Holding GE in the middle of pandemic not an easy decision: DPM Heng

Sharon See

Published Tue, Jun 23, 2020 · 10:18 AM

Singapore GE2020

IT is important for Singapore to hold its General Election now when the situation is relatively stable, given the profound uncertainties and challenges ahead, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said.

In a Facebook post, Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister, said the decision to hold an election in the middle of a pandemic is not an easy one to make.

The election will, however, give the new government a fresh, five-year mandate to bring Singaporeans together to overcome this crisis, he said.

"More than ever, we will need a government with a strong mandate and a long runway to lead us out of this crisis. We will face the challenges ahead together, working in partnership with you. We can and we will overcome this crisis of our generation, and emerge stronger as an economy, as a society and as one people," he said.

He also said the next few years will be critical, and the actions Singaporeans take now will chart the course of the nation for decades to come.

Earlier, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a national broadcast that he had advised President Halimah Yacob to dissolve Parliament and issue the Writ of Election. Following the dissolution of Parliament, Singapore will now vote on July 10.