New faces emerge across constituencies ahead of the next GE

In Tampines and Marine Parade GRCs, two new faces have featured on banners with elected MPs.

- Ng Wei Kai and Goh Yan Han

Dr Charlene Chen and Dr Choo Pei Ling are grassroots advisers in the two constituencies respectively.

The academics are among at least seven new faces in the PAP camp who have in the last 1½ years assumed leadership roles in opposition wards and almost every PAP-held constituency with empty seats.

All have been spotted alongside MPs at community events and made party branch chairs or grassroots advisers – roles sometimes held by those later fielded as candidates for the ruling party.

Only one spot, in West Coast GRC, remains publicly unspoken for. This is former transport minister S. Iswaran's seat, vacant since he resigned in January 2024 following a corruption probe.

Analysts say getting new faces on the ground early could give the People's Action Party (PAP) an edge in contested and opposition-held areas. For one thing, residents will have more time to get familiar with potential candidates, whose early start can signal a commitment by the party to winning over the voters.

REFRESHING THE SLATE

In constituencies held by the Workers' Party (WP) – Hougang, Sengkang and Aljunied – the PAP has brought in new blood.

Two new faces joined the Aljunied GRC line-up in August. Trade unionist Jagathishwaran Rajo now chairs the Eunos branch, while Paya Lebar's new branch chairman is Mr Kenny Sim, the chief executive of an IT products firm.

Mr Marcus Loh, a director at a digital transformation services firm, also joined the PAP's refreshed Sengkang GRC slate in November 2023. His team comprises former minister of state Lam Pin Min, as well as relative newcomers Elmie Nekmat and Theodora Lai. Both came on board in March 2022 after the last general election (GE).

Mr Loh's move took place a week after trade unionist Jackson Lam was appointed Hougang branch chairman.