EBRC not yet formed, will call for GE when my team is ready: PM Wong

The People's Action Party is preparing for the next general election and continues to look for new candidates to join, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at a press conference on Nov. 8, 2024.

"We have been very active in meeting people, identifying potential candidates and when the time comes, I hope to be able to unveil a good slate of candidates for Singaporeans," PM Wong added.

"You know that in every election, we renew quite a number of MPs (Members of Parliament)  after they have served three terms or so... we will ask them to step down for renewal and they understand, and we will bring in new blood, and I hope to do the same during the (General) Elections."

Wong was responding to a question about how election preparations and how the next General Election would play into the 60th anniversary of Singapore's independence.

The deadline for the General Election to be held in Singapore is November 2025.

EBRC still has not been convened

PM Wong was also asked about whether the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has been convened and if it has not, will it make the Budget next year an "election" budget.

In response, PM Wong said the ERBC has not yet been convened. As for when the election will be held, this has not yet decided.

However, people will know once the process to hold the election has been started, he said.

With regard to the Budget next year, it could potentially be the last Budget in this term of government.

He said, "But with any Budget, whether at the beginning of the term or at the end of the term, we focus on our priorities."

When asked about how he is preparing his own team for the next election, PM Wong replied, "As each day passes, I am more ready".

He added, "We are continuing to prepare and as we (my team) get better and better, as we get to the point when we are ready, then I will call a General Election."

What are the concerns that the public have shared with the government?

As for concerns that have been raised with the government, PM Wong noted that there were a "range of concerns" with cost of living being a major issue.

"It's not just what prices we pay for food and for groceries, but includes housing, (and) includes COEs (Certificates of Entitlement)," he said.

Other issues include job security, which reflects a public concern about a more turbulent global environment.

People are no longer just worried about their current jobs amidst geopolitical changes and global changes with technology, but also their future jobs when they are in their 30s, 40s, 50s or 60s, the prime minister noted.

One of the themes for Budget 2025 that the government is therefore thinking about, will be training, skills, opportunities and jobs for workers, he said.

Government hoping to provide more platforms for engagement for SG60

As for the government's plans for SG60, PM Wong said the government is keen to provide more platforms and opportunities for ground-up engagement and action.

"So we will certainly look at facilitating local projects that individuals, community groups may wish to undertake, and we will empower them facilitate that.

We will provide resources so that these projects can proliferate, so that SG60 is not just a top-down exercise, but it's something that everyone can embrace and use this as a motivation for us to strengthen our sense of shared values, our sense of purpose and also our sense of solidarity with one another."

PM Wong: "I do not take the people's vote for granted"

When asked if the outcome of the U.S. elections provided any takeaway relevant to Singapore, PM Wong replied that elections are ultimately the "deepest opportunity" to decide which party forms the government.

PM Wong then said:

"I do not take the people's vote or mandate for granted. I do not assume that I will continue as prime minister or that the PAP will automatically form the next government.

In the end, Singaporeans will have to decide, and when we get to elections, we will present to them our our track record, what we have done in this term of government.

We hope that will be sufficient to earn the confidence and trust on Singaporeans, and we hope it will give us the chance to govern Singapore."

Top image by Mothership