GE2025: Election not about who wins more seats but about the aspirations of SG people, says PM Wong on last night of rally

 

SINGAPORE: After nine days of intense campaigning, including 20 People's Action Party (PAP) rallies nationwide, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (May 1) reminded voters what is at stake in this election.

"This election is not just about who wins more seats. Your vote reflects our beliefs, our aspirations, the Singapore we dream of," said PM Wong, who is also PAP secretary-general.

PM Wong stressed this in his speech at the Punggol GRC rally at Yusof Ishak Secondary School. Earlier, PM Wong attended a rally in Sengkang on a busy night ahead of the Quiet Day on Friday (May 2). He also delivered a speech at the Labour Day Rally in the morning.

In his speech at the Punggol GRC rally, PM Wong urged Singaporeans to choose unity over division, honesty over falsehood, and action over empty promises.

“Let us choose Singapore and build our future together,” he said.

PM Wong said that no party - including the PAP - is perfect.

"Through that experience, step by step, we have put Singaporeans at the heart of everything we do. We don't just take the easy way out. We don't just offer sweet promises.

"We are prepared to take the hard way out - as long as it is the right and responsible thing to do."

PM Wong acknowledged that the Workers' Party (WP) now has what one of its own candidates calls a safe seat. However, they are willing to fight in the "hot" constituencies of Punggol and elsewhere.

"They may win in some areas - I don't know - but if they win, they will increase the opposition in the next Parliament," PM Wong said.

PM Wong did not name the WP candidate who was referring to the safe seat, but WP candidate in Punggol, Harpreet Singh, said so in an interview with The Straits Times on April 11, saying he did not want to "contest in a safe place".

On the other hand, PM Wong stressed that the PAP team in the hotly contested GRCs this election is led by experienced ministers, alongside new candidates who have the potential to become future leaders.

“I have tried hard to bring in new talent in this election… but new faces will take time to develop, before they can take on leadership positions,” said PM Wong.

“What happens if we lose a few ministers in this election? Not one or two, but maybe three or four… If I lose four more in this election - that means I have lost eight ministers.”

This is considering that experienced ministers such as President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, former Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, former Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and former Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen have retired.

PM Wong rejected WP’s claim that it can do the job of a minister on a lower salary, stressing that ministers have years of experience in policy-making, grassroots engagement and personal relationships with overseas counterparts.

“How can the new MPs continue to come in and do the job at the same level?” asked PM Wong.

“Ultimately, you will weaken us - the people of Singapore - at a time when this country is facing increasingly serious challenges,” said PM Wong.

While voting for the PAP will not bring in the opposing voices that would inevitably come if the opposition entered Parliament, PM Wong said it would give Singaporeans a dedicated and experienced team to serve, both at the grassroots level and in Parliament.

“Most importantly, you will have capable leaders in government who will help steer Singapore safely through this turbulent time and move the country forward,” he said.

CHARACTER MATTER

Earlier, during the Sengkang GRC meeting held at North Vista Secondary School - one of five PAP meetings on Thursday, PM Wong had appealed to voters on the importance of character in choosing their representatives in Parliament.

“For me, character matters,” said PM Wong.

“I will assure you that our PAP team – they are men and women of character and integrity, they will serve you with all their heart and soul.”

In his speech at Punggol, PM Wong urged Singaporeans to consider carefully the character of the individuals they elect - whether they are "honest, transparent, forthright".

"Do you believe that they will always put the interests of Singapore first, above all else - the interests of Singapore and the people of Singapore? Do you believe that they will uphold the fundamental ideals that we all hold dear in Singapore?" asked PM Wong.

"I believe in a lot of things about character. Character is important."

PM Wong said he could personally vouch for the character of Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who is leading the PAP team contesting in Punggol GRC.

"This is a man who has served Singapore his whole life - he is a visionary, a strong, sincere leader, with a heart for our people," he added.

"Kim Yong is not alone. The others in the Punggol team ... they are individuals you know, people you trust; they are committed, capable and they are here to serve you ... Please give your full support to our PAP team."

Speaking before PM Wong at a PAP rally in Punggol, Mr Gan began his speech by admitting that moving to Punggol on Nomination Day had come as a surprise to many.

But Mr Gan said he was "ready to take on the challenge" when asked by the prime minister to take on the task, as he fully supported PM Wong's desire to have senior members take over from retiring Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Mr Gan said there had been whispers in the field about whether he would be able to oversee Punggol given his advancing age and his role as deputy prime minister and "Task Force Man", as PM Wong nicknamed him during a recent PAP rally.

"Let me be clear: I have been in politics for almost 25 years. Since I started in 2001, my first priority has been my people. I can only be a minister if I am an MP. So, being your MP is my priority," said Mr Gan, 66.

"Yes, I am Task Force Man. I have many duties. But none are more important than looking after you. I am Task Force Man for Punggol."

MAINTAINING SINGAPORE'S "EXCELLENT"

During a PAP rally in Punggol GRC, PM Wong said Singapore's best chapter lies ahead.

"That's what I have been trying to do so hard, and working so hard over the past year – to bring Singaporeans together and chart our new path forward as one people," he said.

PM Wong then said that he had only been prime minister for a year.

"In this campaign, I heard one of the opposition parties say that Lawrence Wong is not like Lee Kuan Yew. It's so different, the standards have fallen. And I laughed because who in Singapore is like Lee Kuan Yew?

"There is only one Lee Kuan Yew. There is no other. I am not comparing myself to the late. I believe in myself," said PM Wong.

Together with his team, PM Wong said he had charted a new vision for Singapore.

"A more caring Singapore; a fairer and more equitable one. Where every child has a good start; every worker gets a fair chance. Where families feel supported, not pressured," he said.

"Where our seniors live with dignity and peace of mind. Where progress is measured not just in terms of financial standing; but in a better standard of living; dreams fulfilled; and a sense of belonging shared by every Singaporean."

PM Wong said "these are not just words", referring to the changes made by the PAP government in the past year, in areas such as the cost of living, education, housing, healthcare and support for families.

"But with your trust and support, we can go further. We can make this vision a reality for every Singaporean," he said.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who spoke at the PAP rally for Tampines GRC, also asked voters for their support to ensure that the government and Singapore are "exceptional".

"Not to reward the PAP for anything it may have done, but for your own sake," he said.

"To deal with this world, to succeed in this world, you need an exceptional team and exceptional leadership qualities. And the PAP will do its best to provide that."

SM Lee said the opposition was asking Singaporeans to vote for more alternative voices in Parliament, just like "most other democracies in the world".

While SM Lee said the PAP accepted the fact that opposition parties have a role to play in the country's democracy, and it