PAP to face familiar rivals in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Bukit Panjang SMC

The PAP will be up against the Singapore People's Party (SPP) in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC once again, with a new anchor minister at the helm for the ruling party.

- Alyssa Woo and Andrew Wong

Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, 51, will lead the four-man PAP team for the group representation constituency, following Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen's retirement from politics.

Others on the PAP slate, which was confirmed on April 23 at the Methodist Girls' School (MGS) nomination centre, are Mr Saktiandi Supaat, 51, and political fresh faces Elysa Chen, 41, a charity director, and social entrepreneur Cai Yinzhou, 35.

The SPP team comprises secretary-general Steve Chia, 54, and party chairman Melvyn Chiu, 45, along with two new faces, operations executive Muhammad Norhakim, 31, and operations manager Lim Rui Xian, 37.

PAP had bested SPP in the previous 2020 contest, taking 67.23 per cent of the vote.

Mr Chee said his team would do their "very best to win the support, earn the trust of our residents and do more to rejuvenate our estate and improve their lives".

In his speech, SPP's Mr Chiu said the short waiting time before Nomination Day "forced" many parties to work overtime.