People’s Action Party Awards and Conference 2024
By Kenneth Cheng, Assistant News Editor, The Straits Times, 25 Nov 2024
The upcoming general election in 2025 will be a high-stakes one, and Singapore risks ending up with a much weaker government if there is just a modest swing in popular votes against the ruling party, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Speaking at the People’s Action Party conference at the Singapore Expo on Nov 24, he told party members: “Please don’t think it is guaranteed that the PAP will win and form a stable government.”
In a speech lasting about 40 minutes, the Prime Minister also highlighted the need for Singaporeans to stay united in the midst of trying circumstances beyond the country’s borders, and spoke of the urgency for the PAP to have a fresh crop of younger candidates who can take the nation forward.
He noted that in the 2020 General Election, the opposition had warned Singaporeans against an “opposition wipe-out”.
“Actually, there is no chance of that happening at all,” he said, adding that the opposition in Singapore is here to stay.
There have been opposition MPs in Parliament since 1981, and the Non-Constituency MP scheme guarantees at least 12 opposition MPs in the House, noted PM Wong, who is set to take over as PAP secretary-general. He is now the party’s deputy secretary-general.
“In fact, given the desire for more opposition voices, the bigger risk we face is the loss of a stable and strong and good government,” he said.
The opposition admits it is far from ready to form the Government, he told an audience of about 3,000 PAP cadres, activists and guests.
“They say that partly because they know that Singaporeans will not support them if they openly declare their intention to govern,” he added.
But if more and more voters are persuaded by the opposition’s argument to vote them in so they can oppose the government of the day, “you can be sure that what is now the opposition will soon be the Government”, said PM Wong.
He cautioned that such a scenario would not require a large swing in votes at the next general election, which must be held by November 2025.
A modest swing in popular votes against the PAP, he noted, can lead to very different electoral outcomes, and very possibly the loss of another three or four group representation constituencies or GRCs.
This means the party will lose 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,” he said.
“So, comrades, the stakes in the next election are high.”
PM Wong urged the party to work hard for every vote, to earn the confidence and trust of Singaporeans, win the mandate to govern, and ultimately, serve fellow Singaporeans.
“We know from the last election, and more so in the next election, there are no longer any safe seats,” he said.
“So every resident, every vote counts, and all our efforts matter.”
He noted that the PAP faces a rather unique political challenge, having governed Singapore for 65 years.
It is the party’s desire to keep serving Singaporeans for as long as possible, but he warned that members must never assume they will not see a change in government in their lifetime.
He said the PAP has to refresh its approach, adding that the party can no longer “operate from the back” in a more contested political landscape.
The party must “come out in front” to explain its policies, engage Singaporeans on the issues they care about, and show them why they can trust and depend on the PAP, he added.
PM Wong outlined the steps taken to refresh the party, including forming climate action and mental health groups. A new party app will be launched to engage members and widen the party’s network, he added.
Turning to leadership renewal, PM Wong said his priority is to form the best team for Singapore, and that it remains difficult to recruit good people into politics. This is the “most important, the most crucial, the most urgent thing I have to do”, he stressed.
While he has been spending a lot of time engaging potential candidates, Singaporeans who have excelled in their professional lives are very comfortable where they are and are very reluctant to change their lifestyles, he noted.
“Also, why subject themselves to public glare and scrutiny? Often, they tell me: ‘Let someone else do the job. So many people in Singapore; you find someone else.’
“Or they may say: ‘Don’t worry, the PAP is already in a very strong position. You have just started. Why are you in such a hurry? Take your time,’” he added.
Stressing the urgent need for younger candidates who can “provide vigour and continuity” and eventually form Singapore’s next leadership team, PM Wong, 52, said more than half of the 19 ministers in the present Cabinet are aged 60 and older.
The older ministers on the team provide experience and wise counsel, and many of them will still serve for another five to 10 years, assuming they are in good health.
“But can I wait until they retire before bringing in new blood? Surely not. I must start now to renew the team,” the Prime Minister said.
When new candidates are brought in, it is very hard to parachute them directly into ministerial roles as they need time to learn, he added.
There is, therefore, tremendous value in having them start early, gain experience, and progressively build up the confidence and capabilities to take on larger responsibilities.
The Prime Minister said that he has made some progress in recruiting potential office-holders, but still hopes to persuade a few more to join the team.
“I look forward to presenting the candidates as our election campaign approaches,” he told party members.
“When we field them, please support all of them, and help me to spread the word and persuade our fellow citizens to support them too, because we cannot leave this to chance.”
PM Wong urges Singaporeans to remain united in ‘a far more dangerous world’
By Goh Yan Han, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 25 Nov 2024
Singaporeans must remain united in a far more dangerous world that is in flux, with more conflict and instability on the horizon, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Nov 24.
“Then we can speak with one voice on the world stage. And we will be valued as a safe and secure, a stable and reliable nation, even in a troubled and uncertain world,” he said.
Speaking at the People’s Action Party (PAP) conference, he said the Government would not be able to navigate this turbulent new world or withstand hostile foreign influence operations without the steadfast support of Singaporeans.
Singapore’s reputation and international standing is high, PM Wong noted at the conference, where cadres had gathered in the morning to vote for the next iteration of the party’s top decision-making body that would lead it in the next general election.
“What makes Singapore so exceptional? It’s because when we speak, others know that it is a Singaporean point of view, coherently articulated by the Government and supported by Singaporeans,” he said.
“They know we mean business, and we do not waver,” added PM Wong, who is currently the ruling PAP’s deputy secretary-general.
He is slated to take over the role of party chief from Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong after the first meeting of the new central executive committee.
Addressing about 3,000 PAP cadres, activists and guests, PM Wong laid out the challenges in the global situation that Singapore will have to navigate as it embarks on its next phase.
The Prime Minister said he had good discussions with many of his counterparts during various overseas work trips, including the recent Group of 20 summit in Brazil.
Everyone is worried, he said, given the major wars raging in Europe and the Middle East, and US-China relations in a more challenging place. “There are many moving pieces geopolitically where things can easily go wrong,” he added.
PM Wong said that for decades, countries everywhere benefited from an American-led global order that was supported by multilateral institutions.
But the US – while still pre-eminent – no longer wishes to be the world’s policeman. Former US president Donald Trump has been re-elected to office on the basis of “America First”, he noted.
His mandate reflects the growing sentiment among the American public that they are paying too high a price to uphold the global order, and not enjoying the commensurate benefits.
Other rising powers like China and India are also focused on their own domestic issues, and are not in a position to take on larger global responsibilities yet, said PM Wong.
The world is in flux, with established norms fading but a new order yet to take shape, he added.
“Amidst this vacuum of leadership, we can expect more conflict and instability in the world, as state and non-state actors will be emboldened to test boundaries, often with little or no consequence,” he added, citing the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Ideally, the major powers should come together to coordinate their positions and work for the larger good, but there is deep suspicion and mistrust between America and China, said PM Wong.
Each regards the other as a strategic threat, with both taking steps to enlarge their spheres of influence and strengthen their own positions – so it will get harder to find common ground, he added.
“These are the realities of the world we live in. And these dynamics will be with us for some time – we’re not talking about one or two years... I think we will have to grapple with this perhaps for the next decade or beyond,” said PM Wong.
“We will find it more difficult to make a living, and keep ourselves safe. Other countries may test our limits, and we must be ready to stand firm and defend our interests. At the same time, we must redouble our efforts to make friends with everyone, big and small, near and far,” he added.
Singaporeans must hence remain united, even as they are bound to have different views on global developments.
“We cannot let our differences pull us apart. It is already tough to be a small country for our voices to be heard. It will be even tougher if our voice is diffused and incoherent. At the end of the day, we must consider the larger national interest and take a united position,” he said.
PM Wong said he does not take the trust and support of Singaporeans lightly. “My team and I will work hard to earn your trust, and to be a steadfast voice for Singapore and Singaporeans on the world stage.”
PAP Government doing its best to help with cost of living, while opposition tries to exploit issue: PM Wong
By Goh Yan Han, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 25 Nov 2024
The PAP Government is doing its best to shield citizens from the worst effects of global inflation, even as opposition parties in Singapore have tried to exploit cost-of-living concerns to turn sentiments against the ruling party, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
While he acknowledged Singaporeans’ worries about the cost of living, he noted that it is not an issue unique to Singapore, as countries everywhere are facing similar pressures due to the recent spike in global inflation.
Though inflation in most places, including Singapore, has moderated in recent months, price levels remain higher than before, impacting people’s sense of well-being, he said in his speech at the PAP’s biennial party conference on Nov 24.
About 3,000 party cadres, activists and guests – including from the labour movement – were gathered at the Singapore Expo, where cadre members had voted in the morning for the party’s next core group of leaders.
PM Wong, who is currently PAP’s deputy secretary-general, noted how frustration with the rising cost of living overshadowed other matters and contributed to strong anti-incumbency feelings in countries that held elections in 2024. Every governing party in a developed country that held elections in 2024 lost vote share, and a number lost the mandate to govern altogether, he noted.
“We feel the pressure in Singapore too. Opposition parties have tried to exploit this issue to turn sentiments against the PAP, even though they themselves do not have good solutions,” he said.
“We hope Singaporeans understand that these are global inflation trends. They impact all countries.”
The Government has rolled out major packages over the last few years, with more help on the way in the coming months, such as another tranche of CDC vouchers in January 2025, said PM Wong.
The Assurance Package that was first announced in Budget 2020 was enhanced by PM Wong at subsequent Budgets, with a total of over $10 billion earmarked so far to cushion the impact of cost-of-living increases.
“I am now preparing for Budget 2025, because I’m still the Finance Minister, remember. I will see how we can continue to provide additional support in the Budget,” he added.
On top of the national measures, the party branches in the constituencies have also rolled out their local schemes and programmes.
“As a government and a party, we are doing all we can… to help Singaporeans cope with the higher cost of living,” said PM Wong.
Other domestic challenges that Singapore has faced included the Covid-19 pandemic that was a baptism of fire for him and his team, he added.
“We are tackling the next challenge of our generation – to renew our social compact, refresh our Singapore Dream, and to give every Singaporean the assurance and hope that tomorrow will be better than today,” he said.
PM Wong said the PAP has stood for a fair and just society for all from its beginning, and built a system in Singapore that is clean and honest and that operates on the basis of merit.
The system also works because of the strong tripartite partnership among unions, employers and the Government forged over many decades, he added, citing the symbiotic ties between the PAP and NTUC.
“The PAP-NTUC link is strong and vital. We share your conviction that every worker matters, and we will continue to advance the well-being of all workers in Singapore,” said PM Wong.
While the core values and fundamentals will never change, Singapore has to adapt to new circumstances, and the evolving needs of society – which is why the 4G team embarked on the Forward Singapore exercise, he added.
Since then, big moves made in the past year include Age Well SG, the Majulah Package, enhancements to SkillsFuture and changes to the housing and education systems, he noted.
“We have a full agenda under Forward Singapore. The changes and transformations we seek are just beginning, and they will unfold over several years,” said PM Wong. “This is what I am most passionate about. Working together, hand in hand, we can chart a new course and build a better Singapore.”
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to take over as PAP chief in coming weeks, with Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong remaining in CEC
By Wong Pei Ting, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 25 Nov 2024
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has confirmed that he will step down as PAP chief, bringing to a close his 20-year tenure in the party’s top post.
Announcing this at the biennial PAP conference held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 24, SM Lee said it would be his final speech to the party conference as the People’s Action Party’s secretary-general.
When the party’s central executive committee (CEC) next meets, he would propose that it elect Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to take over from him as the next party chief. The new CEC customarily meets within a few weeks of the party conference.
“This will complete the leadership transition from me to my successor,” said SM Lee, who joined politics in 1984 and led the PAP’s top decision-making body for 10 successive cycles.
Speaking right after PAP cadres had chosen the 12 members who will form the party’s 38th CEC, SM Lee sought to rally party activists to convince Singaporeans to vote according to their conscience in the coming election, and that the PAP is the right choice for Singapore.
He also emphasised the importance of good succession planning and leadership transition, which he said have accorded Singapore a tremendous advantage.
The Republic has carried out orderly transitions for its top political leadership three times in a row now, but this cannot be taken for granted.
“Indeed, quite a few foreign leaders whom I have met have expressed astonishment at how uneventful our transition was,” he said. “It is amazing to them, because in other countries all sorts of things can happen and do happen.”
This includes leaders being forced to resign when their party does badly in an election, or due to factional rivalries even when there is no electoral pressure.
These fights within a single party can be as fierce as fights between different political parties, and in all cases lead to upheaval that causes both party and country to suffer, he said.
Singapore is very fortunate to have avoided these scenarios and stayed cohesive so far, he said.
“The party leadership is united, and shares a common goal: to serve the best interests of the country, and not to advance anyone’s ambitions,” said SM Lee.
Such seamless handovers have maintained consistent leadership and direction for the country, mobilised Singaporeans to focus on difficult and long-term issues, and resulted in steady progress year after year, he said.
This is the mark of a well-functioning political system, and is why the Republic needs to do its best to keep the system stable by electing good leaders who will selflessly prepare their successors and hand over responsibility when the time comes, he added.
The PAP can present a strong report card at the next general election, he said, having steered the country safely through Covid-19, tackled concerns on people’s minds, and enhanced Singapore’s standing in the world.
He acknowledged that Singaporeans remain anxious about several issues, such as housing and the cost of living.
On housing, he said the PAP Government has moved to shorten wait times for Build-To-Order flats, and introduced the Standard, Plus and Prime framework to keep public housing flats affordable and accessible to all.
As for cost of living, inflation has eased and the Government will continue to provide support to households, especially those in greater need, he said.
The most difficult issue to tackle is reaching out to voters who recognise that the PAP has done a good job governing Singapore and would like to see it continue, but who also want to see more opposition and alternative voices in Parliament, said SM Lee.
All seats are likely to be contested in the coming election, and quite a few of them fiercely, he added.
The party will have to convince Singaporeans that the PAP has their best interests at heart, and will always do its best to take care of them and improve their lives, he told about 3,000 party activists and guests gathered at Singapore Expo.
“We have to work very hard to make sure that voters understand that they cannot afford to treat this next general election as a by-election,” he said. “What is at stake is the future of Singapore.”
On his role post-handover, SM Lee said he intends to remain in the CEC, where he would play a supporting and advisory role.
This means that he would “neither be the first responder, (nor) the final decider” in the party’s top body or in the Cabinet, he said. Instead, he would offer PM Wong the benefit of his experience and help him to mobilise support from Singaporeans to tackle the challenges ahead.
In closing, SM Lee stressed that Singapore must do its utmost to keep the system exceptional.
“We are different. We must always be different. If we are same-same, I can tell you: Singapore is going to be different.
“We must always be clean and incorrupt, meritocratic, uplifting, and bringing out the best in our people,” he said. “Always serving a higher purpose – not privileges for a few, but the well-being of all as we build a successful nation where everyone can progress together.”
Tributes pour in for outgoing PAP secretary-general Lee Hsien Loong at party’s awards dinner
By Goh Yan Han, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 23 Nov 2024
About 3,000 PAP cadres, activists and guests – including several who featured in a video sharing personal stories and interactions with him – paid tribute to Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Nov 23.
People’s Action Party chairman Heng Swee Keat lauded the outgoing party chief for his contributions in a speech on the first day of the biennial PAP Awards and Conference.
SM Lee has been secretary-general of the PAP since 2004, and has served the party and its Teck Ghee branch since 1984.
Mr Heng, who is Deputy Prime Minister, noted that the party had successfully completed the third handover of the premiership since Singapore’s independence, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong taking office in May. PM Wong is currently the PAP’s deputy secretary-general.
“Thank you, secretary-general, for four decades of guidance, wisdom and foresight,” he said.
As prime minister, SM Lee led the country through the global financial crisis of the late 2000s, and through the more recent Covid-19 pandemic.
“He led our development into a smart nation and a global city that connects Asia with the rest of the world,” said DPM Heng. This has been particularly challenging in more recent years, as big power contestations have intensified.
“Our transformation efforts have positioned our companies and workers to seize new opportunities in the global economy, and our relationship with the NTUC remains strong, in fact stronger than ever,” he added.
SM Lee has also shaped a caring and cohesive society to share the benefits of growth with all, said DPM Heng.
He pointed to policies such as SkillsFuture, the Pioneer Generation Package and ComCare that “reassure Singaporeans that we walk with them as they chase their dreams”.
Addressing the attendees in a 1½-minute-long speech, SM Lee expressed his gratitude.
“Whatever I have done as secretary-general and as PM, I have done with your help and support, and could not have been done without them,” he said. “It has been a tremendous honour and privilege for me to serve. I am very happy that we have reached this point.”
“I wish you all the best, I wish the party all the best, and I think we all have to work hard. There is a general election coming next year,” added SM Lee, who is slated to deliver a speech at the party conference on Nov 24.
A video paying tribute to SM Lee was unveiled at the dinner banquet, stitching together short interviews with past and present MPs, ministers and other party members.
Some, like former minister Khaw Boon Wan, who is also a former PAP chairman, commented on SM Lee’s involvement in transforming Singapore and flying the nation’s flag high. Former MP Lau Ping Sum shared about SM Lee’s carefulness and meticulousness when preparing for the National Day Rally speech, going through it more than 25 times.
Amid the serious anecdotes, the video also unveiled SM Lee’s softer side, such as when he gave former minister Lim Boon Heng a device to help him breathe easier after he was often down with flu.
Former MP S. Vasoo said that when his parents passed away, SM Lee gave him the encouragement to look forward and see things from a different perspective to manage the loss and grief – “Never give up, Vasoo”, he said.
Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam noted that SM Lee always has a “humorous take” and is “very witty”, while Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Nadia Ahmad Samdin said that SM Lee allows himself up to 20 minutes of TikTok videos in one sitting.
A media release from the party stated that SM Lee led 10 successive central executive committees (CEC) over a 20-year tenure.
He is expected to step down from the role of party chief this weekend, paving the way for PM Wong to lead the party into the next general election, which is due by November 2025.
Party cadres will gather on Nov 24 to vote for the 38th CEC and renew the party’s leadership.
On the evening of Nov 23, party cadres and activists gathered at the Expo in Changi for a night of tribute and celebration.
As part of the party’s 70th anniversary celebrations, a postcard set has been commissioned with 70 iconic moments in Singapore’s journey, said DPM Heng.
On behalf of the party, DPM Heng presented SM Lee with a gift of a watercolour painting, depicting a scene where SM Lee is engaging with Singaporeans during a walkabout at a hawker centre.
He is pictured carrying a baby while taking a wefie with a young family, surrounded by individuals from different ages and backgrounds.
“The party is grateful to secretary-general Lee for his exemplary leadership, service and contributions to the party,” said the PAP.
All attendees also received a porcelain cup as a door gift, an acknowledgement of SM Lee’s well-known “magic cup” that he would sip from while delivering speeches to the country in different languages. The cup bears an illustration of the four PAP prime ministers – Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Chok Tong, SM Lee and PM Wong.
The PAP also recognised 448 activists for their dedication and service to Singapore.
Besides serving their residents in the constituencies across Singapore, they were also recognised for championing causes important to Singaporeans, such as women’s development, caring for seniors and sustainability, the PAP said in its statement.
The highest honour of the evening was the Meritorious Service Star Medal awarded to former Tanjong Pagar MP S. Vasoo, who was elected in 1984 and retired in 2001.
He has served the community for 40 years and remains a stalwart in Teck Ghee, helping to strengthen the community and improve the lives of residents, noted DPM Heng.
“Dr Vasoo was dedicated to uplifting low-income families and is affectionately known as the ‘poor man’s MP’,” he said.
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