GE BATTLEGROUND SET

First walkover in 14 years as WP stays out of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC | Gan Kim Yong moves to Punggol; Tan See Leng to helm Chua Chu Kang | 5 multi-cornered fights: Ang Mo Kio, Sembawang, Tampines, Potong Pasir, Radin Mas | Ministers Teo Chee Hean, Heng Swee Keat to retire from politics

- Linette Lai

Singapore will see 92 out of 97 seats contested in the May 3 general election, following several surprises on Nomination Day—including the first walkover since 2011.

A five-member PAP team in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, which the WP was expected to contest, was elected unopposed when nomination proceedings ended at noon.

Other developments on April 23 included the last-minute redeployment of several heavyweight ministers—among them Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong to Punggol GRC—and the long-awaited confirmation of the WP's line-up.

Senior counsel Harpreet Singh forms part of the WP's four-member team for Punggol GRC, setting the stage for what looks to be one of the fiercest electoral battlegrounds in 2025.

The names of two PAP stalwarts—Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat—did not appear on nomination papers. Both will retire from politics.

Speaking later in the day, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the stakes are high, as the election will take place in a more turbulent world.

"No one can tell what this new global order will be like, but, clearly, it's not going back to what it used to be," he said.

"We are in the midst of a very messy and unpredictable transition, which means that the global conditions that underpin our success as a trading nation are changing, and may not be the same as before."

PM Wong, who is secretary-general of the PAP, added that he expects a tough contest.

"The opposition is better organised than before, and, aside from the one walkover, every area will be fiercely contested," he said.