Latest news with #PeopleActionParty
Independent Singapore
4 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
PAP's Goh Pei Ming is one of the highest election spenders with over S$100K spent, despite getting into Parliament by walkover
SINGAPORE: People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Goh Pei Ming has emerged as the top spender in the first tranche of declared expenses from the 2025 General Election, chalking up S$104,085 on his campaign alone. His spending, more than four times the average of S$25,285 among the 35 candidates who have submitted returns so far, places him well above the rest in a disclosure exercise meant to ensure transparency in political financing. According to figures published by the Elections Department (ELD) on May 28, more than half of Mr Goh's declared expenditure went to non-online election advertising, such as physical banners, posters, pamphlets, and other ground campaign materials. Mr Goh, a former Chief of Staff in the Singapore Armed Forces, contested under the PAP banner in the Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC. His team was the only one to win by walkover on Nomination Day, meaning they were elected uncontested. Despite not having to campaign against opposing parties in the polls, the team collectively spent S$388,756 on election-related activities, among the highest totals submitted so far in this year's election cycle. All candidates are required under Singapore law to submit a declaration of their election spending and donations by June 16, as part of efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in political financing. While campaign advertising remained the largest category of expenditure across all submissions, the amount spent by Mr Goh and his team stands out, particularly given the uncontested nature of their win. The remaining 176 candidates who participated in GE2025 have either not yet submitted their returns or are awaiting publication in the Government Gazette. The ELD has made the available declarations accessible via its online portal for public inspection using Singpass credentials.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
PAP's Marine Parade team splurged RM1.28m on Singapore polls campaign despite walkover, seven candidates spent nothing
SINGAPORE, May 30 – The People's Action Party's (PAP) Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team spent S$388,756 (RM1.28 million) during the recent general election, despite winning uncontested, according to the Elections Department's website. CNA reported that the five-member team was among the first 35 candidates to declare their expenses for the May 3 election, and the first group from PAP to do so. Marine Parade-Braddell Heights candidate Goh Pei Ming was the top spender with S$104,085, of which S$52,650 went to non-online advertisements. Former MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling spent S$84,128. Rounding out the team were Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng (S$74,693), new MP Diana Pang (S$74,437), and former Nee Soon MP Faishal Ibrahim (S$51,413), with the majority of their expenses directed at posters and flyers. Among their materials was a 48-page constituency plan brochure featuring Dr Tan See Leng, who switched to contest Chua Chu Kang Group Representative Constituency (GRC) in a last-minute change from his 2020 Marine Parade candidacy. Candidates must declare their expenses by June 16 to ensure transparency, with limits raised from S$4 to S$5 per elector to adjust for inflation. The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) reported strong early spending, with ten of its 13 candidates each spending over S$30,000. Leong Mun Wai led the party's spending at S$36,041 for his West Coast-Jurong West campaign. Independent candidates Jeremy Tan and Darryl Lo spent S$16,075 and S$12,213 respectively, with Tan allocating more than half to his solo rally. Red Dot United's (RDU) Kala Manickam recorded S$1,365 in disputed claims, covering food, transport, and flyer costs, which she paid out-of-pocket due to a lack of donations. RDU said its election expense processes followed electoral regulations. Disputed claims arise when an election agent does not settle a candidate's expenses within 28 days. Lower spenders included RDU's Ben Puah, who declared S$109 in expenses and S$280 in non-recordable donations, and the People's Power Party's Samuel Lee, who spent S$100. Seven candidates reported spending nothing at all, including members from RDU, the Singapore Democratic Party, the Singapore Democratic Alliance, and the Singapore People's Party.
CNA
5 days ago
- General
- CNA
Be shrewd about motives of people who seek to get close to you: PM Wong to PAP MPs
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said every Member of Parliament from the ruling People's Action Party must uphold rigorous standards in both their public and private lives and should never compromise them. In a letter on the rules of prudence, typically issued after each General Election, the prime minister also urged them to be "shrewd" in assessing the motives of those who seek close ties. Nasyrah Rohim reports.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Singapore Premier Warns Lawmakers on Perceptions of Impropriety
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong told ruling party lawmakers to be vigilant in their interactions to avoid perceptions of impropriety. In a letter laying out so-called Rules of Prudence for the People's Action Party's parliamentarians after the May 3 national election, Wong said they should separate their public political position from private, professional or business interests, and be wary of potential conflicts. He also told them to be 'shrewd in assessing the motives of people' who try to get close to them.
CNA
6 days ago
- Business
- CNA
'Be shrewd in assessing the motives of people who seek to get close to you': PM Wong to PAP MPs
SINGAPORE: Members of Parliament from the People's Action Party (PAP) must "be shrewd in assessing the motives of people who seek to get close to them", Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Thursday (May 29) in a letter on rules of prudence traditionally issued after each election. In the eight-page letter, which remained largely unchanged from its last iteration in 2020, Mr Wong said that MPs will come across different types of people during their engagements. Many are altruistic, public-spirited individuals who will help "without wanting anything in return". "But a few will seek to cultivate you to obtain benefits for themselves or their companies, to gain respectability by association with you, or to get you to influence ministries and statutory boards to make decisions in their favour," said Mr Wong. "Gift hampers on festive occasions, dinners and entertainment, concert tickets and personal favours big and small are just some of the countless social lubricants which such people use to ingratiate themselves to MPs and make you obligated to them." "Both in conduct and perception, you must stand above any hint of favour or influence," the prime minister added. Earlier this month, private dinners involving convicted money launderer Su Haijin and ministers Chee Hong Tat and Ong Ye Kung made headlines after pictures of the gatherings circulated online. Mr Ong and Mr Chee issued a statement via their press secretaries saying they did not know Su, who was one of the 10 people convicted in the billion-dollar money laundering case last year. "The PAP government upholds a high standard of integrity and the ministers are determined to uphold this, even though in the course of their work, they may inadvertently come into contact with people who are later established to be unsavoury," the statement said. Separately, former transport minister S Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024, after pleading guilty to four charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which forbids all public servants from obtaining any valuable thing from someone involved with them in an official capacity. These were for obtaining valuables from Singapore GP majority shareholder Ong Beng Seng and construction boss Lum Kok Seng while he held portfolios that had official dealings with the two men. Iswaran also pleaded guilty to one charge of obstructing justice by belatedly repaying the cost of a flight to Doha. BE PREPARED TO ENGAGE OPPOSITION: PM WONG The ruling PAP won in Mr Wong's first electoral test as leader of the government, securing 65.57 per cent of the national vote, improving on its 2020 performance by 4 percentage points. The party secured 87 out of 97 seats, with the remaining going to the opposition Workers' Party (WP). Two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats will also be taken up by the WP. Noting this, PM Wong, who is the head of the PAP, said: "The people have endorsed what we have done in our previous term, and given us a clear and strong mandate. "The PAP has been entrusted with a heavy responsibility. Now we must discharge this mandate with conviction and purpose – to tackle the concerns that preoccupy Singaporeans, and to ensure that Singapore continues to thrive in an increasingly turbulent world." The letter also outlined expectations of MPs' performance in parliament, with Mr Wong saying that PAP MPs should express their views frankly, whether for or against government policies. "Take ownership of causes or issues that you feel strongly about – whether they reflect the aspirations of your constituents or address broader national concerns. Champion the issues, and do so with conviction. Effective advocacy goes beyond speaking up," he said. He added that PAP MPs should be prepared to engage the opposition, and to also be ready for sharper questioning and debate in parliament. "EMBRACE SOCIAL MEDIA" Mr Wong also reiterated rules on the use of social media – which was a new addition in his predecessor Mr Lee Hsien Loong's letter in 2020. He told MPs to embrace social media, and make full use of the different platforms to let the public know about their work, share their views, and engage residents directly. "In doing so, always be mindful you are a public figure elected by your residents. Uphold decorum and ensure everything you post is factually accurate – this is an absolute requirement for us," he said, adding that every post they make will be permanently associated with them and the party. In the rest of the letter, he emphasised the need for PAP MPs to uphold the party's reputation for clean and incorruptible government. He also called on them to separate their public political position from private, professional or business interests, and to be wary of potential conflicts between these interests and their public duties as MPs. Concluding the letter, Mr Wong said: "The PAP has held our position in successive elections because our integrity has never been in doubt, and because we are sensitive to the views and attitudes of the people we represent." MPs must always uphold the high standards of the party, and not have lifestyles or personal conduct that will embarrass themselves and the PAP, adding that new MPs can pick up the "dos and don'ts" from their older colleagues.
