GE2025: WP wins at Aljunied & Hougang yet again
At Hougang GRC, which the WP has held since 1991, incumbent MP Dennis Tan, 55, also scored a victory against the PAP's Marshall Lim.
In Aljunied, the WP bested the team from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), made up of Adrian Ang, 42; Faisal Abdul Aziz, 37; Chan Hui Yuh, 48; Daniel Liu, 40; and Jagathishwaran Rajo, 37. Among these candidates, only Ms Chan contested at Aljunied in 2020; the other four are new to the political arena.
In GE 2020, the WP won 59.95 per cent of the vote to the PAP's 40.05 per cent, an increase of 8.99 per cent from GE 2015. This year, the opposition party again won 59.68 per cent of the vote.
Winning at Aljunied is significant for the WP, as it is the first GRC to be held by the opposition, marking a successful stronger foothold for the WP as spearheaded by former WP chief Low Thia Khiang. Mr Low had represented Hougang SMC from 2006 until 2011, and his gamble to contest at Aljunied paid off. While the WP's path at Aljunied has been rocky at times, the party has appeared to have gained the trust of residents, and Aljunied Hougang Town Council has received the highest marks, as has Sengkang Town Council, the other GRC under the WP.
At Hougang, Mr Tan won 62.17 per cent of the vote. In 2020, the former Non-Constituency Member of Parliament had received 61.21 per cent, showing a small increase.
Although the PAP will continue to remain in power in the coming five years, this year's General Election has largely been perceived to be a test of how much ground the opposition will gain. It has also been seen as a test for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who was sworn into office on May 15, 2024.
The increased cost of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world was widely reported to be the issue that was foremost in voters' minds in the run-up to this year's polls, and support for the opposition appeared to be on the rise, at least among commenters online.
Since the WP announced its candidates for the May 3 polls on Nomination Day, some armchair commentators questioned the party's strategy of keeping its two highest-profile candidates at Aljunied GRC.
At a press conference to introduce the WP candidates on April 17, Mr Singh said the party would be contesting fewer than a third of the seats in Parliament this year, signalling that while the WP would naturally want more elected MPs , the party would proceed with more caution than risk. /TISG
Read also: Was the WP right to keep Pritam Singh and Sylvia Lim at Aljunied? Many believe so
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Paper
7 hours ago
- New Paper
WP's Sylvia Lim to publish memoir in 2027
Workers' Party chairwoman and MP for Aljunied GRC Sylvia Lim will publish her memoir with Epigram Books. It is expected to hit major bookstores in the second half of 2027. The agreement between Ms Lim and the home-grown publisher - an imprint of the newly formed non-profit Epigram Literary Foundation - was signed in recent weeks. There is no book title yet, with writing still in its preliminary stages. But the surprise memoir is expected to offer a rare glimpse into the mind of one of Singapore's pioneer women in opposition politics - a police inspector and lawyer turned self-professed proud "Mama Bear" heading a slate of WP female candidates at the recent general election. On her decision to ink the deal, Ms Lim said: "There has been interest from several quarters about the paths I have walked and the places I have been, as well as the people who made me whole. "As I turn 60 this year, it feels right to start to reflect on my experiences of life, vocation and love which, hopefully, will be meaningful not just now, but also for posterity." The 14-year MP has struck a more mellow note of late, brandishing her PAssion Silver Concession Card at a WP rally in April to cheers - "The last time I stood on this stage, I still had black hair." To a question on WP's party leadership succession during a press conference in the same month, she had expressed a readiness to pass the baton on. "I would say that when the time comes for me, personally, to step down as chairperson, I won't be sorry." Mr Edmund Wee, founder of Epigram Books, said he also specifically requested that Ms Lim include her relationship with former national footballer Quah Kim Song, whom she had dated for 12 years before their church wedding in January. The publisher got in touch with Ms Lim through a mutual friend and had tried cajoling her for the project as early as 2021 during the coronavirus lockdown period, with satisfaction delayed till now. Mr Wee said: "Sylvia Lim's achievements and life should be an inspiration to Singaporeans, especially to all the young women out there." Few senior leaders from WP, Singapore's most successful opposition party post-independence, have put their thoughts to the page. Former secretary-general of WP J.B Jeyaretnam hawked his own books on the streets after being declared bankrupt and losing his seat, including The Hatchet Man Of Singapore, published in 2003. The most recent and probably most well-known is WP member and former Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong's Journey In Blue: A Peek Into The Workers' Party Of Singapore (2020). Among other revelations, it disclosed that former WP chief Low Thia Khiang had begun planning to step down as early as 2016 following an intra-party leadership challenge, rather than in 2020 after a fall at home as commonly assumed. Ms Lim was a law lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic specialising in civil and criminal procedures when she was elected WP's first woman chairperson in 2003 and led a team to become the "best losers" in the contest for Aljunied GRC in 2006. After a stint as NCMP from 2006 to 2011, she was part of the team that won Aljunied GRC for WP in 2011. She will begin her fourth term when Parliament reconvenes on Sept 5.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
WP chairwoman Sylvia Lim to publish memoir with Epigram Books in 2027
The agreement between Ms Lim and the home-grown publisher was signed in recent weeks. SINGAPORE – Workers' Party chairwoman and MP for Aljunied GRC Sylvia Lim will publish her memoirs with Epigram Books, expected to hit major bookstores in the second half of 2027. The agreement between Ms Lim and the home-grown publisher – an imprint of the newly formed non-profit Epigram Literary Foundation – was signed in recent weeks. A book title is as yet not forthcoming, with writing still in its preliminary stages. But the surprise memoir is expected to offer a rare glimpse into the mind of one of Singapore's pioneer women in opposition politics – a police inspector and lawyer turned self-professed proud 'Mama Bear' heading a slate of WP female candidates at the recent general election. On her decision to ink the deal, Ms Lim said: 'There has been interest from several quarters about the paths I have walked and the places I have been, as well as the people who made me whole. 'As I turn 60 this year, it feels right to start to reflect on my experiences of life, vocation and love which, hopefully, will be meaningful not just now, but also for posterity.' The 14-year MP has struck a more mellow note of late, brandishing her PAssion Silver Concession Card at a WP rally in April to cheers – 'The last time I stood on this stage, I still had black hair.' To a question on WP's party leadership succession during a press conference in the same month, she had said: 'I would say that when the time comes for me, personally, to step down as chairperson, I won't be sorry.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 2 workers stranded on gondola dangling outside Raffles City Tower rescued by SCDF Asia Japan PM Ishiba vows to take responsibility for election loss, to stay in office to deal with US tariff talks Business $1.1 billion allocated to three fund managers to boost Singapore stock market: MAS Singapore Proof & Company Spirits closes Singapore distribution business Life Travel Journal: Safari tourism with a side of moral crisis Singapore Mandai Wildlife Group group CEO Mike Barclay to retire; Bennett Neo named as successor Singapore Jail, caning for man who held metal rod to cashier's neck in failed robbery attempt Singapore Fresh charge for woman who harassed nurse during pandemic, created ruckus at lion dance competition Mr Edmund Wee, founder of Epigram Books, said he also specifically requested that Ms Lim include her relationship with former national footballer Quah Kim Song , whom she had dated for 12 years before their church wedding in January 2025. The publisher got in touch with Ms Lim through a mutual friend and had tried cajoling her for the project as early as 2021 during the coronavirus lockdown period, with satisfaction delayed till now. Mr Wee said: 'Sylvia Lim's achievements and life should be an inspiration to Singaporeans, especially to all the young women out there.' Few senior leaders from WP, Singapore's most successful opposition party post-independence, have put their thoughts to the page. Former secretary-general of WP J.B Jeyaretnam hawked his own books on the streets after being declared bankrupt and losing his seat, including The Hatchet Man Of Singapore, published in 2003. The most recent and probably most well-known is WP member and former Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong's Journey In Blue: A Peek Into The Workers' Party Of Singapore (2020). Among other revelations, it disclosed that former WP chief Low Thia Khiang had begun planning to step down as early as 2016 following an intra-party leadership challenge, rather than in 2020 after a fall at home as commonly assumed. Ms Lim was a law lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic specialising in civil and criminal procedures when she was elected WP's first woman chairperson in 2003 and led a team to become the 'best losers' in the contest for Aljunied GRC in 2006. After a stint as NCMP from 2006 to 2011, she was part of the team that won Aljunied GRC for WP in 2011. She will begin her fourth term when Parliament reconvenes on Sept 5.
Singapore Law Watch
5 days ago
- Singapore Law Watch
Countering misinformation requires both laws and access to trusted news sources: Josephine Teo
Countering misinformation requires both laws and access to trusted news sources: Josephine Teo Source: Straits Times Article Date: 17 Jul 2025 Author: Goh Yan Han Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said Singapore must try to prevent 'cracks in our infrastructure of fact'. Laws against fake news and manipulated content during elections will continue to be essential in safeguarding Singaporeans against information threats, but by themselves they are not enough to push back against misinformation, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said on July 16. Instead, the Republic must try to prevent 'cracks in our infrastructure of fact', which pave the way for rogue actors to dominate its media and information landscape, as has happened elsewhere, said Mrs Teo. That is why the Government has stepped in to support public service media, she added, which ensures that Singaporeans have continued access to trusted news sources, and to uphold the integrity of the city-state's infospace. 'Our long-term goal remains unchanged, and that is to nurture a resilient information ecosystem – one where truth can stand on its own, and public trust is anchored in an informed, engaged and discerning citizenry,' she said at the Singapore Press Club Awards 2025 held at Pan Pacific Singapore. These efforts to counter misinformation are crucial because Singapore, as a diverse and open society, will always be susceptible to the dangers of misinformation, she said. Mrs Teo cited examples from the 2020 General Election, when there were falsehoods on projected population figures and Covid-19 testing of foreign workers; and the 2023 Presidential Election, when there was a false claim that the Government could trace how individuals voted and penalise them for their choices. Such attempts at misinformation could be addressed 'to some extent' with the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma), which came into force in 2019. This is as Pofma does not generally take a falsehood out of circulation but requires that a correction notice be carried alongside it, which means people can continue to believe the falsehood despite it being called out. Lies also tend to travel faster than the truth, she added. 'We are realistic that a factual correction does not reach everyone who had seen the falsehood.' The risks during the recent May 3 general election were much greater with the availability of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, she noted. A compressed election timeline – there were nine days of campaigning during GE2025 – meant that the window to react was extremely narrow, said Mrs Teo. 'We therefore needed to be absolutely clear what was permitted and what was not, and who was accountable for validating the suspected content,' she added. In October 2024, the authorities put in new safeguards when election laws were amended. The Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act, or Eliona, prohibits digitally generated or manipulated election-related content that realistically misrepresents a candidate's speech or actions during the election period. Candidates have to declare whether content featuring them was true or false, and a wrongful declaration could have led to the result of their election being voided. Thankfully, GE2025 did not see a surge in egregious misinformation or malicious synthetic content, said Mrs Teo. Neither Pofma nor Eliona was invoked during the recent election. She added that Singapore is fortunate that its public service media remain trusted institutions, with the recent Reuters Digital News Report having found that 75 per cent of respondents trusted The Straits Times, while 74 per cent trusted CNA. 'These are outstanding achievements, especially when compared against the global average trust in media, which stands at just around 40 per cent,' she noted. Going forward, Mrs Teo said public service media has to continue developing the right talent and instincts to provide quality journalistic content for Singaporeans. 'Content is still key. Information is the currency of the industry, and your insight is what sets you apart from the rest. This is also your mission and duty to your audiences,' she said to a room of over 240 guests, including journalists past and present. Media outlets here must also keep pace with technology and the changing preferences of audiences by investing in new capabilities, adopting new processes and creating new products. Mrs Teo cited SPH Media's in-house multimedia facility Studio+65, which allows for virtual production, audiovisual storytelling and digital content creation. Mediacorp has also deployed AI in its newsrooms, automating translation and subtitling processes, she noted. In her speech, Mrs Teo spotlighted some award winners for innovating and finding new ways of bringing important stories to readers. They included ST senior correspondent Stephanie Yeo, who won a health journalism award for her well-researched reports on women's health issues that raised awareness of conditions such as endometriosis and menopause and their available treatment options. Endometriosis is a condition whereby tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside of the womb. Mrs Teo said public service media in Singapore has defied the odds and avoided the fates of many of its international counterparts, and that generations of journalists played an important role in fostering a thriving and vibrant media ecosystem here. 'It is fair to say that journalism has never been an easy job, and it has become only harder in recent decades. But you have soldiered on with a tireless commitment to excellence,' she said. 'Your dedication to the craft has been instrumental in upholding truth and trust in Singapore's information space, shaping an informed audience and a stronger Singapore.' Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
