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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 ...

  Marymount Single Member Constituency (SMC) will witness a two-way contest in the upcoming General Election as the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) go head-to-head once again. On April 23, nomination papers were successfully filed at Methodist Girls’ School, confirming that PAP’s Gan Siow Huang will be defending her seat against PSP’s Jeffrey Khoo. Gan Siow Huang, 50, is the Minister of State for Education and Manpower. She brings with her a pioneering background in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), having joined in 1993 and later becoming the first female Brigadier-General in 2015. She made her political debut in 2020, when she was elected as Member of Parliament for Marymount SMC. Her opponent, Jeffrey Khoo, 56, is the CEO of a regional risk consulting firm and has served in leadership positions within the National University of Singapore Society for the past 15 years. He previously contested in West Coast GRC under the PSP banner during the 202...

  The Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC) will see a familiar matchup in the 2025 General Election, with the People’s Action Party (PAP) once again going head-to-head with the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). This marks the third consecutive time the two parties are contesting in the GRC since its formation in 2015. On April 23, nomination papers for both slates were successfully filed at Jurong Pioneer Junior College. There were no surprises, as both parties had already introduced their teams before Nomination Day. The PAP slate remains unchanged from the 2020 General Election. It comprises Prime Minister and PAP secretary-general Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, Mr Alex Yam, and Ms Hany Soh. Mr Wong and Mr Yam have served in the GRC since its inception, while Mr Zaqy, previously an MP in Chua Chu Kang GRC, began assisting in Marsiling-Yew Tee after Madam Halimah Yacob vacated her seat in 2017 to run for Presid...

  Five political parties will be holding election rallies on the evening of April 24, with large turnouts expected at various rally venues approved by the police. These rallies are part of the build-up to Singapore’s General Election 2025, where both ruling and opposition parties are expected to campaign actively across the island. According to a police advisory issued on April 23, rally permits have been granted to the People’s Action Party (PAP), Workers’ Party (WP), Progress Singapore Party (PSP), Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), and People’s Power Party (PPP). The rallies will take place between 7pm and 10pm on April 24. Each party will hold its rally in a constituency where it is fielding candidates. The PPP, which is contesting in Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC), will hold its rally at Temasek Junior College. The PSP, which is fielding a candidate in Marymount Single Member Constituency (SMC), will hold its rally at Catholic High School. The PAP, which is ...

  The newly carved Jalan Kayu Single Member Constituency (SMC) is set for a high-stakes, one-on-one electoral battle between People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate Ng Chee Meng and Workers’ Party (WP) new face Andre Low . Both candidates filed their nomination papers at Deyi Secondary School on April 23, after potential challengers Red Dot United (RDU) and the People’s Power Party (PPP) withdrew from the race. Their exits paved the way for a direct PAP-WP clash, adding to the intensity of this new SMC’s debut. Ng Chee Meng , 56, is no stranger to politics, but this is his first attempt in a Single Member Constituency . He previously contested in Sengkang GRC during the 2020 General Election as part of a four-member PAP team that lost to the WP. Despite the loss, he remained politically active as Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and was recently co-opted into the PAP’s Central Executive Committee . Ng emphasized his commitment to winning on m...

  In a rare development during Singapore’s 2025 General Election, the People’s Action Party (PAP) clinched an uncontested win in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC , marking the first walkover at a General Election since 2011 . Only the PAP slate submitted nomination papers at Kong Hwa School , the designated nomination centre for the newly formed five-member GRC, on April 23. The PAP team comprises Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng , former MacPherson SMC MP Tin Pei Ling , Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim , and two new faces – Goh Pei Ming and Diana Pang . This walkover result came as a surprise, especially given the visible presence of several Workers’ Party (WP) members at the nomination centre. Notable WP figures such as Jeraldine Phneah and Linda Low were seen, sparking speculation that WP would be fielding a team in the GRC. However, they ultimately did not submit nomination papers. The PAP had initially announced on...

  The highly anticipated showdown in East Coast GRC is heating up once again for Singapore’s 2025 General Election , with the People’s Action Party (PAP) fielding a revamped line-up led by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong , 55. Facing off against him is Workers’ Party (WP) veteran Yee Jenn Jong , 60, who returns after multiple prior contests in this hotly contested constituency. Mr Tong is joined by returning MPs Tan Kiat How , 47, a Senior Minister of State, and four-term backbencher Jessica Tan , 58. New to the team are Dinesh Vasu Dash , 50, the former CEO of the Agency for Integrated Care, and Hazlina Abdul Halim , 40, a former journalist and current senior VP at advisory firm Teneo. Notably absent is Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat , who led the PAP team in 2020 after a dramatic last-minute switch from Tampines GRC. Two other members from that 2020 team – Cheryl Chan and Maliki Osman – have retired from politics. On the WP side, Mr Yee leads a ...

  In one of the most closely watched rematches of Singapore’s 2025 General Election, the newly redrawn West Coast-Jurong West GRC will witness the return of a heavyweight battle between the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) . National Development Minister Desmond Lee , 48, will lead the PAP team once again, joined by Shawn Huang , 42, a Senior Parliamentary Secretary, and three-term MP Ang Wei Neng , 58. Rounding out the team are newcomers Dr Hamid Razak , 39, an orthopaedic surgeon, and Cassandra Lee , 33, a lawyer. The opposition PSP is fielding its top brass— Dr Tan Cheng Bock , 84, who led the 2020 campaign, along with party secretary-general Leong Mun Wai , 65, and vice-chair Hazel Poa , 54. First-timers Sumarleki Amjah , 53, and Sani Ismail , 49, complete their slate. In GE2020, the PAP narrowly edged out the PSP with 51.68% of the vote, marking its slimmest win of the election. The newly formed GRC now includes around 41,000 voters from Jur...

  In a major shake-up to the General Election landscape, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Gan Kim Yong has been named as the People’s Action Party (PAP)’s anchor minister for the newly formed Punggol GRC, setting up a dramatic face-off with the Workers’ Party (WP)’s high-profile candidate, senior counsel Harpreet Singh. This surprise announcement was confirmed on Nomination Day, April 23, ending days of speculation about where key figures would contest. Mr Gan, 66, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, was initially expected to lead the PAP slate in Chua Chu Kang GRC. Instead, he will lead the PAP charge in Punggol GRC alongside three incumbents: Dr Janil Puthucheary, 52, Senior Minister of State; Ms Sun Xueling, 45, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development; and Ms Yeo Wan Ling, 48, assistant secretary-general at NTUC. The sudden reshuffling saw Manpower Minister Tan See Leng move to Chua Chu Kang GRC in Mr Gan’s place, in what appears to be a strategi...