The People’s Action Party (PAP) has been steadily rebuilding its presence in Sengkang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) through a younger team that began groundwork in 2022, said Lam Pin Min during a walkabout on 30 March.
Lam, 55, previously served as a senior minister of state and was part of the PAP slate that lost Sengkang in the 2020 General Election.
The Workers’ Party (WP) won the four-member GRC with 52.13 percent of the vote, defeating Lam, Ng Chee Meng, Amrin Amin, and Raymond Lye.
The current PAP slate includes Theodora Lai, 39, principal at private equity firm Tembusu Partners; Elmie Nekmat, 43, associate professor in communications and new media; and Bernadette Giam, 38, director at Creative Eateries.
Giam was appointed Sengkang East branch chair in January 2025, replacing Marcus Loh, who stepped down citing family reasons.
“We started walking the ground the moment Covid-19 restrictions lifted, and in fact for Elmie, myself and Theodora, we have been walking the ground for the past three to four years,” said Lam, according to The Straits Times.
He emphasised the team’s diversity and “passion”, though he did not confirm if this was the final slate for the coming election.
Lam is the only returning member from the 2020 PAP team. The remaining candidates are first-timers contesting a GRC against a full-term, sitting WP team that has become well-established in the constituency.
Among them is Jamus Lim, whose televised debate performance in 2020 drew national attention and whose public profile has grown significantly since entering Parliament.
The PAP team’s walkabout included visits to Rivervale Shores, Sengkang Grand Mall, and Buangkok Hawker Centre.
Branded toy bears were distributed, and residents were engaged in casual conversation. Lai said such visits are a way “to get to know residents better” and offer help where needed.
Elmie noted digital safety and well-being as a key area he is focused on, especially concerning children and seniors. “This affects the young ones, the children, as well as the seniors,” he said, calling for more to be done in this space.
While the team stresses long-term presence, residents and netizens have voiced scepticism.
Jason Wong, 29, a first-time Sengkang voter, told The Straits Times that walkabouts are less impactful than sustained engagement.
He praised the efforts of former PAP branch chair Ling Weihong, whose regular estate visits and responsiveness left a positive impression.
Online sentiment on The Straits Times’ Facebook page reflected doubts over the team’s visibility and commitment.
“If the new team has passion they would have volunteered in Sengkang GRC for years. Not only show up during elections,” wrote one commenter.
Others were more blunt. “Driven by passion for million dollar salaries!” remarked another.
A recurring concern among commenters was the lack of full-time commitment. Tan TC wrote, “Residents prefer their MPs to be full timers, and raising the concerns of the people.”
Another user, said the team had not been visible in key estates such as Compassvale and Rivervale.
Political observers have described the slate as a “sacrificial” or “suicide team”, noting the absence of high-profile figures and the difficulty of contesting against WP incumbents who have served a full term.
In contrast, the PAP’s 2020 team was fronted by Ng Chee Meng, a Cabinet minister and labour chief, who is now expected to contest the newly carved-out Jalan Kayu Single Member Constituency.
The decision not to return Ng to Sengkang has prompted further speculation. “Why don’t they field Ng Chee Meng in SK? Let him work to win back SK instead of running to Jalan Kayu,” asked one commenter.
Observers also note that while the WP team has gained traction over the past five years, they have not been without setbacks.
In 2021, Raeesah Khan resigned from Parliament after admitting to making untrue statements during a House debate. The incident led to a parliamentary inquiry and drew attention to WP’s internal accountability mechanisms.
Although WP reassigned responsibilities within the Sengkang team and continued operations through its remaining MPs, some voters may still weigh the episode when assessing the party’s credibility and decision-making standards.
Other commenters focused on broader national issues, including the cost of living, housing affordability, and education.
“Costs of living is the biggest issue this coming election,” wrote one user, pointing to inflation and HDB resale prices as major concerns.
Despite the scepticism, a number of commenters expressed support. “Dr Lam is a good man. Very down to earth,” said one user. Another wrote, “All the best! Tough battle…”
Singapore’s next general election is expected to be called soon, in early May 2025.
With a popular WP team defending its ground and a largely new PAP slate seeking to gain a foothold, the Sengkang GRC contest will remain closely watched.
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