PM Lawrence Wong to lead PAP team in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC for GE2025
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Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (second from right) and his fellow Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MPs (from left) Alex Yam, Zaqy Mohamad and Hany Soh at PAP's Limbang branch on April 12.
ST PHOTO KEVIN LIM
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SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will once again lead the People’s Action Party team in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC in the coming election, in his first trip to the polls as PM.
He will be accompanied by the same slate of incumbents, namely Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, 50; North West District Mayor Alex Yam, 43; and Ms Hany Soh, 37.
PM Wong, 52, announced the make-up of the team defending his home turf in a press conference at PAP’s Limbang branch in Choa Chu Kang on April 12.
This is the first of the party’s official full-slate introductions ahead of the 2025 General Election, with more expected in the coming days.
“The team in Marsiling-Yew Tee has not changed, but there will be more significant changes elsewhere,” said PM Wong, who is also secretary-general of the PAP.
In the 2020 General Election, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC’s slate – first unveiled at a walkabout in Marsiling a month before the polls – also remained the same.
But the line-up for each constituency is set in stone only on Nomination Day, when parties reveal the final slate of candidates.
Last weekend, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC’s five-year masterplan was shared with residents,
Other major upcoming projects in the precinct include the redevelopment of Kranji racecourse and Woodlands Checkpoint.
Asked why he chose to stay in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC,
Regardless of constituency, he will lead the party into the elections, he said.
He added: “I will present the case to Singaporeans and I hope Singaporeans will give me and my team the chance to do our best for them in these difficult times.”
Marsiling-Yew Tee’s three other MPs took turns to speak about the constituency’s rejuvenation and their commitment to improving infrastructure.
This includes new community clubs, parks and an 18km cycling path.
“When I was first deployed here, people always had the impression of Marsiling being a very rustic, laid-back constituency, and there is certainly a charm to it,” Mr Zaqy said.
“But certainly, nearing 50 years of age, Marsiling is a mature, older estate, and certainly needs to modernise and improve on connectivity.
Mr Zaqy added that residents expect a certain level of service now that Mr Wong is the Prime Minister.
“People say it’s a shoo-in, but actually it’s quite pressurising,” he added. “All three of us wouldn’t want to let him down, or the residents down.”
PM Lawrence Wong (second from right) will lead the PAP team in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC in the coming election with the same slate of incumbents, namely (from left) Mr Alex Yam, Mr Zaqy Mohamad and Ms Hany Soh.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Mr Yam, who started out in Yew Tee – then part of Chua Chu Kang GRC – in 2011, said he has come to know many residents personally over his past three terms.
“It’s therefore a great honour for us to seek the support of our residents once again, to continue with our service that we’ve dedicated ourselves to over the years,” he said.
Ms Soh, a first-term MP, added that the team has worked to support residents with their concerns, especially in securing jobs and coping with the cost of living.
“These are matters that are very close to my heart,” she said.
This is the first time Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC will be led by a sitting prime minister.
It is among nine constituencies that have not had their boundaries redrawn for the 2025 polls.
This is only the third contest for the relatively young constituency, which was formed in 2015 after it was carved out with parts of Chua Chu Kang GRC and Sembawang GRC that had seen significant population growth.
In 2020, the PAP retained the group representation constituency with 63.18 per cent of the vote against the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), above the ruling party’s national average of 61.24 per cent.
The SDP, which has announced that it will return to contest the GRC, is expected to announce its line-up soon, with party chief Chee Soon Juan saying previously that he would put up “a good slate” for the election
Anjali Raguraman is a correspondent at The Straits Times. She covers politics, as well as consumer stories spanning tourism, retail and F&B.
