SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong introduced each of the People's Action Party's (PAP) new faces at the launch of the party's manifesto on Saturday (Aug 29).

He described them as "a good mix" comprising civil servants, a Singapore Armed Forces officer, and people from the private sector.

Five of the new faces are women who "can hold their own against the men any time", he told more than 1,000 activists at Infinite Studios near Portsdown Avenue .

He also lauded the candidates who will be taking on the opposition in Workers' Party-held wards - Aljunied GRC, Hougang SMC and Punggol East SMC - in the election on Sept 11.

Here is his take on some of the candidates:

Ms Cheryl Chan (Fengshan SMC)

"She knows where to get the best laksa in Fengshan and I think she is ready for any opposition parachutists who will be there whether they are male or female."

Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC)

"I think more of you know him than most of us."

Mr Chee Hong Tat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC)

"I hear his dialect is not bad so I look forward to his Hokkien speech on stage."

Mr Ng Chee Meng (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC)

"Now he's in the team wearing a new uniform."

Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC)

"You probably know him from Acres...but he also cares about people... When I first interviewed him, he was so intense I spent 20 minutes getting him to smile."

Mr Ong Ye Kung (Sembawang GRC)

"He has experience in all sectors. And if you hear him make a speech, you will hear the fire in him."

Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC)

"People say she looks like Indranee (Rajah), therefore we've sent her to Tanjong Pagar."

Mr K. Muralidharan Pillai (Aljunied GRC)

"If you need somebody to be charging beside you on the battlefield, I would like to have Murali next to me."

Mr Lee Hong Chuang (Hougang SMC)

"When we asked him to go to Hougang, he was ready. He is not afraid."

Mr Melvin Yong (Punggol-Pasir Ris GRC)

"He's a problem solver."

Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC)

"He will make a contribution in Parliament and on the ground."

Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC)

"He grew up in a kampung and believes very much in the kampung spirit."

Dr Koh Poh Koon (Ang Mo Kio GRC)

"He dived in at the deepest, possible end..."

Mr Desmond Choo (Tampines GRC)

"He can connect with people on all levels..."

Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC)

"She has steel and guts... (If elected) Tampines will be in good hands."