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Straits Times
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
$13m spent on GE2025 campaign, PAP spent $9.4m against $3.6m by the opposition
Online advertising made up about 16 per cent of total costs, while political parties spent a combined $1.7 million - or about 13 per cent - on physical rallies. PHOTO: ST FILE $13m spent on GE2025 campaign, PAP spent $9.4m against $3.6m by the opposition SINGAPORE – Candidates spent slightly over $13 million at this year's general election in a bid to garner votes from Singaporeans, with almost half of this going to non-online advertising like posters and banners . Online advertising made up about 16 per cent of total costs , while political parties spent a combined $1.7 million - or about 13 per cent - on physical rallies, which made a return after being ruled out at the last election due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The remaining spending went to other costs such as office rental, equipment, supplies, and transport. Overall, spending by parties increased by about 42 per cent from the 2020 general election, where total expenditure was $9.2 million. A total of 211 individuals contested at the May 3 polls, and the full list of election expenses was posted on the Elections Department (ELD) website on June 27 for public inspection. The ruling People's Action Party spent the most - $9.4 million in its contests for all 97 seats in the House - against a combined $3.6 million from the 10 opposition parties and two independent candidates. The Workers' Party spent the most out of opposition parties, forking out a total of $1.6 million for its 26 candidates. Next up was the Singapore Democratic Party which spent $583,440 for its 11 candidates, followed by the Progress Singapore Party which spent $441,548 for 13 candidates. ELD had earlier released two tranches of election expenses for public inspection online. All parties spent below the limit of $5 per voter, which was raised from $4 at the last election to account for inflation. Goh Yan Han is political correspondent at The Straits Times. She writes Unpacked, a weekly newsletter on Singapore politics and policy. Ng Wei Kai is a journalist at The Straits Times. He writes Unpacked, a weekly newsletter on Singapore politics and policy. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.


Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Live PM Wong at May Day Rally 2025
Welcome to The Straits Times' live coverage of May Day Rally 2025 Good morning readers. Our colleagues Tay Hong Yi and Ng Wei Kai are on the ground reporting this year's May Day rally from the refreshed D'Marquee in Downtown East. Some 1,600 labour movement leaders and tripartite partners are gathering at the annual rally to celebrate workers' contributions to Singapore's economy and nation-building. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will deliver the keynote address at 10.15am. You can watch his speech on The Straits Times' YouTube channel, and get the latest from the rally here.