Former Malaysian health minister Khairy Jamaluddin has offered a critique of Singapore’s alternative parties, particularly the Workers’ Party, in the wake of the 2025 General Election.
Speaking during the Keluar Sekejap podcast on 8 May, he analysed the Workers’ Party’s strategic messaging and why, in his view, it failed to resonate widely.
Khairy focused on the WP’s long-standing strategy of portraying itself as a check and balance to the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
He noted that the party, led by Pritam Singh, had not aimed for government but instead set a modest target: securing 30% of parliamentary seats.
According to Khairy, this message was previously effective in offering voters a perceived balance — the stability and competence of the PAP, coupled with stronger parliamentary oversight via the WP. However, he questioned its relevance now.
“Pritam (Pritam Singh, WP chief) never said that he is an alternative Prime Minister, and the Workers’ Party is an alternative government,” Khairy said.
Khairy remarked that some voters may feel disillusioned by the WP’s limited ambition.
“Surely your ambition isn’t just to be 30%, right? If that’s the case, then forget it. We’d rather give our vote to the PAP,” he suggested, reflecting possible sentiments among the electorate.
He added that others might go further, saying, “Come back when you are an alternative government.”
Electoral outcome defies rally momentum
The 2025 General Election, held on 3 May, resulted in a strong performance for the PAP under newly appointed Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
The party increased its popular vote from approximately 61% to nearly 66%, a notable deviation from historical trends where new leaders often suffer a dip in support.
Despite energetic WP rallies and large crowds, the party failed to win additional seats.
It retained its previous count of 10 elected Members of Parliament, and will gain two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats under Singapore’s constitutional provision guaranteeing 12 opposition voices in Parliament.
Khairy remarked, “There were so many people at the opposition’s rallies. But when it came down to the voters, they gave PAP a landslide victory.”
No lasting momentum for opposition parties
Podcast co-host Shahril Hamdan, a former UMNO leader, reinforced Khairy’s analysis.
He noted that the result maintained a long-standing pattern in Singapore’s politics: the absence of back-to-back elections where the opposition makes lasting gains.
“There are no consecutive elections where the opposition managed to make progress in vote share,” Shahril said.
He attributed this, in part, to the conservative nature of the Singaporean electorate and their continued faith in PAP’s governance model.
Singapore’s identity closely tied to PAP
Shahril expanded the discussion by referencing the deeply rooted political identity of Singapore.
He argued that the electorate’s hesitancy to embrace radical political change stemmed not only from risk aversion, but from a national mythos that connects prosperity and national security with the PAP’s leadership.
“In the minds of its people and leaders, [Singapore] is a small country, surrounded by neighbouring countries that could potentially be hostile, and requires leadership of high quality,” he said.
“That image — of a high-functioning, intellectual society — is linked to the PAP.”
Even post-COVID economic struggles and rising living costs, he added, were not sufficient to dismantle this long-standing perception.
Disunity among alternative parties
Khairy also pointed to structural weaknesses within the opposition.
He highlighted a key failure: a walkover in one constituency due to the inability of opposition parties to coordinate their candidacies.
He said that despite initial intentions from the WP to contest the seat, they withdrew at the last minute without informing other alternative parties, resulting in internal tension.
“In a democracy, at least we contest. Whether we win or lose is another matter,” Khairy said.
Candidates are improving, but not enough
He also outlined how the WP had limited its campaign reach to specific areas, particularly Aljunied, Sengkang, and Hougang — areas where the party had historical roots and strong support.
However, they failed to expand into nearby areas, such as Jalan Kayu, which they lost narrowly.
Khairy explained that in Singapore, electoral wins come with administrative responsibilities, as Members of Parliament also manage local town councils.
This gives parties the opportunity to prove their administrative capabilities — an opportunity the WP has not yet used to broaden its base.
Khairy acknowledged that the calibre of WP candidates has improved, with professionals, senior lawyers, and corporate figures now more willing to stand for election due to a less autocratic environment.
Despite this, the opposition still failed to make a breakthrough.
He stressed that the key issue is not candidate quality but overall message and coordination.
Call for strategic change among alternative parties
Returning to the core message of the WP, Khairy and Shahril both argued that the current platform — advocating for 30% of seats — no longer excites the electorate.
Shahril warned that this strategy might have become counterproductive. “If you are not ready to be the government, what is the point of you contesting?” he said, noting that PAP had capitalised on this line of argument in its campaign.
Both hosts stressed the need for better coordination among Singapore’s alternative parties.
Shahril posed the question of whether the time had come for stronger collaboration to form a more credible front against the PAP.
Khairy acknowledged the fragmented nature of the opposition and highlighted missed opportunities stemming from poor internal communication.
“There isn’t very good coordination among the opposition parties,” he said. “This weakens the broader challenge to the PAP.”
Impact of PAP’s victory on regional relations
Looking ahead, Khairy discussed the implications of PAP’s landslide for Singapore–Malaysia relations.
With Lawrence Wong receiving a strong mandate, Khairy expected a continuation of stability.
“This political capital gives him space to make difficult decisions,” he said, referring to upcoming cabinet changes due to the retirement of senior leaders such as Heng Swee Keat and Teo Chee Hean.
Khairy also stressed the importance of maintaining close personal ties between the leadership of both countries, noting that Wong and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have started on a positive footing.
“He is very practical. He doesn’t like fireworks or rhetoric that inflames sentiments. So I think all in all, it’ll be quite smooth and stable,” Khairy concluded.
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