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  At its first rally for the 2025 General Election, the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) centred its message on the need for checks on PAP’s dominance, rising costs of living, job security, and policy reforms to strengthen fairness and compassion in Singapore’s governance. Held at Catholic High School in Bishan on April 24, the rally featured a full line-up of PSP candidates, culminating with a fiery speech by party founder and chairman Dr Tan Cheng Bock. Dr Tan warned of “groupthink” in government due to the overrepresentation of civil servants and ex-military officers among PAP candidates. He likened this to “inbreeding”, cautioning that such a system resists change and innovation. “For this reason, you must vote opposition,” he urged the crowd. Earlier, PSP secretary-general Leong Mun Wai, 65, declared that Singapore’s 4G leadership had “lost its way”, pointing to a lack of compassion in socio-economic policy. He criticised the GST hike to 9% during a time of inflation and post-CO...

  At its first rally of the 2025 General Election held at Choa Chu Kang Stadium on April 24, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) made cost-of-living issues and GST hikes the centrepiece of its campaign message. Party chief Dr Chee Soon Juan and chairman Prof Paul Tambyah both delivered pointed criticisms at the PAP government, urging voters to elect more opposition MPs into Parliament to bring accountability and relief to Singaporeans feeling the economic pinch. Dr Chee, who is contesting Sembawang West SMC, criticised the PAP for raising the Goods and Services Tax (GST) while offering vouchers as compensation. “Does this sound like the arsonist that sets your house on fire and then comes and gives you a cup of water to help you put it out?” he asked the crowd, drawing applause. The SDP has proposed reducing GST from the current 9 per cent to 7 per cent or 5 per cent. Chee argued that government overspending was a root cause behind the need for higher taxes, and pointed to what he...

  At the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) first rally for the 2025 General Election, held at Choa Chu Kang Stadium on April 24, party chief Dr Chee Soon Juan took direct aim at the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) for what he called its role in worsening the rising cost of living. Addressing a crowd alongside 11 other SDP speakers, Dr Chee argued that the current financial strain felt by Singaporeans was not due to external global trends, but instead caused by the PAP’s policies. Chee criticised the government’s move to raise the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to 9 per cent, then offering Singaporeans vouchers to offset the increase. “Am I missing something here?” he asked rhetorically. “Or does this sound like the arsonist that sets your house on fire and then comes and gives you a cup of water to help you put it out?” This analogy underscored the SDP’s broader critique that short-term financial assistance does little to solve the root problems of affordability and inflation. Th...

  On April 24, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung made a pointed appeal to voters in Sembawang West Single Member Constituency (SMC), urging them to support People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate Poh Li San and to reject the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Dr Chee Soon Juan. Speaking at a PAP rally held at Woodlands Stadium, Mr Ong questioned Dr Chee’s motives for switching from Bukit Batok to Sembawang West, suggesting the move was politically opportunistic and not in good faith. Mr Ong, who is also the anchor minister for Sembawang GRC, emphasized that Dr Chee had initially reassured Bukit Batok residents that he was not leaving, even after the constituency was redrawn as part of a new GRC. Yet shortly after, he said, Dr Chee "packed up and left" for Sembawang West. While Dr Chee has defended the move by citing the redrawing of boundaries, Mr Ong argued that the SDP still had the option of contesting in the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, and Dr Chee could have chosen to st...

  On April 24, 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered his first rally speech as head of government and secretary-general of the People’s Action Party (PAP) at Woodlands Stadium in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC. The rally marked the second day of the campaign period for Singapore’s General Election. In his speech, PM Wong urged all political parties, especially the opposition, not to exploit sensitive issues or use domestic politics to divide Singaporeans. Emphasising the importance of unity, he said that regardless of differing opinions, “we are all Singaporeans first and foremost.” PM Wong highlighted how external global issues—such as the war in Europe and the conflict in Gaza—can easily inflame emotions and influence local sentiments, especially during an election period. While such matters can usually be discussed constructively, he cautioned that in the heat of a campaign, they might be weaponised to stir division. He warned that this could weaken the country from within, stre...

  Kebun Baru SMC will once again see a straight fight between the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) in the 2025 General Election. This time, PAP incumbent Henry Kwek will be challenged by PSP’s Tony Tan , a seasoned volunteer and former NSP candidate. The candidates filed their nomination papers on April 23 at Deyi Secondary School, confirming a two-way race for the 22,223 voters in the ward. Mr Henry Kwek , 49, has been the MP for Kebun Baru since 2020, when the constituency was first carved out from Nee Soon GRC. In that election, he beat PSP’s Kumaran Pillai with 62.92% of the vote . Prior to that, Kwek entered politics in 2015 as part of PAP’s team in Nee Soon GRC. Professionally, Mr Kwek is the executive director of a trading and consulting firm, as well as the CEO of a boutique investment company. In his nomination speech, he reflected on a decade of work in the area, stating: “We’ve built a caring and beautiful Kebun Baru, a home where ...

  Pioneer SMC is set for a closely watched rematch in GE2025 , as PAP’s Patrick Tay goes up against PSP’s Stephanie Tan in a straight contest confirmed on Nomination Day (Apr 23). Mr Tay, 53, is a seasoned labour unionist and the assistant secretary-general of NTUC . He has been the MP for Pioneer since 2020, when he won the seat with 62% of the vote in a three-way contest. Then, he faced PSP’s Lim Cher Hong and independent candidate Cheang Peng Wah. This year, he faces a direct one-on-one challenge from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) once again. His new opponent is Stephanie Tan , a 37-year-old former lawyer and first-time election candidate. She holds a law degree from the National University of Singapore , was called to the bar in 2011, and has worked across both public and private sectors—including as an assistant director at the Ministry of Law . Now a full-time mother of two, Tan is entering politics to bring a fresh perspective to the Pioneer constituency. Addres...

  In a fresh electoral contest born out of boundary changes, PAP’s Poh Li San will face off against SDP secretary-general Dr Chee Soon Juan in Sembawang West SMC during Singapore’s General Election on May 3. The single-seat constituency is newly created, carved out of the larger Sembawang GRC during the latest review by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee. It now stands alone with 24,153 registered voters . Ms Poh , 49, is no stranger to the ground. She represented the Sembawang West division as part of the PAP team that contested and won Sembawang GRC with 67.29% of the vote in the 2020 General Election. A former commercial pilot and current Vice President at Changi Airport Group, she has built her grassroots presence in the ward over the past five years. In her nomination speech, Poh said: “We have done a lot of good work in the last five years, and let's do more for Sembawang West for our chapter two.” She pledged to continue championing community upgrades and suppor...

  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 be...

  Sengkang GRC is set for one of the most closely watched battles in the 2025 General Election as the incumbent Workers’ Party (WP) team faces off against a refreshed slate from the People’s Action Party (PAP). Nomination Day on April 23 confirmed both parties’ candidates after filings at Yusof Ishak Secondary School. The WP team, which made history in 2020 by flipping the GRC from PAP’s control, returns with three familiar faces – He Ting Ru, Louis Chua, and Jamus Lim – and introduces a new candidate: Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, a senior property manager at Aljunied-Hougang Town Council. He replaces Raeesah Khan, who resigned in 2021 after admitting to making false statements in Parliament. On the opposing side, PAP is fielding a significantly altered team. Dr Lam Pin Min is the only returning candidate from the party’s 2020 lineup, which then included Ng Chee Meng, Amrin Amin, and Raymond Lye. In this round, Dr Lam is joined by three newcomers: Bernadette Giam, Theodora Lai, and ...