logo
PAP wins Sembawang GRC with 67.75% of votes over SDP and NSP, Singapore News

PAP wins Sembawang GRC with 67.75% of votes over SDP and NSP, Singapore News

AsiaOne03-05-2025

Results for Sembawang GRC in GE2025 People's Action Party (PAP) 67.75% Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) 29.93% National Solidarity Party (NSP) 2.32%
The People's Action Party (PAP) has won Sembawang GRC with 67.75 per cent of votes over the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Solidarity Party (NSP).
PAP received 83,946 votes while SDP received 37,082 votes. NSP received 2,872 votes, losing their deposit.
The PAP's team for the five-member Sembawang GRC is led by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung alongside new faces Ng Shi Xuan and Gabriel Lam with incumbent MPs Vikram Nair and Mariam Jaafar.
The SDP's team is led by party vice-chair Bryan Lim, Surayah Akbar, deputy head of policy James Gomez, Damanhuri Abas, and Alfred Tan.
The NSP's Sembawang GRC candidates are Raiyian Chia, Verina Ong, Yadzeth Hairis, Spencer Ng and Lee Wei.
Representatives from both SDP and NSP met last month, with SDP requesting that NSP contest in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC to avoid a multi-cornered fight in Sembawang GRC.
NSP rejected that proposal and both parties failed to reach an agreement to avoid a three-cornered fight in this GRC.
NSP secretary-general Spencer Ng likened the proposal to the "exchanging of wives", and said then: "I couldn't accept this kind of proposal where it goes against our party's integrity and the value of the work that we have done in Sembawang GRC and Sembawang West SMC."
During a PAP's rally in Sembawang on Monday (April 28), Ong highlighted a list of completed projects in Sembawang over the years, including the Bukit Canberra community hub, the Yusof Ishak Mosque and the Woodlands Health hospital.
He then said that Sembawang would not be what it is today without the contributions of past and present PAP MPs, and refuted claims by SDP that it does not matter who the MP on the ground is, as long as the PAP forms the Government.
"Whoever is the MP, never mind. Choose (the SDP), and all these things that I just mentioned will still happen," he said then. "Really, I don't think they can come here for one month and make such sweeping statements."
In GE2020, a PAP team led by Ong defeated a NSP team in Sembawang GRC, securing 67.29 per cent of the vote.
This constituency has 133,919 electors.
For our GE2025 microsite, visit here.
editor@asiaone.com

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty on July 3 in case involving former transport minister
Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty on July 3 in case involving former transport minister

Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Straits Times

Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty on July 3 in case involving former transport minister

The 79-year-old was previously scheduled to plead guilty on April 2. PHOTO: ST FILE Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty on July 3 in case involving former transport minister SINGAPORE - Billionaire Ong Beng Seng, who is facing two charges in a case linked to former transport minister S. Iswaran, will be pleading guilty on July 3. The date was set after his pre-trial conference on June 10. The 79-year-old was previously scheduled to plead guilty on April 2, but the case was adjourned after his lawyers asked for more time to obtain his medical reports. The property tycoon was charged on Oct 4, 2024, with abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts and with abetting the obstruction of justice. Under Section 165, it is an offence for a public servant to accept anything of value from any person with whom he is involved in an official capacity without payment or with inadequate payment. According to court documents, the businessman had in December 2022 allegedly arranged for Iswaran fo fly on Ong's private plane from Singapore to Doha. The flight was valued at US$7,700 (S$10,400). Ong is also said to have arranged for Iswaran a one-night stay at Four Seasons Hotel Doha, valued at $4,737.63, and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore, valued at $5,700. Courts documents showed that it was allegedly Ong who alerted Iswaran that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau had seized the flight manifest for the December 2022 trip. It prompted Iswaran to ask the tycoon to bill him for the flight to avoid investigations. For this alleged offence, Ong was charged with the abetment of obstruction of justice. The businessman is known as the man who brought Formula One (F1) to Singapore in 2008 – the first night race in the sport's history. Iswaran was chairman of the F1 steering committee and the Government's chief negotiator with Singapore GP on business matters related to the race. The two men had worked in the mid-2000s to convince then Formula One Group chief executive Bernie Ecclestone to make Singapore the venue for the sport's first night race. On Oct 3, 2024, Iswaran was handed a 12-month jail term after he pleaded guilty to five charges, including obtaining valuable items as a public servant from Ong and Mr David Lum Kok Seng, managing director of construction company Lum Chang Holdings. Iswaran was placed on the Home Detention Scheme on Feb 7, 2025. On June 6, the Singapore Prison Service said he completed his emplacement on the Home Detention Scheme and that he is no longer under prison custody. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

Ownership through a ‘shared vision': Prof Faishal Ibrahim's hopes for the Malay/Muslim community
Ownership through a ‘shared vision': Prof Faishal Ibrahim's hopes for the Malay/Muslim community

Straits Times

time05-06-2025

  • 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.

Ong Ye Kung dismayed by S$52,000 clinic rent bid; HDB to roll out new tender approach for GP clinics
Ong Ye Kung dismayed by S$52,000 clinic rent bid; HDB to roll out new tender approach for GP clinics

Business Times

time04-06-2025

  • Business Times

Ong Ye Kung dismayed by S$52,000 clinic rent bid; HDB to roll out new tender approach for GP clinics

[SINGAPORE] Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung has expressed his dismay at the S$52,188 bid that a GP clinic in Tampines received in a tender which closed in January this year. In a Facebook post, the minister said the monthly rental for the clinic – which would amount to more than S$1,000 per square metre (psm) – would translate into higher cost of healthcare one way or another, and negate the Ministry of Health's (MOH) efforts to keep the cost of primary healthcare affordable. 'More importantly, higher rental bids do not necessarily translate to the best healthcare that the community needs,' he noted. The S$52,188 bid was put in by I-Health Medical Holdings for the unit at Block 954C Tampines Street 96. There were 13 bids in total for the clinic which made waves online over the weekend. The role of a GP is increasingly important, as our population ages, Ong said. 'The GP is key in developing a relationship of trust with patients, and to guide them towards better health. He or she is the vital link to connect patients to acute hospital care, preventive community care and social prescriptions.' A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up Ong went on to add that this is why in May, MOH and the Housing and Development Board launched a new tender approach for GP clinics at Bartley Beacon. Quality of care will account for 70 per cent of the tender evaluation, and rental 30 per cent, he added. The unit is a larger unit, about 100 sq m, twice the size of normal clinics, and suitable for clinics that intend to provide multi-disciplinary care and try out new models of care, Ong said. 'Through this price-quality evaluation model (PQM), we can shift the competitive focus away from rental rates to better care models – including preventive care, chronic disease management and mental health,' Ong said. 'The tender was closed on May 29. I understand from my MOH officers that we have received interesting proposals, with rental bid prices significantly below the Tampines site in psm terms. We are currently assessing the proposals.' The Tampines clinic was tendered in December 2024 and awarded in March 2025, before MOH embarked on the PQM model, Ong said. 'Going forward, and given the encouraging response to the Bartley Beacon site, we will make the new PQM approach the norm, when tendering our GP clinics in our HDB heartlands,' Ong added. 'It will be a meaningful shift, both in improving primary care, and ensuring greater affordability.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store