Singapore election 2025: PAP fends off RDU in Holland-Bukit Timah and Nee Soon GRCs
[SINGAPORE] The People's Action Party (PAP) has retained Nee Soon GRC, defeating a team led by Red Dot United (RDU) chief Ravi Philemon in the 2025 general election.
The incumbent PAP, led by Minister for Law K Shanmugam and sporting a largely refreshed slate, won 73.81 per cent of the votes after polls closed on Saturday (May 3), compared with the 26.19 per cent share garnered by RDU.
A total of 139,203 valid votes were cast, of which 102,744 went to the PAP. There were 3,083 rejected votes. The Group Representation Constituency (GRC) has 151,874 electors.
Shanmugam, who is also the minister for home affairs, has been a Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC since the constituency's creation in 2011.
In GE2025, PAP fielded him along with four new faces, after former MPs Louis Ng, Carrie Tan and Derrick Goh announced that they would be stepping down from politics.
The newcomers are ex-civil servant Goh Hanyan, Temasek Foundation communications director Lee Hui Ying, former PAP Hougang branch chair Jackson Lam, and consultant psychiatrist Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign Up
Sign Up
Dr Syed Harun was also a Nominated MP but resigned in February before his term ended. Shanmugam later said that the Republic's Constitution allows for a Nominated MP to step down, join a political party and run for election.
Meanwhile, GE2025 was the first time RDU contested in Nee Soon GRC. Philemon's team included chemist and party chair David Foo; Sharon Lin, a senior consultant in the IT services sector; tech startup business director Pang Heng Chuan; and private school teacher Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad.
This is Philemon's highest vote share in a general election. In GE2020, his RDU team contested Jurong GRC and received 25.39 per cent of the votes against a PAP team led by then-senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
During the hustings in GE2025, Philemon had questioned the PAP's decision to field four newcomers alongside Shanmugam, raising doubts about their readiness to succeed him when the time comes.
In response, Shanmugam and former Nee Soon MP Lee Bee Wah said that some of the new faces had ties to the constituency, and the four had a track record in community service.
In particular, Lee Bee Wah had mentored newcomer Lee Hui Ying for 15 years, and pledged to continue guiding the new MP post-election.
Incumbents keep Holland-Bukit Timah GRC
PAP also kept Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, defeating a team from RDU.
The ruling party received a vote share of 79.29 per cent, while RDU garnered 20.71 per cent of the votes.
In the latest election, a total of 108,945 valid votes were cast in the GRC, of which 86,384 went to the PAP. There were 2,687 rejected votes. The GRC has 123,225 electors.
The PAP team, led by Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, is unchanged from GE2020, with Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann, lawyer Christopher de Souza, and businessman Edward Chia.
The four-man RDU team featured new faces assistant engineer Sharad Kumar, operations manager Nizar Subair and music teacher Emily Woo, as well as financial consultant Fazli Talip, who contested in GE2011 under the Workers' Party.
RDU was contesting the GRC for the first time.
In 2020, the PAP won Holland-Bukit Timah GRC with 66.36 per cent of the votes against the opposition Singapore Democratic Party.
RDU fielded the second-largest opposition party slate in GE2025, with 15 candidates across three GRCs and one Single-Member Constituency. In its GE2020 debut, it contested only Jurong GRC and lost.
For more election coverage, visit our GE2025 microsite
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Nee Soon mosque reopens on Hari Raya Haji after $15m facelift
Congregants during Hari Raya Aidiladha prayers at the recently upgraded Masjid Darul Makmur in Yishun on June 7. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG SINGAPORE - The $15 million facelift to spruce up Masjid Darul Makmur has not only refreshed an icon in Nee Soon, but the process has also strengthened the local community spirit, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim. At the mosque's reopening on June 7 - Hari Raya Haji - Associate Professor Faishal noted that the Muslim community had put up with inconveniences during the two-year renovation, which included having to conduct their religious rites at a temporary site. Agreeing, Nee Soon GRC MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi, who was also at the event, said the upgrading involved a lot of logistics, as well as support from the Singapore Land Authority and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis). Prof Faishal said: 'This is the pride of Nee Soon residents, whereby with the strong community spirit, with the right support from grassroots organisations and government agencies, I think we can achieve better,' he said. Darul Makmur mosque was first opened in 1987. After it closed in April 2023 for upgrading, the former North View Secondary School in Yishun Ring Road was designated as a temporary prayer site for congregants. The completion of upgrading works means the mosque can now accommodate 4,000 worshippers, up from 3,000 previously. Barrier-free access with ramps, as well as a new lift, were also added. Speaking to the media after Hari Raja Aidiladha prayers, Prof Faishal urged the Malay/Muslim community here to continue to feel blessed in Singapore, where there is harmony and they can perform their religious rites with peace of mind anywhere in the country. 'This is something not available in many parts of the world,' said Prof Faishal, who was an MP in Nee Soon from 2011 to 2025. He was fielded in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC at the recent general election, which the PAP retained in a walkover. Echoing a sermon delivered earlier by Mufti Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, he also urged the community to have the notion of gratitude, and to continue playing its part in Singapore's quest to develop as a nation. As part of Singapore's humanitarian efforts for Gaza, more than 10 tonnes of korban meat will be channeled to Palestinians there, said Prof Faishal. Meanwhile, the meat that will be sent to Singapore will be distributed to the less privileged in the community, including zakat beneficiaries, families of incarcerated individuals and migrant transient workers. Korban refers to the Islamic ritual of slaughtering farm animals such as sheep and lambs, followed by the distribution of the meat to worshippers and the needy. Prof Faishal noted that this year's Hari Raya Haji korban had 5,700 orders for overseas livestock on SalamSG, a platform for key mosque programmes. This is about a 20 per cent increase from 2024. Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (right) greets congregants before the Hari Raya Aidiladha prayer at the recently upgraded Masjid Darul Makmur. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG The livestock will be slaughtered in Australia before the meat is chilled, packed and sent to Singapore – an arrangement that began in 2020 due to the pandemic. At the event, Prof Faishal also gave an update on Singaporean pilgrims in Mecca. He said all of them are doing well amid the intense heatwave. 'I urge them to keep looking out for one another. I also urge them to look at their health, and also ensure that they drink lots of water and also (have a) good rest,' he said. (From left) Nee Soon GRC MP Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi; Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim; Executive Chairman of Darul Makmur Mosque Mohd Fairus Abdul Manaf; and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam greet a congregant after Hari Raya Aidiladha prayers at the recently upgraded Masjid Darul Makmur. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Temperatures in Mecca exceeded 40 deg C this week as more than a million Muslim pilgrims poured into the holy city for the annual haj. In 2024, at least 1,301 pilgrims died after temperatures soared to 51.8 deg C. 'We pray that they continue to remain safe and able to do their religious deeds... I look forward to welcoming them when they come back,' said Prof Faishal. Besides Prof Faishal and Dr Syed Harun, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam also attended the mosque's reopening. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Ownership through a ‘shared vision': Prof Faishal Ibrahim's hopes for the Malay/Muslim community
Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim hopes to achieve what he described as a 'shared vision' for the Malay/Muslim community. PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN SINGAPORE - One of the ways in which Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim tries to engage with young people is by being active on social media and personally replying to messages he receives on his social media accounts. 'They want to be heard. They would like to have an open conversation,' he said on June 4. Acknowledging that he is 'not young,' Prof Faishal said other ways he engages with younger people is by working with younger MPs, speaking to youth during his public engagements as well as creating more mentoring opportunities via Mendaki and other Malay/Muslim organisations. These are some ways in which the newly minted Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs hopes to achieve what he described as a 'shared vision' for the Malay/Muslim community – one shaped in part by the community itself, so they feel a sense of ownership over it. Achieving such a vision would take some time, said the 56-year-old, adding that he would share updates at different milestones. Prof Faishal was speaking to reporters at the KopiCuts cafe and barbershop at community hub Wisma Geylang Serai – where he serves as lead adviser – in his first sit-down interview since taking being appointed to the role on May 21. He replaced Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli, who had held the portfolio since 2018. Married with two children, Prof Faishal was previously an associate professor at the National University of Singapore's Department of Real Estate. He said he received a warm reception from residents following his recent appointment. 'It is very heartwarming to see the responses from our community where they say that they want to cooperate with me and my colleagues, to continue the effort to develop our community and our country,' he said. 'And more importantly, they feel that the Prime Minister listened to their concerns and aspirations regarding our community leadership.' He thanked his predecessors Mr Masagos and retired cabinet minister Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, who served as Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs from 2002 to 2018. Prof Faishal noted he had worked closely with both men, describing them as having had the heart to serve the community and help it progress. It was also by working with both men that he saw the challenges associated with the role, as well as what needs to be done, he said. 'I know this is not an easy responsibility, some have told me they know it's not easy but they want to support this effort,' he added. Prof Faishal joined politics in 2006 at the age of 38, as part of a six-member PAP team representing Marine Parade GRC. Following the 2011 elections, he became an MP for Nee Soon GRC, where he served for three terms. During the 2025 General Elections, he returned to the newly-formed Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC as part of a five-member PAP team, led by Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, which won the constituency uncontested. In 2012, Prof Faishal became Parliamentary Secretary at the health and transport ministries, and in 2017 was promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the education as well as social and family development ministries. He subsequently became Minister of State for National Development and Home Affairs in 2020, and following the 2025 GE was appointed Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs as well as Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. While the community has progressed tremendously over the years, making strides in areas such as post-secondary education, there are still areas for improvement, Prof Faishal said. These include working with government agencies to meet the needs of needy families as well as addressing the drug problem in the community. He also highlighted the need to have more Malay/Muslim children enrolled in pre-school education, saying that he would work with Mendaki chairman Zaqy Mohamad, who is also Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, and Defence, to address the issue. Beyond the M3 framework, Prof Faishal said other Malay/Muslim organisations, as well as professional bodies and informal groups, can play a role in meeting the needs and aspirations of the community. M3 refers to a tie-up between self-help group Mendaki, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore and the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council. He added that he would like to see more ground-up initiatives, citing the example of Bersamamu – a programme which provides Muslim couples with mentoring from their solemnisers in their first two years of marriage. He noted that Bersamamu was initiated by veteran religious teacher Ustaz Pasuni Maulun and other solemnisers, before it received the support of the Government. 'This is an example of how we can work together,' he said. When asked how he would address views which differed from the those of the authorities, Prof Faishal said the Government is 'well-intentioned' and tries to meet all needs. However, it has to take in account all viewpoints, he said, adding that some more complex issues may require more time to be addressed. 'There may be issues that are not easy but we know that the Government's intention is to help, to solve these issues together.' A long-time supporter of English football club Liverpool, Prof Faishal says the club's motto You'll Never Walk Alone – derived from Gerry and the Pacemaker's 1963 single of the same name – can be applied to Singapore's Malay/Muslim community. The community will never walk alone as it has the support of its leaders and community organisations, he said. 'And I will also never walk alone, because I have the Malay/Muslim community and the people of Singapore with me to continue this effort,' he said. Zhaki Abdullah is a correspondent at The Straits Times. He is on the health beat, in addition to occasionally covering science, environmental, tech and Muslim affairs issues. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Online Citizen
6 days ago
- Online Citizen
PAP's Goh Pei Ming tops spending so far as 35 candidates declare S$884,978 from 3 May General Election
SINGAPORE: A total of 35 candidates who contested the General Election on 3 May have declared their election expenses, with combined spending reaching S$884,978. These figures were made publicly available on the Elections Department's (ELD) website on 28 May. Under Singapore's election laws, candidates must declare their expenses and the nature of spending. This process aims to ensure transparency and accountability in campaign financing. Candidates have until 16 June to file their election returns. PAP's Marine Parade–Braddell Heights team spent S$388,756 in sole walkover victory Among those who have submitted so far, People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Goh Pei Ming topped the list with S$104,085 in declared spending. More than half of his expenditure went towards non-online election advertising, including printed materials and physical displays. Goh, a former chief of staff in the Singapore Armed Forces, was part of the PAP team in Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC. His team was the only one to win in a walkover on Nomination Day. Their collective campaign expenditure stood at S$388,756 — the highest recorded among the teams that have declared their finances so far. In total, the 35 candidates represented a range of parties, including the PAP, Progress Singapore Party (PSP), National Solidarity Party (NSP), People's Alliance for Reform (PAR), Red Dot United (RDU), and Singapore People's Party (SPP). One candidate each from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), People's Power Party (PPP), and Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) also submitted their expenses. Additionally, independent candidates Darryl Lo and Jeremy Tan have declared their financial statements. No candidates from the Workers' Party (WP) have submitted returns to date. This leaves 176 candidates either yet to file or whose submissions are pending announcement in the Government Gazette. According to the data released, the average expenditure per candidate came to S$25,285. However, spending varied significantly. While some candidates incurred no expenses, others spent over S$100,000. The PAP led the average spending per candidate at S$77,751. This was followed by the PSP with an average of S$32,303 and the NSP at S$24,378. At the lower end, RDU averaged S$1,297 per candidate, while PAR had the lowest average at S$898. Seven candidates report zero spending Seven candidates declared zero expenditure. These included Sharad Kumar, David Foo and Pang Heng Chuan from RDU; Alec Tok from SDP; Harminder Pal Singh from SDA; and Lim Rui Xian and Muhammad Norhakim from SPP. PPP's Samuel Lee reported S$100 in 'other expenses'. He announced via TikTok on 27 May that he had resigned from the party, effective 23 May, to pursue other opportunities. Among independent candidates, Jeremy Tan, who contested Mountbatten, spent S$16,075. His largest cost was for his solo rally at the Home of Athletics on 1 May. Darryl Lo, contesting Radin Mas, spent S$12,213, with most of it going towards printed materials and other non-digital promotional tools. The only other full team to have submitted expenses was NSP's Sembawang GRC team, which reported a total of S$121,888 in spending. In addition to spending, candidates are required to declare any donations received. Among the 35, only RDU's Ben Puah, who contested Jurong East–Bukit Batok GRC, declared donations. He received S$280 from anonymous donors, via six PayNow transactions ranging from S$10 to S$100. Puah spent S$109 in total on his campaign. RDU's Kala Manickam submitted disputed claims Another RDU candidate, Kala Manickam, submitted disputed claims amounting to S$1,365. These included S$404 in food expenses for campaigners, S$66 for transport, and S$895 for printing extra campaign fliers. According to the ELD, such claims are filed when election agents dispute or fail to settle expense claims within the 28-day window. Kala, who contested in Jurong Central SMC during 3 May poll, told The Straits Times that her claims were not reimbursed by the party. She explained that she was advised to submit them as disputed. 'The party told me to raise petty cash to claim back my money, but when I submitted it after the election, they said the spending was not endorsed by the party,' she said. She added that the party also cited her lack of fundraising as a reason for the rejection of her reimbursement request. Kala said she would personally absorb the cost, stating her campaign was driven by a desire to serve Singapore. The ELD allows members of the public to view candidates' declared expenses by logging into its digital service with their Singpass credentials. Further updates are expected as the 16 June deadline approaches.
