Workers’ Party (WP) Secretary-General Pritam Singh on 20 April 2025 publicly responded to comments made by People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate Dr Lam Pin Min regarding the challenges faced by opposition parties contesting in constituencies where they are not incumbents.
Singh’s remarks, made in a Facebook post, directly referenced a Channel News Asia (CNA) article published earlier that day, in which Dr Lam described PAP’s position in Sengkang GRC as a “challenger” with fewer resources compared to the Workers’ Party, which currently holds the constituency.
Dr Lam, who lost Sengkang GRC in the 2020 General Election, noted that the PAP does not control the town council and therefore faces greater challenges.
“As a challenger, you’re always facing more challenges compared to somebody who is an incumbent in the GRC,” he said.
In his response, Singh questioned what he described as a “one-dimensional perspective” of the resources available to PAP candidates, particularly those appointed as Grassroots Advisers by the People’s Association (PA).
He argued that these appointed advisers, though not elected, benefit from institutional support and wield considerable influence within constituencies. According to Singh, “PAP candidates have significant reach wherever they stand,” facilitated by the PA and its affiliated organisations.
To illustrate his point, Singh shared an excerpt from an article he had written for The Hammer, the Workers’ Party newsletter.
In it, he asserted that a WP victory in a constituency effectively results in residents being represented by three parties: a Grassroots Adviser, a PAP branch chairman, and the elected WP Member of Parliament.
The WP leader’s comments seek to underscore what he sees as an imbalance in the political playing field, where opposition MPs do not receive the same access to grassroots networks or community programme budgets.
This systemic imbalance has been highlighted in several past incidents involving WP MPs in Sengkang GRC after they won in the GE2020.
In February 2021, Associate Professor Jamus Lim shared a resident’s disappointment that he was not present at an Edusave award ceremony. Assoc Prof Lim explained that opposition MPs are not appointed as Grassroots Advisers and are therefore excluded from such official events.
Despite this, Assoc Prof Lim wrote a personal letter to the student and presented it during a Meet-the-People Session, noting the importance of recognition and encouragement for young achievers. The episode prompted public discussion about the exclusion of elected MPs from public-funded ceremonies.
A similar situation occurred in June 2023, when Louis Chua was not invited to the MyNiceHome Roadshow held at Rivervale Community Centre—an HDB initiative to support new homeowners.
Chua noted his absence in a Facebook post, stating that he did not receive an invitation “as neither a PA-appointed grassroots adviser nor a grassroots leader”. Nonetheless, he attended informally and interacted with residents.
In contrast, several unelected PAP figures were actively involved in the event. Dr Lam, then still serving as Grassroots Adviser for Sengkang West, welcomed attendees alongside other PAP affiliates. The Senior Minister of State for National Development, Mr Tan Kiat How, also officiated the event.
Notably, PAP’s then-Sengkang East Branch Chairman, Mr Ling Weihong, attended the event and later acknowledged Chua’s presence. In a post, Ling described the roadshow as the outcome of “months of planning” with grassroots leaders and government agencies.
These patterns extend beyond one-off events.
In February 2023, Ms Theodora Lai, chair of PAP’s Sengkang North branch, attended the Edusave Awards ceremony at Sengkang Community Club—an event where WP MPs were not permitted to be present.
Although Lai did not present the awards, her attendance raised concerns about inconsistent standards applied to opposition MPs, particularly regarding access to government-linked community initiatives.
Dr Tan Kia King, BBM – Adviser to Sengkang North Grassroots Organisations, CCC Chairman, CCC Vice-Chairman and RC Chairman and Ms Theodora Lai who is PAP’s candidate for Seng Kang GRC.
Such exclusions impact not only representation but also the ability of WP MPs to deliver infrastructure improvements. Access to Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC) funds, for example, is generally restricted to PA-affiliated advisers, limiting the scope for elected opposition MPs to initiate local enhancements.
Dr Lam is set to lead a new four-member PAP slate in the upcoming 3 May polls for Sengkang GRC. The team includes new faces: Bernadette Giam, Elmie Nekmat, and Theodora Lai.
During a walkabout on 20 April at Kopitiam Square, Dr Lam said his team acknowledged the strong performance of the WP incumbents—He Ting Ru, Jamus Lim, and Louis Chua—but remained committed to giving a “good fight”.
The PAP team also highlighted its focus on addressing local issues. Ms Lai mentioned youth engagement efforts, while Mrs Giam spoke about supporting active ageing. Dr Elmie pointed to the need for better connectivity for multi-generational families in the area.
Dr Lam referenced the recent opening of Anchor Village Hawker Centre in mid-2024, an amenity planned in earlier years which he said benefitted residents and illustrated long-term planning efforts.
Sengkang GRC, formed in 2020 from parts of former constituencies, has a young demographic profile, with over half its population under 40 years old. WP secured the GRC in the last election with a slate that included former MP Raeesah Khan, who resigned in 2021.
No changes were made to the GRC boundaries in the most recent Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report, setting the stage for a closely watched rematch between the WP incumbents and the rejuvenated PAP team.
No changes were made to the GRC boundaries in the most recent Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report, setting the stage for a closely watched rematch between the WP incumbents and the refreshed PAP slate.
WP secured Sengkang GRC in the 2020 General Election with 52.12% of the vote—a relatively narrow margin.
This raises questions about whether the party can strengthen its position or if the PAP will regain ground amid the political developments and contestations surrounding access to grassroots and community platforms.
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