[CONSOLIDATED] Singapore General Election 2025 Discussion Thread

[Eureka75]

WP changed leadership.
SDP not change since 1993. the same Dr chee,

PSP leaders change like merry go round.

Pap third leaders since 199o, plus some minister grade and above gone and 30 % back benchers gone on average every GE.

WP leader like change every 15-20 years

 

[asymmetric]

joo chiat cut to EC, changi area cut out
taman jurong cut to WC, dover/telok blangah/sentosa cut out

lets see.....according to them everytime they cut, it gets worse.

 

[krikering]

The position of Labour chief has already been non partisan. It is just a choice by the government that a Labour chief is also a minister, not the other way round.

Bertha is right though, I struggle to remember what Ng Chee Meng has contributed to the labour movement in the last 5 years.

Think he there as a figurehead only, same as Lim Swee Say last time.

Tiagong, his temper quite bad one. Alot of ppl who worked with him in SAF, etc. like feel got anger management problem or something.

 

[Eureka75]

LT always thinks he is stronger than anyone, that's why I say this guy is like Trump, he got serious narcissism

Trump got track record in his business and politics to show to his voters but Lim Tean doesn't only know how to be fairy cannon. Having a lot of followers on Facebook and Tik Tok does not translate to votes

 

[Medicated Oil]

because not enuff time alr

A bit TOO ANXIOUS and OBVIOUS.

 

[Asphodeli]

Think he there as a figurehead only, same as Lim Swee Say last time.

Tiagong, his temper quite bad one. Alot of ppl who worked with him in SAF, etc. like feel got anger management problem or something.

why is it always those army parachuters into parliament always have anger/attitude issues one ah?

 

[yperic]

PAP’s slate of new faces shapes up with 30 likely names; party could field younger group, more women​

The PAP's new slate is likely to reflect the priorities of its secretary-general, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

SINGAPORE – The PAP’s latest crop of candidates could be its youngest since the 2011 election, with more women in the mix.

In all, The Straits Times has identified around 30 new faces who could stand in the upcoming election. Among them are senior civil servants, C-suite executives and long-serving grassroots volunteers.

This is in line with the party’s practice of refreshing between a quarter and a third of its slate each term. As Singapore’s next Parliament will have 97 elected members, it is likely to field between 24 and 32 new faces.

The new slate is also likely to reflect the priorities of its secretary-general, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. In November 2024, PM Wong emphasised leadership renewal as a priority in his first speech as party leader.

He has also said he plans to field more women in the upcoming general election.

ST’s analysis of the potential candidates showed several trends.

First, the party could field more women than in previous years, in keeping with a steadily rising trend.

Second, the split between the number of potential candidates from the private sector and the public sector has remained roughly consistent since 2006.

Third, the potential slate for 2025 is slightly younger than those in previous years – with an average age of about 40.

Women in PAP politics​

About 40 per cent of the potential candidates are female, which means 12 new women candidates could be fielded in 2025.

This is up from 37 per cent in GE2020 and under a quarter in 2015.

PM Wong had identified this as a priority in August 2024, saying he hoped to increase female representation in Parliament. “To me, having that diversity in the team is very useful,” he said.

Fresh faces seen on the ground with PAP MPs include Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim, the former chief executive of Make-A-Wish Singapore, lawyer Gho Sze Kee and business development director Diana Pang.

Two public servants who will leave the service in early April could join them – Health Ministry deputy secretary for policy Jasmin Lau and Smart Nation and AI policy director Goh Hanyan.

(From left) Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim, Ms Jasmin Lau and Ms Goh Hanyan. PHOTOS: SHINTARO TAY, MOH, MDDI

The move to field more women comes on the back of government efforts to engage them over the past few years. For instance, it declared 2021 the year to celebrate Singapore women and launched national conversations on women’s issues.

“Not only was this a reflection of the views of women and listening to them, but it was also a way to engage women and build political capital among them,” said Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) senior research fellow Gillian Koh.

Pointing to the current Cabinet make-up of three women and 16 men, IPS Social Lab research fellow Teo Kay Key said it would be a welcome sign if more women candidates are identified, especially those with potential to become ministers.

Independent political observer Felix Tan said of the likely women candidates: “These are very established individuals who have the experience and the skills to take up more significant roles if they are voted in.”

Public sector crucial, but more private sector high-fliers desired​

The potential slate for 2025 shows that the public sector remains an important source of recruitment for the ruling party, political observers said.

But they said repeated messaging from PAP leaders also shows that the party hopes to attract more high-fliers from the private sector.

About half of the potential candidates are from the private sector – a ratio that is largely similar to previous batches. The figure was between 40 per cent and 50 per cent in the past for elections since 2006, except for 2015, when it spiked to 62 per cent.

On March 26, PM Wong spoke of the challenges in getting candidates from the private sector.

“For someone who is in the private sector, who is very successful, for example, in his 30s or 40s... potentially moving into a senior leadership position in a firm, MNC (multinational corporation) or large local company, the sacrifice is much greater,” he said.

“It is not just a recent phenomenon. That has always been the case. It has always been difficult.”

SMU law don Eugene Tan said: “The party recognises the importance of having greater diversity among its first-time candidates and softening its image as a party that draws its candidates primarily from the public sector and the military.”

But the challenge could lie in differing life goals of private sector individuals, said Dr Felix Tan.

“Unlike public servants who safeguard Singapore’s interests at a national level, private sector candidates might not necessarily be in line with that expectation,” he said.

All candidates will have to “flip the switch” in their minds to recognise that they will have to win the trust of ordinary citizens, and to understand the authority conferred upon them through the ballot, said IPS’ Dr Koh.

“However, this switch is probably less of a distance to bridge (for a public servant) than for someone who is used to being a freewheeling entrepreneur, no matter how successful he or she might have been,” she added.

Just over a third of the potential 2025 rookies are from the public sector, with a majority from the civil service. A handful come from a military background.

Individuals who have chosen careers in the public service are a natural pool to draw from, said Dr Koh.

“They have to offer themselves for the appropriate reasons and motivation. This is not a question of good or bad,” she said.

“It is a question of fit and a grasp of the stringent, disciplined, gruelling and demanding task of being an MP. It isn’t just about sacrifices and the scrutiny of public life, but also the suitability.”

These public servants also hold the experience and skills to become political office-holders if elected, said Dr Felix Tan. With their seniority in the ministries, they also have the added advantage of being able to handle policymaking, he noted.

 

[yperic]

Slightly younger slate, signs of a nascent 5G?​

The slate of new faces identified so far for the upcoming election is 40.5 years old on average.

This is about two years younger than the average ages in the past two general elections, though slightly higher than 2011’s average of 39.1 years.

A significant number of 2011’s rookies were tipped to be the building blocks of the PAP’s fourth-generation leadership.

The group included current Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, both of whom became full ministers in their first term. PM Wong also joined politics that year, and rose to minister for culture, community and youth in that term.

Mr Heng was 50 then, while Mr Chan was 41. PM Wong was 38.

Based on precedent, some of the potential candidates – Mr Jeffrey Siow, the 46-year-old former second permanent secretary; Mr Shawn Loh, 38, the former Finance Ministry director who oversaw the last two Budgets; and Ms Lau, 41, who was deputy secretary at the Health Ministry – could be potential political office-holders.

Given their ages, these individuals could also form a core part of leaders who will support PM Wong’s tenure as head of government, Associate Professor Eugene Tan added.

Dr Teo said their candidacy could signal that the PAP is focused on leadership renewal.

The party appears to be looking at who is likely to have potential to join the Government and have more years ahead of them to contribute, she said.

The party has perhaps begun identifying its fifth generation of leaders, giving them a longer runway to learn the ropes, test them on suitability as well as rotate around different ministries, she added.

While the changes in average age between elections were not necessarily significant, Dr Felix Tan said fielding younger candidates may suggest that many of them intend to be in politics for the long haul, with the bandwidth to continue through PM Wong’s term.

Overall, the slate’s relative youth could appeal to younger voters.

Prof Eugene Tan added that with the citizen population’s median age at 43.4 years, the average age of new candidates being younger than that could be read as a declaration of the PAP’s intent to reach out more to millennials and Gen Zs.

“(They) are increasingly an important vote bank that the PAP is desirous of engaging and winning over,” he added.

• Ng Wei Kai is a journalist at The Straits Times, where he covers politics. He writes Unpacked, a weekly newsletter on Singapore politics and policy.
• Goh Yan Han is political correspondent at The Straits Times. She writes Unpacked, a weekly newsletter on Singapore politics and policy.

 

[Shion]

A bit TOO ANXIOUS and OBVIOUS.

of course. coz all these parachute in de. no bond with residents. need faster take action.

 

[Shion]

PAP’s slate of new faces shapes up with 30 likely names; party could field younger group, more women​

The PAP's new slate is likely to reflect the priorities of its secretary-general, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

SINGAPORE – The PAP’s latest crop of candidates could be its youngest since the 2011 election, with more women in the mix.

In all, The Straits Times has identified around 30 new faces who could stand in the upcoming election. Among them are senior civil servants, C-suite executives and long-serving grassroots volunteers.

This is in line with the party’s practice of refreshing between a quarter and a third of its slate each term. As Singapore’s next Parliament will have 97 elected members, it is likely to field between 24 and 32 new faces.

The new slate is also likely to reflect the priorities of its secretary-general, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. In November 2024, PM Wong emphasised leadership renewal as a priority in his first speech as party leader.

He has also said he plans to field more women in the upcoming general election.

ST’s analysis of the potential candidates showed several trends.

First, the party could field more women than in previous years, in keeping with a steadily rising trend.

Second, the split between the number of potential candidates from the private sector and the public sector has remained roughly consistent since 2006.

Third, the potential slate for 2025 is slightly younger than those in previous years – with an average age of about 40.

Women in PAP politics​

About 40 per cent of the potential candidates are female, which means 12 new women candidates could be fielded in 2025.

This is up from 37 per cent in GE2020 and under a quarter in 2015.

PM Wong had identified this as a priority in August 2024, saying he hoped to increase female representation in Parliament. “To me, having that diversity in the team is very useful,” he said.

Fresh faces seen on the ground with PAP MPs include Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim, the former chief executive of Make-A-Wish Singapore, lawyer Gho Sze Kee and business development director Diana Pang.

Two public servants who will leave the service in early April could join them – Health Ministry deputy secretary for policy Jasmin Lau and Smart Nation and AI policy director Goh Hanyan.

(From left) Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim, Ms Jasmin Lau and Ms Goh Hanyan. PHOTOS: SHINTARO TAY, MOH, MDDI

The move to field more women comes on the back of government efforts to engage them over the past few years. For instance, it declared 2021 the year to celebrate Singapore women and launched national conversations on women’s issues.

“Not only was this a reflection of the views of women and listening to them, but it was also a way to engage women and build political capital among them,” said Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) senior research fellow Gillian Koh.

Pointing to the current Cabinet make-up of three women and 16 men, IPS Social Lab research fellow Teo Kay Key said it would be a welcome sign if more women candidates are identified, especially those with potential to become ministers.

Independent political observer Felix Tan said of the likely women candidates: “These are very established individuals who have the experience and the skills to take up more significant roles if they are voted in.”

Public sector crucial, but more private sector high-fliers desired​

The potential slate for 2025 shows that the public sector remains an important source of recruitment for the ruling party, political observers said.

But they said repeated messaging from PAP leaders also shows that the party hopes to attract more high-fliers from the private sector.

About half of the potential candidates are from the private sector – a ratio that is largely similar to previous batches. The figure was between 40 per cent and 50 per cent in the past for elections since 2006, except for 2015, when it spiked to 62 per cent.

On March 26, PM Wong spoke of the challenges in getting candidates from the private sector.

“For someone who is in the private sector, who is very successful, for example, in his 30s or 40s... potentially moving into a senior leadership position in a firm, MNC (multinational corporation) or large local company, the sacrifice is much greater,” he said.

“It is not just a recent phenomenon. That has always been the case. It has always been difficult.”

SMU law don Eugene Tan said: “The party recognises the importance of having greater diversity among its first-time candidates and softening its image as a party that draws its candidates primarily from the public sector and the military.”

But the challenge could lie in differing life goals of private sector individuals, said Dr Felix Tan.

“Unlike public servants who safeguard Singapore’s interests at a national level, private sector candidates might not necessarily be in line with that expectation,” he said.

All candidates will have to “flip the switch” in their minds to recognise that they will have to win the trust of ordinary citizens, and to understand the authority conferred upon them through the ballot, said IPS’ Dr Koh.

“However, this switch is probably less of a distance to bridge (for a public servant) than for someone who is used to being a freewheeling entrepreneur, no matter how successful he or she might have been,” she added.

Just over a third of the potential 2025 rookies are from the public sector, with a majority from the civil service. A handful come from a military background.

Individuals who have chosen careers in the public service are a natural pool to draw from, said Dr Koh.

“They have to offer themselves for the appropriate reasons and motivation. This is not a question of good or bad,” she said.

“It is a question of fit and a grasp of the stringent, disciplined, gruelling and demanding task of being an MP. It isn’t just about sacrifices and the scrutiny of public life, but also the suitability.”

These public servants also hold the experience and skills to become political office-holders if elected, said Dr Felix Tan. With their seniority in the ministries, they also have the added advantage of being able to handle policymaking, he noted.

why is there a need to emphasize on gender ?

 

[Medicated Oil]

of course. coz all these parachute in de. no bond with residents. need faster take action.

They are bunch of laughing stock.
Go hawker center and kpt.
Shake a few hands and take a few photos.
Game over ?

 

[boredom2012]

They are bunch of laughing stock.
Go hawker center and kpt.
Shake a few hands and take a few photos.
Game over ?

Once in every 5 years

 

[krikering]

Trump got track record in his business and politics to show to his voters but Lim Tean doesn't only know how to be fairy cannon. Having a lot of followers on Facebook and Tik Tok does not translate to votes

No wonder WP and PSP also don't want work with him. Goh Meng Seng last time WP one, now also like totally no talks of cooperation or what, etc.

 

[Medicated Oil]

Once in every 5 years

They need to do more this time.
Still doing the usual is not sufficient liao.

 

[sg-united]

They are bunch of laughing stock.
Go hawker center and kpt.
Shake a few hands and take a few photos.
Game over ?

Once in every 5 years

Isn't that great? Think of the MP's monthly allowance of $14K, working part time only while continue your full time job. Show your face once every week at MPS, other than that no need to do much. Let the grassroots/volunteers run the show on your behalf.

 

[Eureka75]

This is actually a good thing for Singapore, one of the few things I agree with the PAP.

Unlike opposition having difficulty to attract young blood. All I see are angry old men standing up for elections.

The likes of PAR, SUP and PPP are lead by men with strong egos and unable to collaborate with other small parties that leverage on their strengths but are there to dilute votes and damage each others repuations

 

[Heriophant]

Surprised they didnt do anything to my BP SMC...

But then again.. BP has alot of upgrades last 5 yrs..

 

[Eureka75]

I feel Lim Tean’s insistence to contest Potong Pasir and declaring that his chances are higher than SPP is a sign that he looks down on the folks at SPP. he has no track record at PP with any previous involvement there and yet he can barge in and insist SPP give way. I agree that SPP is a spent force but LT is acting like a bully. this kind of leader not fit to lead any alliance. Cracks will definitely appear (which it did with PPP announcement of a pull out).

Lim Tean and his party members got more likes on Facebook and Tik Tok doesnt mean they are more popular in reality... Being loud and aggressive can only attract the hardcore opposition voters and siaolang. The swing voters are the ones who are kingmakers and they will rather vote for PAP if Lim Tean party contest in their constituencies.

 

[Coffeelix]

They need to do more this time.
Still doing the usual is not sufficient liao.

Just need to V in LMW, LT and CSJ is good representation of oppo as they dare to question them and had proven to do their home work.
WP is goner…

 

[Eureka75]

No wonder WP and PSP also don't want work with him. Goh Meng Seng last time WP one, now also like totally no talks of cooperation or what, etc.

WP and PSP ignored him because he is there to spoil and dilute opposition votes and damage other parties reputation with his antics