As Nomination Day comes to a close and battle lines have been drawn, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong says he expects this year's General Election to be a «tough contest». Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday (April 23) with fellow People's Action Party (PAP) members Masagos Zulkifli, Chan Chun Sing and Indranee Rajah, PM Wong, who is also the party's secretary-general, said: «The opposition is better organised than before, and aside from one walkover, every area will be fiercely contested. »My team and I will work very hard to make our case to Singaporeans and win every vote.« He added that he has assembled the »best possible team for Singapore« in this »changed world«, noting the challenges this time are »more severe" compared to the last election amid the current global climate. “The opposition says: Don’t fear. This is an overreaction. The PAP is overdoing it. But I think if you truly examine the facts and ask yourself, is the world changing? Is something different? The answer is yes,” PM Wong said.

SINGAPORE - Independent candidate Darryl Lo, who is contesting Radin Mas SMC, will not hold physical rallies, will distribute 15,000 fliers and will put up 200 posters with a team of 12 volunteers. And while he acknowledged he has no political presence, he said he is going solo as there is no credible opposition in his constituency. Mr Lo is one of two independent candidates standing for election when Singaporeans go to the polls on May 3. The other is Mr Jeremy Tan, who is contesting Mountbatten SMC. Both men are first-time candidates, and plan to be full-time MPs if elected. On Nomination Day on April 23, Mr Lo, 28, told The Straits Times: «I always have the belief that sometimes an underdog may emerge successful. And I hope the residents see my perseverance and hard work.» He will be up against incumbent PAP MP Melvin Yong, 53, and People's Alliance for Reform's (PAR) Kumar Appavoo, 56. There are 25,497 voters in Radin Mas.

Nomination Day has wrapped up, with 211 parliamentary hopefuls putting up their candidacy for the General Election. We've compiled the 33 electoral divisions (in alphabetical order) and the full list of candidates contesting them.

Today (April 23) marks Nomination Day, where prospective candidates for the General Election file their nomination papers, kicking off the countdown to Polling Day on May 3.  Here's what some of the candidates did with their loved ones before heading off to the races — from sharing special moments to penning their heartfelt appreciation.  The Workers' Party's Ong Lue Ping whips up breakfast  PHOTO: Facebook/Dr Ong Lue Ping Dr Ong Lue Ping from The Workers' Party (WP) prepared a hearty breakfast for his family.  He also stated that this is how he would be expressing his love for them over the days leading up to Polling Day. 

Four parties will be contesting in five-member Tampines GRC during the upcoming General Election. The People's Action Party (PAP) team, led by Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli, 62, will be defending against Workers' Party (WP), National Solidarity Party (NSP) and People's Power Party (PPP).  Candidates from all four parties successfully filed their nomination papers at Poi Ching School on Wednesday (April 23). The PAP team defending Tampines GRC includes Senior Minister of State Dr Koh Poh Koon, 53, and three-term Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng, 54, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment. They are joined by newcomers Assistant Professor Charlene Chen, 43, and former Chief of Army David Neo, 47. Said Masagos: «I'm very proud to have five of us here working together.» The election is not only about theoretical democracy, he said, but it's about the residents' needs and dreams. When asked about PAP feels about WP contesting in Tampines, Masagos said: «We will build on the promises we delivered, why WP is in Tampines is for them to answer.»

The Workers' Party's (WP) secretary-general Pritam Singh will once again helm the five-member Aljunied GRC. The other members of the team are Sylvia Lim, Gerald Giam, along with new faces Fadli Fawzi and Kenneth Tiong. The only other change is Faisal Manap who will lead the WP's Tampines GRC team. The opposition party will go up against the People's Action Party (PAP) team led by Chan Hui Yuh and consisting Adrian Ang, Faizal Abdul Aziz, Daniel Liu and Jagathishwaran Rajo. Speaking to the media on Wednesday (April 23), Singh termed Faisal as his «dear brother», and said that the latter always wanted to represent Tampines. Said Singh: «He's been asking me to consider that proposal for quite some time, and he succeeded... he is proud to lead the Tampines team.» Talking about the contests ahead, Singh said there will be tough fights everywhere. «Every single vote counts.» The People's Action Party (PAP) has fielded a five-member team led by marketing director Chan Hui Yuh, featuring newcomers Dr Faisal Abdul Aziz, Daniel Liu, Jagathishwaran Rajo, and Dr Adrian Ang, to contest  Aljunied GRC.

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) will take on the People's Action Party (PAP) in the western end of Singapore again after the two teams of candidates were nominated at Nan Hua High School on April 23. West Coast GRC saw the narrowest of vote difference at General Election 2020, with PAP claiming 51.68 per cent of the share. The new five-member West Coast-Jurong West GRC, which was formed mainly with parts of West Coast GRC, will be contested by PAP's anchor minister Desmond Lee, Shawn Huang, Ang Wei Neng, new faces Cassandra Lee and Dr Hamid Razak, and PSP's Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Leong Mun Wai, Hazel Poa, Sumarleki Amjah and Sani Ismail. National Development Minister Lee thanked residents for giving him the privilege to serve during the previous term. «During this time, we've visited you and we've met you at events and walkabouts. We've served you at meet the people sessions. We are here to serve you and we seek your support over the next five years, so we can look after our estate and continue to serve you for five years and onwards,» he said. 

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong will lead the People's Action Party to contest in the new four-member Punggol GRC, moving from Chua Chu Kang GRC where he served as MP for 14 years. The 66-year-old's candidacy was a closely guarded secret leading up to Nomination Day on Wednesday (April 23). Gan arrived at the nomination centre in Yusof Ishak Secondary School in Punggol Central at around 11.30am to submit his nomination papers for Punggol GRC. The other members of PAP team in the GRC are Dr Janil Puthucheary, Sun Xueling and Yeo Wan Ling.  Leading up to Nomination Day, there was much speculation that who would be the anchor the PAP slate for Punggol GRC.  Punggol GRC, with 123,557 voters, was created after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee recommended carving out the Punggol estates in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, to merge with Punggol West SMC. The PAP will face a fight with the Workers’ Party, which is fielding newcomers Harpreet Singh, Jackson Aw, Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar and Alexis Dang. 

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today.  1. Books Kinokuniya to open new outlet at Raffles City this August With the recent closures of Epigram Coffee Bookshop and Times Bookstores, it has been pretty bleak for bookworms in Singapore. However, Books Kinokuniya's latest update regarding a new outlet opening in Raffles City Shopping Centre this August should help raise spirits... » READ MORE

The stage is set for Nomination Day on Wednesday (April 23), marking an important milestone leading up to May 3 when Singaporeans go to the polls in a closely watched General Election. Several senior ministers — including Dr Ng Eng Hen, Dr Amy Khor, and Dr Maliki Osman — have announced their departure from politics over the past week, signalling a period of transition and renewal.  Both the People's Action Party (PAP) and opposition parties have fielded fresh faces that promise to make a change in the respective constituencies they are contesting in. Here's what to watch for on Wednesday, as prospective candidates file their nomination papers at the nine centres across the island. Where is Pritam Singh headed? Pritam Singh, the secretary-general for the Workers' Party (WP), was not clear on whether he or other incumbent Aljunied GRC MPs would be contesting there this time.

Puan Noor Aishah, wife of Singapore's first president Yusof Ishak, has died at the age of 91 early Tuesday (April 22) morning. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his Cabinet are deeply saddened by the death of Puan Noor Aishah. PM Wong said in a Facebook post on Tuesday: «With grace and quiet strength, she stood by Encik Yusof Ishak and steadfastly supported him throughout our tumultuous years of nation building.» «Her kindness and service touched countless lives - may her legacy continue to inspire us all.» Puan Noor Aishah died peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital at 4.28am. Her husband, the late president, died in 1970 at the age of 60. 

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed his gratitude to Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen, who will be stepping down after 24 years in politics. In a Facebook post on Monday (April 21), PM Wong shared how he had worked with Dr Ng in the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) during the former's early days in politics. «Eng Hen brought clarity and depth to every Cabinet discussion. He is steady in crisis, bold in imagining possibilities, and thoughtful in analysing problems. He was a role model and source of advice for me and other younger ministers,» he wrote. PM Wong added that while Dr Ng has served in various ministries during his time in office and left a lasting mark on them, he will be best remembered as Minister for Defence — a role he held for more than a decade. «Well respected regionally and internationally for his thoughtful and incisive assessments, he raised Singapore's stature and standing,» he wrote.

A 20-year-old male Indian national will be charged in court for his alleged involvement in a case of outrage of modesty on board a flight bound for Singapore. The police were alerted to the incident on February 28 at 12.05pm, according to a statement released by the police on Monday (April 21). Preliminary investigations revealed that the 28-year-old female cabin crew member was escorting a female passenger to the lavatory when she noticed a piece of tissue on the floor. As she bent down to pick it up, the 20-year-old man allegedly appeared behind her and pushed her into the lavatory with him. The female passenger who witnessed the incident managed to intervene and help the crew member out of the lavatory. The incident was subsequently reported to the cabin supervisor, and the man was arrested by officers from the Airport Police Division after the plane landed at Changi Airport, according to the police statement. The man will be charged in court later today for the offence of using criminal force to a person with intent to outrage modesty.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore mourned the passing of Pope Francis on Monday (April 21). «We are deeply saddened to announce our Holy Father Pope Francis has passed away on Monday, 7:35am, April 21, 2025 in Vatican City,» it said in a statement. «Our Vicar of Christ has been a model of mercy and compassion. He was a champion of unity and hope, not just for Catholics, but for the world, especially the weak, the marginalised, and the poor.» The statement said the Pope spoke for displaced refugees and victims of war, and urged world leaders to seek peace through dialogue and justice. Pope Francis' constant call for inclusivity gave the world a Church that welcomed all, especially those who yearned for love, mercy, and hope. His actions inspired the faithful to be the face of Christ to others and reach out to those on the fringes of society, it said. "During his State visit to Singapore in a meeting with youth from different faiths, he emphasised dialogue and understanding between the religious communities. He urged the youth of today to be courageous and open to feedback in order to have sincere dialogue with one another.

Teo Chee Hean, 70, will not be contesting the Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, he announced during a press conference introducing the People's Action Party's (PAP) team for the constituency on Monday (April 21). Indranee Rajah, 62, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and incumbent MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, will be helming the constituency. Other team members include Sharael Taha, 44, Desmond Tan, 55, and new face Valerie Lee, 39, who is head of corporate affairs for Singapore and Southeast Asia for Sembcorp Industries. Speaking at the event, Senior Minister Teo expressed his thanks to residents, volunteers and partners for their kindness and support for the past 28 years. He said: «I will not be standing for re-election in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC. I will continue to support PM Lawrence Wong and his 4G team and remain available to contribute to the team wherever and in whatever way PM Wong feels I can best serve.» Although he may be taking a step back from the constituency, he does so with confidence in the new, «strong team» that will continue to serve the constituency, SM Teo said.

Six people were taken to hospital on Monday (April 21) early morning after a fire broke out at People's Park Complex in Chinatown. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to a fire at 1 Park Road — the address of the building — at about 4.35am. SCDF said the fire involved cleaning supplies and equipment in a storage area on level six, and the blaze was extinguished by firefighters using a water jet. Six persons were taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation. A video of the scene uploaded on social media platform Xiaohongshu shows evacuated persons waiting on the ground floor. The building facade had been blackened from the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation, said SCDF.

East Coast GRC MP Cheryl Chan announced on Monday (April 21) that she will be retiring from politics after serving two terms.  In a Facebook post, Chan, 48, said: «This decision was difficult for me and was made after careful consideration. It had been challenging since my father fell ill in 2022. After his passing a year ago, I decided to devote more time to my family.»  She also expressed her gratitude to the residents of Fengshan and East Coast for giving her the opportunity to serve.  «Your care and concern, suggestions and feedback made possible what we have in the community today.  »You gave me the chance to raise topics of concern in Parliament, through various feedback channels to the Government, and constantly made me think about what could be improved."

Nee Soon GRC's anchor minister K. Shanmugam will be leading four new People's Action Party (PAP) candidates to contest the five-member Nee Soon GRC in the 2025 General Election.  The PAP announced at a press conference on Monday morning (April 21) that social activist Louis Ng, 46, DBS Bank's group chief operating officer Derrick Goh, 56, and life coach Carrie Tan, 43, will not be contesting in the upcoming General Election. Another member of the 2020 PAP team - Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim - will contest in the new Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. 

SINGAPORE — One night in Parliament, the clock struck midnight — and MPs were still debating two competing motions on jobs and Singapore's foreign talent policy, more than 13 hours since the sitting began. By the time Leader of the House Indranee Rajah adjourned the House to «great relief» at 12.33am on Sept 15, 2021, Nominated MP Janet Ang had returned to the Chamber after leaving to celebrate her birthday over dinner with her family, while the birthday of Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad had just begun. This is just one instance that reflects how the 14th term of Parliament has not just been active, but near relentless. For starters, this term of Parliament was not much longer than the last, with the difference being just 2½ months. But the tempo was higher with 162 sittings, up from 135, along with an unprecedented number of Bill and motion speeches, ministerial statements and adjournment motions. The number of occasions a PAP backbencher spoke during question time and orders of the day such as Bills or motions increased by 65 per cent from the 13th term of Parliament. 

Minister for National Development and West Coast-Jurong West GRC anchor Desmond Lee highlighted his team's plan to improve job options and security for the constituency's residents. Speaking to the media at the People's Action Party (PAP) Boon Lay branch on Sunday (April 20), Lee said that the team wishes to continue the Jobs @ West Coast programme by extending and intensifying it through a number of ways. This is given that the initiative, which was launched in 2020, has supported residents. «We want to support them (with the) initiatives that we see rolled out today. (By) bringing jobs directly into the heartlands to cater to a few groups of people,» he said, adding that the team is focused on helping workers in trade-exposed, external-facing sectors, middle-aged and older workers as well as younger residents who are anxious to land a job after graduation.

Two Singapore catering companies owned by the same parent company were fined after a total of 273 people fell ill in separate incidents linked to poor food safety practices. The incidents occurred in November 2023. Continental Delight Catering Services and Elsie's Kitchen Catering Services were fined $1,000 and $500 respectively on April 16, according to a statement by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Both companies are owned by Hesed & Emet Holdings, which has a central kitchen located at 21 Second Chin Bee Road. In November 2023, the SFA and the Ministry of Health (MOH) received reports that 107 people were affected by gastroenteritis after consuming food prepared by Continental Delight Catering Services.

The Workers' Party (WP) has unveiled three new candidates for the upcoming General Election. They are Jackson Au, 35, a communications executive, Paris V. Parameswari, 51, a former US Navy security administrator, and Michael Thng, 37, a startup co-founder and graduate from Harvard Kennedy School. They were introduced by the party's secretary-general Pritam Singh and chairperson Sylvia Lim at a press conference at its headquarters on Sunday (April 20). Au, 35, is a senior manager of corporate affairs and marketing with the London Stock Exchange, and was the legislative assistant for former Aljunied MP Leon Perera before the latter resigned. Au, who is is also part of WP's Youth Wing executive committee, advocated for greater transparency, press freedom and freedom of information laws. «I believe this is important in speaking truth to power and holding our institutions accountable,» he said, adding that he could identify with young Singaporeans who «feel left behind» or «struggle to get good jobs». «As a young Singaporean myself, I feel the weight of pessimism that many of my generation carry,» he said.

A 26-year-old Singaporean man died in a motorcycle accident on April 17 while riding in southern Thailand during the country's Songkran festive period. The motorcyclist was riding along 410 Betong highway in Yala province when he collided with an oncoming pickup truck, reported The Straits Times. It was raining at the time, according to a Thai road safety committee. Dashcam footage of the incident which surfaced on Facebook showed a grey motorcycle from the opposite lane skidding into the path of the pickup truck before the two vehicles collided. The timestamp on the footage indicated that the accident occurred in the afternoon on April 17. According to Shin Min Daily News, the Yala provincial police department had made a Facebook post on Friday which stated that the Singaporean rider had died instantly after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing into the pickup truck. Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that the accident may have been caused by worn motorcycle tyres and a slippery road surface due to the rain, Shin Min reported. 

SINGAPORE - Selling new HDB flats for $90,000 to $270,000, making maternal and paediatric care mostly free, reducing GST to 7 per cent, and removing the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). These are some proposals put forth by the Singapore Democratic Party on April 20 as it unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming polls on May 3. A day earlier, it revealed its campaign slogan of Thrive, Not Just Survive. The manifesto was launched by party chairman Prof Paul Tambyah at Yew Tee Square, part of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC where the opposition party has planted its flag.  Flanking him were party vice-chairman Bryan Lim, organising secretary Jufri Salim and member Gigene Wong. The three are set to be fielded in constituencies that SDP intends to contest in.  SDP's manifesto has six broad sections, spelling out 'Thrive', with over 40 proposals. Its six thrusts include ensuring fair taxes, universal healthcare, respect for the planet and people, rational immigration, a voluntary en-bloc redevelopment scheme for affordable housing, and an education system promoting creativity and equality.

The People's Action Party (PAP) announced on Sunday (April 20) its candidates for the new Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC this General Election. Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, 60, will recontest the constituency and lead the five-member team, which includes four-term Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng, 63. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong — whose Joo Chiat ward had been ceded to East Coast GRC — and Mohd Fahmi Aliman will not be part of the team, said Dr Tan. Their replacements are Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, 56, and Tin Pei Ling, 41, who was MP of the now-defunct Macpherson SMC. New face Diana Pang, a business development director and grassroots volunteer at East Coast GRC, completes the slate. The 51-year-old had been seen at constituency events alongside incumbent Marine Parade MPs.

SINGAPORE - The opposition Red Dot United (RDU) has proposed that an unconditional cash transfer be given to all Singaporeans to increase their financial security, amid rising costs and economic uncertainty. All Housing Board flats should also be eligible for redevelopment so that older ones can retain their value, instead of experiencing lease decay. These are key proposals from RDU's 24-page manifesto unveiled on April 19, along with greater support for small local businesses. In a statement, RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon said: «We are facing a global trade crisis, and Singapore cannot escape getting trampled on when the giants fight.» He added: «A clear plan of action is exactly what citizens need right now as we face even greater uncertainty, both locally and globally.»  RDU is the latest party to release its election manifesto ahead of the May 3 polls, after the PAP, WP, PSP, People's Power Party and Singapore People's Party. RDU is expected to contest Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Nee Soon GRC, Jurong Central SMC and Jalan Kayu SMC, as stated in its manifesto.