GE2025: Highlights from Day 2 of campaigning
[SINGAPORE] On the second day of campaigning on Thursday (Apr 24), teams from the various political parties were busy making their rounds in constituencies across the island.
From Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong greeting residents at Telok Kurau park to a Workers’ Party (WP) contingent appearing at Sengkang, the candidates have been hard at work as they try to get the support of voters ahead of the May 3 general election.
The action continues tonight with the first five rallies, starting from 7 pm. Scroll to the end of this article to find out who’s speaking where.
Meanwhile, here’s a party-by-party breakdown of the most significant developments from Day 2 of the nine-day campaign period:
People’s Action Party (PAP)
Chua Chu Kang GRC: Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong took to Facebook to thank residents and volunteers of Chua Chu Kang GRC for their strong support and trust over his nearly 20 years of service in the constituency.
- He said the decision to stand as a candidate for Punggol GRC was made carefully.
- “To the residents of Punggol GRC, my focus now is to gain your trust and confidence. While I might be new to the area, I will do my best to learn quickly, with the support of the rest of my team who has been serving you for many years,” he added in his post.
East Coast GRC: Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong was out and about early at Telok Kurau Park, greeting residents.
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- His team includes Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How, incumbent MP Jessica Tan, and first-time candidates Hazlina Abdul Halim and Dinesh Vasu Dash.
- Tong anchors the five-member slate that will face off against a Workers’ Party team comprising former Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong, newcomers Jasper Kuan, Sufyan Mikhail Putra and Paris V Parameswari, as well as former Marine Parade GRC candidate Nathaniel Koh.
Pasir Ris-Changi GRC: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah began house visits in her new constituency today, as she introduced herself to the residents.
- “Hope to be given a chance to serve and work with the residents here,” she said in a Facebook post that went up at around 3 pm today.
- She joins the slate after being at Tanjong Pagar for 24 years, and faces the Singapore Democratic Alliance at the upcoming polls.
Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC: Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng and his team – Tin Pei Ling, Diana Pang, Faishal Ibrahim and Goh Pei Ming – were spotted engaging with residents at Marine Parade Terrace in the morning.
- They were handed a walkover yesterday after WP decided not to run in the constituency – the first walkover at a GE since 2011.
- Seah said the team will carry out different forms of campaigning and help PAP candidates in other constituencies.
Nee Soon GRC: The team led by Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam unveiled its new “Residents First!” manifesto, which addresses more childcare and eldercare facilities, better transport access and improved infrastructure if elected.
Sembawang West SMC: Poh Li San, the PAP’s candidate for Sembawang West SMC, will be speaking at the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC rally tonight.
- She was seen engaging with residents at a coffee shop in Sembawang Mart and talking about her election motto.
- She will go up against Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan.
Pioneer SMC: PAP’s Patrick Tay was seen conducting house visits and walkabouts in the constituency from as early as 7 am. He has represented the ward since 2020.
- This GE, he faces a straight fight with homemaker Stephanie Tan from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP).
Workers’ Party
Sengkang GRC: The WP’s Sengkang team, comprising leader He Ting Ru, incumbents Jamus Lim and Louis Chua, and newcomer Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, was seen greeting residents and giving out flyers at a coffee shop in Sengkang Square.
- They were joined by party chief Pritam Singh, chair Sylvia Lim, former secretary-general Low Thia Khiang and former Hougang MP Png Eng Huat.
- Singh said on Thursday that multi-cornered fights are expected during elections.
- “But that should not dissuade us from putting the value proposition forward to Singaporeans for a rational, responsible party in Parliament,” he said in response to questions about the party’s political strategy.
Tampines GRC: WP’s Tampines GRC candidates Michael Thng, Jimmy Tan, Ong Lue Ping and Eileen Chong were spotted at a hawker centre speaking with residents and distributing fliers during lunchtime today. They were joined by Tampines Changkat SMC candidate Kenneth Foo.
- Faisal Manap, WP’s vice-chair and leader of the five-member team running in the constituency, was not at the walkabout. He was away at an interview.
- This is the first four-cornered fight for a GRC in a general election since 1992. This time around, the PAP, National Solidarity Party and People’s Power Party (PPP) have also staked claims to the ward.
Singapore Democratic Party
Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC: Candidates of the SDP – Gigene Wong, Alec Tok, Ariffin Sha and Jufri Salim – were seen at Yew Tee MRT station.
- They were talking to residents and encouraging them to come to their rally at Chua Chu Kang Stadium.
- The team will face PM Wong’s Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC team, which is also holding a rally tonight.
Progress Singapore Party
Chua Chu Kang GRC: The four-member PSP team – Wendy Low, Lawrence Pek, S. Nallakaruppan and A’bas Kasmani – was seen making door-to-door visits in the Brickland estate. The party will speak at its first rally at Catholic High School tonight.
People’s Alliance for Reform
Jalan Besar GRC: PAR candidates – businessman Mohamad Hamim Aliyas and private tutor Chiu Shin Kong – turned up for a walkabout at Jalan Besar GRC. They were spotted distributing flyers at Upper Boon Keng Market and Food Centre.
- Fellow teammates, nurse Sarina Abu Hassan and preschool educator Vigneswari V Ramachandran, were not present but are expected to join outreach efforts on the weekend.
- Chiu said: “We want to make Singapore a better place ... that’s why we’re out here to give the incumbent a challenge, so they don’t take residents for granted.”
Tanjong Pagar GRC: PAR candidate Rickson Giauw was spotted making home visits today, distributing flyers and speaking to residents.
- “We are not a very big party, so in terms of volunteers, we cannot compete with the big parties. But we never give up. We will keep moving forward to reach out to the residents to show our commitment and our willingness to win their hearts and support,” he said.
- His team comprises five members, including former independent candidate Han Hui Hui. They face a straight fight with PAP’s slate, which includes members Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan and Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing.
National Solidarity Party
Sembawang GRC: NSP secretary general Spencer Ng, alongside party members Raiyan Chia, Verina Ng and Yadzeth Hairis, launched their campaign with a walkabout at Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre. They spoke to Sembawang residents while handing out leaflets and iced gem biscuits.
Rallies on Apr 24
- Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will kick off the PAP’s rally at Woodlands Stadium. He will be joined by the rest of the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC team – Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad, Alex Yam and Hany Soh.
- The Singapore Democratic Party’s rally takes place at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium. Its Marsiling-Yew Tee team comprises long-time party member Jufri Salim and three candidates previously from other opposition parties: Gigene Wong, Alec Tok and Ariffin Iskandar Sha Ali Akbar.
- The Workers’ Party’s rally, in the field next to The Vales condominium, is for Sengkang GRC, which it won in GE2020. Incumbents He Ting Ru, Jamus Lim and Louis Chua are joined by first-time candidate Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, who replaces former MP Raeesah Khan.
- Meanwhile, the Progress Singapore Party will hold a rally for Marymount SMC at Catholic High School. The party has fielded Jeffrey Khoo, who will square off against PAP incumbent Gan Siow Huang.
- The People’s Power Party team will also stage its rally at Temasek Junior College. The slate led by party secretary-general Goh Meng Seng and comprises party chairman Derrick Sim, Vere Nathan, Arbaah Haroun and Peter Soh. Tampines GRC will see a four-cornered fight between the PAP, WP, NSP and PPP.
Watch a livestream of tonight’s PAP rally
Watch a livestream of tonight’s PSP rally
Watch a livestream of tonight’s SDP rally
Watch a livestream of tonight’s WP rally
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