On 24 April 2025, Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng addressed the media following Manpower Minister Tan See Leng’s unexpected shift from Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC to Chua Chu Kang GRC on Nomination Day.
Seah, who now leads the five-member team in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights, stated that the team was not informed of Tan’s departure “first thing in the morning” but rather “later rather than sooner”.
He explained, “It was certainly not first thing in the morning, but it was quite closer towards… if I were to put a time to it, it will be later rather than sooner.”
Tin Pei Ling’s subtle gesture fuels speculation
During Seah’s interview, shared by The Straits Times on Instagram, Tin Pei Ling, a fellow PAP candidate in the same team, was seen slightly shaking her head as Seah began to elaborate on the timing of the news.
Some netizens interpreted this as a possible signal for Seah to avoid revealing too much.
The clip prompted online comments such as, “Hahaha luckily he got the signal,” and, “My mouth is zipped or later boss Wong come find me.”
Timing of notification and transparency questioned
Although Seah did not disclose the exact time the team was informed, he said the delay in being notified was to preserve the integrity of the party’s strategic decisions.
Still, his statements, combined with Tin’s body language, prompted observers to ask whether the team knew about the switch earlier than they let on.
Seah stressed that the team’s readiness was not affected by the change. “Whatever time, you’re always ready. Always ready,” he told reporters.
He assured residents that the team’s plans would go ahead unchanged: “Whatever plans you have made will not change as a result of Dr Tan’s moving away… this is a plan that was worked up by the team… with or without Dr Tan, it will proceed.”
The PAP team, comprising Seah, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Tin Pei Ling, Diana Pang and Goh Pei Ming, was confirmed on 23 April after winning the constituency by walkover.
The Workers’ Party (WP), which contested Marine Parade in both 2015 and 2020, opted not to field a team this year. WP cited the need to allocate its limited manpower and resources strategically.
Some members of the public expressed concern over the apparent coordination required for a last-minute candidate switch, questioning whether it was genuinely spontaneous.
Comments online suggested a perceived lack of fairness, with one remarking, “It doesn’t look good on them, still playing tricks on people. Why can’t just be upfront and fight fair and square?”
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