The People's Action Party (PAP) wants to «keep» the opposition confined to the Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) scheme, as only elected opposition members «can pressure and push the government», said Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh today (April 29).  Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah had said at a lunchtime rally on Monday (April 28) that there will be at least 12 opposition members in Parliament under the NCMP scheme, and that alternative voices are «guaranteed». Asked for his thoughts on Indranee's rally speech, Singh told reporters on Tuesday that for opposition members to speak up faithfully and be connected to the ground, they have to be voted into Parliament. «NCMPs have no voters, have no residents that they can solicit feedback from. They don't have an office under a block in the constituency where they have worked at and essentially this is where the PAP wants to keep the opposition. »They don't want elected opposition MPs, and I know why — because only an elected opposition MP can pressure and push the government."

By now, you would probably have come across posters of the various political parties and their candidates around your neighbourhood.  But for Red Dot United (RDU), some of their posters have gone missing, while others were found hung upside down, placed in the wrong constituency or were damaged, said the party. In a Facebook post on Monday (April 28), the party shared that some members of the public have sent them pictures of the posters placed wrongly, as well as photographs of people taking down their posters.  «We do not believe they are our volunteers, which means their actions are unauthorised and constitute a crime under Clause 16 of the Parliamentary Elections (Posters and Banners) Regulations,» wrote RDU.  The clause states that any person who destroys, obliterates, defaces, alters or removes any poster or banner displayed shall be guilty of an offence. 

Migrant workers Chinnappa Kannadasan and Govindaraj Elangeshwaran were among a group of workers at River Valley Road on April 8 when a fire broke out at enrichment centre Tomato Cooking School. They sprang into action, rushing to rescue 15 children and six adults using a ladder and scaffold from their work site — by passing the children one by one to the workers — before firefighters from the Singapore Civil Defence Force arrived. To honour the 15 workers for their bravery and efforts, an appreciation event was held on April 20 by non-profit organisation Its Raining Raincoats at their charity store on Henderson Road, which was attended by many parents whose kids were saved from the fire.

Six rallies and a live television roundtable will be held on Tuesday (April 29).  The parties involved in the rallies are the People's Action Party (PAP), Workers' Party (WP), Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), Red Dot United (RDU) and People's Power Party (PPP).  PAP will stage a rally for Nee Soon GRC at Yishun Stadium while PPP will hold its rally for Ang Mo Kio GRC at Yio Chu Kang Stadium. RDU's rally will take place at the School of Science and Technology for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, while WP's rally will be held at Bedok Stadium for East Coast GRC. SDP will be holding two rallies, one at lunchtime at the promenade area beside UOB Plaza for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, and another at Beacon Primary School for Bukit Panjang SMC. Additionally, a live roundtable hosted by Mediacorp will air from 9pm to 10pm. The participating parties will be PAP, WP, RDU, People's Alliance for Reform (PAR) and Progress Singapore Party (PSP).

Singapore's sandwich generation needs more support, said People's Action Party's (PAP) Pasir Ris-Changi GRC candidate and newcomer Valerie Lee, expressing her intention to advocate for caregivers of ageing parents and children. Speaking at a rally for the constituency held at Tampines Meridian Junior College on Monday (April 28), Lee said: «Today, I don't just come before you as a political candidate. I stand here as a daughter, a parent, and a working Singaporean just like you. »So who do I want to advocate for? The sandwich generation. Caught in the middle caring for both ageing parents and young children, you hold everything together — often invisibly — juggling family, career, caregiving and so much more.« »But the truth is, this is not an easy sandwich to bite into. Our family structures have changed. Family sizes have gotten smaller over time, and meeting these demands are increasingly challenging," she added. Lee continued that in speaking to residents, she has gathered that while the government has good initiatives that have improved over time, people need more support.

In a packed election rally on Monday (April 28), the Workers' Party (WP) took aim at the People's Action Party (PAP) and Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong's surprise move to Punggol GRC in the General Election. Gan had made the late switch on Nomination Day, where he moved from Chua Chu Kang GRC to anchor the ruling party's four-member slate in the newly-created Punggol GRC. Leading the charge was WP party chief Pritam Singh, who, in a 27-minute speech at Yusof Ishak Secondary School, argued that voters should not be afraid to vote out Gan. He noted Gan was not elected to the PAP's central executive committee last year, and said that it is «very strange for a deputy prime minister». Singh said: «Could it be that he was ready to retire and did not plan to run in this elections? If so, can he be so critical to the PM's plans? »You mean the PM has no one else in his Cabinet who can negotiate with the United States on tariffs?"

People's Alliance for Reform (PAR) leader Lim Tean has expressed his unhappiness over the telecast General Election roundtable he participated in. The roundtable, which took place on Sunday (April 27) evening, saw Chee Hong Tat from the incumbent People's Action Party (PAP) trade verbal blows with Michael Thng from the Workers' Party (WP), Ravi Philemon from Red Dot United (RDU), Stephanie Tan from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and Lim. In a Facebook post on Monday, Lim stated that he's «extremely disappointed and angry» at the roundtable's «very unfair» format. In particular, he pointed out that the four opposition parties had to share half the total time while PAP was given the remaining half. «That meant the opposition parties were given only one minute each to make their case!» Lim exclaimed. «This was grossly inadequate compared to the four minutes Chee Hong Tat had for his response to each question.» All participants ought to be given equal response time to maintain fairness, Lim argued.

A 23-year-old man who participated in the 2XU Compression Run died on Sunday (April 27) morning.   The police told AsiaOne they received a call for assistance along Raffles Avenue on Sunday at about 6.25am. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) conveyed an unconscious man to Singapore General Hospital, where he subsequently died.  Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play and investigations are ongoing.  The marathon organisers published a statement on Instagram that evening addressing the incident.   It read: «We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of one of our participants at this morning's 2XU Compression Run.  »Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends during this difficult time. As the matter is under police investigation, we are unable to share further details at this point." 

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong appealed to the voters to give him a strong mandate, even as he addressed other major issues facing Singaporeans. Speaking at PAP's first Fullerton rally in 10 years at the the promenade next to UOB Plaza on Monday (April 28), PM Wong told the lunchtime crowd that this election is all about Singaporeans' future. «This election is about your future, our future. Not just for today but for our children and grandchildren,» he said. Addressing cost of living concerns, PM Wong acknowledged calls for a universal minimum wage model in Singapore. Lunchtime crowd listening to the speeches at the promenade next to UOB Plaza . PHOTO: AsiaOne/Loo Hui Ping «We want to uplift lower-wage workers, the PAP wants to do it, don't get me wrong,» he said, citing the Progressive Wage Model, implemented by the ruling party, as evidence.

Workers' Party (WP) secretary-general Pritam Singh has opposed to Senior Minister (SM) Lee Hsien Loong claims that losing key ministers in Parliament because of more opposition Members of Parliament (MP) could place Singapore in «quite a lot of trouble». At the People's Action Party (PAP) rally held at Jalan Kayu yesterday (April 27), SM Lee said that if voters try to «count» and elect a few more opposition MPs, «you will not get it right and we can mess everything up.» In response to his remarks, Singh told reporters at Tampines Ave 2 this morning (April 28): «I think it's a weak argument because precedents inform us otherwise.» The 48-year-old brought up the example of former Minister for Foreign Affairs and MP for Aljunied GRC George Yeo, who retired from politics in 2011 after losing the ward to WP. Singh recalled that Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said in 2011 that Yeo was a «core member» of the cabinet. «We know that within cabinet, there's a smaller group of people,» he said.

Two cars caught on fire along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) on Monday (April 28) morning. A video of the incident shared to the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page showed the two cars, a BMW and a Toyota Alphard, engulfed in bright orange flames.  Thick smoke was seen billowing from the cars. Speaking to AsiaOne, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the fire along PIE towards Changi Airport, after the Paya Lebar Road exit at around 7.20am. According to the SCDF, the flames were extinguished with a water jet and a Compressed Air Foam backpack. One person was assessed for minor injuries, but they declined to be sent to the hospital.

Two of Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) rally speakers alleged Ong Ye Kung neglected caregivers and mental health issues in his time as Minister for Health. Speaking first on Sunday (April 27), Sembawang GRC candidate James Gomez said that Ong is «underperforming» in his role. «Walk around our neighbourhoods... More elderly citizens [are] navigating coffee shops, supermarkets, void decks, walkways and traffic lights... [on] mobility devices, wheelchairs, walking aids, often accompanied by caregivers,» he said, adding that many of them are not professional caregivers, but younger family members. Dr Gomez continued that Ong has failed to put in place a multi-faceted support mechanism for caregivers, saying: «Singaporeans are already stretched thin — balancing careers, raising children and now caring for our seniors. »And they are doing it mostly alone, unpaid, while coping with tremendous internal family stress. «This is a crisis... taking place in the face of an unresponsive, underperforming Health Minister Ong Ye Kung. He has held this position for nearly four years, since May 2021, and still underperforming,» he added.

Jalan Kayu SMC People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Ng Chee Meng has said that he will learn from the feedback from the Allianz-Income saga and do better. He addressed the matter during the party's rally at Fern Green Primary School on Sunday (April 27) evening. Ng said that in the course of his work in NTUC Enterprise, «problems do crop up time to time», such as the Income-Allianz deal in 2024. «The proposed deal was done in good faith and was in compliance with legal and MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) regulations,» he recalled in his speech. «We thought in the labour movement that it was a reasonable deal.» Ng explained that at the time, Income's market share in Singapore had dropped from 20 per cent to six per cent over 10 years, and there was a «real threat to the sustainability of Income, especially in moments of crisis». «The proposed deal could strengthen Income and, most importantly, protect the interests of Incomes policy holders,» he said, adding that a stronger Income would enable NTUC to pursue social missions in wider spaces besides insurance.

The People's Action Party (PAP)'s policies on housing, immigration, and the recent GST hike were scrutinised on Sunday (April 27) evening as it sparred with four other opposition parties in a live roundtable. The 90-minute broadcast featured Chee Hong Tat from the incumbent PAP, Michael Thng from the Workers' Party (WP), Ravi Philemon from Red Dot United (RDU), Lim Tean from People's Alliance for Reform (PAR) and Stephanie Tan from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP). On taxes, Lim said there was «absolutely no need» to raise the goods and services tax (GST) from seven per cent to nine per cent. He pointed out that the Government had enjoyed Budget surpluses, especially during the 2024 financial year when it was $6.4 billion. «That's a lot of money to finance free healthcare, education and school meals,» said Lim, who is facing a three-way contest for Potong Pasir SMC in the General Election. The PAR chief called for GST to be exempted on necessities such as food, groceries and healthcare.

Andre Low, the Workers' Party's (WP) new face, said he and his opponent Ng Chee Meng from the People's Action Party (PAP) — who are contesting for Jalan Kayu SMC — represent «two very different kinds of candidates». Speaking to the media during a doorstop interview at Fernvale Hawker Centre on Sunday (April 27) with party secretary-general Pritam Singh and party chair Sylvia Lim, Low, 34, said he hopes residents from the constituency will «put their trust» in WP. «We (him and Ng) are over 20 years apart in age. He is a scholar and a general. He's reached the very top of the military career pathway, and I spent my entire career in the private sector through many different roles... »I feel like it's time for Jalan Kayu residents to make a choice if they want a different kind of parliamentarian — someone fresh, someone energetic, someone with new ideas.«  When asked about the challenges he is facing for the contest, Low told AsiaOne: »I don't think this is a challenge per se, but I still see myself as the underdog here. Mr Ng comes with a star-studded CV.

Six rallies are scheduled for Monday (April 28). The parties involved are the People's Action Party (PAP), Workers' Party (WP) and Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).  PAP will be holding its first lunchtime rally from 12pm to 3pm at the promenade area beside UOB Plaza for Jalan Besar GRC. The remaining five rallies will be held from 7pm to 10pm.  PAP will stage three evening rallies: one for Jurong Central SMC at Jurong Stadium, another for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC at Bedok Stadium, and one for Sembawang GRC at the area beside Sun Plaza. SDP's rally for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC will be held at Woodlands Stadium, while WP will hold its rally for Punggol GRC at Yusof Ishak Secondary School.

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Dr Gigene Wong has issued two public apologies after using a racial slur to describe fellow candidate Ariffin Sha during her rally speech on Saturday (April 26). The 59-year-old referred to Ariffin as «keling», a term that is derogatory and offensive to the Indian community. In a Facebook post later that night, Dr Wong acknowledged her error, adding that she «wasn't aware of the real meaning» behind the term. The following morning, Dr Wong addressed the matter again with a second apology. She noted that her actions had «disrespected» 27-year-old Ariffin and «offended» the Indian community.

People's Power Party (PPP) secretary-general Goh Meng Seng called for medical freedom and amendments to the Infectious Diseases Act, saying that Singaporeans should not be forced to partake in medical treatments, such as vaccinations, without sufficient research backing them. Goh said this at the sidelines of a walkabout on Sunday (April 27) morning at Block 826 Tampines Street 81. He was with his Tampines GRC team which includes party chairman Derrick Sim, Peter Soh, Vere Nathan and Arbaah Haroun. During their walkabout, Goh and Sim spoke about compulsory vaccination, one of eight key points in their manifesto.  «We should not be treated as pigs or chicken, to be jabbed at the master's will,» said Goh, emphasising that human beings should have a choice instead of being forced to be vaccinated, a key issue raised during the Covid-19 pandemic where unvaccinated employees were not permitted to return to work.

People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Edward Chia has responded after he was called out by non-profit group Hamster Society Singapore over an anecdote where he bred and sold hamsters at the age of 10. This comes after the animal welfare group called him out in their Facebook post on Friday, condemning a fun fact he had shared about himself on the PAP website and in an unnamed publication.  Chia, 41, had previously shared that his entrepreneurial journey began at age 10 when he bred hamsters and sold them to pet shops at $3 each, «sparking his lifelong passion for creating value». The information had since been taken down from the PAP website. Hamster Society Singapore said in their post that unlicensed breeding and selling of pets is illegal in Singapore. Adding that his past venture is «not something to celebrate», they wrote: «Animals are not products. Whether it's hamsters, dogs, cats, rabbits, lives should never be reduced to dollar signs. Breeding without a license isn't just illegal. It's irresponsible.»

At this stage of the General Election, Singaporeans are closely tuning in to candidates' ideas — reading party manifestos, attending rallies and weighing promises.  But beyond politics, there’s also something to be said about understanding these candidates as individuals.   From porcelain dolls collection to playing the saxophone, here are some pastimes from this year’s candidates that might surprise you.  Belting it out    Who doesn't love a good singing session? But unlike many, The Workers' Party (WP) new face Jimmy Tan comes with credentials when it comes to having a mic in his hand. 

SINGAPORE — Singapore-born giant panda Le Le, who returned to China in 2024, is now living a solitary existence after getting into a brawl with one of his enclosure mates. The incident occurred on April 18, at the rotund bear's new home in the Dujiangyan Panda Base, a panda conservation centre in Chengdu, China. In a video uploaded by the conservation centre on Chinese social media platform Weibo, Le Le is seen tussling with a younger panda in the enclosure. The centre identifies the other panda as Qing Zai. The playful fight soon escalates, however, and the bears are seen throwing paws and growling aggressively at each other. In an attempt to break up the fight, zookeepers try to throw bamboo — the pandas' favourite snack — into the enclosure, but the brawling animals pay no heed. The fight eventually ends when Le Le climbs up a tree in the enclosure, taking refuge amid its branches until Qing Zai is led away by zookeepers. The two pandas have since been separated to prevent future fights, the base said on Weibo.

The People's Power Party (PPP) has expressed its support for candidate Samuel Lee, following public scrutiny over a road rage incident in 2022 for which he was convicted and served a six-week jail sentence. Lee, who is part of the PPP team contesting Ang Mo Kio GRC in the upcoming election, issued a public apology through a video posted on Facebook by PPP chief Goh Meng Seng on Saturday (April 26).  In the video, Lee bowed and acknowledged the seriousness of the incident while addressing reporters. «I knew this would come under scrutiny. It's time for me to apologise for my misunderstanding back then, and I sincerely wish [the victim] well in life moving forward » said the 34-year-old. According to Shin Min Daily News, Lee was involved in an altercation with a personal mobility device (PMD) rider on February 2, 2022, near Block 29, Toa Payoh Lorong 4, while driving his Mercedes-Benz.  He was also alleged to have driven towards the food delivery rider twice during the incident, which occurred at 1.57 pm.

The People's Action Party's (PAP) manifesto for this year's General Election is «loaded with motherhood statements», Workers' Party (WP) secretary-general Pritam Singh argued at his party's rally on Saturday (April 26). Singh attended the event alongside party chair Sylvia Lim, as well as Tampines GRC candidates Faisal Manap, Jimmy Tan, Eileen Chong, Dr Ong Lue Ping and Michael Thng at Temasek Junior College. Also present were Tampines Changkat SMC candidate Kenneth Foo and Gerald Giam, Fadli Fawzi, Kenneth Tiong, Jasper Kuan, Paris V Parameswari, Yee Jenn Jong, Sufyan Mikhail Putra and Nathaniel Koh. Singh prefaced his statement by pointing out that many voters have made comparisons between the two parties' manifestos. However, «the result is clear,» said Singh. «The PAP manifesto is short on substance and specifics.» He said the Singapore population has increased from under two million in 1965 to over six million today, that «Singapore is a far more complex society, and it will always need fresh thinking».