to more citizens. Furthermore, a reduction in both the number and % of indirect taxes which contribute significantly to the financial burden faced by S'poreans; lowering them would alleviate cost of living pressures.

Less demand for service induatry
Our good hands open door big big for Jiuhu to flood in to steal eat and allow them day in day out and fail to keep them stay here. This has hollow out much of the $$$$ that can be used for support local service n retail industry

 

[joemartini]

-Singapore stands on a strong foundation

-a spirit of solidarity and unity that keeps the country moving forward

urges Singaporeans to remain united in ‘a far more dangerous world’

 

[joemartini]

post no.1.

I've seen this kind before in relative circle.

30years in SAF.

now speaking against PAP.

what happened??

he must have voted for PAP all his comfy shiok shiok life in SAF.
year-end got bonus.
mid-year got bonus.
election year also got bonus.

why now speak up against SAF/PAP?

I give you the reasons:

depleting his ill-gotten salaries from SAF during the good years?
financing endlessly for his unemployed children?
paying ever-increasing endless bills for his young grand-children?
offsprings leeching his retirement pension monies perpetually???

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

 

[True Believer]

I've seen this kind before in relative circle. 30years in SAF. now speaking against PAP. what happened??

Ngiam Tong Dow was a civil servant who benefitted from the PAP Govt, but after he retired, guilt made him speak up.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

GE2025: S’pore needs leaders with integrity, competence, a sense of public service, says Heng Swee Keat​

(From left) Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong and PAP new face Hazlina Abdul Halim interacting with Yarrow Gardens resident Bernie Liu, during a walkabout in Joo Chiat on April 5. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Goh Yan Han
Apr 08, 2025

SINGAPORE – Singapore needs leaders with integrity, competence and a sense of public service, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

And those who join politics must do so for the right reasons, he added.

“Not because ‘I want to win an election’, not because ‘I want the power to do things’,” he said. “But ‘I’m doing this for the long-term good of all Singaporeans’.”

DPM Heng, who is East Coast GRC’s anchor minister, was speaking to The Straits Times on April 3. During the sit-down interview, he gave his views on his constituency, his party and the growing desire for political pluralism.

When voting in the next general election, it is not just about which party is on the ballot or the idea of pluralism, but about which party can serve Singaporeans better, he said.

He added that what matters for Singapore’s future is having good leadership and a good system of governance.

“I think all of us who are in the PAP believe that as of today, we are still the best party to run the government, to take Singapore in a new direction,” said DPM Heng, who is the party’s chairman.


“If we are not able to form the government, if we are out, then Singapore will be governed in a very different direction.”

DPM Heng pointed out that the People’s Action Party fields a number of political officer-holders in each group representation constituency, adding that he hopes Singaporeans recognise the role such leaders play.

“I certainly wouldn’t have been able to do the five Budgets to support Singaporeans and our businesses if I was out in the last election,” added DPM Heng, who was finance minister when the Covid-19 pandemic started in 2020.

That year, he delivered an unprecedented five Budgets. The general election was held in July.

He also said Singaporeans should not assume that PAP MPs hold homogeneous views, just because the party has many more seats in Parliament, said DPM Heng.

Each MP brings different perspectives, and the party must remain a broad group that can reflect the interests, concerns and aspirations of Singaporeans, he said.

The PAP brings these together in a way that allows it to make and implement effective policies, he added.

What PAP MPs have in common is a deep belief in building a multiracial, multi-religious, multicultural society, he said.

DPM Heng cited a recent encounter with a stranger, who had approached him to say she was worried for Singapore because of the growing interest in having different political parties in Parliament.

The woman’s view was that citizens should vote for people who can take the country forward, as it is not just about having more opposition politicians.

“I said, ‘I agree with you, but it is our people’s choice, and I hope that our citizens vote wisely, vote for their long-term future,’”said DPM Heng.

There is a national agenda that Singapore has to tend to carefully, he said.

“And if you have good, competent, hard-working MPs on the ground, who can mobilise people together, who can do things in the neighbourhood, your neighbourhood will be a better neighbourhood,” he added.

 

[k1976]

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/r...dy-in-one-says-blackrocks-larry-fink-0f2c0433

No fear…. recession may have arrived in Land of Beekok

 

[k1976]

Recession? Most CEOs think the U.S. is already in one, says BlackRock’s Larry Fink.​

Stocks could drop another 20%, with U.S. now seen as a ‘destabilizing’ force by investors​

By


William Watts
Follow

Published: April 7, 2025 at 3:16 p.m. ET

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink speaks Monday at the Economic Club of New York.PHOTO: SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGEShttps://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/jpm?mod=refsymb_mw



CEO Larry Fink, in an onstage interview Monday at the Economic Club of New York, where he warned that stocks were likely to see further downside in reaction to President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff policies.


Stocks were flipping between gains and losses in violently choppy trade Monday, after major indexes ended last week with their biggest two-day plunge since March 2020, when equities collapsed in response to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

The S&P 500 fell a cumulative 10.5% on Thursday and Friday, after Trump revealed sweeping tariffs on U.S. trading partners in a Rose Garden event

 

[joemartini]

LKY AND RAISING MINISTERS' SALARIES.

like LTK says pf the PAP....ownself check ownself.

but for LKY is ownself increase ownself's salary.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

SM Lee urges S’poreans to work together as one Team Singapore amid challenging global environment​

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaking to Ang Mo Kio residents at a community event at Cheng San Market and Cooked Food Centre on April 12.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Chin Soo Fang
Apr 12, 2025

SINGAPORE – Singaporeans need to work together as one Team Singapore in order to face a challenging external environment, including the latest US tariffs and China’s reciprocal moves, and their impact on global trade, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

“These are all external problems, and what we can do about them is to work together domestically... as one Team Singapore, so that we can deal with them as one people, one nation,” said SM Lee.

“We have the responsibility to protect our home, our future, our countrymen... working together to give Singapore a better tomorrow.”

He was speaking to Ang Mo Kio residents at a community event at the Cheng San Market and Cooked Food Centre on April 12.

China has increased its tariffs on US imports to 125 per cent, in a retaliatory move to US President Donald Trump’s decision to hike duties on Chinese goods to 145 per cent. The US has also imposed baseline tariffs of 10 per cent on most of its imports, including those from Singapore.

This has caused market volatility and will likely impact global supply chains.

SM Lee, who is also an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, thanked the residents for their support over the years, and urged them to continue supporting the Government.

“For people my age, the biggest thing in life is our grandchildren,” he said. “What will happen to them, what world will they grow into when they grow up? What can we do to make sure that they have the best chances?”

He urged the residents to “think about it carefully” and work together to make sure that they have the best chances in life. His comments come as political parties gear up for a general election, widely expected to be held by the middle of the year.

SM Lee said he is happy to see the enhancements made to the neighbourhood. With him was MP Nadia Samdin, who is in charge of the Cheng San-Seletar division of the GRC.

At the event, which was held to celebrate the completion of the neighbourhood renewal programme, SM Lee said it is a special pleasure and privilege that Singapore can keep making things better, improving the neighbourhood and updating facilities, despite upheavals in the world.

The enhancements to the ward include upgrades to the Cheng San market and food centre, and repairs and redecoration at Chong Boon Market and Food Centre. New fans, lights and toilets were installed.

As more than 40 per cent of Cheng San-Seletar residents are aged 60 and above, four precincts in Chong Boon will be upgraded with senior-friendly amenities such as sheltered linkways, ramps and drop-off points. There will also be new and upgraded active ageing centres and seniors’ corners.

Ang Mo Kio remains the largest GRC, with 161,235 electors, even after a new Jalan Kayu SMC is carved out of the GRC. The new SMC takes in areas that are currently in Ms Ng Ling Ling’s Jalan Kayu ward and also parts of Mr Gan Thiam Poh’s Fernvale.

Ang Mo Kio GRC is viewed as a PAP stronghold, with the team securing 71.9 per cent of valid votes in the 2020 General Election against a Reform Party (RP) team.

It is poised for a three-cornered fight in the upcoming polls with two opposition parties staking their claims on the ward.

On April 5, People’s Power Party (PPP) secretary-general Goh Meng Seng said the party will field a team in Ang Mo Kio GRC that will be headed by party treasurer William Lim, 47, who works as a limousine service provider. It has not announced the other members on the team.

The Singapore United Party (SUP) has also said it will contest Ang Mo Kio GRC. SUP secretary-general Andy Zhu and his team, who had contested Ang Mo Kio GRC in GE2020 under the RP banner, polled 28.09 per cent of the votes then.

Mr Zhu told reporters at a walkabout on April 10 that SUP and PPP have so far failed to reach a deal on which party should pull out to avert a three-cornered fight.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Singapore’s diverse society must be protected amid global troubles: PM Wong at Bukit Panjang event​

PM Lawrence Wong taking a photo with Bukit Panjang residents during the SG60 Raya Bersama event on April 13.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Lee Li Ying and Christine Tan
Apr 13, 2025

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s multiracial and diverse society is precious, and amid global troubles, all effort must be made to protect that, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“What we have here is precious, and what we have here must always be protected and cherished,” he told residents at a Hari Raya celebration near Pending LRT station on April 13.

Despite coming from different backgrounds and cultures, and having different perspectives, “we will always be one Singapore”, said PM Wong, who was attending a community event in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC for the first time after becoming prime minister.

“And when we celebrate a festival, like now, whether it is Hari Raya, whether it is Deepavali, whether it is Chinese New Year... we all celebrate as one family together. So, long may this spirit of solidarity and unity continue in Singapore,” he said.

The SG60 Raya Bersama event on April 13 was attended by residents of Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and Bukit Panjang SMC.

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MPs – anchor minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann, and MPs Christopher de Souza and Edward Chia – were present, along with MP for Bukit Panjang SMC Liang Eng Hwa.

There were no new faces – political newcomers who might contest in the upcoming election – spotted at the event, where residents enjoyed traditional Malay games, performances and local food, including dishes from home-based businesses.

Before the event, PM Wong joined the other MPs in interacting with residents and taking wefies at Bangkit Market in Bukit Panjang.

He had also met religious leaders and visited a community pantry at Masjid Al-Iman, where a food distribution drive was scheduled for families in need.

During the event, PM Wong reiterated his message on the need for Singapore to be resolute and united in the face of a changed world.

“We know that we are living in very difficult times globally. The recent developments have made for a very uncertain outlook in the world.

“But we will do everything we can to make sure, despite the turbulence, despite the uncertainties, that Singapore will always remain a beacon of stability and harmony,” said PM Wong.

His comments come after a ministerial statement in Parliament on April 8, in which he said the recent tariffs imposed by the US will hurt the Singapore economy. He had also released a video on April 4 detailing the “harsh reality” of these moves.

Fears of a trade war continue to escalate after sweeping trade tariffs were imposed by the US government on countries worldwide, including Singapore.

PM Wong’s islandwide engagements have stepped up a gear in the past weeks, with appearances across the island, from Marsiling to Marine Parade, and Serangoon to Sengkang, in the lead-up to the upcoming election.

Holland-Bukit Timah is a four-member group representation constituency with 122,891 voters. There are many private home dwellers in the area.

The GRC has been a battleground between the PAP and the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) in the past three elections. In the 2015 and 2020 elections, the PAP secured about 66 per cent of the vote, while the SDP garnered the remaining one-third. In the 2011 polls, the PAP clinched 60.08 per cent of the vote.

Bukit Panjang was one of the most hotly contested seats in GE2020, with Mr Liang facing SDP chairman Paul Tambyah. The PAP retained the seat with 53.73 per cent of the vote.

 

[bigozt]

You all posting doctorate thesis or what?

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

S’pore no longer operating in stable external environment; current uncertainty unprecedented: SM Lee​

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaking at an NTUC dialogue session with labour movement leaders and union leaders at the NTUC Centre on April 14.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

Anjali Raguraman
Apr 15, 2025

SINGAPORE - Singapore has gone through and overcome many crises in the past, but the current global uncertainty caused by the US-imposed tariffs is unprecedented and will last a very long time, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

A supportive and stable external environment is no longer a given, he stressed.

“Some people say ‘don’t get excited, don’t over blow the issue, we’ve weathered bigger storms before, we haven’t failed’,” said SM Lee, who was speaking ahead of a National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) dialogue, which was attended by NTUC president K. Thanaletchimi, secretary-general Ng Chee Meng and other union leaders.

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

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

He noted how the Republic has weathered the likes of the Asian financial crisis, Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and, more recently, the Covid-19 pandemic, where the country has been able to “batten down (the) hatches and see it through”.

While Singapore has been able to emerge successfully before, it had done so in a climate where it had two things in its favour, namely the ability of the country to unite during turmoil; and a working global economic system that promoted the free flow of trade and a level playing field.

He said: “The free flow of investments encouraged MNCs (multinational corporations) to look for places to do business. We were efficient, we were doing well. We came out from trouble. We plugged back in. We could resume growing, resume developing, resume succeeding.”

With the sanctity of the global financial system and the World Trade Organisation in place, this gave countries big and small a level playing field, where the rules and market access were the same, he said.

This allowed Singapore to enjoy the same market access as bigger countries, and benefit from their bargaining power, thus giving it access to investments and jobs.

However, he laid out how the US, with its new tariff regime, now wants to “dismantle the system” by replacing the MFN – or Most Favoured Nation – principle with reciprocal tariffs.

On April 9, US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, with the exception of tariffs on China, which are currently at a staggering 145 per cent. This triggered retaliation from China, which raised its tariffs on American goods to 125 per cent, effective from April 12.

Mr Trump later excluded electronics such as smartphones and laptops from the reciprocal tariffs.

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

Likening it to arm wrestling to see who has a stronger arm, SM Lee said this new regime involves the US “dealing with its partners one-on-one instead”, thus exploiting America’s bargaining power as the country with a quarter of the world’s gross domestic product, and a seventh of the total goods trade in the world.

“So it’s a fundamentally different kind of world which the US is looking for and pushing for, and the approach is not win-win, but win-lose,” he said. “In other words, the US wants to do well for themselves, (and) they really don’t mind whether the other countries do well for themselves or not.”

He also pointed out that Mr Trump has said: “If we can make a really fair deal and a good deal for the United States, not a good deal for the others, this is America first. It’s now America first.”

SM Lee outlined the major implications for both Singapore and the world as a result of this.

“Small countries will suffer because we have no bargaining power, but even big countries will not do well because there is going to be a lot of confusion, a lot of uncertainties, a lot of differences in the rules, and far fewer opportunities to trade, to invest, to do business together,” he noted.

Additionally, the tariffs “will choke off trade, raise costs and dampen growth”.

Despite the current 90-day reprieve on tariffs coming into effect, he noted how other countries will go tit-for-tat with the US, much like how China already has, and this, in turn, will be a burden on businesses, consumers and the global economy.

SM Lee also warned that this is a problem that will persist.

“With all these new tariffs, this is something which is going to last a very long time. It’s not going to go away soon, because once you put in a tariff, once you protect your market, it’s very difficult to take it away,” he said.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong (centre), flanked by NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng (second from left) and NTUC president K. Thanaletchimi, at a dialogue session with labour movement leaders and union leaders on April 14.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
On the domestic front, the global uncertainty has already had an impact. Earlier on April 14, the Ministry of Trade and Industry cut Singapore’s growth forecast for 2025 to zero per cent to 2 per cent, a downgrade from the 1 per cent to 3 per cent range previously.

To address the economic uncertainties, including any impact on jobs, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on April 8 the formation of a new task force to communicate with the private sector and devise strategies.

The task force is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and includes representatives from NTUC, the Singapore Business Federation and the Singapore National Employers Federation.

SM Lee said he did not think there would be a recession, but it “could happen”.

“We must expect lower growth this year and recession somewhere down the road, maybe not this year, but quite possibly at some point,” he said, as he reiterated the different landscape in which Singapore now has to operate.

“This time, we are okay, but the world is not going to be okay, and we have to do our best to make sure that we look out for ourselves in this much less hospitable world,” he said, adding that more US-China tensions must be expected.

This, in turn, will result in “a less tranquil, a less stable region, and more demands on us to work very hard to be friends with both, and to find our own way forward without getting into troubled waters”.

“We must know that bad weather is coming, but at the same time, we can take comfort knowing that other countries are also facing the similar challenges, and Singapore is readier than most of them to deal with these challenges,” he said.

“Readier – because we have the plans, we have the resolve, we have the experience, we have the resources, we have the unity. We are ready to do this, and we can do this together.”


But in order for Singapore to be strong internationally, it has to be strong domestically, and this will require a good, effective and strong government, SM Lee said.

He noted how one big factor for why Singapore is considered a “safe haven in an uncertain world” is its stable politics.

“Singapore also needs an effective system of government which is led by a good and capable ruling party, and that depends on elections producing outcomes which work for Singapore,” he said, stressing that the upcoming election will be “crucial”.

Such outcomes are when, following an election, there is a leadership that is capable, committed and honest, and which can “run a competent and efficient, effective government, defend our place in the world and lead Singapore safely through crisis”.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

General election must provide S’pore with a competent govt to lead country in crises: SM Lee​

Bringing home the implications of global uncertainties, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore must be united domestically to be effective internationally. PHOTO: ST FILE

Lim Min Zhang
Apr 15, 2025

SINGAPORE – Elections in Singapore need to provide the country with a capable leadership that can run a competent and effective government, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on April 14.

Such a leadership must also be able to defend Singapore’s place in the world and lead the country safely through crises, he added in an hour-long speech outlining the stakes for the next general election.

That is ultimately what elections are about, he said, which is to, ideally, choose a team that can lead the country most successfully and effectively.

“If voters keep on electing more opposition MPs even when the Government is doing a good job, then beyond a point, it must weaken the Government’s ability to govern, to form the best possible team for Singapore,” he told labour union leaders as he sought their support in the upcoming polls.

SM Lee was speaking ahead of a closed-door dialogue at the NTUC Centre, attended by National Trades Union Congress president K. Thanaletchimi, secretary-general Ng Chee Meng and around 500 other union leaders.

The ruling PAP has traditionally shared a symbiotic relationship with the labour movement.

His remarks come amid an ongoing trade war between the United States and China, which has roiled global markets. Singapore’s leaders have warned that such developments could significantly slow global growth, with no exception for the Republic.


The unstable global outlook is among topics likely to feature in the hustings, along with the rising cost of living and a greater desire for more political opposition.

Parties have started to unveil potential candidates in the latest sign that the election is likely to be called soon.

Bringing home the implications of global uncertainties, SM Lee said Singapore must be united domestically to be effective internationally. Otherwise, investors and other leaders will ask if the prime minister can be taken seriously.

A big factor for Singapore being a safe haven is good and stable politics, added SM Lee. “That is why people want to put family offices here... That is why people have confidence and put factories worth billions of dollars here.”

He acknowledged that Singaporeans want more opposition MPs as a stronger check and balance to the PAP, and said that the opposition has a role to play in a democratic system.

“It is here to stay. Opposition MPs are never going to disappear from Parliament – I accept this. That’s the way democracies work,” he said.

“But Singapore also needs an effective system of government, which is led by a good and capable ruling party. And that depends on elections producing outcomes which work for Singapore.”

In the 2020 General Election, the PAP returned to power with 83 out of 93 seats in Parliament, but with a reduced share of the popular vote, at 61.23 per cent, compared with 69.9 per cent in 2015.

It lost a second group representation constituency – Sengkang.

SM Lee said he called the last general election, held in the middle of the pandemic, as soon as was practicable, despite objections from others who called for it to be delayed.

“We must have our minds focused on fighting Covid, and we can’t do that if every day I want to make a new Covid policy, I have to ask myself, do I do this before or after the election.”

Thankfully, the PAP secured a good mandate, and was able to then focus on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

But the labour movement suffered a setback when the PAP lost Sengkang, which was helmed by Mr Ng, said SM Lee.

“Fortunately, Chee Meng had the staying power and gumption to continue serving as secretary-general, and fortunately, the labour movement continued to support him,” he noted.

During the pandemic, the labour movement was well-led, and could be a good partner for the Government. NTUC played a key role in saving jobs, and advancing skills upgrading, he said.

He cited the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme – which provided cash payouts to eligible self-employed workers – and Company Training Committees that supported businesses in upskilling.

“This is what tripartism means – the Government, unions and employers working together. This is what the symbiotic relationship between the PAP and the NTUC can do for workers and for Singapore.”

This is why Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his 4G team have committed to strengthening tripartism, said SM Lee, as he called for their “full support” for Mr Wong’s team this general election, especially for the labour leaders and PAP union advisers in the team.

The upcoming elections are crucial in a changed world and with a fresh team in charge, said SM Lee, adding that PM Wong is leading the PAP into an election for the first time, seeking his own mandate to take Singapore forward through the current crisis.

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

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Prudent, responsible approach is crucial in uncertain times: PM Wong​

PM Lawrence Wong said the Government will always support, stand with and go all out to secure a bright future for Singaporeans.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Michelle Ng
Apr 23, 2025

SINGAPORE – The prudent and responsible approach that the Government has taken to managing public finances and cost pressures is especially crucial in these uncertain times, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on April 22.

In a video posted on his social media channels the night before Nomination Day, PM Wong said: “I will not gamble with your lives or your future.”

He said the Government will always support, stand with and go all out to secure a bright future for Singaporeans.

Singapore goes to the polls on May 3. With Nomination Day on April 23, that gives candidates the minimum nine days of campaigning before Cooling-off Day on May 2.

PM Wong cautioned Singaporeans that they will hear “many tempting proposals” in this election that may sound appealing, although not all are sound.

“If they weaken our public finances, the burden will fall on our children. If we mismanage the economy, investors will lose confidence and our incomes will suffer,” he said.

Singapore would then not have the resources to sustain permanent support schemes or even to provide temporary relief, he added.


In recent Budgets, the Government has rolled out extensive support measures to allay concerns over inflation and job security, among other things. These include vouchers to ease cost-of-living pressures, and a scheme to help those who have lost their jobs but are making efforts to bounce back.

PM Wong said he knows cost-of-living pressures are a real concern. Other countries feel them too, as they are caused by hot wars in Europe and the Middle East, along with global supply chain disruptions, tariffs and trade wars, he added.

A comprehensive support package was announced in February during Budget 2025, as the Government had foreseen some of these challenges earlier in the year, he said.

For instance, a typical family of four with two young children can receive around $5,000 in support this financial year.

Measures will be rolled out in the coming months, he said, including CDC vouchers in May, SG60 vouchers in July, Child LifeSG credits from July onwards, and U-Save rebates in July and October.

“So nearly every month, you can expect something,” he said.

PM Wong said the Government is monitoring the situation closely and will step up support if conditions worsen.

Beyond this year, the Government will continue the help for as long as it is needed, he said.

This can be done because the PAP Government has long managed the economy well – and will continue to do so – and Singapore’s public finances are healthy and strong, he added.

The Prime Minister also touched on how Singapore handles its public finances. Many other countries borrow heavily and pay interest on their loans, but Singapore does not, he said.

Instead, the Republic has reserves that are invested, and all Singaporeans benefit from the investment income generated, he said.

PM Wong said: “So at a time when other governments are looking for ways to trim spending or to cut benefits, we are able to deliver more support and enhance social safety nets for everyone.”

For example, Workfare for lower-wage workers has been enhanced and seniors get extra support, especially the Merdeka and Pioneer generations, he added.

The bulk of Singapore’s social spending – which is rising and is now the largest item in the budget, having overtaken defence spending – is on such permanent schemes, said PM Wong.

“That is how we provide real, sustained support to help every Singaporean with the cost of living and at every stage of life,” he said.

Ultimately, he added, the best way to manage cost pressures is to keep incomes rising faster than inflation.

This has been happening in Singapore, as real incomes for Singaporean households have gone up steadily over the years, he said. For this to continue, Singapore’s economy must keep growing, and the Government must manage it prudently and responsibly.

In a separate video posted earlier in the evening, PM Wong said that amid the current global climate – where it feels like “more walls are going up” and “countries are pulling back” – Singapore will stay open, bold and ready to work with the world.

For Singapore, as a small nation, its greatest strength is not its size but the fact that “we show up, not just for ourselves, but also for the world”, he said.

 

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Don’t inflame sensitive issues or use domestic politics to divide S’pore: PM Wong at first PAP rally​

Whatever the differences, “we are all Singaporeans first and foremost”, said PM Lawrence Wong.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Goh Yan Han
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE – Do not inflame sensitive issues or use domestic politics to divide Singaporeans, PM Wong said to opposition parties in his first rally speech as head of government.

Whatever the differences, “we are all Singaporeans first and foremost”, he said.

There will be many external forces that will pull the population in different directions – the war in Europe, the war in Gaza in the Middle East – and people will have different views about these global developments.

“Under normal circumstances, we can discuss them, and we can forge a national consensus, but in the heat of an election campaign, it is easy for issues to get stirred up.

“If we are not careful, this can be exploited, and we will end up pitting Singaporeans one against another, we will end up dividing and weakening us,” said PM Wong.

“Let’s make sure that in everything we do, we always uphold multiracial politics. Do not inflame sensitive issues... There must be unity,” he said on the second day of the hustings.


Make sure that politics stops at the water’s edge when it comes to national interests, Singapore’s sovereignty and security and its place in the world, he said.

PM Wong was speaking in his first ever physical rally as prime minister and secretary-general of the PAP, at Woodlands Stadium in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.

His fellow constituency running mate, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, had made similar points earlier in the rally.

Mr Zaqy said that he had seen politics become a source of division across the world, including among those who are pro-LGBT and anti-LGBT, pro-abortion and pro-life, pro-Palestine and pro-Israel.

“We all have our belief systems, we all have our principles. We all also have our personal hurt and grievances as politicians, we too face personal conflicts when we have to put national interests first,” he said.

“But we must never, never allow politics to feed into this, to create division among our people,” he added.

Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad said that he had seen politics become a source of division across the world.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
PM Wong, who is incumbent and anchor minister in Marsiling-Yew Tee, was the last speaker in the line-up, drawing the loudest cheers from the crowd.

He called on Singaporeans to choose individuals of character, “whom you believe will serve you, your family, your constituency, and our nation well”.

“The opposition also says, don’t give a blank cheque for the PAP,” he said.

“Yes, look at the PAP candidates, and consider them carefully. But I would also say, don’t give the opposition a free pass.”

Apply the same standards to them as to the PAP – in terms of integrity, competence and readiness to serve, said PM Wong.

He reiterated the message of the changed world that Singapore faces.

“Remember, above all, when the election is over... it’s not the PAP versus the opposition. It is Singapore versus the world. It is our little red dot versus a dangerous and troubled world,” he said.

As he asked Singaporeans to vote for his party, PM Wong also said the opposition is here to stay, “and they are determined, they really want to grow”.

“You look at the Workers’ Party – most of their MPs are staying put in their wards to secure their seats in Parliament,” he said.

Their new candidates are fielded elsewhere to break new ground and hopefully increase their seats in Parliament, he added.

Red Dot United, which is contesting in its second election, is fielding 15 candidates, the second highest after the WP’s 26.

Other parties like the Progress Singapore Party, Singapore Democratic Party and National Solidarity Party “are all pushing hard”, contesting at least 10 seats each, said PM Wong.

“That’s why from the beginning I’ve said it will be a tough contest – I don’t assume the PAP will automatically win,” he said.

As he thanked the veteran PAP MPs who are stepping down this election, PM Wong said he would have liked them to stay – if he were to take a narrow perspective.

Those who are retiring include Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

“But I cannot just focus on my needs today. I also have to think about your future, and Singapore’s future,” said PM Wong. That is why he has worked hard to bring in new blood and renew the party.

Some of the new candidates that the PAP is fielding are people PM Wong had worked closely with during the Covid-19 pandemic – former chief of army David Neo and former Agency for Integrated Care chief executive Dinesh Vasu Dash.

“David was the SAF commander who helped to oversee the Covid operations... he also ensured close coordination with the other government agencies,” said PM Wong.

“I saw him up close in action, and I know he’s someone who will serve with courage and honour.”

Mr Dinesh, who was previously with the Health Ministry, was in charge of Singapore’s vaccination operations.

“It was not an easy undertaking, but Dinesh worked out the plans, he briefed the Cabinet, got our approval, and then he implemented them effectively on the ground,” said PM Wong.

“Many other countries had the vaccines but they couldn’t get the vaccinations done on time. In Singapore, we could, and it’s because of his leadership.”

PM Wong described Mr Neo and Mr Dinesh as “two very good men” with the potential to be more than backbenchers.

Both will face fierce contests – Mr Neo, in Tampines GRC, and Mr Dinesh, in East Coast GRC – and PM Wong said he hoped Singaporeans will support them, “because they will add significantly to the team that will serve you and take our country forward”.

“I didn’t just talent-scout from the public service or from people I worked with,” added PM Wong, who said he had done his best to recruit candidates from all sectors with diverse professional experiences.

These include Sengkang GRC candidate Bernadette Giam, a director at a local food and beverage company, and Nee Soon GRC candidate Syed Harun Alhabsyi, a psychiatrist and Malay/Muslim community leader.

They are among the 32 new faces fielded by the PAP, which is the most in recent general elections, the Prime Minister added.

“With these new additions, we will have a more effective team in the PAP to weather the storm ahead,” he said.

In addition to the new faces, PM Wong said he needs a good team in government to continue to manage the economy well.

“I have a good team in my Cabinet today. They say that government is about teamwork and it is, but the individuals in the team matter greatly,” he said.

He highlighted several key members of his current team – Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng – who had all played a part in Singapore’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

DPM Gan was his co-chair in the Covid-19 task force, said PM Wong. “He was experienced, he was steady, I could always depend on him for good advice and counsel. And now he’s my deputy and he is my right-hand man.”

He added that he is now depending on DPM Gan for many other things, such as chairing the Economic Resilience Taskforce that deals with the uncertainty of the US tariffs, and helming the PAP’s campaign at the new Punggol GRC.

DPM Gan had been a surprise switch on Nomination Day, moving from the slate in Chua Chu Kang GRC to anchor in Punggol.

Mr Chan, who was trade and industry minister during the pandemic, focused on supply chains and ensured access to medical supplies and other essential items, said PM Wong.

Mr Ong, “my good friend and former colleague in the civil service”, was transport minister then, with a difficult job of staying connected to the world while being concerned about new strains.

Dr Tan, who joined the Government after his debut in the 2020 General Election, brought his private-sector expertise and hands-on mindset to the virus fight.

“Without individuals like them, my team would not be what it is today,” said PM Wong.

Concluding his speech, PM Wong acknowledged that the PAP did not get everything right in the 60 years of nation-building.

“But we did get most things right, and we always walked with you, hand in hand every step of the way, to build this nation together,” he said.

“Now, like then, there will be sceptics and cynics who say we can’t make it. I say, let’s prove them wrong again!

“With your support and working together, we will work with you to keep our Singapore miracle going for as long as possible.”

 

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GE2025: Voters must choose if they want weaker govt with more opposition, or strong mandate for PAP, says ESM Goh​

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong (right) meeting newly elected MP Goh Pei Ming on April 25.PHOTO: MPARADER/FACEBOOK

Ng Keng Gene
Apr 26, 2025

SINGAPORE – Voters must decide if they want more opposition in Parliament and a weaker government, or to give Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and the PAP a strong mandate to govern Singapore, said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

In a Facebook post on April 25, ESM Goh noted that many voters want the PAP to form the government and “understandably, also want to return more opposition candidates to Parliament”.

“This is like wanting to spend more today and save more for a rainy day at the same time. The reality is voters cannot have both,” wrote Mr Goh, 83, who was Singapore’s second prime minister.

Citing his personal experience, ESM Goh said the prime minister of a small country needs “both quality and quantity of MPs in Parliament to have political strength and stature to lead Singapore, especially at a critical juncture of geopolitical rivalry, tension, and disruptive challenges”.

He likened political contests to a boxing competition.

“There can be only one winner,” he said. “No boxer steps into the ring declaring that he only wants to check his opponent or be his sparring partner forever. He is out to knock out the other fellow, if not now, then in future contests.”

“Similarly, no political party should be satisfied with being a loyal opposition forever,” said ESM Goh, who served as prime minister from November 1990 to August 2004.

Citing remarks by PM Wong, he said that opposition candidates and their parties must therefore be judged by the same yardstick as voters would judge the PAP and its candidates – “as a potential ruling party”.

The outcome of a political battle is more consequential than that of a boxing competition, ESM Goh said.

“Fortunately, we voters are not just spectators at the ringside. We decide the outcome through our vote. How we vote will determine our lives now and beyond this electoral cycle,” he added.

“We must reflect on how we want to secure our future: a stronger opposition and a weakened government or a strong, good government and a politically stable Parliament as in the last one.”

ESM Goh, who was an MP in Marine Parade for 44 years before stepping down in 2020, also said in his post that he had met newly elected MP Goh Pei Ming on April 25.

Mr Goh Pei Ming, 43, is part of the PAP team in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC that was elected unopposed on Nomination Day after a walkover. He has taken over the Marine Parade ward that ESM Goh oversaw.

On meeting ESM Goh, Mr Goh Pei Ming said he is “humbled to walk the same path he once took in Marine Parade and inspired by his words to ‘keep Singapore going’”.