Reject negative politics & attacks on individuals, DPM Gan has done so much for S'pore: PM Wong

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has criticised "negative attacks on individuals" and called the tone of the GE2025 campaign "regretful" after speakers at a Workers' Party (WP) rally on Apr. 28 criticised Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and other members of PAP's Punggol team.

Speaking at a doorstop at Punggol One on Apr. 29, PM Wong said he was "taken aback" by the "negative tone" the WP took against Gan during their rally, talked up Gan's capabilities and emphasised his importance to Cabinet.

Gan is contesting the newly-created Punggol GRC, having moved there from Chua Chu Kang GRC.

Rally brickbats

During the rally, responding to a comment by fellow PAP teammate Sun Xueling about "strangers" appearing in Punggol, WP candidate Alexis Dang pointed out that Gan was also new to Punggol GRC.

Dang also took issue with Gan's remark that he would speak to his "good friend", PM Wong, to try and get more money for Punggol's infrastructure.

"Is this the kind of leadership that we want to endorse? Is this the political culture we want to pass on to our children, where success isn't about fairness, but about connections?"

WP secretary-general Pritam Singh also seized on the remark, saying that he is not PM Wong's friend, but he still expects fair allocation of taxpayer money.

Another WP Punggol candidate Harpreet Singh, who did tell the rally crowd not to boo Gan, said that he liked Gan and called him a "pleasant person", but opined that voters could get a good calibre-team by voting for the WP instead of having to pay "ministerial salaries."

PM Wong: DPM Gan has done so much for Singapore

In response, PM Wong said they may have their differences, but there is "no need to go into negative attacks on individuals", especially someone who has done so much for Singapore.

"I made him my number two and my deputy, because I've seen him in action," PM Wong said, citing Gan's work in the Covid-19 task force.

He also pushed back against WP's mention of the aborted NTUC Income-Allianz deal, pointing out that Gan as MAS chairman proposed new legislation that "enabled [the government] to stop the deal."

In addition, PM Wong highlighted Gan's importance in tackling international issues like the trade war.

"I'm disappointed that the WP will make such negative attacks on someone who is spending so much time tackling national issues, trying to make things better, who has done so much for Singapore and continues to do so much for Singapore."

Irresponsible to take lightly the potential loss of DPM Gan: PM Wong

PM Wong also said it is "remarkable" that the WP would take the potential loss of Gan from the Cabinet "so lightly", and asked rhetorically who in the WP would take over such important work.

He added that it is a "cavalier" and "irresponsible approach" to Singaporean livelihoods.

"So I would say to Singaporeans, and especially to Punggol residents, let us reject these sort of qualities. We can do much better than that.

If you support the PAP team, you are supporting a team of integrity, honesty and trustworthiness, a team you know with a proven track record who will go all out to improve your lives.

So I ask you to consider your votes carefully and support a trustworthy PAP team."

Parachuting into Punggol

In response to a question from the media about Gan's debut in the area, PM Wong explained he needed a heavyweight minister to fill the gap after the retirement of Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, and added that no matter who he sent, it would be a newcomer.

He then mused that perhaps the WP did not anticipate the decision to move Gan.

"Perhaps they thought that I would go for a newbie. Perhaps they thought maybe Janil [Puthucheary] is going to anchor. I don't know what their calculations are, but I presume it's because they didn't anticipate that.

They didn't anticipate this, and that's why they dropped everything...in Marine Parade and parachuted here, and perhaps that's why they are upset, and that's why they are so angry and engaging in such negative politics now. I don't know, you'll have to ask them."

He added:

"But I would say to Punggol residents, let's reject these kinds of negative politics. We should be better than this. Look at the teams. Assess the individuals.

You can make a judgment for yourself, which team is better to serve you, improve your lives and take Singapore forward."

Top image by Aiman Nadzri.