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Independent Singapore
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
GE2025: WP wins at Aljunied & Hougang yet again
SINGAPORE: The Workers' Party (WP) has won at Aljunied GRC once again. WP secretary-general Pritam Singh, 48, and chair Sylvia Lim, 60, are returning to serve a fourth term, together with second-timer Gerald Giam, 47, and new MP-elect Fadli Fawzi, 40, who had previously been part of the WP slate at Marine Parade in 2020. At Hougang GRC, which the WP has held since 1991, incumbent MP Dennis Tan, 55, also scored a victory against the PAP's Marshall Lim. In Aljunied, the WP bested the team from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), made up of Adrian Ang, 42; Faisal Abdul Aziz, 37; Chan Hui Yuh, 48; Daniel Liu, 40; and Jagathishwaran Rajo, 37. Among these candidates, only Ms Chan contested at Aljunied in 2020; the other four are new to the political arena. In GE 2020, the WP won 59.95 per cent of the vote to the PAP's 40.05 per cent, an increase of 8.99 per cent from GE 2015. This year, the opposition party again won 59.68 per cent of the vote. Winning at Aljunied is significant for the WP, as it is the first GRC to be held by the opposition, marking a successful stronger foothold for the WP as spearheaded by former WP chief Low Thia Khiang. Mr Low had represented Hougang SMC from 2006 until 2011, and his gamble to contest at Aljunied paid off. While the WP's path at Aljunied has been rocky at times, the party has appeared to have gained the trust of residents, and Aljunied Hougang Town Council has received the highest marks, as has Sengkang Town Council, the other GRC under the WP. At Hougang, Mr Tan won 62.17 per cent of the vote. In 2020, the former Non-Constituency Member of Parliament had received 61.21 per cent, showing a small increase. Although the PAP will continue to remain in power in the coming five years, this year's General Election has largely been perceived to be a test of how much ground the opposition will gain. It has also been seen as a test for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who was sworn into office on May 15, 2024. The increased cost of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world was widely reported to be the issue that was foremost in voters' minds in the run-up to this year's polls, and support for the opposition appeared to be on the rise, at least among commenters online. Since the WP announced its candidates for the May 3 polls on Nomination Day, some armchair commentators questioned the party's strategy of keeping its two highest-profile candidates at Aljunied GRC. At a press conference to introduce the WP candidates on April 17, Mr Singh said the party would be contesting fewer than a third of the seats in Parliament this year, signalling that while the WP would naturally want more elected MPs , the party would proceed with more caution than risk. /TISG Read also: Was the WP right to keep Pritam Singh and Sylvia Lim at Aljunied? Many believe so
New Paper
03-05-2025
- Politics
- New Paper
GE2025: WP retains strongholds in Aljunied and Hougang despite national swing to PAP
The WP romped to victory in its traditional strongholds of Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC with little drama, returning its core leaders secretary-general Pritam Singh and chair Sylvia Lim to Parliament. Despite a national swing towards the ruling party, the WP five-member team in Aljunied GRC maintained its dominance over its PAP challengers to take the constituency with 59.68 per cent of the votes, to the PAP's 40.32 per cent. This is in line with its previous showing during the Covid-19 polls in 2020, when it won the five seats with 59.93 per cent of the votes. WP candidate Dennis Tan, 54, was also re-elected for his second consecutive term in WP's storied home base, Hougang SMC - a seat the party has held since 1991. He was the rare opposition MP to buck the national trend and improve his winning margin. His 62.17 per cent is a 1 percentage point increase from his 2020 victory of 61.19 per cent. His rival, PAP newcomer Marshall Lim, 38, secured 37.83 per cent of the vote. The elected Aljunied GRC MPs are Leader of the Opposition Mr Singh, 48, Ms Lim, 60, Mr Gerald Giam, 47, Mr Fadli Fawzi, 44 - who had contested Marine Parade GRC in 2020 - and newcomer Kenneth Tiong, 36. The losing PAP slate was led by second-time Aljunied GRC candidate Chan Hui Yuh, 48, and included four PAP new faces. They are Mr Faisal Abdul Aziz, 37, Mr Adrian Ang, 42, Mr Jagathishwaran Rajo, 37, and Mr Daniel Liu, 40. Mr Singh thanked supporters at Serangoon Stadium, saying: "Your support has been so important in the mission of achieving and working towards a more balanced parliament. That work also continues. "As the team committed to you, we serve everyone equally. I look forward to working with you to make Aljunied our best home yet." Speaking to The Straits Times after the sample count for Aljunied GRC was announced at 10pm, the PAP's Mr Liu said at Bedok Stadium that he was proud of his team. He said: "The five of us have never been parliamentarians. It's a big accomplishment for us." PAP team lead Ms Chan said in her concession speech: "This past campaign has been amazing - blood, sweat and tears from all of us. It was not easy, but we persevered. We went with our eyes open, and we did our best with no regrets." The WP had wrenched Aljunied GRC from the PAP in 2011, making history for becoming the first opposition party to win a GRC since the system was introduced in 1988. During hustings, it focused its campaign mostly on party-wide, national issues. A constant refrain was the need for a more balanced political system with credible opposition, with it having proven its mettle in both parliamentary and municipal issues. Mr Singh's conviction earlier in 2025 for lying to a parliamentary committee under oath went largely unmentioned, except by the PAP's Ms Chan at her team's final rally on May 1. Mr Singh has said he would be appealing the verdict. With the PAP moving Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong to Punggol GRC, Ms Sylvia Lim also sought to use the WP's 2011 victory over the PAP team in Aljunied GRC as a precedent for how losing PAP ministers need not be exaggerated. Then, the PAP team included two ministers, George Yeo and Lim Hwee Hua. Ms Lim had said: "Since the PAP lost, has Singapore been weakened? Life goes on and guess what? One of the Workers' Party's unknowns is now the Leader of the Opposition." Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean accompanied the PAP Aljunied GRC slate on its walkabouts, though overturning WP's hold on the constituency ultimately proved too much of an ask. Members of the PAP Aljunied GRC team had brushed aside questions of it being without an anchor minister and being a "suicide squad". They argued this allowed them more time to walk the ground, and they were focused on serving residents. As for Hougang SMC, the WP has frequently cited it as one of the finest examples of voters' resistance to PAP's former policy of upgrading opposition wards last, proving that voters cannot be bought. The party also produced Hougang The Documentary, released in Nov 2024, which charted how former WP chief Low Thia Khiang - who spoke fluent Teochew - convinced voters to take a chance on the WP. The WP's Mr Tan was mostly content to allow his party's leadership and newer candidates to take the limelight during hustings, but said during WP's May 1 rally that Hougang must remain a beacon of democracy in Singapore. Mr Michael Lai, 75, who was among those celebrating the WP's victory at Serangoon Stadium, said he had hoped for a lower vote share for the ruling PAP. The director of an engineering company said the WP MPs had fulfilled their duties well. He said: "They've argued against the GST and COE increase in Parliament. The estate is also clean and well-maintained." Businessman Joel Tan, 34, said he took issue with Mr Lim's comments about himself being a fighter and that Hougang did not belong to the WP. Said Mr Tan: "I didn't really like his attitude when he spoke about Hougang. It's a stronghold, so I expected 68 per cent for the WP." There were 144,298 voters in Aljunied GRC and 29,464 voters in Hougang SMC in 2025.
Business Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
GE2025: WP leads in Aljunied stronghold with 59% of the votes
[SINGAPORE] The Workers' Party (WP) looks likely to retain its stronghold Aljunied GRC, with the sample count putting it in the lead at 59 per cent of votes. If the final result proves similar, that means the WP will hold Aljunied GRC for a fourth term. The sample count has a 95 per cent chance of being within 4 per cent of the final result. WP's lineup in Aljunied GRC consists of secretary-general and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh, party chair Sylvia Lim, incumbent Gerald Giam, as well as first-timers lawyer Fadli Fawzi and AI startup founder Kenneth Tiong. Fadli takes over from Faisal Manap, who leads WP's team in Tampines GRC, while Tiong replaces Leon Perera, who resigned in 2023 over an extramarital affair with a party member. The PAP team is led by Chan Hui Yuh, who contested there in the previous election, and comprises four first-timers: company director Adrian Ang, managing director of an urban planning consultancy Daniel Liu, dental surgeon Faisal Abdul Aziz and unionist Jagathishwaran Rajo. 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 Aljunied GRC became the first Group Representation Constituency to be won by the opposition in GE2011, when WP's historic victory unseated three political heavyweights in one fell swoop, including then foreign affairs minister George Yeo. The PAP has not been able to reclaim the constituency since, even if it came very close in 2015. Note: As this is a sample count, the election result could be different. Counting is still in progress. The public should wait for the announcement of the election result by the returning officer, Han Kok Juan, which will be broadcast live on television. For more election coverage, visit our GE2025 microsite
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GE2025: A vote for WP is a vote for the future, say its candidates
Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – A vote for the WP will not just determine the results of this election, but will also shape the future of Singapore, party candidates said on May 1 as they made a final plea to voters. 'Let us build on what we have achieved in Aljunied, Hougang and Sengkang and take the next step to send a clear message from Punggol, Tampines, East Coast, Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat, that Singapore wants a Parliament that listens and a rational, responsible and credible opposition,' said WP's Aljunied GRC candidate Gerald Giam. Party chair Sylvia Lim, who is also on the Aljunied slate, said: 'You may only have one vote, but together, our votes can chart the future.' At the party's last rally at Anderson Serangoon Junior College, candidates spoke about the party's achievements in Parliament and at town councils. WP MPs have 'punched above (their) weight', asking more than 2,300 parliamentary questions and bringing up issues including leaked NRIC numbers on the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority's digital service portal and the Income-Allianz deal that was eventually aborted, said Mr Giam. The party's town councils are also directly managed and on solid financial footing, he added. Now, the party was ready to do more, he said, calling on voters to vote for the WP for a more balanced Parliament and to chart a better course for Singapore. Several candidates spoke about how the PAP has lost its way. Mr Michael Thng, a WP candidate for Tampines GRC, referred to the authorities spending $400,000 to consult an external agency to rebrand Marina Bay, only to end up reusing its original name. This was in 2004. He also cited the $40 million budget to support the continued use of older ez-link cards after the Land Transport Authority shelved its plans for SimplyGo. He likened the PAP to a multinational company that was once at the top of its game but has now 'stopped imagining boldly, and has started protecting what (it) has'. 'They are not able to deal with the challenges that lie ahead, or creative enough to find new ways to solve them. This is not the PAP of big, bold, forward-looking ideas,' he said. Aljunied GRC candidate Kenneth Tiong, meanwhile, criticised the Government's willingness to sell 'strategic national assets built over decades' to foreign players, pointing to this as a reason Singapore has not produced what he called domestic growth engines. This mentality was apparent in the sale of Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing in 2009 and shipping company Neptune Orient Lines in 2016, and the attempted sale – later stopped by an Act of Parliament – of Income Insurance to German insurer Allianz in 2024. Associate Professor Jamus Lim, an incumbent WP MP for Sengkang GRC, said it was the WP's 'longstanding' ideas adopted by the Government that have made Singaporean lives better – among others, better financial support for unemployed workers, higher pay for national servicemen and better protection for scam victims. 'Without an opposition presence in Parliament, far fewer inconvenient questions would have been asked, and mistakes made by the Government would not have been held to account in the same way,' he said. The candidates also took the chance to address voters' concerns about voting for the opposition, with some like Tampines GRC candidate Faisal Manap arguing that voting for the WP would result in more parties serving residents. In Aljunied GRC, residents now have the WP serving them, in addition to the PAP continuing to labour in the wards to win back votes and the People's Association organising events during festivities. WP-held wards have already enjoyed this windfall, such as double celebrations on occasions like Christmas, Chinese New Year and Deepavali, Mr Faisal said. Mr Giam, who has contested four general elections, meanwhile assured voters that their vote is secret. He said he had followed the entire voting process until the incineration of the ballot papers, and guaranteed that safeguards are in place. His fellow Aljunied GRC candidate Fadli Fawzi added: 'Last election, almost one million Singaporeans courageously voted against the PAP in hopes of seeing genuine change. Do you think the Government can monitor everyone in times of global uncertainty?' Urging voters to give their vote to the WP on May 3, Ms Lim said: 'Let's make a promise that come Saturday, we will vote not out of fear but with conviction and hope for the future that we deserve, that years from now, we can proudly say that we stood up and worked for Singapore as we passed the baton to the next generation.' Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
The Star
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Singapore GE2025: A vote for WP is a vote for the future, say its candidates
SINGAPORE: A vote for the WP will not just determine the results of this election, but will also shape the future of Singapore, party candidates said on Thursday (May 1) as they made a final plea to voters. 'Let us build on what we have achieved in Aljunied, Hougang and Sengkang and take the next step to send a clear message from Punggol, Tampines, East Coast, Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat, that Singapore wants a Parliament that listens and a rational, responsible and credible opposition,' said WP's Aljunied GRC candidate Gerald Giam. Party chair Sylvia Lim, who is also on the Aljunied slate, said: 'You may only have one vote, but together, our votes can chart the future.' At the party's last rally at Anderson Serangoon Junior College, candidates spoke about the party's achievements in Parliament and at town councils. WP MPs have 'punched above (their) weight', asking more than 2,300 parliamentary questions and bringing up issues including leaked NRIC numbers on the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority's digital service portal and the Income-Allianz deal that was eventually aborted, said Giam. The party's town councils are also directly managed and on solid financial footing, he added. Now, the party was ready to do more, he said, calling on voters to vote for the WP for a more balanced Parliament and to chart a better course for Singapore. Several candidates spoke about how the PAP has lost its way. Michael Thng, a WP candidate for Tampines GRC, referred to the authorities spendings S$400,000 to consult an external agency to rebrand Marina Bay, only to end up reusing its original name. This was in 2004. He also cited the $40 million budget to support the continued use of older ez-link cards after the Land Transport Authority shelved its plans for SimplyGo. He likened the PAP to a multinational company that was once at the top of its game but has now 'stopped imagining boldly, and has started protecting what (it) has'. 'They are not able to deal with the challenges that lie ahead, or creative enough to find new ways to solve them. This is not the PAP of big, bold, forward-looking ideas,' he said. Aljunied GRC candidate Kenneth Tiong, meanwhile, criticised the Government's willingness to sell 'strategic national assets built over decades' to foreign players, pointing to this as a reason Singapore has not produced what he called domestic growth engines. This mentality was apparent in the sale of Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing in 2009 and shipping company Neptune Orient Lines in 2016, and the attempted sale – later stopped by an Act of Parliament – of Income Insurance to German insurer Allianz in 2024. Associate Professor Jamus Lim, an incumbent WP MP for Sengkang GRC, said it was the WP's 'longstanding' ideas adopted by the Government that have made Singaporean lives better – among others, better financial support for unemployed workers, higher pay for national servicemen and better protection for scam victims. 'Without an opposition presence in Parliament, far fewer inconvenient questions would have been asked, and mistakes made by the Government would not have been held to account in the same way,' he said. The candidates also took the chance to address voters' concerns about voting for the opposition, with some like Tampines GRC candidate Faisal Manap arguing that voting for the WP would result in more parties serving residents. In Aljunied GRC, residents now have the WP serving them, in addition to the PAP continuing to labour in the wards to win back votes and the People's Association organising events during festivities. WP-held wards have already enjoyed this windfall, such as double celebrations on occasions like Christmas, Chinese New Year and Deepavali, Faisal said. Giam, who has contested four general elections, meanwhile assured voters that their vote is secret. He said he had followed the entire voting process until the incineration of the ballot papers, and guaranteed that safeguards are in place. His fellow Aljunied GRC candidate Fadli Fawzi added: 'Last election, almost one million Singaporeans courageously voted against the PAP in hopes of seeing genuine change. Do you think the Government can monitor everyone in times of global uncertainty?' Urging voters to give their vote to the WP on May 3, Lim said: 'Let's make a promise that come Saturday, we will vote not out of fear but with conviction and hope for the future that we deserve, that years from now, we can proudly say that we stood up and worked for Singapore as we passed the baton to the next generation.' - The Straits Times/ANN
