GE2025: Political service not about shouting slogans, says Chan Chun Sing (2025)

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SINGAPORE – Responsible political leaders will not resort to shouting slogans, but they will let Singaporeans know the considerations behind every policy decision, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing.

Speaking at a press conference on April 23, he said political service is also not a once-in-five-year exercise, but a daily effort to listen to residents, and understand and resolve their challenges.

Mr Chan, who helms the PAP team contesting Tanjong Pagar GRC, was responding to questions, including one regarding his views on proposals by the opposition People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR) for free healthcare and education.

Mr Prabu Ramachandran, a commercial banker who leads the PAR slate for the constituency, had proposed free healthcare for lower-income earners and free education – initiatives that he said can be funded with existing tax revenues without tapping the reserves.

The PAR team comprises Mr Prabu; Mr Nadarajan Selvamani, a 59-year-old director of a private school; Mr Rickson Giauw, 67, a site safety adviser and officer; Ms Han Hui Hui, a 33-year-old human rights fellow at a foreign university; and Mr Soh Lian Chye, 60, a senior logistics assistant.

Mr Chan said that while free education and healthcare are desirable, the million-dollar question is who would foot the bill.

He added that as a responsible ruling party, the PAP should let Singaporeans know the considerations behind every policy decision, as well as their pros and cons.

“This is what a responsible political leader does, compared to (simply) being a politician,” said Mr Chan during the hour-long press conference at Tanjong Pagar Plaza.

Something he has learnt since joining politics, he said, is that “politics is not about shouting slogans; it’s about how to take care of residents well every day”.

The PAP’s Tanjong Pagar GRC team, as well as incumbent Melvin Yong of Radin Mas SMC and Senior Parliamentary SecretaryEric Chua, who is contesting the new Queenstown SMC, spoke to the press shortly after the electoral slate was confirmed on Nomination Day.

Political newcomer Foo Cexiang, who was initially spotted at events in Punggol GRC, is joining the Tanjong Pagar team.

He replaces Ms Indranee Rajah, who moved to helm Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, taking over from Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Ms Indranee had been a Tanjong Pagar MP since she joined politics in 2001.

Another newcomer to the GRC is Ms Rachel Ong, whose Telok Blangah ward under the former West Coast GRC is now part of Tanjong Pagar GRC.

The other two incumbents for the constituency are Ms Joan Pereira and Mr Alvin Tan.

Mr Chan, who described his team as “a mix of both continuity and stability with some fresh perspectives”, said Ms Indranee was like a big sister who had many good ideas and was dedicated to serving residents and Singaporeans.

Asked about Mr Foo’s unexpected move to Tanjong Pagar GRC, Mr Chan said the PAP would place potential candidates in multiple places to expose them to residents of different backgrounds, and for them to be exposed to different ideas.

“Having done this exposure, as we are nearing to deployment, of course there will be different considerations because the PAP has candidates across the entire island, unlike the other parties,” Mr Chan said.

“So we have to make sure that the portfolio of candidates across the different parts of Singapore will be able to best serve residents and respond to their needs in different parts of Singapore.”

Mr Foo told the media that he had attended several community events in Tanjong Pagar where he spoke to residents, even as he spent “a lot of time” in Punggol.

Over at Radin Mas SMC, Mr Yong will be in a contest with Mr Kumar Appavoo from PAR and independent candidate Darryl Lo.

Mr Yong, who is an NTUC assistant secretary-general, said his team works very hard every day, and not just “for a certain period of time”, to address residents’ needs and listen to their feedback.

He said he even gives residents his phone number, so that they can contact him directly.

“We treat every election and every candidate very seriously in Radin Mas, just as in the broader Tanjong Pagar team,” he added.

At the press conference, Mr Chan also responded to Mr Lo’s assertion that if elected, he would be more effective as a full-time MP.

Mr Chan said that full-time politicians in other countries are criticised for not being able to relate to the struggles of working parents, for instance, in caring for their elderly parents.

He said MPs who have to juggle multiple responsibilities are in a better position to empathise with Singaporeans who are similarly doing so.

“We are all Singaporeans, and we all come from different walks of life.

“We have to juggle work, whether in a ministry or union or even companies. It allows us to deeply appreciate what fellow Singaporeans are also facing in their day-to-day living,” he added.

Mr Chan refused to be drawn into discussing the vote share that would signal a strong mandate for his team and the party.

“We would let the results take care of itself, because I’m quite sure – I’m very confident – that my residents, having seen our track record, would take care of the results for us,” he said.

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