Candidates Announced for Two-Thirds of Constituencies 5 Days to Nomination Day

Political parties have announced their slates across about two-thirds of Singapore's 33 constituencies, with five days to go before Nomination Day on April 23.

- Ng Wei Kai and Goh Yan Han

The PAP began formally introducing its candidates on April 12, starting with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's team in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.

In all, the ruling party has announced its slate for 18 constituencies—mostly in western and central Singapore. It has also unveiled its line-ups to contest the Workers' Party-held Aljunied and Sengkang GRCs and Hougang SMC.

In comparison, the WP has introduced only its Sengkang GRC slate, comprising incumbent MPs He Ting Ru, Jamus Lim and Louis Chua, and new face Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik.

The Progress Singapore Party has announced its candidates for Kebun Baru and Marymount SMCs, but not Chua Chu Kang and West Coast-Jurong West GRCs where it has said it will run.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Democratic Party has announced its candidates for Marsiling-Yew Tee and Sembawang GRCs, and Sembawang West and Bukit Panjang SMCs.

Other opposition parties such as Red Dot United, Singapore United Party (SUP) and the coalition People's Alliance for Reform have put forth candidates in some constituencies, while others like the People's Power Party (PPP) have staked their claims without confirming their full slates.

Institute of Policy Studies Social Lab research fellow Teo Kay Key noted that based on the current rate at which the PAP has been revealing its slates by constituencies, all line-ups could be out by Nomination Day.

"That said, we might still leave some room for redeployments up until the candidate lists are posted up on the board at the nomination centres," she said.

While there is some clarity in constituencies in western and central Singapore, the PAP and WP may be holding off on finalising candidates in constituencies where they expect to go head-to-head—in the east and north-east, political observers said.

Both may be waiting on last-minute changes, including movements of political heavyweights on either side, before firming up plans.