Judge candidates not just as individuals, but also the party they stand for: SM Lee

PAP bringing in good team to provide best possible leadership for S'pore, he says

- Sue-Ann Tan

When Singaporeans go to the polls on May 3, they should judge candidates not just as individuals but also the party they stand for, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Speaking at a press briefing on April 19 to unveil the PAP slate for Ang Mo Kio GRC, as well as three nearby single seats, SM Lee also took questions on the Workers' Party manifesto and his political future.

The opposition parties, he said, have also been introducing new candidates, and it is important for Singaporeans to assess them not just on their own merits, but also the party they represent.

He said: "Singaporeans will have to judge them and decide what they will be able to do for Singapore. And judge them, not just as individuals, but also as the party they stand for.

"And also consider carefully that when you vote for an MP, you are not just voting for the person. You are voting for the party which stands behind her or him, and what the party needs by way of support and mandate in order to be able to serve Singapore."

The PAP, SM Lee said, is putting forward a good team of people that, individually, are good men and women.

"But at the same time, we're putting forward a slate whose purpose is to form the government in order to provide the best possible leadership for Singapore, and I hope that will have Singaporeans' support," he added.

The PAP is expected to unveil 32 new candidates for the polls—the largest batch of fresh faces in decades.

SM Lee said, when asked to comment on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's team so far: "I think these are good people, diverse, committed, passionate, bringing many different backgrounds and experiences, personal histories and passions, and I have no doubt that they will do a good job for Singapore."

He added that PM Wong has brought in candidates who might have the potential to be "more than backbenchers".