'There are no longer any safe seats': PM Wong on 1st election as PM & anchoring 'hotly-contested' Marsiling-Yew Tee

At an Apr. 12 press conference in which he announced the People's Action Party's (PAP) line-up for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong shed some light on his feelings about his first General Election as PM.

He maintained that he does not expect his newly-minted premiership to come with a stronger endorsement, nor does he have a target vote share — either for the PAP as a whole or for his GRC.

In Marsiling-Yew Tee, his team remains the same as in GE2020, and "residents have to decide" who to vote for, he said.

PM Wong added:

"We believe the record will speak for itself, and we hope residents will give us the chance to serve them, and to do our best for them."

No safe seat

PM Wong also said that as anchor minister of Marsiling-Yew Tee, he "[doesn't] take the contest lightly".

This is going to be a hotly-contested election, both on a constituency level and at a national level, he said.

"The SDP has said they will contest, and whichever team they send, I assume it's going to be a fierce contest.

"I don't take the view that just because I'm here as prime minister, it's a sure-win."

He said his team will work hard to fight for every vote, in an election which he believes there are "no longer any safe seats".

"Every seat can be a hotly-contested seat," he said, "and no one can tell beforehand which will be the most hotly-contested. Frankly, because anything can happen in a campaign."

"So we take the view that there will be hotly-contested seats across the board. And I certainly do not assume that the PAP will automatically win the election."

The PAP's slate

PM Wong also confirmed that the PAP's slate of candidates for the election has been set, with over 30 new faces.

The candidates include individuals from the private and public sectors, who have excelled in their various fields.

"We have an excellent team of MPs today, but to serve our Singaporeans better, I need to renew and refresh the PAP team. To bring in new blood, new ideas, and new energy," he said.

Asked why he chose to make these changes now, in a "very turbulent time", PM Wong responded: "Each time I fail to do so, it's another five years."

"I think it will make it harder, it will be slower to refresh and renew the team," he added.

As it is, PM Wong noted that he is one of the younger ministers in his Cabinet, with "quite a number" aged 60 and above.

"I could let's say keep the current team, and continue for another five years...but it means the average age gets older, and we are just delaying the renewal...and I think that will not be in the interest in the longer-term for Singapore," he said.

"I may be OK for five years. But I'm storing up more challenges for the country in future. So I would rather have a good case on renewal."

Top image by Andrew Koay