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Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Staying on message and away from ‘knuckleduster politics' pays off at polls for the PAP
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong speaking at the Fullerton rally held at the promenade area beside UOB Plaza on April 28. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG News analysis Staying on message and away from 'knuckleduster politics' pays off at polls for the PAP SINGAPORE – A disciplined campaign focused on the core issues and the absence of hardline tactics were key reasons behind the resounding mandate that the PAP received on May 3. The ruling party also harvested the fruits of groundwork over the past five years and efforts to assuage voters' concerns on matters such as the cost of living, while tailoring its campaign with constituency-specific plans for different towns. These decisions helped deliver 65.57 per cent of the vote to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his first election as head of government and secretary-general of the PAP, and cemented his leadership of party and country. The ruling party won 87 out of 97 seats in the next term of Parliament, and improved on 61.24 per cent of the popular vote at the 2020 General Election. Drumming home the fundamentals Fronted by PM Wong, the PAP's campaign had a consistent message that was reiterated every day at rallies across the island – from Choa Chu Kang and Sembawang to Punggol and Sengkang – as well as at the lunchtime Fullerton rally and May Day Rally. This was: that a strong government led by the PAP is necessary to meet the challenges of a changed world, and that going with the team with a proven track record would give the Republic the best chance of continuing to succeed. PM Wong was reinforced on the key themes by Senior Ministers Lee Hsien Loong and Teo Chee Hean, noted Institute of Policy Studies senior research fellow Gillian Koh. This included articulating the PAP's thinking on key issues like multiracialism and job creation, as well as tackling the Income-Allianz deal when it was brought up during the hustings, and whether raising the goods and services tax was necessary in an inflationary environment, said Dr Koh. Left largely unsaid in the Prime Minister's call for Singaporeans to send all of the PAP's ministers – as well as its cohort of 32 newcomers – to Parliament was that the election was about his leadership, and whether Singaporeans approved of the fourth-generation (4G) team's succession. On this, he capitalised on the goodwill he had generated as the face of the government task force that tackled the Covid-19 pandemic. That was when PM Wong rose to national prominence, and Singaporeans came to be familiar with his style of communication and leadership – though he was not anointed leader of the 4G until 2022. Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said: 'The PAP kept to a disciplined campaign. They were not unduly defensive and also kept their focus on their key campaign messages.' No knuckledusters This election was also notable for how 'gentlemanly' the PAP was in its campaign, noted Associate Professor Tan. In the pre-2000s, the party at times used hardline tactics against opposition figures, including WP politicians Tang Liang Hong, J.B. Jeyaretnam and Francis Seow, said former PAP MP Inderjit Singh, who retired from politics in 2015. These included public accusations about their character and beliefs, defamation suits, as well as legislative changes that appeared to target them. During the 2025 hustings, the PAP did not bring up leaked text messages containing expletives that Mr Andre Low – the WP's candidate in Jalan Kayu SMC – had sent to a group of friends. There was also no direct mention by the ruling party about the saga surrounding former WP MP Raeesah Khan's lying in Parliament, nor of WP chief Pritam Singh's subsequent conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee in this matter. It was different during the 2020 election campaign, after some of Ms Khan's old social media posts surfaced and became the subject of police reports. Even after a public apology by Ms Khan, the PAP had asked the WP to state its stand on her posts and questioned its choice to field her for election. By keeping to a 'clean' campaign and not reacting defensively to the opposition's volleys, the ruling party came out ahead, said Prof Tan. 'It contested like a ruling party, with an overwhelming majority, rather than as a party under siege,' he said. In doing so, it exuded 'quiet confidence', helped by the WP's strategy against Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, he added. DPM Gan was the subject of WP's criticism across its rallies – including over his move from Chua Chu Kang GRC to Punggol GRC on Nomination Day. PM Wong responded by expressing disappointment at the WP's attacks, and later said it had been 'cavalier and irresponsible' to Singaporeans to downplay the potential loss of an experienced minister. Mr Inderjit Singh said hardline tactics attacking one's opponents are not workable in this new era, and that political parties here have to win the hearts and minds of voters to be victorious. Dr Koh added: 'In GE2025, it was a great relief that we did not see a return to the knuckleduster politics of the early decades of political history.' Walking into prepared ground The PAP's success this round rested not just on its campaign strategy, but also on its decision to strengthen its groundwork following GE2020. At the biennial PAP conferences in 2022 and 2024, both SM Lee and PM Wong drove home to the party faithful the need to look after residents and their communities, and to be attuned to their problems and how to improve their lives. Before the first rally speech was uttered, the PAP had ensured it was going into battle well-prepared, where all policy and groundwork levers had been pulled for this objective. In Budget 2025, for instance, PM Wong made sure to address the cost of living – one of the central policy issues of the election – while also announcing moves for large families and workers facing job insecurity. Dr Koh said that by doing so, the PAP had set itself on 'the best footing possible', knowing that 'this would be Mr Lawrence Wong's first campaign and that such maiden elections are always risky'. She highlighted data from market research company Blackbox that showed growing positive sentiment on core economic, social and political issues ahead of the election. While concerns about these issues were not perfectly assuaged, the PAP could remind voters of its plans and policy track record, she added. The PAP did this by stepping up its 'ground game', campaigning on a local level. Mr Inderjit Singh said: 'I think one of the most significant improvements by the PAP was the ground game not just during the nine days, but the last five years. 'Many incumbents developed goodwill, and this helped win voters.' He said: 'In places where incumbents had stepped down, they turned up to help new candidates campaign, and their goodwill definitely helped to woo voters.' As the incumbent in most constituencies, PAP ministers also announced local town plans for better infrastructure and services. This included, notably, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat's promise to fight for a hawker centre for his residents in Bishan. The PAP's presence and attention to the ground – its strength both as the incumbent as well as the dominant ruling party – came amid a return to physical campaigning, after a pause in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After that election, PM Wong – then a minister and member of the party's central executive committee – had told activists that the party had not done so well in the digital arena, and not all of its content connected with netizens. Prof Tan said that, this round, the party struck the right balance in working the online and physical ground. 'So it did matter that GE2025 was not primarily digital.' In all, the PAP's vote share shows it managed to win over many middle-ground voters. Besides maintaining the support of its base – approximately 40 per cent of the electorate – it had to win over at least half of voters not tied to any party, or about 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the electorate, said Prof Tan. That it managed to do so at this election reflects both the PAP's performance legitimacy, and that it had campaigned fairly and in a gentlemanly manner, he added. This electoral performance will give PM Wong confidence and a 'free hand' in forming his Cabinet, said Mr Inderjit Singh. He said: 'It now remains for the PM and the 4G team to consolidate the confidence and trust of Singaporeans and work on improving the lives of Singaporeans in the next five years.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
28-04-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
PAP wants to uplift lower-wage workers: PM Wong at GE2025 Fullerton rally , Singapore News
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong appealed to the voters to give him a strong mandate, even as he addressed other major issues facing Singaporeans. Speaking at PAP's first Fullerton rally in 10 years at the the promenade next to UOB Plaza on Monday (April 28), PM Wong told the lunchtime crowd that this election is all about Singaporeans' future. "This election is about your future, our future. Not just for today but for our children and grandchildren," he said. Addressing cost of living concerns, PM Wong acknowledged calls for a universal minimum wage model in Singapore. "We want to uplift lower-wage workers, the PAP wants to do it, don't get me wrong," he said, citing the Progressive Wage Model, implemented by the ruling party, as evidence. But he cautioned against opposition parties' proposals, such as setting a minimum wage at $2,250 across the board, questioning if these options are realistic and sustainable. "It sounds good on paper," the Prime Minister said, warning that it could actually have an opposite effect and drive up costs and worsen the situation for Singaporeans. "If some things sound too good to be true, they probably are too good to be true. There is no such thing as a free lunch," he added. In response to criticism on the government's decision to raise the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate, PM Wong said: "Think about it. What if we had delayed the GST increase?" He suggested that had a GST hike not been implemented, it would have lead to "insufficient resources" to support an ageing population. "We made a tough and responsible decision earlier to ensure that we have sound public finances, and that's why today we can confront the challenges ahead with confidence," he said. The permanent GST vouchers ensure that lower- and middle-income Singaporeans pay less than the headline GST rate, PM Wong said. "Who pays the full rate? Three groups: foreigners, tourists and higher-income families. "The opposition wants these three groups to pay a lower rate. Would you? I wouldn't." The GST was raised in 2023 and 2024, and the hike has been criticised by most opposition parties during the campaigning for the May 3 General Election. Some parties such as the Workers' Party and Progress Singapore Party among others have called for the GST to be rolled back from nine per cent to seven per cent. During his roughly 30-minute speech, PM Wong also cautioned that a Parliament with more opposition presence would lead to a "severely weakened mandate", and that it is not solely a matter of potentially losing one minister. "Losing three to four ministers will weaken the Cabinet team, will weaken the government, will weaken Singapore," he said. He urged voters to consider that a vote for the opposition "is not a free vote for more alternative voices" in Parliament. Instead, it is a vote to "weaken the PAP team". He added: "It will weaken me and my team, and it will do so at a time when I have just taken over. "I'm trying to build up a team to serve you better. It will weaken us at a time when our country is facing real and serious challenges." PM Wong is leading a four-member slate — which includes Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, Mayor of North West District Alex Yam and Hany Soh — against a Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) team for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC. Other speakers at the rally included fellow PAP candidates Berdanette Giam, David Hoe, David Neo, Goh Hanyan, Hazlina Abdul Halim, Jagathishwaran Rajo and Syed Harun Alhabsyi. SDA candidate at rally Singapore Democratic Alliance's Chia Yun Kai, who is part of the Pasir Ris-Changi GRC team, was spotted in the crowd waving an SDA flag and wearing party merchandise. Apart from mingling with fellow event-goers, Chia was seen chatting with PAP's Jalan Besar GRC candidate Shawn Loh. [[nid:717317]] For our GE2025 microsite, visit here amierul@
Business Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore election 2025 Day 6: PAP, SDP, WP to hold rallies, including lunchtime rally at UOB Plaza
SINGAPORE – It's the sixth day of GE2025 campaigning on Monday (Apr 28), with the People's Action Party (PAP) having held the election's first lunchtime rally at the promenade near UOB Plaza. Traditionally known as the Fullerton rally, it drew a crowd of office workers to hear Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, alongside Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah and seven PAP newcomers: Bernadette Giam David Hoe David Neo Goh Hanyan Hazlina Abdul Halim Jagathishwaran Rajo Syed Harun Alhabsyi, former Nominated Member of Parliament In case you missed it, here's our livestream of the rally to rewatch at your leisure. At the rally, PM Wong said that the vote for the opposition is not a 'free vote for more alternative voices', but a vote to weaken the PAP team. Opposition wins could cause the loss of three or four ministers, which would weaken not just the government but the country, at an already challenging time, he said. The current economic turbulence 'is not a passing storm', he warned. 'This storm will test us, and if we are not careful, we could lose everything that we have worked so hard to build here in Singapore.' 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 If the PAP earns a weak mandate in GE2025, bigger countries might be temped to push Singapore around, he added. Apart from economic pressures, here's what he said on other issues: On goods and services tax (GST) hikes: 'The opposition wants foreigners, tourists and higher-income families to pay a lower rate of GST. Would you? I wouldn't. I think it's fair and right of them to pay the full rate. But for lower and middle income Singaporeans – we protect you, we shield you, we give you permanent GST vouchers in cash, which means you pay an effectively lower GST rate.' On the opposition's idea of a minimum wage: ' It sounds good on paper. But if we implement this by law, companies will have to pay more for their workers. Your costs will go up. Companies can only recover it by raising prices on the goods and services they sell to Singaporeans. So how does this solve cost of living pressures?' Instead, there are existing policies such as the Workfare Income Supplement and Progressive Wage Model, he said. On opposition manifestos: 'Their manifestos have many details, (and are) a long wish list, but are they feasible, viable and sustainable? Will there be negative outcomes? Please think about it,' he said. 'If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. There is no such thing as a free lunch.' The PAP will also hold three rallies tonight, while the Singapore Democratic Party and Workers' Party will hold one each. See the lists below for their locations and timings, along livestream links if you'd rather watch online. Today's election rally sites: Today's rally livestreams: People's Action Party (Jalan Besar GRC) * lunchtime Fullerton rally People's Action Party (Jurong Central SMC) People's Action Party (Pasir Ris-Changi GRC) People's Action Party (Sembawang GRC) Singapore Democratic Party (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) Workers' Party (Punggol GRC) For more election coverage, visit our GE2025 microsite
Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: Fullerton rally attendees urged to take public transport, check crowd levels
The Fullerton rally will take place at the Promenade Area beside UOB Plaza from noon to 3pm. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - The police have reminded those who plan to attend the Fullerton rally on April 28 to take public transport to the venue. The event will take place at the Promenade Area beside UOB Plaza in Raffles Place from noon to 3pm as part of the 2025 General Election. The public is also strongly encouraged to check real-time crowd levels, area closures and available transport nodes on the Crowd@UOBPlaza website at The Fullerton rally is one of six election rallies that are set to take place on April 28, as political parties head into the final week of campaigning ahead of the general election on May 3. Details of the rallies on April 28 are as follows: PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE Motorists travelling near the rally sites should expect traffic diversions and possible lane closures. Drivers are advised to tune in to radio stations for live traffic updates. Carparks in the vicinity may also be restricted to Season Parking holders only. Vehicles found to be illegally parked or causing serious obstruction may be towed away. Security checks will be conducted in and around the meeting site. Members of the public are advised not to bring large bags or any dangerous items. A list of banned items: Firearms/parts of firearms, including empty magazines and spent cartridges Live and blank bullets Air pistols and rifles or parts Spear guns Explosives, blasting caps, dynamites and corrosive substances Fireworks and firecrackers Parangs and machetes Bearing scrapers Walking sticks with daggers Antique pistols and guns Stun guns Batons and t-batons Night sticks Signal flares and other flammable materials Handcuffs Tear gas and pepper spray Nanchakus Knuckledusters Crossbows Industrial acid Bulletproof vests Keychains in the shape of a bullet or gun Wooden or metal spears Lighters in the shape of a gun, pistol, bullet or grenade Toy guns that resemble actual guns Kirpans Sharp or long objects, such as knives, that can be used as a weapon Glass bottles Laser pointers Canned drinks Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: Catch PAP's lunchtime Fullerton rally
Lunchtime rally watch party: Join us with our expert guests in this episode of The Usual Place podcast. Follow our live coverage here. The People's Action Party will hold the first lunchtime election rally of GE2025 at noon on April 28 at the promenade area beside UOB Plaza . The PAP's secretary-general and Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, along with other party members , will address Singaporeans. The Fullerton rally, named for its venue being close to Fullerton Square, has in the past attracted thousands of office workers. The area has been a venue for political rallies since 1959, when the earliest Singapore political parties took to the podium there. There's a lot to unpack about the Fullerton rally , which is scheduled to run three hours, so I had to call in seasoned political observers. On The Usual Place today, we have Dr Gillian Koh, senior research fellow from the Institute of Policy Studies, Dr Rebecca Grace Tan, a political science lecturer from the National University of Singapore, and Dr Felix Tan, an independent political observer and lecturer at the School of Social Sciences at Nanyang Technological University . The Usual Place – a podcast by The Straits Times – has moved from a weekly show to a half-hour daily live stream at noon from April 24 till May 1, the day before Cooling-off Day. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
