Prime Minister Lawrence Wong believes Singapore must 'actively shape' its destiny in an evolving global landscape. Wong made the comments on Wednesday (16 April) while speaking at the 14th S. Rajaratnam Lecture where he also outlined three ways Singapore can take control of its future.
The People's Action Party announced on Wednesday (16 April) that lawyer Alex Yeo will be contesting Potong Pasir for the upcoming election. It was revealed that incumbent Sitoh Yih Pin, who has served as MP for the SMC since 2011, was stepping down from politics.
Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.
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Marcus Chhan
Singapore must actively shape own destiny: PM Wong
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong says Singapore "cannot afford to be a passive bystander" and must "actively shape our own destiny" in an evolving global landscape.
PM Wong was speaking at the 14th S. Rajaratnam Lecture where he noted this year marks Singapore's 60th year of independence, making it an opportune time to reflect on how far the country has come. "Singapore today is not without agency," he said. "We are better resourced, more capable, more connected than we were in 1965."
In his speech, Wong outlined three ways for Singapore can take control in an increasingly chaotic environment. This included contributing to the stewardship of the global commons, championing deeper regional integration, and strengthening its global network of partnerships.
Wong joins a list of prominent figures who have spoken at the S. Rajaratnam Lecture in the past including previous PM Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. His speech comes a day after his government announced plans for a General Election on 3 May.
You can watch PM Wong's full speech here.
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Marcus Chhan
Sitoh Yih Pin steps down from Potong Pasir
Sitoh Yih Pin will not return to defend Potong Pasir SMC for the People's Action Party (PAP) in the 2025 General Election.
The news was revealed on Wednesday (16 April) as the PAP announced lawyer Alex Yeo will be contesting the SMC for the upcoming election.
Sitoh is reportedly stepping down from politics after a notable spell being MP for Potong Pasir SMC since 2011. The 61-year-old had to battle hard for the honour at Potong Pasir – the stronghold of formidable opposition leader Chiam See Tong who beat Sitoh in 2001 and again in 2006. Sitoh famously defeated Chiam's wife Lina by just 114 votes in 2011 and went on to serve three straight terms.
Yeo paid tribute to Sitoh in his opening remarks on Wednesday: "He’s a dear mentor of mine, and I’ve learned many lessons in community leadership and service from him."
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Marcus Chhan
Singapore hangs man who killed pregnant wife, daughter in 2017
Teo Ghim Heng, a former property agent who murdered his pregnant wife and their four-year-old daughter in 2017, was executed on 16 April, according to local media.
The Singapore Prison Service told The Straits Times that his sentence was carried out at Changi Prison Complex.
Teo strangled housewife Choong Pei Shan – who was six months pregnant – and daughter Zi Ning in their Woodlands home on 20 January 2017. It was reported that he placed their bodies side by side on his bed, and slept next to them for a week before setting them on fire.
He was sentenced to hang by the High Court in November 2020 – and his appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in February 2022.
Marcus Chhan
Approved symbols for independent candidates in GE2025
These are the nine symbols approved by the Returning Officer which independent candidates can use to represent themselves on ballot papers and during the 2025 General Election. Candidates belonging to a party will be represented by their party emblem.
Marcus Chhan
Platform screen door fell onto track at Braddell station: SMRT
Normal train services have resumed after delays caused by a platform screen door at Braddell station fell onto the north-bound track of the North-South Line.
SMRT said the incident happened at around 11.15am on 16 April resulting in the affected platform being "cordoned off as a safety precaution."
The operator said train services continued to run on the North-South Line but advised commuters to add an additional 15 minutes of travel time as "shuttle train services are operating between Bishan and Toa Payoh in both directions."
The situation was resolved by 12.22pm today.
Marcus Chhan
Online conduct during 2025 General Election: What not to do
Members of the public have been reminded to 'observe appropriate online conduct during the General Election.'
In a joint-statement, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said Singaporeans "should refrain" from "behaviours which may constitute offences under the law."
These include:
Online misinformation and disinformation
Online harassment
Online posts with racial or religious connotations
The public was also warned that "persons with ill intent may create online posts containing falsehoods or manipulated content such as deepfakes" in a bid to deceive and influence the outcome of the election.
"There have been numerous instances of manipulated videos and photos appearing during election campaigning across the world. These days, we no longer need sophisticated tools and techniques to create deceptive content. They are easy to produce," read the joint-statement.
Are you concerned about deepfakes during GE2025? Make your opinion count in Yahoo's latest poll.
Marcus Chhan
Pritam Singh's rallying cry for WP
The Workers’ Party (WP) issued a rallying cry for the upcoming General Election. Details for GE2025 were announced on 15 April and WP wasted no time in letting voters know that their “support has never been more important.”
“Singapore’s system of democracy was designed to enable the election of an opposition presence in Parliament – a loyal opposition – that works in the interests of the country,” said Secretary-General Pritam Singh in a message posted on WP’s Facebook page.
“There is nothing disloyal about offering alternative views. The views from the Workers’ Party are grounded in the desire to achieve better outcomes for Singapore and Singaporeans,” he said.
You can read the full FB post here.
Marcus Chhan
A quick guide to Singapore's General Elections
You might have heard something about a general election happening in Singapore. It's kind of a big deal. As Singapore gets ready for GE2025, here are some things to consider:
What are the important dates to note?
How can you find out your constituency in the upcoming General Election?
Who can vote in Singapore's General Election?
How to cast your vote in Singapore's General Election?
Is Polling Day a public holiday in Singapore?
Do you still have to vote if you're working on Polling Day?
Don't fret if you don't know the answers to all these questions. You can check out our GE2025 explainer for a handy rundown.
Marcus Chhan
Opposition parties criticise timing of Polling Day
The major news on Tuesday afternoon was the announcement of Polling Day for this year's General Election. It was confirmed that Singaporeans will head to the polls on 3 May but the date wasn't greeted warmly by several opposition parties.
A number of parties took to social media to explain the reasons for their unhappiness.
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP): 'Impossibly short' timeline
Red Dot United (RDU): 'Strategically engineered'
People’s Power Party (PPP): 'Deeply disappointing'
The Straits Times has a detailed report on all the opposition parties which voiced their concerns.
Marcus Chhan
‘We are witnessing profound changes in the world’: PM Wong
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the “profound changes in the world” which have made it “more uncertain, unsettled and even unstable” factored in his decision to call for the General Election.
“The global conditions that enabled Singapore’s success over the past decades may no longer hold,” said PM Wong on his social media channels on 15 April. “That is why I have called this General Election. At this critical juncture, Singaporeans should decide on the team to lead our nation, and to chart our way forward together.”
Parliament was dissolved on Tuesday (15 April) and the Writ of Election was issued. Nomination Day is on 23 April with Singaporeans scheduled to head to the polls on 3 May.
