Latest news with #campaignspending
CNA
20 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
GE2025: Candidates spent S$13 million, up 42% from last election
SINGAPORE: Candidates in the 2025 General Election spent more than S$13.05 million (US$10.24 million) on their campaigns, a 42.4 per cent jump from the S$9.16 million declared in the 2020 polls. Nearly half of this year's spending went to non-online advertising such as posters, banners and flyers, according to expense declarations on the Elections Department's (ELD) website on Friday (Jun 27). The disclosures were released after candidate submissions were published in the Government Gazette. The People's Action Party (PAP) was the biggest spender, with total declared expenses of S$9.4 million, outspending all rivals in every contested constituency. Among the opposition, the Workers' Party (WP) led with S$1.64 million in declared expenses. Candidates had until Jun 16 to submit detailed declarations of their election spending – a requirement under Singapore law to ensure financial transparency and accountability of candidates' election finances. The ELD confirmed that all 211 candidates met this deadline. WHERE THE MONEY WENT S$5.6 million spent on print advertising in the previous election. Spending on online advertisements, such as paid content on social media and websites, rose slightly to S$2.13 million, up from S$2 million in 2020. This year's election also saw the return of physical rallies, which were paused in the previous election due to pandemic restrictions. Candidates spent S$1.72 million to organise a total of 48 rallies across the campaign period. Political analysts said the return to in-person campaigning reflects the enduring importance of face-to-face engagement in Singapore's elections. 'Singapore's electoral norms still emphasise in-person events and face-to-face contact,' said Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian, who teaches political science at the National University of Singapore (NUS). The 2020 election was seen as a 'one-off' with no rallies, and it was not surprising that rallies and physical ads continue to form a significant proportion of election spending, he added. Independent analyst Felix Tan said parties may have favoured physical ads because they reach a wider group of people, such as seniors who could be less active online.
Malay Mail
30-05-2025
- 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.
