GE2025: Some surprises, pointed jabs at opponents as hustings cross midpoint

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SINGAPORE – After six days of hustings, and with four days to go before Singaporeans cast their votes on May 3, some surprises have emerged.

With high stakes and the clock ticking, candidates have also turned the intensity up a notch, making quippy back-and-forths, sharp-tongued rebuttals and pointed jabs at their opponents.

Heading into GE2025, pundits had expected fiery rematches in East Coast and West Coast-Jurong West GRCs. After all, these had seen the closest margins of victory for the ruling party in the last election. 

Instead, it’s heating up in Punggol and Tampines GRCs and Jalan Kayu SMC. Other areas being watched include the single-seat constituencies of Tampines Changkat and Bukit Panjang.

GRCs and SMCs aside, several issues – municipal and national – have also come to the fore since Nomination Day on April 23.

Some examples: The ruling PAP’s call for a strong mandate that will put Singapore on solid ground to navigate an increasingly troubled world,

foreign interference and identity politics

, and the

failed sale of Income Insurance to German insurer Allianz

.

Bring out the big guns

It’s worth noting where the big guns have appeared and where parties seem to be focusing their resources.

On the PAP side of the house, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean has made his rounds, with several appearances, including at the Punggol and West Coast-Jurong West GRC rallies.

At the Marsiling-Yew Tee rally on April 24 and

lunchtime Fullerton rally

on April 28, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong took special care to highlight the importance of Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong to his team – not just for his experience in Cabinet and in managing Covid-19 or the economy, but as his “right-hand man”.

On the Workers’ Party side, party chief Pritam Singh has fronted doorstops with the media every day so far, standing alongside the nominated line-ups.

The parties’ big guns have also come forward to give their candidates a boost in Punggol, where unexpected Nomination Day deployments have been the root of the excitement.

The

WP’s senior counsel newcomer, Mr Harpreet Singh

, who had earlier walked in Marine Parade, is facing off against DPM Gan, who was brought across the island from Chua Chu Kang.

Likely sensing a close north-east fight, the PAP has made moves to shore up support for DPM Gan.

Apart from PM Wong’s endorsements, the retiring SM Teo, who is the incumbent anchor minister of the original Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, also made an appearance to support the line-up at the party’s rally on April 26.

The WP’s Punggol team had

its own rally on April 28

, where party chairwoman Sylvia Lim endorsed all 26 candidates, “the most promising batch that WP has fielded” in her more than 20 years with the party.

Mr Pritam Singh questioned PM Wong’s need for DPM Gan in his Cabinet: “You mean the PM has no one else in his Cabinet that can negotiate with the United States on tariffs? If this is true, to quote Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, si liao lah (die already lah)!”

Over in Tampines, certain issues have surfaced to shine a spotlight on the constituency.

On Nomination Day, it emerged that WP’s only Malay incumbent MP, Mr Faisal Manap, also a senior party leader,

would lead a team of fresh faces in Tampines

, going head-to-head with Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli.

On paper, this looks like a straight fight.

But over the last few days, things have taken a more complex and sensitive turn.

The battle is now set against the backdrop of comments from

a Singaporean self-styled religious preacher

, whose recently surfaced online claims stated that the WP was the only party to take seriously his concerns for the Malay-Muslim community, and he had criticised Mr Masagos for not doing so.

Both the PAP and WP have explicitly rejected campaigning on race or religion, and stated clearly that race and religion should not mix with politics.

Also in the background is the Gaza conflict, and the WP’s position that Singapore should recognise the state of Palestine now.

The PAP government has voted for a two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state “at an appropriate time”. 

WP’s Punggol candidate, Ms Alia Mattar, has also said the Gaza issue cuts across race and religion. 

Senior PAP figures have come out to state – in English and Malay – that national unity is of foremost importance. 

SM Teo said at two rallies over the weekend that even as emotions run high,

concern over the conflict in Gaza should not turn into conflict between Singaporeans

.

These issues have lent additional texture to the Tampines race, which has spilled over to Tampines Changkat SMC, where the PAP and WP are also going head-on. 

Both teams have been campaigning together, and the contest is one to keep an eye on.

In Jalan Kayu, the

Income-Allianz saga

has taken centre stage.

This is not unexpected, with the PAP’s choice to

field NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng

in the single-seat constituency.

The

WP candidate – fresh-faced Andre Low

, one of its youngest new candidates – came out swinging first.

With a fiery maiden rally speech, he hit out at his opponent’s endorsement of the Income-Allianz deal months before it was blocked.

Mr Pritam Singh later added to the fire, calling the labour movement a “guaranteed trampoline” for losing PAP candidates.

At his own rally on Sunday, Mr Ng responded. There were no guarantees, as he had to be re-elected as labour chief in 2023, he said. 

He also said the labour movement

had thought the deal was reasonable

and would allow for a stronger Income that could further its social mission.

A strong Cabinet versus a strong opposition

Zooming out of constituency tussles, PM Wong has said in no uncertain terms that he needs a strong team and strong Cabinet to deal with an uncertain and changed world.

This was made crystal clear at the PAP’s lunchtime Fullerton rally on April 28, when he said: “If opposition parties break through in several constituencies... then even if the PAP were to be returned to govern, it could be with a severely weakened mandate.

“I could lose three, four ministers. The opposition says, ‘Don’t worry; life continues.’ Really? Are you being serious? Losing three to four ministers will weaken the Cabinet team, will weaken the Government, will weaken Singapore.”

A point to note is that Punggol, Tampines and Jalan Kayu all have key members of the PAP team in their slates. Mr Ng, a former minister, may return to government if elected, and is also a member of DPM Gan’s tariff taskforce.

Speaking directly to Singaporeans, PM Wong said: “In the end, the choice lies with you.”

Come May 3, voters will have to decide between the ruling party’s rhetoric and that of the opposition.

As no opposition party has fielded enough candidates to contest one-third of Parliament, they have converged on the same message – that they provide checks and balances and are being a loyal opposition.

WP’s Pritam Singh has stated his party’s value proposition clearly. With

26 candidates being fielded

and none of them to be part of government,

voters should compare them with the PAP’s backbenchers

.

On April 28, he reiterated this – even if all 26 WP candidates are voted into Parliament at this election, the Government will still have enough space to deal with issues of the day.

Should the WP make headway in Punggol, Tampines and Jalan Kayu, it will cement its status as the No. 2 political party in Singapore.

Voters will have to decide which message is more compelling and more aligned with their vision of a democratic Singapore.

There are still a few days left in the hustings, and political parties traditionally plan for a final push through to the finish line.

There is much at stake for both sides as the nation heads to the ballot box on May 3.