GE2025: PAR fields Tanjong Pagar GRC team with former independent Han Hui Hui; Radin Mas sees three-way fight
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing remains as sole full minister for the PAP’s Tanjong Pagar GRC team
[SINGAPORE] Education Minister Chan Chun Sing will anchor the People’s Action Party (PAP) team for Tanjong Pagar GRC against a People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR) team that includes former independent candidate Han Hui Hui.
Chan is the sole full minister in the five-member team, after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah left to lead the PAP team for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC instead.
He is joined by Rachel Ong, who was part of the winning PAP team for West Coast GRC in GE2020, and ex-civil servant Foo Cexiang, who is making his political debut. Rounding out the team are incumbents Alvin Tan, who is a minister of state, and Joan Pereira.
Fellow PAP incumbent Eric Chua will defend his ward, newly carved out as Queenstown SMC, against PAR candidate Mahaboob Baatsha.
The PAP’s Tanjong Pagar GRC faces a team from PAR, which is an alliance formed by three parties: Peoples Voice (PV), the Reform Party (RP), and the Democratic Progressive Party.
The PAR slate comprises Han, Nadarajan Selvamani, Prabu Ramachandran, Rickson Giauw and Soh Lian Chye. Prabu was part of PV’s team for Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC in GE2020.
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In GE2015, Han ran as an independent candidate in a three-cornered fight for Radin Mas SMC, but lost her deposit as she only took 10.03 per cent of the vote. She previously campaigned under the slogan “Return Our CPF” and organised protests at Hong Lim Park to advocate for the issue.
The traditional stronghold of the ruling party, Tanjong Pagar GRC was formed in 1991 and previously helmed by the late Lee Kuan Yew. Chan has run there since entering politics in 2011.
In GE2020, the PAP secured 63.13 per cent of the vote against the Progress Singapore Party.
Speaking in Malay, Mandarin and English, Chan thanked PAP supporters for “60 years and counting” of support.
He said: “It is our team’s goal to make sure that we keep working with fellow residents in Tanjong Pagar and in Singapore, to make sure that we will have an even brighter future, regardless of the challenges ahead.”
Responding during his party’s speech, PAR candidate Prabu referenced Chan’s “60 years” remark and urged voters to give “no more blank cheques to the PAP”.
He added: “We stand before you to bring down the cost of living; we stand before you for affordable public housing; we stand before you to fight for jobs for Singaporeans first; and we stand before you to control immigration.”
Three-way fight for Radin Mas
Nearby Radin Mas SMC will see a three-way contest. PAP incumbent Melvin Yong and PAR’s Kumar Appavoo face off again, but now joined by independent candidate Darryl Lo.
“I am living in Bukit Purmei, and I share the same concerns as you do,” said Lo in his thank-you speech after being confirmed as a candidate.
In GE2020, Yong achieved the highest vote share among all single-seat wards, winning 74.01 per cent in a straight fight against Kumar, who then ran under RP’s banner.
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