With its new slate, PAP looks to form 5G with more diversity, minorities

Candidates pulled from public service may form core of next-generation leadership

- Ng Wei Kai

Three elections ago, the PAP brought in a slate of candidates who would eventually form the core of the party's fourth-generation leadership.

This 2011 group included Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing and National Development Minister Desmond Lee.

That year, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was also fielded but lost in Aljunied GRC.

Fast forward to 2025, and the party is set to field a group of young candidates pulled from the public service who could form the core of its nascent 5G if elected.

It has also moved to fill potential gaps by bringing in more minority candidates tipped for political office, and recruited beyond the usual professions to flesh out its slate.

PM Wong said when introducing them: "If elected, a number of our new candidates can become more than backbenchers.

"They will help to strengthen my team, and some of the younger ones will form the core of the next 5G team — they will make sure Singapore continues to be in good hands."

The party's slate is younger on average, with more women.

Some have professional backgrounds that mirror those of current office-holders, said Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan.

These individuals could be tapped to be junior office-holders after the general election, he added.

Top civil servants who have left their jobs to don party whites this election include permanent secretary for trade and industry and manpower Jeffrey Siow, Health Ministry deputy secretary Jasmin Lau, Finance Ministry director Shawn Loh, Digital Development and Information Ministry director Goh Hanyan and Transport Ministry director Foo Cexiang.

Also in the mix are former army chief David Neo, former chief of staff - joint staff Goh Pei Ming and former Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) chief executive Dinesh Vasu Dash.

The group is relatively young.