Bukit Panjang SMC will witness a high-stakes rematch in the 2025 General Election as the People's Action Party’s (PAP) Liang Eng Hwa once again goes head-to-head with the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) Paul Tambyah. Both candidates officially filed their nomination papers on April 23 at Methodist Girls’ School.
This marks the second straight electoral face-off between the two men. In GE2020, Liang won with a slim 53.73% of the vote — the narrowest margin among all Single Member Constituencies that year — defeating Prof Tambyah in a closely watched contest.
Liang, who has served as Bukit Panjang’s MP since 2020, previously represented Holland-Bukit Timah GRC for 14 years. He is a managing director at DBS Bank and has championed multiple local initiatives aimed at upgrading Bukit Panjang’s public infrastructure and community support services.
Thanking residents for their support over the past five years, Liang said during his post-nomination address: “Bukit Panjang is a much better place today, but there’s always more that we can do. With your trust and support, you can count on me again to work very hard for you.” His speech was greeted with loud cheers and chants of “PAP! PAP!” from party supporters in white.
On the opposing side, Prof Paul Tambyah brings deep credentials as a senior infectious diseases consultant at the National University Hospital and chairman of the SDP since 2017. Tambyah has gained public respect for his professional contributions during Singapore’s handling of COVID-19 and his articulate representation of alternative policies.
He struck a confident and hopeful tone after confirming his candidacy. “Thank you to the 15,576 of you who voted for us the last time. We need just a few more,” he said. Urging Bukit Panjang residents to “vote without fear,” he added: “Vote for a Singapore where everyone can thrive.”
SDP supporters accompanied his speech with music and song, adding a festive touch to the proceedings.
Speaking to media later, Tambyah reflected on the nature of his contest with Liang, calling it a "friendly contest" and praised Liang as "really gentlemanly" in their past interactions. He emphasized that the contest isn’t personal but is about the competing visions of two different political parties.
The stage is now set for a tightly contested rematch that could swing either way. With no changes to the constituency’s boundaries and voter numbers holding steady, the outcome could again come down to a narrow margin.
This race is likely to attract national attention, not just because of its closeness in the previous election, but also due to Prof Tambyah’s profile as a senior medical expert and respected opposition figure. For the SDP, a victory here would mark its first electoral win since 1991 and provide the party a renewed foothold in Parliament.
Voters will return to the polls on May 3 in what promises to be a defining moment for Bukit Panjang. Both candidates bring experience, credibility, and a strong ground presence — making this one of the key SMCs to watch in GE2025.
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