'We've done very commendably': WP's Pritam 'proud' despite landslide PAP's GE2025 win, Singapore News
The results of the 2025 General Election showed that the "challenges are real" for opposition parties to make further inroads in Singapore's political system, said Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh.
"I keep telling people… that we are a small party, and I hope you have gotten a perspective of why I say that," said Singh at Bedok Reservoir Food Centre on Sunday (April 4).
"But the least we can do for fellow Singaporeans is to do our best. And in these elections, I'm actually very proud to say the Workers' Party did its best. And I think everybody associated with the party should be very proud of themselves."
These were his first comments to reporters after Singapore took to the ballot boxes the previous day. The ruling PAP recorded a landslide victory with 65.57 per cent of the popular vote, winning 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats. It also had commanding swing from its 61.24 per cent share in the last general election.
The WP, meanwhile, managed to retain 10 of the seats from Aljunied and Sengkang GRC, as well as its stronghold of Hougang GRC.
Despite fielding what WP leaders described as their "best ever slate of candidates" — some 26 of them in five GRCs and three SMCs — the opposition party failed to win further seats in this election.
The WP's vote share, at 50.04 per cent, was also a slight 0.45 dip from 2020.
But Singh said that this figure is "incredibly negligible", when compared to the "nationwide swing in favour of the PAP".
"I think we've done very commendably," he said, adding that the "wider international environment" might have resonated with some voters.
Singh was also asked if the results were what his party had expected after the nine days of campaigning.
This was after long lines of people were seen queuing up to take selfies with some of the WP's new faces, and thousands of spectators reported watching their rallies.
"We never assumed that just because there's a lot of support online or on the ground, that will translate into votes," said Singh. "That's up to the Singaporean voter to determine, but our job is to make sure we put up a good slate and put up a good proposition for Singaporeans."
On his party's strategy, Singh said that he "understood the sentiment" that the WP could have won more seats if it had fielded a stronger team with fewer new faces.
The party saw close contests in Punggol GRC, Tampines GRC, as well as the single-seat ward in Jalan Kayu.
"But you see, if you put somebody else, then either you weaken another team, or you strengthen another team, and then your overall strategy is not in equilibrium anymore," he said.
Singh's five-member Aljunied slate comprising of WP chair Sylvia Lim, Gerald Giam, Fadli Fawzi and Kenneth Tiong retained the constituency with 59.68 per cent of votes, defeating the PAP's 40.32 per cent.
There were handshakes, hugs and even offers of beer from supporters during Sunday's walkabout at the coffee shop.
Aljunied resident Tong Siew Peng, 67, said that she had been waiting for nearly five hours at the coffee shop to greet Singh.
"He's my idol. So warm and friendly," the WP supporter said, who was with her five-year-old grand daughter wielding an inflatable hammer.
Following the election results, The WP will also be offered two Non-Constituency MP seats, after its showing in Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC, which had the highest vote percentages among losers at the polls.
In Tampines GRC, WP won 47.37 per cent of the votes, while in Jalan Kayu SMC, Low secured 48.53 per cent of the votes.
After clarifying that the party has not decided on the NCMP appointments, Lim said that she sees the election results not a setback, but an "opportunity".
"If you look at the 10 MPs that are elected, actually three of them have not been in parliament before," she said, pointing to Aljunied GRC's Fadli and Tiong, as well as Sengkang GRC's new face Abdul Muhaimin.
"So, these are our up-and-coming young leaders that will now have a seat in parliament and demonstrate what they can do and what the party can do for our electorate and for Singaporeans in general,"
Singh, meanwhile, reiterated that his party is a "force for good" — a line he has repeated throughout the campaigning.
"We did our best… the PAP is going to do everything it can to make sure that the tide of the opposition is halted, and it's our job to try and make sure that we can communicate our message to the public and inform them why it is in our self-interest to move towards a more balanced political system," he said.
[[nid:717651]]
chingshijie@asiaone.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Straits Times
Forum: What about a safety net for local students wanting a place in university?
I was heartened to learn that our Government is extending support to the 151 Singaporean students at Harvard (S'porean undergrads at Harvard can continue studies in universities here, June 6). I am sure the Government will similarly extend support to Singaporean students at other elite US universities if the situation deteriorates there. I sympathise with the Singaporeans studying at Harvard, but I wonder if the message is that our local universities do in fact have the capacity to take in more local students. Or is it that our local universities will reduce the number of places available to local students, to accommodate the returning US students? Many local students do not have the financial resources to seek an overseas education, and universities at home are their only option. But due to limited capacity, not every eligible applicant is accepted. So, I was surprised to learn that local universities are able to accommodate the affected Singapore students at Harvard. Wouldn't this be at the expense of eligible local applicants? Finally, these Ivy League students no doubt have the ability and resources to study in the US. They took the decision to study abroad willingly. In the face of adversity, is our Government expected to offer a safety net back home? What about a safety net for local students? Roy Tan Choon Kang More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
Singaporeans living in Los Angeles take extra precautions amid immigration protests
Some Singaporeans living in Los Angeles say they are taking extra precautions, like avoiding downtown LA, as US immigration protests enter the fourth day. They tell CNA that the Singapore embassy has also not issued any warnings or advisory notes, as the bulk of the Singaporean community who are still there feel relatively safe.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
‘A beautiful experience': Singapore Cardinal William Goh on being part of the conclave
Singaporean Cardinal William Goh was among the 133 cardinals who participated in the conclave to elect the new pope. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY SINGAPORE – Amid the cheering in St Peter's Square and excitement from Catholics across the world on May 8 , the election of a new pope also brought about another element: surprise. The newly elected Pope Leo XIV – or Cardinal Robert Prevost as he was known then – became the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Church. Within the hallowed walls of the Sistine Chapel in Rome , where the election process known as the conclave took place, the surprise was not lost on Singaporean William Goh , who was one of the 133 cardinals who took part in the voting. 'He was not one of the well-known candidates for the papacy... and most of us did not know him except for those perhaps from Latin America or Rome,' said Cardinal Goh, referring to Pope Leo. But discussions about the pope's nationality do not matter, he said, as the pontiff's role is to be a symbol of unity and to serve the Church and everyone else. Cardinal Goh became the first Singaporean to vote for a new head of the Roman Catholic Church. Now back in Singapore, the 67-year-old archbishop described the experience as 'beautiful' during an interview with The Straits Times on June 4 . 'I went in without knowing exactly what I would be doing, and how this whole process would evolve,' he said. '(But) I went in with a great sense of responsibility that being one of the 133 electors, the person we chose to be next pope would have serious implications – not just for the Church, but for the world.' Although Pope Leo was elected in just two days, the preparation process that preceded the vote took nine days, when all 252 cardinals – both electors and non-electors – gathered to share with one another their views, concerns and challenges that each country faces. 'We come from all over the world; we have different views of what we think the new pope should do and can do, because we come from diverse circumstances,' said Cardinal Goh, adding that he felt this period was the most important part of the election process. 'But we are all agreeable that the pope must be one that can promote unity within the Church and peace among nations.' Informal interactions between the cardinals during breaks or at dinner allowed them to get to know one another better. 'We never had the chance to meet each other and to hear from one another, so it was a very beautiful moment, and for me, the most enriching part of the whole experience,' Cardinal Goh said. The 2025 conclave was a historic moment not just for Singapore, but also for Asia. There were 23 cardinals from the region present, reportedly the most in the history of the conclave, a process that dates back to the Middle Ages. 'In the past, most of the cardinals came from Europe. But the church has become too euro-centric, which is not the universal church today,' said Cardinal Goh, adding that Christianity has been growing in Asia and Africa. The religion has been declining in many parts of Europe, but there has been a revival of faith, especially within younger people in the region, he said. As such, the late Pope Francis' move to pick cardinals from across the world was important in helping the Church preserve its Catholicity, he added. The Argentinian pontiff, who died in April , was known for his humility and advocacy for the poor and marginalised. When deciding whom to vote for as the new pope, Cardinal Goh said he felt that the world today needed someone who would bring unity not just to the world, but also within the Church. 'But of course, unity doesn't mean uniformity,' he said, adding that unity also recognises diversity, which should be encouraged as long as it is consistent with scripture. 'It is in diversity that we really see the richness of the Church... the different cultures, liturgies, rites and ways of living out the pastoral mission in affluent countries, in poor countries, countries under oppression and discrimination.' Cardinal Goh posing for a picture near St Peter's Square at the Vatican on May 5, before the conclave began. PHOTO: REUTERS Unity should also involve clarity of doctrine, said Cardinal Goh, who cautioned against a form of inclusiveness that allows anyone to do whatever they want. 'The Church is not a clubhouse, where you can choose to swim, sing or play in the casino. The Church is where all of us are members of this body of Christ, (and) we believe in the gospel. We want to live out that teaching,' he said. 'Inclusivity means all are welcome... So long as you know that you are here not to change the gospel to suit your own preference, but that you will change your life to suit the gospel. That, for me, is inclusivity.' The conclave has long been the subject of much speculation and intrigue, due to the shroud of secrecy surrounding the voting process. But the death of Pope Francis also sparked strong interest in a different conclave – the Oscar-winning film starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci. Viewership of the movie reportedly spiked 283 per cent after the pope's death. Parts of the movie, such as the tight security, strict ban on bringing in any digital devices and meetings between the cardinals before the conclave to share their views, are true, said Cardinal Goh, who watched it at The Projector with his staff. But other parts are over-exaggerated, he added. Cardinals do not try to manipulate the situation, lobby one group against another or have secret meetings at night. He said that once the conclave began, the cardinals were busy with masses and voting rounds, adding that their day would start at around 8am and end at 9pm. 'We are too tired to be able to hold all these other meetings at night.' As the world was introduced to Pope Leo on May 8, Cardinal Goh stood alongside his fellow cardinals on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica while thousands cheered from below. Witnessing this was very inspiring, he said, adding that the response was 'one of deep faith, unity, support and joy'. Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appearing on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on May 8 to greet the thousands of faithful who had gathered. PHOTO: REUTERS In describing the new pontiff, Cardinal Goh said he found Pope Leo to be very prayerful and meditative. '(He) is someone who really wants to listen, learn and try to understand... He doesn't react suddenly and is a man who thinks through what he wants to say,' Cardinal Goh said. For non-Catholics who had followed the conclave, the cardinal said he hopes they can come to appreciate what the Church is doing for humanity, and that it welcomes everyone. 'We want to promote authentic life, respect for every human person, and respect for people of other religions and cultures,' he said. 'And we can work together in unity for the good of humanity.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
