No chance of 'opposition wipe-out' in next GE: PM Lawrence Wong

The opposition in Singapore is here to stay and there is "no chance" of an opposition wipe-out happening in the next general election, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said.

He was speaking at the People's Action Party (PAP) party conference on Nov. 24, 2024 where he spoke about the political challenges that Singapore is facing.

No chance of opposition wipe-out

Opposition MPs have been in Parliament ever since 1981, when JB Jeyaretnam of the Workers' Party was elected in the Anson by-election.

With the Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme, Singaporeans are also guaranteed of at least 12 opposition MPs in parliament, PM Wong said.

However, given the desire for more opposition voices, the "bigger risk we face" is the loss of a government that's "stable", "strong" and "good".

The next election will bring high stakes, and there are "no longer any safe seats". This means that there is no guarantee that the PAP will win and form a stable government, he explained.

PM Wong added that the opposition themselves admit that they are not yet ready to form the government.

In April 2024, WP leader Pritam Singh clarified that his party's medium-term goal is to "play their part" to deny the PAP a majority of more than two-thirds of the seats in Parliament, following an opinion column in the Straits Times.

PM Wong cautioned that it does not take a large number of swing votes to significantly change electoral outcomes.

"A modest swing in popular votes against the PAP can lead to very different electoral outcomes.

We are talking very possibly the loss of another three or four GRCs.

That means we lose another four or five ministers, or a quarter of the Cabinet.

We will end up with a much weaker government; with far less ability to solve the problems facing our people and our country, at a time when the world is becoming more uncertain and troubled."

Challenges in recruiting

One of PM Wong's priorities is to assemble the "best team for Singapore".

He outlined his challenges in getting potential candidates to join, as many Singaporeans are reluctant to change their lifestyles or subject themselves to public scrutiny.

PM Wong had also asked his predecessors, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, for advice on this front.

"It's never easy to get good people to enter politics. I asked my two predecessors, ESM Goh and SM Lee, 'Do you have any advice and tips for me?'

They say, 'Just do your best, this has always been challenging.' They too face difficulties attracting good people to join.

In fact, I've seen how SM Lee agonised over this when I worked with him at that time, I didn't quite fully understand the significance of this work.

Now, having taken over, I realise it's absolutely the most important, the most crucial, the most urgent thing I have to do."

While he shared that he has made some progress on that front, he still hopes to persuade a few more to join the team.

These new candidates will be presented as the campaign approaches.

Top photo from PAP Singapore/Facebook, Mothership.