SINGAPORE GE2025: PM WONG'S PAP TEAM SET FOR HEAD-TO-HEAD BATTLE WITH SDP IN MARSILING-YEW TEE

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz

SINGAPORE, April 23 (Bernama) -- Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his team will face a straight fight against Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidates in the four-seat Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the May 3 General Election (GE2025).

Incumbents from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) include Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, North West District Mayor Alex Yam, and Hany Soh.

Meanwhile, the SDP team comprises its organising secretary Jufri Salim, founder of alternative news site ‘Wake Up Singapore’ Ariffin Sha, theatre director Alec Tok, and Gigene Wong, a former Progress Singapore Party (PSP) candidate in GE2020.

Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC has been a stronghold for the PAP since its formation in 2015. In the last election, the PAP team defeated a different slate of SDP’s candidates, securing a clear victory.

"Thank you for supporting me and my team all these years. We have walked this journey with you since this GRC was formed. Please vote for us again. We will do our best to improve your life. 

"There is much at stake at this election. Your vote will determine your future and your children's future," Wong said when addressing supporters after the end of the nomination proceedings at the Jurong-Pioneer Junior College.

GE2025, the first for Wong as Prime Minister and PAP chief, is expected to be closely watched amidst global uncertainties.

Meanwhile, a last-minute change saw Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, who was originally slated for the Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, leading the PAP team in Chua Chu Kang GRC, which holds four parliamentary seats.

Tan replaced Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong who has been the MP for the GRC since 2011.

The PAP team includes incumbent Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim and two first-time candidates – former civil servant Jeffrey Siow and neuroscientist Choo Pei Ling.

Meanwhile, PSP is fielding a newcomer – former secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation Lawrence Pek – as well as A’bas Kasmani, Wendy Low, and S. Nallakaruppan.

In the last election, Gan’s PAP team won with 58.64 per cent of the total votes.

Instead, Gan is leading the PAP team at the new Punggol GRC, with Janil Puthucheary, Sun Xueling and Yeo Wan Ling, the Straits Times (ST) reported.

They will face Workers’ Party (WP) newcomers Harpreet Singh, Jackson Au, Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar and Alexis Dang.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in a Facebook post said he will not contest at GE2025.

"This year, I've decided not to run in the upcoming election as I believe now is the right time to make way for a new team of capable individuals who are well-placed to serve Singapore," he said.

Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean will also not contest this election, ST reported.

-- BERNAMA