GE2025: PM Wong appeals to voters to pick the best team, says more opposition will weaken S’pore

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SINGAPORE - Midway into the 2025 General Election hustings, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has appealed to voters to pick the best team, saying that a weakened government will undermine Singapore’s position in an increasingly volatile world.

Speaking at the

PAP’s lunchtime Fullerton rally,

he cautioned that should the opposition gain more ground, it would severely weaken the PAP’s ability to govern effectively, even if the party is returned to power.

He said: “If opposition parties break through in several constituencies – not just one, not just two, but a few – then even if the PAP were to be returned to govern, it would be with a severely weakened mandate. It’s not just the loss of one minister. I could lose three (or) four ministers.”

PM Wong added: “Losing three to four ministers will weaken the Cabinet team, will weaken the Government, will weaken Singapore.”

Addressing the WP’s call for voters to

compare opposition candidates with PAP candidates backbencher to backbencher,

he said this is not how elections work.

Serving ministers are contesting group representation constituencies, he said, stressing that their loss would be immediately felt.

PM Wong said: “A vote for the opposition is not a free vote for more alternative voices in Parliament. It is a vote to weaken the PAP team – the team that is truly working for you.”

He urged Singaporeans to think carefully about the consequences of their choice when

they go to the polls on May 3.

“If you, in your heart of hearts, believe that the PAP is still the best party to take Singapore forward through these uncertain times, then support me and my team,” he said.

He added: “Your vote matters – in every constituency, all across Singapore. Because I need a team. And this election is not just about forming today’s government. It’s also about building tomorrow’s leadership.”

Singapore now stands at a new crossroads, said PM Wong, adding that the PAP has walked every step of the country’s journey alongside Singaporeans, including through every crisis, hardship and triumph.

The opposition, on the other hand, has not had any serious discussions about the critical challenges looming over Singapore’s future, he said.

“Throughout this campaign, have you heard any opposition party talk seriously about the challenges we face? Not a single one, because to them, this is the PAP’s burden to carry,” PM Wong said.

“They want the PAP to form the government. They only want, as they say, more seats in Parliament. More seats, but not more responsibility.”

Individually, opposition parties may not have enough candidates to form a government, but collectively, their numbers are not small, PM Wong said.

He noted how WP and PSP are already in Parliament, focusing on the eastern and western parts of Singapore, respectively, to grow their presence. Across the island, other parties are keen to make breakthroughs too.

“When you add them all up, the numbers are not small, and you start to wonder, what is the kind of politics we are going to have in Singapore? And that’s why I said from the very beginning, this is a tough election, and it has proven to be so,” said PM Wong.

Leadership renewal

Amid this backdrop, PM Wong emphasised the importance of leadership renewal within the PAP.

He noted how several experienced members of his team – Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, and Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen – have chosen to step down.

Holding them back would be doing Singapore a disservice, said PM Wong. “Renewal must happen, for Singapore’s sake, for your sake. We need fresh perspectives and new energy to build a better Singapore.”

But the team still has strong leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who is

leading the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce.

PM Wong also mentioned other members of the task force, including National Development Minister Desmond Lee, Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo, and Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, as well as labour chief Ng Chee Meng.

The Prime Minister said of Mr Gan: “When there is a challenge, he rolls up his sleeves and he gets things done. We saw that during Covid, and we will see that again during this economic challenge.”

PM Wong pointed to how some have called Mr Gan the “task force man”, and said he had told him to “wear it (as) a badge of honour”.

Turning to the new candidates, PM Wong said the

PAP has fielded 32 new candidates for GE2025,

the largest batch of fresh faces in decades.

He highlighted how among these were fresh talents who could grow into larger leadership roles: Mr David Neo, who is contesting Tampines GRC,

Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash

in East Coast GRC, and

Mr Jeffrey Siow

in Chua Chu Kang GRC.

After the election, and assuming the PAP is returned to government, PM Wong said, he would have many countries to visit as part of his duties. Conducting foreign policy would be more difficult in a world where “might is right”, he said, as bigger powers would not hesitate to use coercion and force to pursue their interests.

Small states like Singapore must work even harder to safeguard their position, he stressed, noting that his counterparts abroad would be closely watching the election outcome to assess his political strength.

“With a clear mandate from you, my team and I can speak up for Singapore confidently, and we will do our utmost to ensure this little red dot continues to shine brightly even in a troubled world,” he said.

PM Wong acknowledged that while Singapore has achieved remarkable success, many now feel life has become a “pressure cooker”, especially for their children. He said Singapore must work hard and stay competitive as no one owes it a living, but also warned against pushing too hard and becoming overstressed.

“We must find a better balance. A better balance where we work hard to secure our living, but we also have space – space to breathe, space to dream, and space to live our lives to the fullest,” he said.

PM Wong added that changes were already under way, including education reforms and enhanced parental leave.

Looking back on how Singapore weathered the Covid-19 crisis, PM Wong pointed out how Changi Airport looked like a ghost town during the pandemic and

has now returned to pre-Covid traffic levels.

He added how in two weeks’ time, ground will be broken for Terminal 5.

He told Singaporeans that the trust placed in him and his team during the pandemic had enabled the country to save lives, protect jobs and emerge stronger.

“Now that we face a new storm, I ask you once again – trust the PAP one more time. Give me and my team the chance to do our best for you,” he said.