Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing have come out to rebut former comrade and People's Action Party MP, Tan Cheng Bock, who now has started his own party and will be contesting in the next election as the opposition.

The 79-year-old Tan made a series of hard-hitting comments about his former party at a press conference on Friday, July 26, charging that the PAP has changed over the years and it worries him.

Heng and Chan spoke to media at a Bedok South walkabout on Saturday morning, July 27, with former Cabinet minister Lim Swee Say, who is East Coast GRC MP.

Comments made by Heng and Chan were reported by Today.

What did Heng say?

Heng said: “We fundamentally disagree with Dr Tan, but of course, he's entitled to his opinions, just as all Singaporeans are entitled to opinions.”

Heng added: “But at the end of the day, I think the test is which party, which group of candidates have better ideas and better ability to deliver results for Singaporeans.”

Heng said Singaporeans are “wise” and will decide on which party and candidate can best serve them and to take the country forward.

Heng also said the PAP will put out its manifesto when the time comes.

He said the party will need to focus on major challenges not just over the next one or two years, but the next five to 15 years.

Heng also said Tan's remarks were contradictory: “He said that there’s no transparency but at the same time he attacked the fact that the issue of Oxley Road was raised in Parliament."

"Now that is transparency -- the fact that PM was prepared to have this issue debated in Parliament, clarified in Parliament, is a very important aspect of our governance.”

Heng said the PAP takes governance “very seriously” and that the country’s leaders are focusing on transforming the economy amid rapid technological disruption and geopolitical upheavals such as the trade war between the United States and China and Brexit.

Heng also said the PAP looks forward to “good ideas that Dr Tan may have”: “But so far he has not articulated policies to bring Singapore forward.”

Heng said that the walkabout is part of the PAP’s ministerial community visits.

What did Chan say?

Chan said the PAP is not distracted by other political parties as it fixed its sights on working hard to meet the needs of Singaporeans and ensure the country stands out among competitors.

Chan also said the party's record “is here to stand", pointing out that it continues to evolve to meet the changing aspirations of Singaporeans.

He said the PAP is not “distracted by whether there's a new party here or new party there”.

He added that Singaporeans are “fair-minded” and he is confident Singaporeans “will know who to place their trust in”.

He said the PAP needs to focus on its commitment in caring for the country and its people, and should not be distracted by other political parties as “people come and go”.

Chan said: “People say all kinds of things but at the end of the day, we have to see whatever people say, do they stand up to scrutiny.”

“We spend our time building up Singapore, we spend our time bringing Singaporeans together to do good for Singapore. If other people just spend their time tearing down things, then we have to ask, ‘Do you have a better alternative? Can you present a better and more credible alternative to fellow Singaporeans?’ And Singaporeans will be fair-minded to choose.”

Chan said that Singaporeans decide at every election who they can trust not only in the short term but “for the many years to come”.

He said: “Whether it is election or non-election time, we must make sure that fellow Singaporeans are well taken care of.”

When is the next general election held?

Chan is also the PAP’s second assistant secretary-general.

Heng is the PAP’s first-assistant secretary general and the presumed prime-minister-in-waiting, and number two to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The next general election must be called by April 2021.