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Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: A losing opposition party member ‘may be lost forever' unlike PAP, says PSP's Leong Mun Wai
PSP chief Leong Mun Wai speaking at the party's rally at Jurong West Stadium on May 1. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - A PAP candidate who loses this election can still be appointed as a grassroots advisor or be fielded in the next election, but a losing opposition party member 'may be lost forever', said PSP chief Leong Mun Wai on May 1. Speaking at a rally on the final night of campaigning, Mr Leong – who is part of the party's slate contesting West Coast-Jurong West GRC – said: 'We have gone through five years of probation and are ready to serve you as elected MPs - to be your voice in Parliament for both national and local issues.' Mr Leong and PSP's first vice-chair Hazel Poa had entered Parliament after the 2020 General Election as NCMPs, as they were the 'best losers' then. Both the PAP and PSP had faced off in the then West Coast GRC at the 2020 General Election, with the PAP winning 51.68 per cent of the vote. Mr Leong told residents that voting in an opposition party was 'not an act of ungratefulness'. 'Your vote for the opposition is about renewal,' he said. 'Diversity is the best insurance for long-term survival in this changed world.' In his speech, he also sought to establish that PSP candidates could focus on both national and municipal issues. The Government can create five- or ten-year plans for its constituencies, Mr Leong said, but MPs bear the responsibility of highlighting important issues for residents in Parliament. 'A PSP MP will see to that,' he added, pointing out that some municipal issues in the western part of Singapore have not been resolved. In Jurong Spring, Mr Leong said he was surprised to find that the elevators in older blocks could fit only one wheelchair and two or three more people. 'Elevators are essential facilities for residents, why was this not upgraded earlier?' Mr Leong was among nine PSP party members who spoke during the May 1 rally at Jurong West Stadium, on the last day of campaigning. Singapore goes to the polls on May 3, and May 2 is Cooling Off Day. His comments on PSP's ability to tackle municipal issues come after an exchange of views between him and Mr Desmond Lee, the anchor minister for the PAP team contesting West Coast-Jurong West GRC, on the role of an MP. While on the campaign trail, the PSP team had initially challenged the PAP to a debate on national policies. Mr Lee in turn called on voters to ask contesting parties about their plans for the constituency. The PSP's Mr Leong responded by saying that the main role of an MP is not to manage an estate, but to debate policy in Parliament, a view that Mr Lee disagreed with. Turning to national issues, the PSP chief said it was reasonable for voters to expect the PAP to make a commitment during this election on how it plans to address high BTO and resale HDB prices, long waiting times for BTO flats, and the lease decay problem. Dr Tan Cheng Bock (second fro right) and Mr Leong Mun Wai (right) with other party members at Jurong West Stadium on May 1 ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY 'Don't you think it's fair that the Government, wanting a strong mandate, should commit itself to what it is going to do to improve public housing?' he asked the crowd. 'The Government may say that it had implemented this or that measure, but have the three problems been resolved?' He said Singaporeans should assess Mr Lee based on whether he has concrete solutions to the three housing-related problems, and added that the Minister has not announced any so far. The PSP has already provided solutions to these three problems, he said, pointing to earlier suggestions by the party to exclude land costs from public housing prices, among others. In her speech, Ms Poa said the PAP had failed to engage her party in a debate on national policies, and criticised them for choosing to focus on local plans instead. 'It means that they would rather you care more about the half-priced grocery shopping in Boon Lay than PSP's proposal for basic necessities to be exempted from GST for all Singaporeans,' she said. 'It means that they would rather you care more about the value meal vending machine in Nanyang than PSP's proposal to lower food prices in all hawker centres for Singaporeans,' she added. Ms Poa said: 'They talk about the importance of unity in times of uncertainty. But is this unity if we only care about our own gains but not about what happens to other Singaporeans?' As the final speaker of the rally, which was hosted by former WP candidate Leon Perera, Dr Tan assured the crowd that the PSP's 13 candidates being fielded in six constituencies have different skill sets that would enable them to address the various needs of the electorate. He made note of candidate for West Coast-Jurong West GRC Sani Ismail's experience as a professional estate manager, saying the town council will be in good hands if the team is given the mandate. Marymount SMC's Jeffrey Khoo studies the climate and can relate to the many young people who are worried about climate change, he added. On Pioneer SMC candidate Stephanie Tan, Dr Tan said: 'I saw in her the quality of a woman who can really serve people in her age group and older. She is a lawyer by training, and worked in the Defence and Law ministries. That is experience.' He added: 'So you see, we have a team of people with different backgrounds and experience. That, I tell you, is important. There will be no group think. There will be no more inbreeding.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
GE2025: ‘Our commitment continues,' says Desmond Lee on PAP's plans for West Coast-Jurong West GRC
National Development Minister Desmond Lee taking a selfie with supporters after the party's rally at Jurong West Stadium on April 27. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Initiatives to help residents cope with various concerns, including jobs and the cost of living, have been rolled out by the PAP team in West Coast-Jurong West GRC over the last five years, and the team intends to continue with this work if elected, said National Development Minister Desmond Lee on May 1. On the last day of hustings, Mr Lee, who leads the PAP team contesting the group representative constituency, pledged his team's commitment to continue serving residents in the area. In a two-minute video posted on his social media platforms, Mr Lee said: 'Over the past five years, we've walked the ground. We've heard your concerns. We've taken action, and we have concrete plans for the future.' 'Our campaign, our work over the past five years, and our plans for the future have always been about you, your voice, your aspirations, and the Singapore you deserve,' he added. 'The campaign may be ending, but our commitment continues.' Singapore goes to the polls on May 3. May 2 is Cooling Off Day, when campaigning is not allowed. Noting that the cost of living is an issue that weighs heavily on residents' minds, Mr Lee said the PAP has rolled out initiatives to help with groceries and daily essentials, supported seniors and low-income households and expanded programmes such as ComLink+, a government scheme that provides financial assistance. These initiatives were made possible by the PAP team, who drew on a network of community partners, said Mr Lee, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration. To tackle residents' concerns about job uncertainty, job fairs were brought to the heartland through the Jobs @ West Coast programme, Mr Lee said. Upskilling and career support programmes were also rolled out to help those who are unemployed find jobs. On the housing front, he said the Government is committed to keeping housing affordable and accessible for Singaporeans. The Housing Board has ramped up the supply of new flats and will launch more than 130,000 units from 2021 to 2027. The Prime, Plus and Standard flat classification, which kicked into effect in October 2024, keeps flats in choice locations within reach of more Singaporeans, he said. 'We're exploring more public housing options for singles and higher-income couples,' said Mr Lee. 'We will plan for the rejuvenation of HDB towns, including through Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme – or Vers – and other schemes.' Details of Vers, which was first mooted by then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the 2018 National Day Rally, have not yet been announced. Mr Desmond Lee said: 'The work does not stop here. And we are ready to do more.' His remarks wrap up the PAP's campaign in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, where candidates had, over the past nine days, highlighted their plans for the area. During the nine-day campaign, the PAP laid out plans for the GRC, which include refreshing ageing infrastructure, bridging generational gaps and helping families cope with the rising cost of living. Besides Mr Lee, the PAP slate includes Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Education Shawn Huang, three-term MP Ang Wei Neng, orthopaedic surgeon Hamid Razak and lawyer Cassandra Lee. They will be facing off against a PSP team that includes the party's top three leaders – chairman Tan Cheng Bock, secretary-general Leong Mun Wai and first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa. The other two candidates are Mr Sumarleki Amjah, head of packaged food and business development at a food and beverage (F&B) firm, and in-house legal counsel Sani Ismail. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: More opposition voices in Parliament will not weaken the Government, says PSP
GE2025: More opposition voices in Parliament will not weaken the Government, says PSP SINGAPORE - The leaders of the opposition PSP spent the last day of campaigning assuring voters that more opposition voices in Parliament will not weaken the Government and that it will instead result in more robust debates that could ensure policies benefit Singaporeans. Speaking on May 1 on the sidelines of a walkabout at Boon Lay Place Market - part of the West Coast-Jurong West GRC that PSP is contesting - PSP chairman Tan Cheng Bock said the ruling party's claims of a weakened Government was 'very old'. With more opposition voices in the Parliament, Dr Tan said, there will be more diverse views and ideas. The PSP's NCMPs – party chief Leong Mun Wai and first vice-chair Hazel Poa – have demonstrated through their term in Parliament that they are able to robustly debate policies, he added, saying the PSP was a credible opposition party. Singapore goes to the polls on May 3. May 2 is Cooling Off Day, and no campaigning is allowed then. Saying that opposition parties, if voted in, represent the views of the people, Dr Tan added: 'You don't brush it off (and say) that 'there are too many (opposition) and we'll be weakened'.' Mr Leong said that the PAP has lost ministers and GRCs before, but it did not seem to have weakened the Government. 'Would a weak Government be able to pass through or bulldoze the GST (increase) in 2022? It must be a strong Government, with all the power to amend constitutions… So the argument that the minister had about losing some minister or GRC will weaken the government is not quite accurate,' Mr Leong said. Responding to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung's comments that a strong opposition is unnecessary and could lead to gridlock in Parliament, Mr Leong said Mr Ong's comments are 'out of this world'. 'I think most Singaporeans will agree that there's a need for more opposition,' Mr Leong said. When asked about Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's remarks on how opposition parties have been using personal attacks to bring down the PAP, Mr Leong said that PSP does not adopt such a strategy. 'I don't think there are many comments that are just directed at a person. For one thing, PSP has not adopted such a strategy or said such things,' he said. He said his comments about Minister for National Development Desmond Lee were 'targeted at the fact that he has not responded concretely to some of the policy debates we are trying to have', adding that they are 'not a personal attack'. On April 30, Mr Lee hit back against statements by Mr Leong that he had 'been silent on national housing issues throughout the campaign'. None of the PSP's opponents in the constituencies the party is contesting have taken up the party's challenge to debate policies, said PSP first vice-chair Hazel Poa. The PSP had while on the campaign trail issued invitations to the PAP to engage them in a debate on national policies. In GE2025, PSP is contesting West Coast-Jurong West and Chua Chu Kang GRCs, as well as Pioneer, Marymount, Bukit Gombak and Kebun Baru SMCs. 'We do wish that there are more debates on policy matters in this election. But unfortunately, it is not just up to us,' she said. Mr Leong added that the government should commit to implementing 'concrete solutions' over the next five years. 'The government has so far always stuck to its script, made certain statements, but we can see that a lot of the problems remain,' said Mr Leong, citing issues like high prices of public housing and lease decay. Responding to a question of how there has not been much talk by the incumbent on PSP, Dr Tan said: 'I think the fact that there is not much confrontation between my party and the PAP is testament to the fact that we want to have a fair fight.' 'I think they find that the ground that we have built for the party is strong enough. (When) they take us, we can reply. Our rebuttals are there. We don't have to resort to shouting,' he said. 'But generally, I think it's important people will see PSP as a very responsible party coming to Parliament.' 'We are confident that residents of West Coast - Jurong West GRC will be able to see that PSP is a credible opposition party, and PSP MPs in Parliament will be able to contribute a lot to their lives and livelihood,' said Mr Leong. Dr Tan, Mr Leong and Ms Poa are part of the five-member team contesting the West Coast-Jurong West GRC in upcoming polls. Joining them are new faces Sani Ismail and Sumarleki Amjah. The constituency, under its old boundaries, saw the closest contest at the last election, with the PAP winning with 51.68 per cent of the vote against the PSP. This result sent Mr Leong and Ms Hazel Poa into Parliament as NCMPs as they were the top losers of the polls. Both teams have returned with renewed slates, setting up a rematch. The PAP team is anchored by Mr Lee. Mr Ang Wei Neng returns, and the pair is joined by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Education Shawn Huang, and new faces Hamid Razak and Cassandra Lee. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Singapore GE2025: A walkover and surprise moves - highlights from nomination day
SINGAPORE: Candidates from 11 political parties filed their papers at nine nomination centres across the island on Wednesday (April 23), kicking off the campaign for Singapore's 15th General Election. With the political chessboard in place, the nine-day campaign period kicked off once nomination papers were filed. Singaporeans will head to the polls on May 3, after Cooling Off Day on May 2. Here are the key highlights from nomination day. 1. Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC walkover The PAP team comprising Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Tin Pei Ling, and political newcomers Diana Pang and Goh Pei Ming, were returned to power after the GRC was uncontested by the opposition. At the last polls, WP made a play for Marine Parade GRC but this year, in what was a last-minute Nomination Day surprise, the WP did not field a team to contest the newly formed Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. This is the first walkover in a general election since 2011, when Tanjong Pagar GRC went uncontested and the PAP won in a walkover. 2. Surprise moves by heavyweights The ruling PAP made a surprise move by diverting Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong from Chua Chu Kang GRC to field him in Punggol GRC instead. Gan will lead the PAP team comprising Dr Janil Puthucheary, Sun Xueling and Yeo Wan Ling. Meanwhile, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng moved from Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC to replace Gan in Chua Chu Kang. The split-second switch-up came at the last minute, after Dr Tan was seen at 9.30am at PAP's Mountbatten branch, where the Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team met earlier in the morning. The WP also moved Faisal Manap, 49, one of its incumbent Aljunied GRC MPs, to lead its team in Tampines GRC. 3. Punggol - the electoral contest to watch Punggol GRC is shaping up to be the electoral contest to watch at this year's polls. The WP chose to field one of its 'star catches', senior counsel Harpreet Singh Nehal, as part of its Punggol slate, along with its other new faces, Jackson Au, Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar and Alexis Dang. The PAP, likely anticipating a tough fight, moved Mr Gan to Punggol GRC to bolster its chances. Before Nomination Day, pundits tipped East Coast GRC to emerge as of the hottest election battlegrounds, predicting that the WP would field one of its big names in the constituency. The WP team in East Coast will be led by former Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong, 60. The WP will face off against a PAP team led by Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong, 55. 4. Political veterans retire Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat will retire from politics. Both men were seen at nomination centres in the morning, but were not fielded as candidates. Teo first entered politics when he was part of a PAP team that contested and won a by-election in Marine Parade GRC in 1992. Meanwhile, Heng made his political debut in the 2011 general election as part of the five-member PAP team contesting Tampines GRC. 5. Multi-cornered fights Tampines GRC, Sembawang GRC and Ang Mo Kio GRC, as well as Radin Mas SMC and Potong Pasir SMC will have multi-cornered fights. In Tampines GRC, the PAP team is facing off against the WP, National Solidarity Party (NSP) and People's Power Party (PPP) in a four-cornered fight. Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli, 62 will helm the Tampines GRC team that also comprises Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon, 53, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng, 54, and two new faces - former chief of army David Neo, 47, and Dr Charlene Chen, 43, an assistant professor of marketing at Nanyang Technological University. The WP is fielding Faisal Manap, Jimmy Tan, 53, co-founder of industrial equipment supply firm Immanuel Engineering, Institute of Mental Health senior principal clinical psychologist Ong Lue Ping, 48, former diplomat Eileen Chong, 33, and Michael Thng, 37, co-founder of technology start-up Showdrop. The NSP is fielding party president Reno Fong, 56, party vice-president Mohd Ridzwan Mohammad, 63, assistant secretary-general Eugene Yeo, 49, financial planner Zee Phay, 32, and Thamilselvan Karuppaya, 57, who is self-employed. The PPP is fielding a slate comprising secretary-general Goh Meng Seng, 55, party chairman Derrick Sim, 44, landscaping executive Vere Nathan, 26, green tech firm founder Peter Soh, 65, and entrepreneur Arbaah Haroun, 50. In Ang Mo Kio GRC, there will be a three-cornered fight between the PAP, Singapore United Party (SUP), and PPP. The PAP team will be led by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 73. It will also comprise incumbent Ang Mo Kio GRC MPs Darryl David, 54, and Nadia Ahmad Samdin, 35, as well as newcomer Jasmin Lau, 42, and Victor Lye, 63. As for the SUP, its Ang Mo Kio slate comprises the party's secretary-general Andy Zhu, 42, Noraini Yunus, 57, party chairman Ridhuan Chandran, 53, flight attendant Nigel Ng, 39, and Dr Vincent Ng, 52. The PPP team in Ang Mo Kio comprises party treasurer William Lim, 47, retired civil servant Martinn Ho, 64, safety coordinator Thaddeus Thomas, 43, IT engineer Samuel Lee, 33, and former horticulturalist Heng Zheng Dao, 24. Sembawang GRC will also see a three-way fight between the PAP, NSP and Singapore Democratic Party. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung will lead the PAP team, which will be made up of incumbent MPs Vikram Nair and Mariam Jaafar, and two new faces - Gabriel Lam, 42, who is chief operating officer of moving company Shalom International Movers, and Ng Shi Xuan, 35, director of battery company Powermark Battery and Hardware. The SDP team consists of hospital assistant director Bryan Lim, music publisher Surayah Akbar, research institute director James Gomez, entrepreneur Alfred Tan, and Damanhuri Abas, an educational consultant. The NSP team will be led by its secretary-general Spencer Ng and include Raiyian Chia, a private-hire driver and swim coach, Republic Polytechnic lecturer Verina Ong, Republic Polytechnic associate lecturer Lee Wei, and Yadzeth Hairis, who was in NSP's 2015 and 2020 Sembawang teams. In the Radin Mas single seat, incumbent PAP MP Melvin Yong will defend his seat against Kumar Appavoo from the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR) and independent candidate Darryl Lo. In the Potong Pasir single seat, the lawyer Alex Yeo takes over the baton from outgoing PAP MP Sitoh Yi Pin, and will face off against PAR secretary-general Lim Tean, and Singapore People's Party candidate Williamson Lee. In GE2020, there were two multi-cornered fights in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Pioneer SMC. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
A walkover and surprise moves: Highlights from Nomination Day
SINGAPORE - Candidates from 11 political parties filed their papers at nine nomination centres across the island on April 23, kicking off the campaign for Singapore's 15th General Election. With the political chessboard in place , the nine-day campaign period kicked off once nomination papers were filed. Singaporeans will head to the polls on May 3, after Cooling Off Day on May 2. Here are the key highlights from Nomination Day. 1. Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC walkover The PAP team comprising Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Ms Tin Pei Ling, and political newcomers Diana Pang and Goh Pei Ming, were returned to power after the GRC was uncontested by the opposition. At the last polls, WP made a play for Marine Parade GRC but this year, in what was a last-minute Nomination Day surprise, the WP did not field a team to contest the newly formed Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. This is the first walkover in a general election since 2011, when Tanjong Pagar GRC went uncontested and the PAP won in a walkover. 2. Surprise moves by heavyweights The ruling PAP made a surprise move by diverting Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong from Chua Chu Kang GRC to field him in Punggol GRC instead. Mr Gan will lead the PAP team comprising Dr Janil Puthucheary, Ms Sun Xueling and Ms Yeo Wan Ling. Meanwhile, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng moved from Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC to replace Mr Gan in Chua Chu Kang. The split-second switch-up came at the last minute, after Dr Tan was seen at 9.30am at PAP's Mountbatten branch, where the Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team met earlier in the morning. The WP also moved Mr Faisal Manap, 49, one of its incumbent Aljunied GRC MPs, to lead its team in Tampines GRC. 3. Punggol - the electoral contest to watch Punggol GRC is shaping up to be the electoral contest to watch at this year's polls. The WP chose to field one of its 'star catches', senior counsel Harpreet Singh Nehal, as part of its Punggol slate, along with its other new faces, Mr Jackson Au, Ms Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar and Ms Alexis Dang. The PAP, likely anticipating a tough fight, moved Mr Gan to Punggol GRC to bolster its chances. Before Nomination Day, pundits tipped East Coast GRC to emerge as of the hottest election battlegrounds, predicting that the WP would field one of its big names in the constituency. The WP team in East Coast will be led by former Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong, 60. The WP will face off against a PAP team led by Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong, 55. 4. Political veterans retire Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat will retire from politics. Both men were seen at nomination centres in the morning, but were not fielded as candidates. Mr Teo first entered politics when he was part of a PAP team that contested and won a by-election in Marine Parade GRC in 1992. Meanwhile, Mr Heng made his political debut in the 2011 general election as part of the five-member PAP team contesting Tampines GRC. 5. Multi-cornered fights Tampines GRC, Sembawang GRC and Ang Mo Kio GRC, as well as Radin Mas SMC and Potong Pasir SMC will have multi-cornered fights. In Tampines GRC, the PAP team is facing off against the WP, National Solidarity Party (NSP) and People's Power Party (PPP) in a four-cornered fight. Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli, 62 will helm the Tampines GRC team that also comprises Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon, 53, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng, 54, and two new faces - former chief of army David Neo, 47, and Dr Charlene Chen, 43, an assistant professor of marketing at Nanyang Technological University. The WP is fielding Mr Faisal Manap, Mr Jimmy Tan, 53, co-founder of industrial equipment supply firm Immanuel Engineering, Institute of Mental Health senior principal clinical psychologist Ong Lue Ping, 48, former diplomat Eileen Chong, 33, and Mr Michael Thng, 37, co-founder of technology start-up Showdrop. The NSP is fielding party president Reno Fong, 56, party vice-president Mohd Ridzwan Mohammad, 63, assistant secretary-general Eugene Yeo, 49, financial planner Zee Phay, 32, and Mr Thamilselvan Karuppaya, 57, who is self-employed. The PPP is fielding a slate comprising secretary-general Goh Meng Seng, 55, party chairman Derrick Sim, 44, landscaping executive Vere Nathan, 26, green tech firm founder Peter Soh, 65, and entrepreneur Arbaah Haroun, 50. In Ang Mo Kio GRC, there will be a three-cornered fight between the PAP, Singapore United Party (SUP), and PPP. The PAP team will be led by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 73. It will also comprise incumbent Ang Mo Kio GRC MPs Darryl David, 54, and Nadia Ahmad Samdin, 35, as well as newcomer Jasmin Lau, 42, and Mr Victor Lye, 63. As for the SUP, its Ang Mo Kio slate comprises the party's secretary-general Andy Zhu, 42, Ms Noraini Yunus, 57, party chairman Ridhuan Chandran, 53, flight attendant Nigel Ng, 39, and Dr Vincent Ng, 52. The PPP team in Ang Mo Kio comprises party treasurer William Lim, 47, retired civil servant Martinn Ho, 64, safety coordinator Thaddeus Thomas, 43, IT engineer Samuel Lee, 33, and former horticulturalist Heng Zheng Dao, 24. Sembawang GRC will also see a three-way fight between the PAP, NSP and Singapore Democratic Party. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung will lead the PAP team, which will be made up of incumbent MPs Vikram Nair and Mariam Jaafar, and two new faces - Mr Gabriel Lam, 42, who is chief operating officer of moving company Shalom International Movers, and Mr Ng Shi Xuan, 35, director of battery company Powermark Battery and Hardware. The SDP team consists of hospital assistant director Bryan Lim, music publisher Surayah Akbar, research institute director James Gomez, entrepreneur Alfred Tan, and Mr Damanhuri Abas, an educational consultant. The NSP team will be led by its secretary-general Spencer Ng and include Mr Raiyian Chia, a private-hire driver and swim coach, Republic Polytechnic lecturer Verina Ong, Republic Polytechnic associate lecturer Mr Lee Wei, and Mr Yadzeth Hairis, who was in NSP's 2015 and 2020 Sembawang teams. In the Radin Mas single seat, incumbent PAP MP Melvin Yong will defend his seat against Mr Kumar Appavoo from the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR) and independent candidate Darryl Lo. In the Potong Pasir single seat, the lawyer Alex Yeo takes over the baton from outgoing PAP MP Sitoh Yi Pin, and will face off against PAR secretary-general Lim Tean, and Singapore People's Party candidate Williamson Lee. In GE2020, there were two multi-cornered fights in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Pioneer SMC. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
