GE2025: PAP team in Sengkang ‘ready to make a comeback’, says PM Wong | Singapore Breaking News & Latest Updates

GE2025: PAP team in Sengkang ‘ready to make a comeback’, says PM Wong — Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE –The PAP team for Sengkang is “ready to make a comeback”, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 1 at a ral...

Follow our live coverage here.

SINGAPORE –The PAP team for Sengkang is “ready to make a comeback”, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 1 at a rally in the constituency.

Appealing to voters on the final day of campaigning, PM Wong said the ruling party has fielded a strong, capable team for Sengkang GRC, and urged voters to assess candidates on their character.

He also addressed recent arguments by opposition candidates, who said that voting against the ruling party will not put constituencies behind in the queue for municipal upgrading programmes.

Estate upgrading programmes are the minimum that voters should expect, but a good team of MPs can make the difference, PM Wong said.

Speaking at the rally in North Vista Secondary School, he said: “Having national upgrading programmes across the island is just the baseline.

“That’s only the minimum. Don’t settle for the minimum,” he said. “You can do better. You know that a good team in charge can make a difference.”

Sengkang residents have had the “unique advantage” of being served by both the PAP and the WP, giving residents a good basis for comparison, said PM Wong, as he urged voters to weigh their choices carefully.

Addressing the constituency’s voters, he said: “Who in your heart of hearts do you really want to serve yourself, and your families, and to represent you in Parliament?”

Noting that the PAP lost the newly created Sengkang GRC in 2020, he said that the party’s team are the underdogs in this election.

“But mind you, they are ready to serve you, and they are ready to make a comeback,” he said.

The constituency was formed by combining parts of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, as well as the single-seat constituencies of Punggol East and Sengkang West. These three constituencies were held by the PAP when the 2020 General Election was called.

Leading the team is Dr Lam Pin Min, who entered politics in 2006 and served for three terms in Parliament before losing in the 2020 General Election as part of PAP’s Sengkang team.

Dr Lam, 55, is joined by new faces Theodora Lai, 39, co-founder of deep tech venture capital firm Moringa Ventures; Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat, 43, who teaches communications and new media at the National University of Singapore; and Mrs Bernadette Giam, 38, director of Creative Eateries, a local food and beverage company.

PM Wong urged Sengkang voters to assess candidates based on their character.

“I will vouch for our PAP team. They are men and women of character and integrity,” he said. “They will serve you with all their hearts.”

The PAP team is up against a WP team that comprises incumbent Sengkang MPs He Ting Ru, 41, Jamus Lim, 49, and Louis Chua, 37, as well as new face Abdul Muhaimin, 36.

Recounting Singapore’s history, PM Wong said at the rally that Singapore’s next chapter will not write itself.

“We must write it together. That’s why I stepped forward to serve as your Prime Minister,” he said.

“It’s not because I have all the answers. It’s because I believe in this country, I believe in you, our fellow Singaporeans. And I believe that our best chapters lie ahead of us.”

Noting that it has been a year since he took over as prime minister, and about six months since he took over as PAP secretary-general, PM Wong said: “It’s a very short runway, and I don’t do this work alone. I do it with a whole team.

“Together, we have been engaging Singaporeans, and we have started to shape the outlines of a new vision for Singapore. A Singapore that is more caring, more fair and more just.

“But the road ahead will not be easy,” he said. “I cannot promise you that it will be an easy journey, because the storm is already upon us, and we must brace ourselves for more turbulence. We cannot avoid this.”

Over the nine-day campaign period, PM Wong and other PAP leaders have appealed to voters by asserting that the ruling party is best-placed to take Singapore through the current uncertainties, such as the US-China trade war.

“The storms are everywhere. It’s global,” he said. “But we can choose how we respond to the storm. We can give in to anger and cynicism and division – which you sometimes hear in opposition rallies – or we can choose compassion, solidarity and strength.

“What the PAP offers is very clear. We choose to build, we choose to pull together, we choose to unite,” said PM Wong.

He noted that the PAP is not a perfect party.

“We have made mistakes, but we have always been upfront with you,” he said. “We own up, we learn, we improve, and through it all, every step of the way, we put you Singaporeans at the centre of everything we do. We don’t just go for the easy road.”

He added that the PAP is prepared to take the hard road.

“We don’t promise that we can solve every problem, but we have always promised that we will walk with you, we will fight for you, and we will never give up on you,” he said.

“If you believe that the PAP is still the best team; the best party to take Singapore forward – especially in these uncertain times – then stand with us. Support me and my team. Vote for the PAP,” PM Wong added.

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