The PAP team led by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong clinched 63,589 votes at the May 3 polls beating the WP's team which got 51,663 votes PAP’s Gan Kim Yong speaking to supporters after the announcement of the election results of Punggol GRC at Bedok stadium on May 4 SINGAPORE: A People’s Action Party (PAP) team helmed by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Gan Kim Yong has won the newly formed Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC) with 55.17 per cent of the vote in the General Election Senior Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Janil Puthucheary Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Sun Xueling They beat a Workers’ Party (WP) team of Mr Harpreet Singh is a new constituency made up of estates formerly in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Punggol West SMC - both of which are now defunct Mr Gan, who is also Trade and Industry Minister, had been previously unveiled as anchor minister of the Chua Chu Kang GRC slate. But in a surprise move on Nomination Day he filed his papers together with the Punggol team I must thank you for your support and the mandate that you've given us for my team and I to serve you for the next five years," said Mr Gan in a speech at Bedok Stadium "We will do our best to serve you and to make Punggol a better place and a better home." Mr Singh told his team's PAP opponents to be the voice of Singaporeans "I cannot tell you the number of Singaporeans who held our hands over the last nine days and said because that would be a betrayal of what a very large number of Singaporeans are telling us in this election." NUS’ associate professor of political science Chong Ja Ian said there were multiple factors which could have contributed to the PAP team’s victory These included the addition of Mr Gan and the fact that the WP are relatively new to the area a PAP team made up of Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean Mr Desmond Tan and Ms Yeo won 64.16 per cent of the votes in a three-cornered fight in Pasir Ris-Punggol against the Singapore Democratic Alliance and Peoples Voice parties Ms Sun was fielded in Punggol West SMC in the last General Election where she beat WP’s Tan Chen Chen with 60.98 per cent of the votes research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) added that Ms Sun is "quite popular" in her ward and likely played a part in "consolidating PAP’s foothold" in Punggol Assoc Prof Chong said he was nonetheless surprised by the WP team’s showing this year and that their results in Punggol GRC showed they have withstood “the national swing against opposition parties and swing for the PAP” “What it means is that WP has got momentum and they are not seen as just any other opposition party,” said Assoc Prof Chong “(WP is standing) head and shoulders above the other opposition parties.” Mr Gan’s move to Punggol also came under scrutiny by the WP during hustings with party chief Pritam Singh commenting on how the deputy prime minister was not elected into the PAP’s Central Executive Committee in November 2024 “This is very strange for a deputy prime minister,” he said “Could it be that he was ready to retire and did not plan to run in these elections You mean the PM has no one else in his Cabinet that can negotiate with the United States on tariffs?”  Punggol GRC candidate Ms Dang then brought up how Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had been similarly “parachuted” into East Coast GRC in the 2020 General Election which she said was a move “forcing voters into a difficult choice between more balanced politics and keeping a future PM” they are trying to pull the same stunts in Punggol Dr Teo noted that worry over the "international situation" and how much Mr Gan can contribute to Singapore’s cause had a part to play in helping shift the needle towards the PAP "With so many resources put behind the Punggol team and also many mentions of Gan Kim Yong in different speeches by Lawrence Wong and Lee Hsien Loong this probably weighed quite a lot on voters’ minds as they went to the polls," she added “He certainly helped,” said Assoc Prof Chong of Mr Gan “But the fact that he parachuted in probably helped the WP (also) get some support there … He is an advantage for the PAP but he is not an unadulterated advantage.” Former PAP MP Inderjit Singh said that Mr Gan’s move was a “well-played strategy” by the PAP “I think the flight to safety worked for the PAP and also the scare of potentially losing too many ministers triumphed over the desire to have more alternative voices in parliament,” he said and giving the 4G leaders a strong mandate won I don't think bread and butter issues were forgotten but people trusted that PAP can solve their problems.” He said the PAP’s narrow win in Punggol GRC should still be seen as a “worrying thing” for the ruling party “I think PAP won because of the fear of losing an important minister like Gan,” said Mr Singh “And not because of the young voters shifting their votes.” Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us but he may not have thrown in the towel just yet There's more to the campaign for General Election 2025 than just victory and loss WP Punggol GRC candidate Harpreet Singh Nehal said in a Facebook post on Sunday (May 4) "We may not have won the Punggol seat last night — but we won something deeper," the 59-year-old said Jackson Au and Alexis Dang lost to the People's Action Party (PAP) team consisting Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Sun Xueling as well as Yeo Wan Ling Recalling his experience during campaigning Singh said that he and his team walked the ground and listened to residents "Nearly half of Punggol stood with us," he stated "That alone tells us: something is shifting." This shift represents a "spark" of belief "We may not have crossed the finish line this time Because when enough of us believe in change Singh also expressed his gratitude to Singaporeans for the encouragement and support his team received throughout the campaigning "The future is ours to shape — together," he concluded or 44.83 per cent of total votes for Punggol GRC The PAP team received 55.17 per cent or 63,589 votes WP failed to increase its tally of 10 elected MPs from the 2020 GE but is set to add two Non-Constituency MPs in the new Parliament DPM Gan and his Punggol GRC team took to Waterway Point on Sunday afternoon thanking residents for their support and interacting with them Referring to him as the "Task force man" residents snapped pictures with DPM Gan as well as his team "I think the key message is really that I'm here to serve," DPM Gan told AsiaOne "I'll be looking forward to talking to them." He will be organising engagement sessions with Northshore residents to better understand their concerns "We also want to better understand (residents') concerns and their worries and see how we can help them address some of the concerns so that they can move forward with confidence," DPM Gan added He will be holding a meet-the-people session every Monday from 8pm to 10pm at Block 402 Northshore Drive except for the fifth Monday of the month and on the eve of public holidays as well as public holidays This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page singaporePAP wins Punggol GRC with 55.17% of votes over WPPAP's Punggol GRC team of Yeo Wan Ling, Sun Xueling, DPM Gan Kim Yong, Dr Janil Puthucheary out on a walkabout during campaigning last month.PHOTO: AsiaOne/Loo Hui PingPUBLISHED ONMay 03, 2025 5:01 PMByDesmond NgResults for Punggol GRC in GE2025 The People's Action Party (PAP) has won the freshly minted Punggol GRC with 55.17 per cent of votes over Workers' Party (WP) PAP received 63,589 votes while WP received 51,663 votes The PAP's team for Punggol GRC is led by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and consists Dr Janil Puthucheary The WP's team consists wholly of new faces Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar and Alexis Dang This four-member Punggol GRC was created after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee recommended carving out the Punggol estates in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC to merge with Punggol West SMC in their March report This GRC quickly emerged as a key battleground after DPM Gan was unexpectedly moved on Nomination Day (April 23) to lead PAP's team to contest this constituency setting the stage for a head-to-head battle with the WP team DPM Gan had served as a Member of Parliament at Chua Chu Kang GRC for 14 years Prime Minister Lawrence Wong explained then that this was for a "better distribution" of the ruling party's senior leadership for the campaign But DPM Gan's move drew criticism from WP chief Pritam Singh and other WP candidates during the campaign period who accused the PAP of 'parachuting' him into Punggol GRC from Chua Chu Kang GRC In a packed election rally on Thursday (May 1) Singh said that PM Wong's argument did not make sense He added that shifting DPM Gan to Punggol was also a tactical move to stop WP from winning the constituency When asked about WP's criticism of him being "parachuted" from one GRC to another, DPM Gan told AsiaOne ealier this week that his focus during the campaign was not on "paying too much attention" to the opposition you always keep watch [on what the opposition does]," he said focus a lot more on the residents - talk to them understand them and help them understand me I think that's a more endearing way to run a campaign." Independent political observer Dr Felix Tan had earlier told AsiaOne that the new Punggol GRC comprises "a lot of younger voters and newer estates" which may "shift voting patterns around" a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore said in an earlier Straits Times report that the younger voter demographic in Punggol GRC makes it crucial for any party to either address their concerns effectively or field candidates who can connect with them better than the competition He noted the GRC's proximity to WP-held Sengkang GRC adds to the unpredictability of the contest describing Punggol as a potential "political banana skin" that could pose a risk for the PAP This GRC has 123,557 electors and has been Singapore's youngest town for years with more than half of its voters estimated to be between the ages of 21 and 45 For our GE2025 microsite, visit here editor@asiaone.com SINGAPORE: In what was arguably the most closely watched contest leading up to the May 3 polls the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has won at Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in a battle that saw Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Gan Kim Yong up against the Workers’ Party’s (WP) “star catch” this election year The results at Punggol are as follows: 55.17% of the vote was won by the PAP together with Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Health Janil Puthucheary 52; Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Sun Xueling 45; and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) assistant secretary-general Yeo Wan Ling The other candidates are legal counsel Siti Mattar 43; Business Development professional Alexis Dang 39; and senior director of publisher business development at an ad tech company and communications practitioner Jackson Au At a WP rally on Apr 28, Mr Singh said Because they are important questions being asked on behalf of all Singaporeans “Ask yourself this: If the PAP is so confident that they have won the trust of Punggol residents why do they have to parachute in DPM Gan at the very last minute?” he also said referring to Mr Gan being fielded as a candidate at Punggol after having served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Chua Chu Kang since 2006 after Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said he would not contest this year it became apparent that the PAP needed to bolster its forces at Punggol Although the PAP will continue to remain in power in the next five years this year’s General Election has largely been perceived to be a test of how much ground the opposition will gain It has also been seen as a test for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong The increased cost of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world was widely reported to be the issue that was foremost in voters’ minds in the run-up to this year’s polls and support for the opposition appeared to be on the rise Read also: Battle for Punggol: Harpreet Singh vs Gan Kim Yong The People’s Action Party has announced the following team representing the PAP to stand for election at Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC):  Gan Kim Yong is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry he helmed the Health and Manpower Ministries he strives to create opportunities for every Singaporean he co-chaired the Multi-Ministry Taskforce to get Singapore through the pandemic while protecting lives and livelihoods Kim Yong hopes for Singapore to have strong family and community bonds so we can remain united in the face of future challenges while caring and supporting one another to forge an inclusive nation Janil Puthucheary’s role is to bring together diverse issues and provide a platform to drive agendas forward and build a sense of cohesion Janil focuses on creating a green and family-friendly environment He is always looking out for ways to further develop the estates and community as well as to identify residents who need extra assistance roping in volunteers and activists to help and engage with these residents to address their concerns Sun Xueling serves as Minister of State at the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Social and Family Development Supporting families and nurturing children are at the heart of what she does Xueling has led policies to increase access to preschool education by increasing preschool places and continuously reducing preschool fees She has also championed increased benefits to parents by enhancing parenthood benefits and parental leave entitlements Xueling also chairs inter-ministry efforts to combat family violence and fight the scourge of scams and cyber crime Under the #PSILoveYou (#PunggolShoreILoveYou) programme Yeo Wan Ling aims to build a Punggol East that is kind (“Punggol Cares”) Believing that every woman can reach for the stars and realise their full potential both at work and at home Wan Ling is passionate about helping women stay in the workforce She also advocates for the freelance and self-employed community Wan Ling is an avid reader who also enjoys listening to audio books She loves hot chocolate on a rainy day and is a budding golfer COPYRIGHT © PEOPLE'S ACTION PARTY.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PUBLISHED BY AND UNDER THE DIRECTION OFAND PAID FOR BY THE PEOPLE’S ACTION PARTY The Workers' Party candidate for Punggol GRC said residents there "have a chance to make history" Workers' Party candidate Harpreet Singh (second from left) speaking at Punggol Central on May 1 flanked by Punggol GRC teammates (from left) Alia Mattar SINGAPORE: Punggol GRC residents have a chance to make history at Saturday's (May 3) polls and should they vote the Workers' Party (WP) into parliament they "will be looked on differently by all of Singapore" said the opposition party's candidate for the constituency Harpreet Singh Speaking to reporters on the final day of the hustings on Thursday Mr Singh referenced the "decision" made by Hougang SMC residents in 1991 when they elected former WP chief Low Thia Khiang The single-seat ward has remained a WP stronghold since "This is the time for Punggol to step up," said Mr Singh you're voting not just for your municipal concerns about who is going to represent you "But thousands upon thousands of Singaporeans' hopes are on your shoulders more open Singapore where ordinary Singaporeans will step up and speak up," he added remember you have a historic opportunity." WP's slate for Punggol GRC comprises new faces Ms Alia Mattar They are up against a ruling People's Action Party (PAP) team of Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong The WP has held daily interviews with the media since the second day of campaigning rotating through the constituencies it is contesting in the General Election will enter cooling-off day - where campaigning is not allowed - before Singaporeans vote the day after These final days of the hustings have seen Mr Gan's candidacy become a central focus of the contest in Punggol GRC with the PAP and WP engaging in a back-and-forth over the matter The WP has taken aim at Mr Gan's relationship with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong his involvement in the terminated Income-Allianz deal and his last-minute addition to the PAP Punggol slate In response, Mr Wong expressed disappointment in what he called the WP's negative "personal attacks" on Mr Gan prompting the opposition party's chief Pritam Singh to say at a rally that negative politics was in fact part of the PAP's DNA Mr Wong then replied that the issues raised by Mr Pritam Singh were policy-related and that the ruling party was "happy to debate them and make adjustments" if necessary On Thursday, Mr Harpreet Singh repeated a point he made at the WP's Punggol rally earlier in the week Our paths have crossed a number of times in this campaign and all interactions have been absolutely wonderful and I like him "At the same time, we know DPM Gan is going to be busy," said Mr Harpreet Singh, citing Mr Gan's role as chair of a new task force to respond to the United States' tariffs He later said that questions directed to the government should not be taken as "personal attacks" "Singaporeans want accountability from their leaders .. and loving your country means being ready to step up and ask all the difficult questions of your leaders," Mr Harpreet Singh said "Our primary objective is to represent Singaporeans in parliament and ask the questions even if they make some leaders uncomfortable." was asked to respond to Mr Wong saying he was open to debating and adjusting policies The opposition leader said that was "probably one of the more positive responses" he had heard from the PAP "in a long time" As for the distinction between negative politics and policies Mr Pritam Singh referred to what former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong had said about former opposition Member of Parliament J B Jeyaretnam not being given access to community clubs or grassroot organisations Mr Jeyaretnam had won the Anson constituency in a by-election held in 1981 it was a political decision," Mr Pritam Singh said The WP secretary-general added that he hoped to see change, referring to another point he made in a rally on Tuesday about opposition MPs not being invited to attend citizenship ceremonies which are instead presided over by losing PAP candidates and if we tell new citizens who come to Singapore that there is this distinction in politics how are we ever going to become a united society "I think we can do much better as a society as a country; and I hope to advance this in parliament if I am elected," he said Mr Pritam Singh was also asked how he would measure success for his party There are 97 seats up for grabs; the WP has fielded 26 candidates this year instead pointing to the difficulty of each election "I unfortunately probably can't shed much light at the moment because it's not so easy to read the ground sometimes and we have to respect that "Any election is a difficult election for the Workers' Party because in many places we are not incumbent and we are basically putting out a platform and encouraging voters to build to evolve our political system to be more balanced," he said "The reason we do so is we believe that Singapore and Singaporeans will be better off with this diversity in parliament." The People's Action Party (PAP) held a rally for Punggol GRC at Yusof Ishak Secondary School on Thursday (May 1) who is contesting in his sixth general election said while the decision on whether he stays beyond one term — if elected — lies with the Prime Minister he wants to continue "building" Punggol in any capacity serving the community in whichever way I can," DPM Gan told AsiaOne on Tuesday (April 29) after a walkabout at One Punggol The People's Action Party (PAP) veteran said he would “continue for as long as [he] can.” DPM Gan previously served as MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC for 14 years holding key portfolios such as Manpower and Health It's a sense of mission… to serve people who is leading the PAP team contesting Punggol GRC was targeted by their opponents The Workers' Party (WP) at their rally earlier this week Leading the attack was WP chief Pritam Singh, who suggested that DPM Gan was near retirement and not all that an important member of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's team Pritam drew comparisons to DPM Heng Swee Keat’s surprise switch from Tampines GRC to East Coast GRC in the 2020 General Election "He [Heng] was supposed to be our next prime minister ready to take off… but then the PAP tells us "Heng has now retired from politics… Mr Gan is older than him he is going to be a one-term MP (in Punggol GRC)." WP's Punggol GRC candidates Harpreet Singh and Alexis Dang also questioned DPM Gan’s “parachuting” from Chua Chu Kang GRC on Nomination Day to anchor PAP's four-member slate in the newly-created Punggol GRC DPM Gan told AsiaOne that his focus during the campaign is not on “paying too much attention” to the opposition — nor is he bothered by the long queues of residents lining up at Waterway Point to take selfies with WP candidates focus a lot more on the residents — talk to them [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@asiaone/video/7499161336857890064?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7421402359098131975[/embed] The WP team challenging DPM Gan and his two fellow political office holders — Dr Janil Puthucheary and Sun Xueling — is made up entirely of political newcomers including a senior counsel and a senior director at a tech firm WP chairwoman Sylvia Lim went so far as to call the party's Punggol GRC team — along with its 20 other candidates —  the "most promising batch" the party has fielded in any election "If these candidates do not get elected this time there may be no next time," she said in her rally speech on Monday would DPM Gan see these "star catches" — with their glittering CVs — make the cut as political office holders so it's going to be very presumptuous and dangerous to make an assumption that they can or cannot be political office holders," he said "I think to be a political office holder the party leadership will have to understand them "If their values are at the wrong place we will not be able to use them as political office holders even if they are very smart and capable." A week into a "hectic" election campaign period reflected on his "mission" of meeting as many residents in Punggol as he can helped him to identify municipal issues — like frequent monkey sightings in Northshore "I told them that you have a monkey problem so it's same but different," said DPM Gan you do see chickens crossing the roads and you wonder if they really know traffic rules "But I also told them that monkeys are a serious problem my plan is to work with NParks and the rest of the government agencies to see how we can reduce their population… to minimise the disturbance and disadvantage of residents." [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@asiaone/video/7499158379445751041?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7421402359098131975[/embed] PM Wong said there is value in having a senior minister He cited how senior Cabinet ministers bring "experience and proven capabilities" and can think of new and innovative solutions to improve things on the ground DPM Gan said he has identified the need for more covered linkways in Punggol and suggested a "different approach to building connectivity there" I think we can apply the new parameters for other towns that have a similar nature of open spaces and lots of parks," he added and we hope to be able to continue to evolve He also pointed to his stint as Health Minister from 2011 to 2021 during which he focused on Singapore's ageing population It's an issue he wants to address in Punggol such as ways to enhancing elderly care services for Punggol residents "I will bring some of those experiences to benefit residents here particularly the younger generation who may need to look after their parents." DPM Gan's other team members for Punggol GRC are Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Health Puthucheary Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Sun and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) assistant secretary-general Yeo Wan Ling Xueling for 10 years and Wan Ling for five years," he said DPM Gan acknowledged that nothing is guaranteed in what has become a hotly contested ward — not even with a deputy prime minister in the PAP slate "This election is very important because Singapore is heading into a storm and the world is going to be very different after Liberation Day," he said in a personal message to Punggol residents while referring to US President Donald Trump's global reciprocal tariffs and we must prepare ourselves for the future "It's important for us to choose the right leaders to lead us forward and into the future." Singapore 829911Opening Hours: 10 am - 10 pm additional fees applicable for certain experiences Get ready to make a splash, parents! Singapore's newest and largest ocean-themed indoor playground from WAN TO PLAY Ocean Fantasy has officially opened its doors at Punggol Coast Mall and it's set to become a must-visit destination for families with young children This exciting new venue promises a deep dive into a world of fun and imagination offering a wide array of engaging activities that will keep little ones entertained for hours on end WAN TO PLAY Ocean Fantasy playground is brimming with attractions designed to spark joy and creativity in children of all ages families will be transported to an underwater wonderland filled with vibrant colours and captivating themes little ones can hop onboard the adorable duck rides for a delightful spin around the water way They can even see what their friends are doing at the hinoki bean pit as they float leisurely along Let your little ones experience the thrill of driving their own mini F1 car in this remote controlled car experience An add-on of $8 is required for this experience but children can step into various roles across different stations and let their imaginations flow From being a police officer to firefighter to trying their hands being a car mechanics and chef there's even a dress up corner for little princesses and princes There's even themed play points as well as a police car and fire engine where kids can add-on to their imaginative play To understand how massive this indoor playground is you just need to know that they have 2 huge bean pits for little ones to spend hours scooping and pouring This includes a colourful beans pit with various play equipment and a hinoki bean pit with children can pretend to be in a field the ball pit sets a whimsical tone for little ones to dive into There are also 2 slides leading into the ball pit this includes an LED slide and a horn slide and navigate through an engaging trampoline area complete with obstacles and bouncing nets There's even a flying fox for kids to swing from one end to the other there's something to capture the interest of every child ensuring a memorable and exciting outing for the whole family WAN TO PLAY Ocean Fantasy is located at Punggol Coast Mall Tickets are priced at $35 for 1 adult and 1 child for 2 hours of playtime Do note that the duck ride and mini F1 driver experiences are available as an add-on for $8 per session Don't miss out on the opportunity to discover one of the most exciting new indoor play areas in Punggol Gather your little ones and head down to Punggol Coast Mall to embark on an unforgettable underwater adventure at WAN TO PLAY Ocean Fantasy Jiarong YuDaddy to 2 adorable little ones Misses them the moment they are not around regrets missing them the moment they are around About Us | Contact Us | Go Back © 2025, BYKidOPowered by Shopify FAQ: Listings and Redemption Methods. DPM Gan had earlier been unveiled as the anchor minister for Chua Chu Kang GRC only to make a surprise move halfway through the one-hour nomination window The Punggol GRC contest between the People's Action Party team (top) with (left to right) Dr Janil Puthucheary Ms Sun Xueling and Ms Yeo Wan Ling; and the Workers' Party team (left to right) Mr Jackson Au SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Wednesday (Apr 23) made a surprise move to join a People's Action Party (PAP) team that will face the Workers’ Party (WP) in newly formed Punggol GRC Candidates from both parties successfully filed their nomination papers at Yusof Ishak Secondary School on that day The PAP is fielding a four-member team with DPM Gan Mr Gan, who is also Trade and Industry Minister, was unveiled last week as anchor minister of the Chua Chu Kang GRC slate. But on Wednesday about halfway through the one-hour nomination window from 11am to 12pm he showed up at Yusof Ishak and subsequently filed his papers together with the Punggol team is a new Group Representation Constituency made up of Punggol estates formerly in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Punggol West SMC - both now defunct said: "My team and I will continue to work hard to earn your trust and confidence to continue to serve you for the next five years and secure a better future." He was later asked by reporters for the reasons behind his surprise move "Whenever we do deployment; it’s always consideration by party leadership and many factors Residents are always within our factors," he said "Plans are always made depending on availability of candidates; we always need to make the adjustments." Mr Gan said he had left his residents in Chua Chu Kang in "very good hands"; and that he was happy to be in Punggol with a "capable" team which has been on the ground for many years and what would be the difference with Chua Chu Kang's residents he said: "They have different needs and aspirations And we have to see how we can match their visions He later said his move was "part and parcel of renewal" We are going into an era that we are not familiar with - so we need a strong team," said Mr Gan "What is important is among our candidates we have a mix of experience and young ideas Mr Singh from the WP slate said in his speech that it was "the privilege of a lifetime" for his team to step up and run in this election against the Singapore Democratic Alliance and Peoples Voice Mr Sharael and Mr Tan are contesting in another new GRC Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong called himself a “newbie” in Punggol GRC after moving over from PAP's Chua Chu Kang slate on Nomination Day Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong leads the Punggol GRC team during a rally at Yusof Ishak Secondary School on Apr 26 SINGAPORE: In under 20 years, Punggol has become “a shining model of Singapore's heartland”, but it is not yet perfect and can be improved even further, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong at an election rally in the town on Saturday (Apr 26) Infrastructure developments, such as the Punggol Digital District and Punggol Waterway, have made the place “a shining example of how we are never done building Singapore from third world to the first”, said Mr Gan during the rally at Yusof Ishak Secondary School, one of three held by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) on the fourth day of campaigning Punggol is now a shining model of Singapore's heartland and a neighbourhood that many young families will be proud to call home,” said Mr Gan further citing amenities such as Coney Island and Waterway Point shopping mall While these are things that Punggol residents have told his team they are happy with showing that the previous MPs have done what they were elected to do I have heard some of the feedback from residents which I think we can try to improve upon,” he said These include the call for additional covered linkways and also improved connectivity for residents Minister of Finance and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to see whether we can get more money to build some of this necessary infrastructure for our residents,” said Mr Gan Mr Gan had made a surprise move on Nomination Day after a late switch over from the PAP line-up in Chua Chu Kang GRC to anchor the ruling party’s four-member slate in the newly created Punggol GRC so I want to thank you for welcoming me into your big Punggol family,” he said Mr Gan said that he has tried to familiarise himself with Punggol as much as he can in the days since he joined the team “I have tried to cover as much of the areas as possible over the last three days In his Punggol GRC team are Senior Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Janil Puthucheary Minister of State for Social and Family Development and Home Affairs Sun Xueling They will be fighting a Workers’ Party (WP) team made up entirely of political newcomers – Mr Harpreet Singh Ms Alexis Dang and Mr Jackson Au – for the support of 123,557 voters in the ward made up of some estates from the former Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Punggol West SMC Dr Puthucheary noted that as a developing town Punggol would definitely face some challenges We have had to deal with noise and congestion He said that services such as telecommunications connectivity in the town’s newest Build-to-Order estates has taken time to fix We will and we will address the problems in the new estates We will make sure your homes are clean and well-maintained,” he told voters “We are not done making Punggol a better home for you That is an important part of building our home Also on the rally stage on Saturday evening was Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean Mr Teo is a former MP of Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim also turned up to deliver a speech in Malay Assoc Prof Faishal is on the party’s Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC slate which secured five parliamentary seats on Nomination Day after the country’s first walkover in 14 years Ms Sun noted in her speech about how facilities have improved in Punggol in the 10 years since she became an MP in the constituency That was when she used community resources to start a container library until a Punggol regional library was built lots of digging (is) happening around Punggol what you see is a Punggol that is constantly developing,” said Ms Sun adding that Punggol is becoming a “more and more valuable estate” Her team-mate Ms Yeo stressed the importance of ensuring that Punggol remains “a home that energises our seniors supports our families and protects our youth” “Many in the crowd today and online watching our broadcast Punggol is the first marital home for many here and they have built their entire lives in Punggol raised their children here and indeed grown older with Punggol,” she said in her speech “We need to ensure that we continue to develop our Punggol town with the necessary facilities and programmes to support our seniors as they grow older with us.” Mr Gan also highlighted his team’s combined experience in running an estate Xue Ling and Wan Ling have among them almost 30 years of experience in running a town council And I will bring another 24 years of experience,” he said The minister, who chairs the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce looking into the impact of US tariffs also touched on the turbulent global environment in his speech He said that he has been in talks with his US counterparts and negotiating with them on tariffs The US had slapped tariffs on many countries on Apr 2 with a baseline 10 per cent tariff on any imports While there is now a 90-day pause on most of the tariffs the baseline 10 per cent duty kicked in on Apr 5 Mr Gan spoke recently with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick The prime minister added that Mr Lutnick had told Mr Gan the US cannot change the baseline 10 per cent tariff that was imposed on Singapore by President Donald Trump as it "applies almost to all countries around the world" "But Kim Yong and he had a good discussion on how we can facilitate key exports from Singapore to America and the commerce secretary agreed that the US will consider this and told Gan Kim Yong You can watch livestreams of all rallies on CNA's GE2025 site, CNA's YouTube channel and on mewatch Why is Gan Kim Yong so critical to the government all of a sudden Voters are not here to soothe politicians’ egos and save their careers Lawrence Wong’s guilt-tripping voters with the spectre that his government might crumble if Punggol does not pick his buddy does not go down well with us and the ruling party needs to figure out who will form the Cabinet later This fearmongering to foist his buddy on voters is an affront to democracy You get voted into Parliament as an MP first The winning party forms the government and picks the Cabinet This order is important because it means the government’s power comes from the people’s choice of their representatives in Parliament Political analysts predict the PAP will retain a supermajority after GE2025 It will have a long bench of leaders to draw from like Heng Swee Keat stepping aside as Prime Minister-designate in 2021 Lawrence Wong stepped up through a consensus No single individual is irreplaceable as a minister in PAP’s government Lawrence Wong himself can easily be replaced with other 4G leaders such as Chan Chun Sing These three  are in the safest GRCs in this GE It means capable people are opting to join other political parties (which is already happening – just go and see for yourself) But PAP losing its slate of 4G leaders in this GE is merely a theoretical possibility PAP has always relied on collective leadership and SM Lee Hsien Loong is still the kingmaker His roles as Senior Minister and future Minister Mentor follow the way Lee Kuan Yew continued to shape Singapore’s direction after stepping down as Prime Minister I believe GKY has said before that he is ready to retire and he has identified himself as a 3G minister the government insists that without GKY the government can’t function properly It’s also unacceptable that GKY said very casually that he could ask for more funds from his good friend This sounds like an improper inducement to secure votes and it also sounds like an abuse of power if the PM agrees Has Lawrence Wong rebuked GKY for his improper remarks The money that is allocated to MPs to spend on their constituencies is taxpayers’ money and it should be allocated based on an objective set of criteria It is shocking that people like GKY have become so complacent that this is normal speech The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of the publisher Member of Parliament for the area Janil Puthucheary says the Housing Board has received bids for new tenants to move in Some lots at Northshore Plaza seen to be vacant on Apr 14 SINGAPORE: Business at Northshore Plaza in Punggol town has been hit hard by rent hikes and competition from a newly opened mall nearby This has led to the closure of several retail units at the shopping centre located in Singapore's northeast and comprising two sections - Northshore Plaza 1 and 2 - connected by a bridge across Northshore Drive When CNA visited the mall on Monday (Apr 14) there were at least 10 retail spaces - out of about 50 in total - that were either vacant or in the process of being replaced by a new tenant said that since she began working there from August 2024 she has seen at least six shops close down - including a Chinese herbal store a Japanese restaurant and hotpot chain Haidilao A worker at food stall Super Wok - who also declined to be named - said business has dropped by about 30 per cent since the opening of Punggol Coast Mall last month, after Punggol Coast MRT station opened in December “A lot of residents prefer to go to Punggol Coast Mall and residents won’t walk past Northshore Plaza on the way to Punggol Coast MRT station,”  he said in Mandarin air-conditioned mall was a bigger draw than Northshore Plaza An employee at ice cream chain Creamier said the drop in business was up to 15 per cent CNA observered that footfall at Northshore Plaza during lunch hour was sparse and most food and beverage establishments had several vacant tables Most retail shops such as Decathlon and Nippon Home also appeared close to empty with only a couple of customers milling about The rise in rentals is another point of contention for tenants The Creamier staff member said that when Northshore Plaza first opened early tenants were offered discounts on rentals The mall opened in two phases - Northshore Plaza 1 in 2021 and Northshore Plaza 2 in 2022 The exits of some tenants prompted Member of Parliament for Punggol Coast ward Janil Puthucheary to post a video on social media on Sunday acknowledging that rents have gone up by 10 per cent for most shops But he also said that almost all the tenants at the plaza have renewed their leases and expressed confidence in new shops moving in and HDB (Housing Development Board) has received bids for new tenants to move in Residents told CNA that while it was disappointing to see businesses closing down and their shopping options dwindling they were satisfied as long as essentials like the supermarket said Northshore Plaza was not going to attract visitors from afar due to its location that’s why maybe shops like Haidilao were not doing so well pointed to shops that had closed down such as seafood restaurant Dancing Crab “We wouldn’t be eating Dancing Crab on a daily basis it’s more of a weekend treat,” said the resident of five years “They should have places open here with more affordable prices.”  Resident Axel Teo said it was a vicious cycle of shops closing and footfall dropping for other stores nearby And those CNA spoke to could see why more people were stopping by Punggol Coast Mall more often compared with Northshore Plaza and so it’s more accessible for residents."  DPM Gan and the four-member PAP team for Punggol GRC — featuring Dr Janil Puthucheary Sun Xueling and Yeo Wan Ling — made their rounds at Waterway Point thanking residents for their unwavering support during the general election on Saturday DPM Gan and the Punggol team received words of congratulations and took pictures with excited residents who called him the "Taskforce man" "I think the key message is really that I'm here to serve I'll be looking forward to talking to them," he told AsiaOne adding that he will be organising various sessions from dialogue sessions to round table discussions to engage with Northshore residents and understand their concerns He was also candid about the uncertainty looming ahead considering an "unstable" global situation and see how we can help them address some of the concerns so that they can move forward with confidence," he added He also fielded a question regarding progress on the Economic Resilience Taskforce that he is leading to mitigate the impact of the US tariffs that were imposed on April 2 Speaking to AsiaOne, Gan said that he has shared his initial thoughts on proposed measures with the rest of the taskforce members which include Minister for National Development Desmond Lee and Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo "The taskforce members are now going through and understanding the proposals," he said adding that he will share details once they are finetuned Last night, the PAP's Punggol GRC team emerged victorious after a close race against the Worker's Party (WP) Gan's team received 55.17 per cent of votes while the WP team trailed closely behind with 44.83 per cent of votes SINGAPORE: One of the highlights of GE2025 is the imminent showdown at Punggol GRC with the Workers’ Party’s Harpreet Singh in one corner and the People’s Action Party’s Gan Kim Yong in another Punggol has been the constituency to watch as Mr Singh a Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court and this year’s highest-profile candidate has squared off against the Deputy Prime Minister who calls Prime Minister Lawrence Wong his “good friend” After Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean resigned it was announced that Mr Gan would contest at Punggol which he had represented in Parliament since 2006 When Mr Singh was fielded by the WP at Punggol it became evident that the ruling party would need a candidate who could hold their own against a strong contender Read also: Harpreet Singh asks DPM Gan, ‘Will you answer Tan Suee Chieh’s questions about the Income-Allianz deal?’ The Independent Singapore takes a look at the career paths of the two men and how they got to where they are today Mr Gan’s career trajectory has been solid but low-profile in comparison to other PAP leaders The 66-year-old first became a Member of Parliament in 2001 representing the Zhenghua ward at Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC after the ward was absorbed into  Chua Chu Kang GRC Mr Gan has worked in the Civil Service as well as the private sector He served in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) early in his career a year after it was acquired by India’s Tata Steel he became the chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore Mr Gan was also one of the heads of the multi-ministry task force assigned to manage the government’s response to the pandemic Among all the new candidates for the May 3 polls, Mr Singh has perhaps made the biggest splash. Anticipation of his being in Parliament began as far back as late 2023, when the Senior Counsel began to be seen on the ground at WP activities. He joined the party in 2024, and, as they say, has never looked back Mr Singh graduated from the National University of Singapore and Harvard Law School He was admitted to the bar as an advocate and solicitor in 1992 and appointed Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 2007 “Harpreet’s main areas of practice involve international arbitration and complex commercial litigation across a wide spectrum of disputes including banking and finance He has also been appointed an independent reviewer by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in an investigation into an international bank in relation to a corruption scandal The Minister-in-Charge of MAS to the Appeal Advisory Panels under the Business Trusts Act also appointed Mr Harpreet to the Appeal Advisory Panels under the Business Trusts Act Securities and Futures Act and Trust Companies Act from 2019 to 2023 The lawyer also sits on the Disciplinary and Appeals Committees for the frontline regulator of Singapore’s capital markets and is a member of Harvard Law School’s Leadership Council of Asia SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong has promoted a video on social media with the hashtag “NotAStranger,” hours after a video in which he seemed to be snubbed by a resident in Punggol GRC went viral Mr Gan was moved from his longtime Choa Chu Kang GRC homeground in the West of Singapore to the new Punggol GRC near the East at the nth hour on Nomination Day The contest at Punggol GRC is being closely watched and it remains unclear if the DPM will be returned to Parliament with his team facing off against a WP slate led by Senior Counsel Harpreet Singh Nehal A slew of establishment figures have vouched for Mr Gan since the campaign began One of Singapore’s longest serving politicians K Shanmugam said Mr Gan is “quiet but very effective.” Prime Minister Lawrence Wong touted Mr Gan as his “task force man” and said “he has done so much for Singapore,” while his predecessor Lee Hsien Loong’s wife Ho Ching paid tribute to Mr Gan with a lengthy vote of confidence on Facebook Asserting that Mr Gan “cares deeply,” Mdm Ho credited him for lobbying to set up and fund the Rare Disease Fund “This is a good man that I respect a lot bcos he cares enough to try this way and that to find solutions that can make lives better.” While some Punggol residents have welcomed him warmly This week, two videos suggesting poor ground response for Mr Gan went viral on social media and messaging platforms. One video that appeared to be taken from a high-rise building shows Mr Gan waving to someone but is isn’t clear if the gesture was reciprocated Another video which is going viral especially on WhatsApp showed Mr Gan meeting residents on a sidewalk in Punggol Taken from a car that had stopped at an intersection the video shows Mr Gan reaching out to greet a resident who snubs him and walks off Mr Gan’s team published their own video montage of other residents receiving the DPM warmly The video was emblazoned with the hashtag “NotAStranger” Netizens responding to the video were divided “What if all of them are grassroot volunteers in plainclothes.” Others said they feel bad for Mr Gan for being moved from his former ward and felt he must miss Choa Chu Kang Some observers felt that the interactions or lack thereof may not such a big a bearing on the results of the election there will still be people who stop and talk to him That viral video so happen to catch a moment where a few people walk past him without interacting with him.” “But interacting with the people on ground doesn’t translate to votes.” Gamers, Manga and DC/Marvel, sci-fi and fantasy literature fans alert! National Library Board, in partnership with JTC and local board games company Origame, has opened a pop-up Comics & Games Library at Punggol Coast Mall The library is a fully self-service library with a collection of more than 7,000 comics The Comics and Games Library is located in the atrium of Punggol Coast Mall in Punggol Digital District Patrons can look forward to dedicated sections for adults and children an eReads area and a space for board games There are comfortable seating areas available where patrons can settle down have a read and enjoy their selections from an interactive touchscreen embedded into a bookshelf.  In order to  borrow an eBook patrons can simply tap on the screen to reveal a QR code and scan it with their NLB Mobile app The collection at the Comics and Games Library includes the following: patrons can play and enjoy board games with friends and family at dedicated gaming spaces within the pop-up space The gaming space is set up in partnership with local board games company Origame Studios Pte Ltd It showcases local and regional board games Patrons can try out a range of games including the family-friendly Kopi King in which players will need to visit different plantations to collect their favourite durians to win patrons can also look forward to a showcase wall featuring local comics donated by local comic collectors from their personal collection Singapore’s first comic adaptation of a film This provides a glimpse of Singapore’s comic heritage its evolution over the years and distinct vibrancy The items in the special showcase collection will not be for loan an interactive service produced by NLB and Amazon Web Services that helps users discover great stories and writers by experiencing them in new ways using Generative AI Patrons can put their own spin to classic stories like Wizard of Oz and Sang Nila Utama in a captivating Manga art style As part of discovering more content and authors with Gen AI NLB will also offer the opportunity for patrons to learn about the benefits and challenges this emerging technology brings patrons can look up NLB resources such as Read to be S.U.R.E which help patrons understand both the benefits and challenges of AI There are also display panels that explain how Generative AI works and how to differentiate real information from fake so that patrons may learn the importance of digital literacy visitors can simply scan their ID or request a QR code day pass Items from the Comics and Games Library at Punggol Coast Mall can be borrowed using the NLB Mobile app said: “We have been encouraged by the responses to our pop-up libraries we take the opportunity to work with different partners to bring reading and learning to our patrons in new and engaging ways we explored creating a board game space with homegrown game designers for patrons to learn about Singapore culture through play This reflects our spirit of experimentation as part of the LAB25 (Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025) journey to build a vibrant Learning Marketplace for everyone.” The new library space offers delightful physical collections for young and old superhero and space classics from Marvel and DC universes board games for families and friends to play on the spot three screens of recommended digital titles – regularly refreshed – beckon I left happily with a loan of 4 books and an e-book moving from Chua Chu Kang GRC where he served as MP for 14 years The 66-year-old's unexpected switcheroo was a closely guarded secret leading up to Nomination Day on Wednesday (April 23) Gan arrived at the nomination centre in Yusof Ishak Secondary School in Punggol Central at around 11.30am to submit his nomination papers for Punggol GRC The other members of PAP team in the GRC are Dr Janil Puthucheary The PAP will face a fight with the Workers’ Party which is fielding newcomers Harpreet Singh Nehal Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar and Alexis Dang Gan thanked the residents of Chua Chu Kang saying that he has left them “in good hands” Gan said that it is a decision made by the party leadership - one that considered the interest of residents as well as the availability of candidates and “people retiring” they have decided that I should relocate myself to Punggol GRC,” he said Speaking after the WP’s nomination was confirmed Harpreet said “it is a privilege of a lifetime” for his team to contest Punggol GRC We will speak up for you and be there for you always He also called for People's Association "to start treating Singaporeans equally no matter how they vote" And a Parliament where your voice is heard was created after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee recommended carving out the Punggol estates in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC yeo.shuhui@asiaone.com chingshijie@asiaone.com the Workers' Party (WP) took aim at the People's Action Party (PAP) and Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong's surprise move to Punggol GRC in the General Election Gan had made the late switch on Nomination Day where he moved from Chua Chu Kang GRC to anchor the ruling party's four-member slate in the newly-created Punggol GRC Leading the charge was WP party chief Pritam Singh in a 27-minute speech at Yusof Ishak Secondary School argued that voters should not be afraid to vote out Gan He noted Gan was not elected to the PAP's central executive committee last year and said that it is "very strange for a deputy prime minister" Singh said: "Could it be that he was ready to retire and did not plan to run in this elections can he be so critical to the PM's plans "You mean the PM has no one else in his Cabinet who can negotiate with the United States on tariffs?" who is also the Minister for Trade and Industry chairs the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce which looks into the impact of US tariffs on Singapore Pritam then recalled how DPM Heng Swee Keat similarly made a surprise switch from Tampines GRC to East Coast GRC in the 2020 General Election "He was supposed to be our next prime minister runway too short'," said Singh to laughter from the crowd In Gan's team are Senior Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Janil Puthucheary They will be fighting a WP team made up entirely of political newcomers — Harpreet Singh Nehal questioned the PAP's decision to "parachute" Gan into Punggol GRC "if it is so confident that it has won the trust" of residents there "Why are they so insecure?" he asked Harpreet also pointed that Gan had "candidly admitted initially that he was not keen to accept the DPM role" "So we can thank DPM Gan for his service In a PAP rally at the same venue on Saturday (April 26) Gan said that while Punggol is "a shining model of Singapore's heartland" due to recent infrastructure developments he acknowledged that improvements to the area are needed to see whether we can get more money to build some of this necessary infrastructure for our residents," said Gan arguing that the "necessary infrastructure improvements" come from public funds and it does not matter if "we are good friends with the Prime Minister" "It does not matter whether he accepts our offer to play the guitar and saxophone together," he quipped Harpreet also called on Gan to respond to an open letter that former NTUC Income chief executive officer Tan Suee Chieh had posted on Facebook Tan asked about his oversight in the scrapped Income-Allianz deal given his role as chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore which Harpreet said are important to be asked on behalf of Singaporeans This is about accountability and real leadership never fears scrutiny Singh's fellow Punggol GRC team member Dang claimed that Gan's comments "reflects a troubling reality about our politics today" "Is this the kind of leadership we want to endorse… where success isn't about fairness The rally saw 12 WP candidates speaking up on a variety of issues including the Government's decision to raise the GST who doubled up as an emcee for the three-hour rally announced that the venue's capacity has reached its maximum limit Sengkang GRC candidate Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik said WP is proposing measures to support young parents such as pre-school vouchers and more childcare leave "Vote for WP and you'll never walk alone," he added referring to the newly-crowned English Premier League champions Liverpool's famous motto "represents a party that has allowed issues to fester" or you can vote for representatives who will fight for a more affordable Singapore that truly supports families and cares about its people," he added urged voters to not dither about whether to vote for their party I can confidently say that this batch of our candidates is the most promising batch that WP has fielded," she said The WP has fielded 26 candidates in this election So there is no time to waste on this… If you do not do it this time you may not have a chance the next time." Pritam had a personal message for Punggol voters He said that Punggol GRC residents will be doing "an incredible service to the nation" by voting for his party calling for a "fair and accountable” electoral boundary review process it's mission possible," he added chingshijie@asiaone.com