The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has already started its search for new candidates to prepare for the next General Election, which must be held by 2030.
Speaking at a dinner to thank 20 retired MPs on July 4, Prime Minister and PAP secretary-general Lawrence Wong said the goal is to bring new candidates in earlier so they have more time to walk the ground, build trust, and be assessed by both the party and the public.
“We cannot just rely on a few tea sessions or interviews.”
Some new candidates at the recent GE2025 were introduced quite late, and PM Wong said this is one area the party will improve.
“This is an area where we can and will do better.”
In GE2025, the PAP fielded 32 new candidates — its largest number in recent memory.
Some, like Dr Choo Pei Ling (Chua Chu Kang), Dr Charlene Chen (Tampines), and Dr Hamid Razak (West Coast–Jurong West), had been walking the ground for more than a year before the election. Others, such as Jeffrey Siow, David Neo and Jasmin Lau, were only seen closer to Nomination Day.
PM Wong shared that he personally reached out to and persuaded many of the new candidates to step forward. But he stressed that it is not a one-man job.
“As leader of the party, (looking out for good people to join the party) is one of my most important responsibilities. But I cannot do this work alone — I need all of you to chip in.”
Casting the net wide
The PAP is now resuming its tea sessions — informal chats to assess potential candidates — and is looking across all backgrounds and communities.
“We are casting the net wide — across all background and communities. It doesn’t matter that someone disagrees with us or voted against us before.”
What matters, PM Wong said, is that potential candidates have the heart to serve and are prepared to make common cause with the PAP.
Voters care about who’s standing
Reflecting on the results of GE2025 — where the PAP won 87 out of 97 seats with 65.6 per cent of the vote — PM Wong said candidate quality played a big role.
“They ask: ‘Can I trust this person? Can they take care of my family and my estate? Do they truly want to serve for the right reasons?’”
“In many closely fought contests, our PAP candidates made all the difference.”
One example was Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong being moved to Punggol GRC on Nomination Day. The team narrowly won with 55.2 per cent of the vote.
PM Wong said the party is grateful for the support it received, but renewal is ongoing and never finished.
“It has never been easy to find such people and it won’t get easier.”
GE2025: A tough but clear result
PM Wong also spoke about the challenges the party faced in this election, from rising costs to the desire for more opposition voices. Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC were among the tightest contests, with Workers’ Party teams pushing hard.
“Right up to the final day of the campaign, the outcome was far from certain.”
“But in the end, Singaporeans made a clear choice — to maintain the balance in Parliament and to return the PAP to government with a strengthened majority.”
What’s next: Challenges ahead for the PAP
PM Wong said the party will review what worked and what can be improved. The review will be led by Defence Minister and Assistant Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing.
He said the PAP ran a more focused and disciplined campaign this time, learning from GE2020. The results also reflected the hard work MPs put in over the years, helping residents and improving their neighbourhoods.
“Your actions showed voters what the PAP stands for — a party that will always walk with Singaporeans every step of the way.”
With Parliament reopening in September, PM Wong said there is much work to do — from managing the economy and cost of living, to long-term issues like ageing and climate change.
“I am confident that we will rise to the occasion. Because we are not just a collection of individuals. We are one team, we are the PAP Team — united by a shared mission, bound by a common purpose.”
