Visa-free travel: Malaysia and China extend agreement for 5 years following President Xi’s visit

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” We saw almost 900, 000 visitor arrivals from China as of April, this year alone. According to him, the full last year was four million, according to NST.

According to him, this is seen as a good sign that the government should continue taking these activities for the benefit of both nations. &nbsp,

” China continues to be the main draw for foreign visitors to Malaysia, followed by India. Singapore leads the ASEAN regions, followed by Thailand, he continued, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. &nbsp,

Given its immediate effect compared to other forms of investment, hospitality continues to be a significant contribution to the federal market, Saifuddin said. &nbsp,

Prior to the announcement, Malay may travel to China without a visa until Dec 31 this time, while Chinese citizens may continue to do so until Dec 31 of the following year, according to The Star.

Nigel Wong, president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, stated that the card modification will help the hospitality sector further expand the Taiwanese email business. &nbsp,

According to The Star, he was quoted as saying,” There is security for the business to plan ahead and increase efforts to get more Chinese visitors,” underscoring the growing demand for Chinese tourists looking for experienced tourism products.

” It’s no longer just about the typical tours,” he said. Foreign tourists are more likely to visit inventive and creative experiences like culinary hospitality, history and tradition, as well as ecotourism products, Nigel continued. &nbsp,

He anticipates that the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign’s rewards will extend beyond that.

Tourism is known to increase after the Visit Malaysia strategy, and this development may weave in very well, he said. &nbsp,

With a number of daring goals, including 35.6 million international visitors and RM147.1 billion ( US$ 33 billion ) in tourism documents, the Visit Malaysia plan is a nationwide effort to boost coming hospitality. &nbsp,

The visa-free improvement, according to Mint Leong, the president of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, does provide industry players with a clear path for marketing to Chinese tourists.

Due to this, Malaysia will also have the chance to get more business activities and firm travelers, Leong was quoted as saying by The Star.

Koong Lin Loong, treasurer-general of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, added that the “hospitality business is also going to benefit” as a result.

Foreign visitors will feel less troubled because of the visa-free problems, and they will undoubtedly be spending both on goods and beverages, he said. &nbsp,

The Bangkok Post reported a drop in visitor arrivals to Thailand, hitting a small for 2025 with just 5, 833 recorded on April 16, below the normal daily average of 15, 000 to 20, 000.

The tourism power of Thailand’s chairman, Natthriya Thaweevong, claimed that the average number of tourists from Asia has decreased, good as a result of” health concerns” and the “economic effect of the US price trek.”

The security issues most likely relate to Wang Xing’s well-known abduction in Thailand.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, there were 1.5 million Chinese immigrants as of April 20, followed by Internationals at 1.4 million and Russians at 835 and 385. &nbsp,

Srettha Thavisin, the then-prime secretary of Thailand, announced last year that starting on March 1, 2024, Chinese citizens may be granted visa-free entry permanently. &nbsp,

Nearly two months after the request was first made public, Singapore and China furthermore agreed to a 30-day visa-free passage for their residents.

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Heat index at extreme levels in Phuket, Bangkok, other provinces

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The health ministry problems guidelines.

Tourists rest under rented sunshades at Nai Harn beach in Muang district of Phuket. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)
Tourists can relax on occupied shutters at Nai Harn beach in Phuket’s Muang area. ( Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran )

A top healh official said the heat was expected to continue into Thursday after reaching “very dangerous” degrees in Phuket on Wednesday and “dangerous” degrees in Bangkok and 34 different provinces.

Individuals in vulnerable groups, particularly the older and the ill, were instructed to stay away from the sun. &nbsp,

A “heat catalog” at the potentially fatal red levels, according to Dr. Amporn Benjaponpitak, director-general of the department of health.

Older people, those who must work outdoors, those who have chronic illnesses such as alcoholism, mental illness, obesity, or other serious diseases should take safeguards.

According to Dr. Amporn,” the steam catalog is the temperature that people perceive being at.” It considered both the true temperature and the relative humidity, which caused it to feel significantly hotter than it actually was.

People may think it was as warm as 52 degrees Fahrenheit, or even more, when the true warmth was lower, according to the Meteorological Department, because of a heat score in the red, or extremely dangerous, level.

These circumstances were anticipated for Phuket until Thursday.

According to Dr. Amporn, the heat catalog may be harmful or peach on Wednesday and Thursday in Bangkok and 34 regions.

The counties include Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Lampang, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nong Khai, Pattani, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo

It felt 42°C to 51.9°C when the temperature score was dangerously peach or both. People who live in that range might experience pain, heat exhaustion, and sunstroke. &nbsp,

Dr. Thiti Sawangtham, assistant director-general of the department of health, advised people to consume a lot of water during extremely hot weather, never wait until they are hungry, and abstain from alcohol and sugary beverages like syrups and carbonated drinks. Nothing needs to guarantee adequate venting. &nbsp,

People should seek medical attention if they experience hallucinations, hard pulses, headaches, confusion, unstable consciousness, slow responses, speech issues, anxiety, or red or hot skin, he said.

To quickly lower a woman’s body temperature, treatment may place a priority on applying warm water and ice blocks to specific areas of the body, particularly the back of the neck and armpits. According to Dr. Thiti, they should then be taken to a doctor.

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Bangladesh-Pakistan thaw putting the heat on India – Asia Times

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Virtually redrawn, South Asia’s digital geopolitical map is basically being redrawn, not with bold declarations, but with deliberate, quiet strokes.

The coexisting background and hard-won emancipation have been a testament to the centuries-old friendship between India and Bangladesh. But that unshakeable cooperation is starting to wane as a result.

Nobel prize Muhammad Yunus, who is currently in charge of Bangladesh’s interim government, is at the center of this change. Dhaka is looking past the common accept of New Delhi under his watch and waving a careful hand toward Islamabad, an implausible partner.

This is not just a political gesture, though. It was the first public melt in a long-frozen marriage when Yunus met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last year on the fringes of the D-8 Summit in Egypt.

Since that moment, which was rarely visible outside the press rooms for the foreign ministry, has gained momentum. The subsequent outreach to Beijing, which was highlighted by Yunus’s well-known visit and rumors that China’s infrastructure is extremely southeastern of India, has only heightened New Delhi’s unease.

The picture of a national head shaking hands with a Muslim rival is jarring for many Bangladeshis who grew up in the darkness of 1971. The Liberation War, which was the result of murder and trauma, is more than just a historical incident; it is also a deeply embedded national storage.

Releasing with Pakistan was a dark line under the previous Bangladeshi president, Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh, nevertheless, is indicating that it no longer views its international coverage from a single perspective. Dhaka is playing a more unexpected game in a place where relationships are shifting and power is at stake.

The message is clear for India, who has grown accustomed to treating its neighbor as a political frequent: nothing in South Asia can be changed, not even the past.

people summits, explicit exchanges, and summits

Certainly their material, but rather their showmanship, is what has been most revealing about the recent burst of Bangladesh-Pakistan political and cleverness exchanges.

These are not hidden from view or quiet summits like backchannel efforts. They’re calculated people displays that combine photo ops with press releases and talk levels.

This is a lifeline for Islamabad, which has long been marginalized in South Asian politics. It offers a chance to reshape a location where it has gradually lost influence and a new partner in Dhaka.

Financial incentives, assistance in defense, and even shared interests in international forums are all currently on the table. Additionally, Pakistan is not wasted time.

But, Bangladesh’s justification is more about widening the playing area than it is about rekindling old relations. Dhaka is hedging as India’s local dominance is being progressively seen through the lens of disparity and aggressiveness.

Detached from political dynasties ‘ personal weight, the time government is adopting a more transactional, cold diplomacy.

However, this new rationality comes with dangers. The national brain still carries a lot of the trauma of 1971, including the murder, the mass displacement, and the war crimes. Healing is both a matter of policy and principle for the thousands of Bangladeshis.

Any action that yet suggests absolution or amnesia is susceptible to stoke public outcry, especially among a younger generation who is both politically engaged and previously aware.

It’s unknown whether this diplomatic thaw will produce anything sustained or simply fizzles as a result of the pain experienced in the past. However, one thing is certain: the geographical balance is changing.

Bangladesh is no longer content to play the improbable darkness of India’s future. The nation is pushing the boundaries of its independence in this emerging post-Hasina surroundings, carved out space for its own-defined alliances.

Remembrance and unification

The latest foreign secretary-level discussions between Bangladesh and Pakistan, the first in more than 15 years, brought the past to life.

The consultations, which were held in Dhaka, were nothing short of habit. UNpaid war dues and hurricane relief, US$ 4.52 billion in reparations, and an unwavering, unequivocal explanation for the holocaust of 1971 were proudly direct.

One of the most persistent injuries in South Asian politics is that Islamabad has consistently dodged responsibility by offering only warm emotions of “regret” while dodging accountability.

And while the time management may look more eager to veer off, these demands are consistent with those made by every previous Awami League-led authorities. The message is clear: remembering is not the only thing that can be improved.

Dhaka is diversifying its security and geopolitics, despite the fact that traditional wounds are still untreated. Bangladesh’s involvement in Pakistan’s AMAN-25 naval exercises and its alleged involvement in Pakistan’s JF-17 warrior jets represent a subtle but significant change from its traditional martial sources.

The calculus is unmistakable for some hawks of foreign policy: While China may continue to be the dominant supplier, strategic diversification is then a top priority in Dhaka.

This rebalancing even extends beyond the China-Pakistan shaft. The introduction of Russian ships in Chittagong along with the recent visit of Bangladeshi Army chief common Waker-Uz-Zaman to Moscow underscores Bangladesh’s desire to strengthen its security alliances.

And Khalilur Rahman’s appointment as national security adviser, who was the administration’s minister for the Rohingya crisis, demonstrates a more forceful, regionally focused strategic outlook.

The pressure from the United States has only increased the bets. Washington’s demands for more coherence with Myanmar coverage add another layer of complexity to Dhaka’s now delicate balancing act.

Fundamental principles

The difficulty lies in managing expectations while maintaining autonomy while no simply choosing allies. However, it would be mistaken to associate Bangladesh’s altering unusual plan with its abandonment of its founding principles.

The refusal of the Awami League’s authoritarian ideology does not mean that the principles established in 1971—freedom, justice, and sovereignty—were not respected. These are the aspirations of a new era demanding respect at home and trustworthiness worldwide, not just slogans for the record books.

New Delhi ought to notice. A social change in Dhaka does not automatically mean respect. If India doesn’t expect to be loyal without getting involved, it is misinterpreting the situation.

Bangladesh’s position with its foreign policy is no longer a foregone conclusion. And the path ahead calls for more than just passing press releases or sporadic delegations: it calls for fair examination of history, of each other, and of the local realities of a fast-changing world order.

Abu Jakir is a columnist based in Dhaka.

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GE2025: Jalan Besar GRC sees straight fight between PAP and PAR contender

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At the upcoming polls, the People’s Action Party ( PAP ) team led by Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, will face off against the People’s Alliance for Reform ( PAR ) in Jalan Besar GRC.

The four-member stone, which included Mrs Teo, 56, Ms Denise Phua, 66, Dr Wan Rizal, 46, and Mr. Shawn Loh, 38, a former top civil servant and a newcomer to politics, was unaffected by the ruling party’s candidate entry before in April.

Mr. Chiu Shin Kong, a 51-year-old personal tutor and a stranger to politics, is on the opposition list. Mohamad Hamim Aliyas, 62, and Sarina Abu Hassan, 53, are among his four members, along with Ms. Vigneswari V. Ramachandran, a 42-year-old school tutor.

On the day of the nomination, Mrs. Teo’s team made an early arrival at the Kong Hwa School’s nomination center on Wednesday ( April 23 ) at around 10am.

Mrs. Teo, who has been Jalan Besar GRC’s outlet minister since the last election, addressed a enthralling throng after her group’s stone was announced, saying:” The PAP staff have served you and worked hard all these years.

We appreciate your interest and assistance. We now have a solid track record, and we have presented our plans to make our village your best house. You may trust us to be trustworthy and diligent, said Mrs. Teo.

Heng Chee How, the MP for the Whampoa department since 2001, takes Mr. Loh’s place as Senior Minister of State for Defense.

Thank you inhabitants of Jalan Besar, Ms. Sarina from PAR said in a statement to the crowd following the PAP staff. The Line has been speaking with you, but now we want to work with you, walk with you, and offer you in Jalan Besar GRC.

When asked what her group’s opinion of the PAP Jalan Besar lineup was on the side of the press, Ms. Vigneswari responded,” We dare to stand out and bring up some issues that some other parties don’t want to raise, such as immigration and job security for Singaporeans.”

She continued,” We want policy changes and that is to benefit the residents of Singapore, and our crew respects that.”

A potential three-cornered fight was already being considered by both the People’s Alliance for Reform and the National Solidarity Party ( NSP) earlier this year.

However, the NSP eventually made a decision to leave, “in keeping with our long-standing dedication to responsible commitment and significant opposition assistance.” &nbsp,

The Peoples Voice ( PV), the Reform Party ( RP ), and the Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP ) are all a three-party alliance known as the PAR.

The PAP squad won 65.36 % of the vote in the previous General Election in 2020, beating a PV group. Mr. Lim Tean, Mr. Leong Sze Hian, Mr. Nor Azlan Sulaiman, and Dr. Michael Fang made up the PV granite.

In the most recent political limit review, there are 106, 102 voters in the GRC.

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GE2025: Who’s contesting where, at a glance

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SINGAPORE: The final list of candidates running in the 2025 General Election has been officially announced after they filed their nomination papers on Wednesday (Apr 23).

Nomination Day kick-starts a nine-day campaigning period until May 1, with May 2 being Cooling-off Day and Polling Day on May 3.

A total of 206 candidates will be vying for 92 seats across 32 constituencies, with the five-member Marine Parade-Braddell Heights Group Representation Constituency (GRC) seeing a walkover by the People’s Action Party (PAP) team.

There will also be multi-cornered fights in three GRCs and two Single Member Constituencies (SMCs).

Here are the candidates who will be contesting in each of the 18 GRCs and 15 SMCs.

FOUR-MEMBER GRCS

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, among five left intact in the latest changes to Singapore’s electoral boundaries, will see a straight fight between PAP and the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) for the fourth consecutive General Election.

PAP’s team is led by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, who is the incumbent MP along with Mr Saktiandi Supaat.

In the 2011 General Election, PAP won 56.93 per cent of the vote against an SPP team led by veteran opposition politician Chiam See Tong before he stood down. In 2015, PAP won 73.59 per cent of the vote against SPP and in 2020, PAP’s vote share fell to 67.23 per cent against SPP’s 32.77 per cent.

PAP candidates:

  • Chee Hong Tat
  • Saktiandi Supaat
  • Elysa Chen
  • Cai Yinzhou

SPP candidates:

  • Steve Chia
  • Melvyn Chiu 
  • Muhammad Norhakim
  • Lim Rui Xian

Chua Chu Kang GRC

PAP and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) previously faced off in Chua Chu Kang GRC in the 2020 General Election, with PAP winning 58.64 per cent of votes over PSP’s 41.36 per cent. 

The PAP team is helmed by Manpower Minister Tan See Leng and includes incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim.

Following the latest redrawing of electoral boundaries, the GRC will include the Tengah ward – previously part of Hong Kah North SMC – while the Bukit Gombak and Hillview estates have been carved out to form a new Bukit Gombak SMC.

PAP candidates:

  • Tan See Leng
  • Jeffrey Siow
  • Choo Pei Ling
  • Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim

PSP candidates:

  • A’bas Kasmani
  • Wendy Low
  • S Nallakaruppan
  • Lawrence Pek

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC

The same incumbent PAP team for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, will contest Holland-Bukit Timah GRC against opposition party Red Dot United (RDU), which has candidates including former Workers’ Party (WP) member Fazli Talip.

Among the latest electoral boundary changes, the GRC absorbed a portion of Upper Bukit Timah Road, which was previously under Jurong GRC.

PAP candidates:

  • Vivian Balakrishnan 
  • Sim Ann
  • Christopher de Souza
  • Edward Chia

RDU candidates:

  • Fazli Talip
  • Sharad Kumar
  • Emily Woo
  • Nizar Subair

Jalan Besar GRC

Jalan Besar GRC is one of five wards left intact in the latest changes to Singapore’s electoral boundaries.

The PAP team is led by Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo, who is the incumbent MP along with Denise Phua and Dr Wan Rizal.

Contesting the GRC is People’s Alliance for Reform, a party led by its secretary-general Lim Tean.

PAP candidates:

  • Josephine Teo
  • Denise Phua 
  • Shawn Loh
  • Wan Rizal 

PAR candidates:

  • Chiu Shin Kong
  • Mohamad Hamim Aliyas
  • Sarina Abu Hassan
  • Vigneswari V Ramachandran

Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC

Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, among five left intact in the latest changes to Singapore’s electoral boundaries, will see a straight fight between PAP and SDP for the third consecutive General Election.

In 2015, PAP won 68.73 per cent of the vote against SDP and in 2020, PAP’s vote share fell to 63.18 per cent against SPP’s 36.82 per cent. 

The PAP’s team for this General Election remains the same from in 2020, helmed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

PAP candidates:

  • Lawrence Wong
  • Alex Yam Ziming
  • Hany Soh Hui Bin
  • Zaqy Mohamad

SDP candidates:

  • Jufri Salim
  • Ariffin Sha
  • Alec Tok
  • Gigene Wong

Pasir Ris-Changi GRC

Pasir Ris-Changi is one of five new GRCs from the latest electoral boundary changes. It is formed by merging the remaining Pasir Ris wards from the dissolved Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC with the Loyang and Flora estates from East Coast GRC.

The PAP team is helmed by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, who was previously in Tanjong Pagar GRC.

PAP candidates:

  • Indranee Thurai Rajah
  • Desmond Tan
  • Sharael Taha
  • Valerie Lee

SDA candidates:

  • Desmond Lim
  • Abu Mohamed
  • Harminder Pal Singh
  • Chia Yun Kai

Punggol GRC

Punggol is one of five new GRCs from the latest electoral boundary changes, drawn from Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC and Punggol West SMC.

The PAP team led by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong will go up against WP.

PAP candidates:

  • Gan Kim Yong
  • Janil Puthucheary
  • Sun Xueling
  • Yeo Wan Ling

WP candidates:

  • Harpreet Singh
  • Siti Alia
  • Alexis Dang
  • Jackson Au

Sengkang GRC

Sengkang is one of two GRCs under WP. The party garnered 52.12 per cent of votes in the 2020 General Election after it was newly formed, winning against a PAP slate that included Mr Ng Chee Meng, then Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

It is one of five GRCs left intact in the latest electoral boundary changes.

WP candidates:

  • Jamus Lim
  • He Ting Ru
  • Louis Chua
  • Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik

PAP candidates:

  • Lam Pin Min
  • Bernadette Giam 
  • Elmie Nekmat
  • Theodora Lai  

FIVE-MEMBER GRCS

Aljunied GRC

Aljunied is one of two GRCs under WP, which made history in the 2011 General Election by winning it with 54.72 per cent of votes against PAP, marking the first time an opposition party secured a GRC.

In 2020, WP widened the margin to win 59.95 per cent of votes against PAP.

This election, the boundaries for Aljunied GRC were redrawn for the first time since the 2011 hustings. Some polling districts in Aljunied GRC, which hold almost 4,000 voters, will be moved to Tampines GRC.

Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh will lead the WP team, including fellow incumbent MPs Sylvia Lim and Gerald Giam, against a PAP team.

WP candidates:

  • Pritam Singh
  • Sylvia Lim
  • Gerald Giam
  • Fadli Fawzi
  • Kenneth Tiong

PAP candidates:

  • Chan Hui Yuh
  • Adrian Ang
  • Daniel Liu
  • Faisal Abdul Aziz
  • Jagathishwaran Rajo

Ang Mo Kio GRC

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong will lead a team including fellow incumbent MP Darryl David, in a three-cornered fight with the People’s Power Party (PPP) and Singapore United Party (SUP) in Ang Mo Kio GRC.

Being the largest constituency by number of electors, the GRC was reduced in size in the latest electoral boundaries review by carving out some polling districts to form a new Jalan Kayu SMC.

PAP candidates:

  • Lee Hsien Loong 
  • Darryl David
  • Jasmin Lau
  • Nadia Ahmad Samdin
  • Victor Lye

PPP candidates:

  • William Lim
  • Martinn Ho
  • Thaddeus Thomas
  • Heng Zheng Dao
  • Samuel Lee

SUP candidates:

  • Andy Zhu
  • Ridhuan Chandran
  • Noraini Yunus
  • Nigel Ng
  • Vincent Ng

East Coast GRC

East Coast GRC saw one of the most intense battles in 2020, when PAP won 53.39 per cent of votes against WP – one of its slimmest victories then.

The GRC underwent major boundary changes ahead of this election, taking in the Chai Chee public housing estates and Siglap private estates from Marine Parade GRC. Its Loyang and Flora estates were also carved out to form the new Pasir Ris-Changi GRC. 

Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, will lead the PAP team against a WP team including former Non-Constituency MP Yen Jenn Jong.

PAP candidates:

  • Edwin Tong
  • Tan Kiat How
  • Jessica Tan
  • Hazlina Abdul Halim
  • Dinesh Vasu Dash

WP candidates:

  • Yee Jenn Jong
  • Nathaniel Koh
  • Jasper Kuan
  • Sufyan Mikhail Putra
  • Paris V Parameswari

Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC

Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC was newly formed ahead of this election by combining parts of Jurong GRC and Hong Kah North SMC with the Bukit Batok and Yuhua SMCs.  

Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu will lead the PAP team against a team from RDU.

PAP candidates:

  • Grace Fu
  • David Hoe
  • Lee Hong Chuang
  • Murali Pillai 
  • Rahayu Mahzam

RDU candidates:

  • Ben Puah
  • Harish Mohanadas
  • Osman Sulaiman
  • Liyana Dhamirah
  • Marcus Neo

Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC

Marine Parade-Braddell Heights is one of five new GRCs created ahead of this election, drawn from the previous Marine Parade GRC and taking in MacPherson SMC, some polling districts from Potong Pasir SMC and an adjacent district from Mountbatten SMC.

It is the only constituency to see a walkover since PAP was the only party that had put their members’ names up for it.

PAP candidates:

  • Diana Pang
  • Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim
  • Seah Kian Peng
  • Goh Pei Ming
  • Tin Pei Ling

Nee Soon GRC

Nee Soon is one of five GRCs left untouched in the latest changes to Singapore’s electoral boundaries.

Law Minister K Shanmugam will lead an overhauled team of four new faces against a team from RDU.

PAP candidates:

  • K Shanmugam
  • Goh Hanyan
  • Lee Hui Ying
  • Jackson Lam
  • Syed Harun Alhabsyi

RDU candidates:

  • Ravi Philemon
  • David Foo
  • Pang Heng Chuan
  • Sharon Lin
  • Syed Alwi Ahmad

Sembawang GRC

Sembawang GRC is set for a three-cornered fight among PAP, SDP and the National Solidarity Party (NSP).

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung will lead a team, including fellow incumbent MPs Vikram Nair and Mariam Jaafar, against teams from SDP and NSP.

In 2020, the PAP team led by Mr Ong won 67.29 per cent of the votes against the NSP team similarly helmed by its secretary-general Spencer Ng.

PAP candidates:

  • Ong Ye Kung
  • Vikram Nair
  • Mariam Jaafar
  • Gabriel Lam
  • Ng Shi Xuan

SDP candidates:

  • Bryan Lim
  • James Gomez
  • Surayah Akbar
  • Alfred Tan
  • Damanhuri Abas

NSP candidates:

  • Spencer Ng
  • Yadzeth Hairis
  • Raiyian Chia 
  • Verina Ong
  • Lee Wei

Tampines GRC

One of the most hotly contested GRCs this election, Tampines GRC is set for a four-cornered fight among PAP, WP, NSP and PPP.

In the latest electoral boundary changes, the GRC takes in polling districts in Tampines West and the east of Bedok Reservoir that is now under Aljunied GRC.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development, will lead the PAP team, which includes fellow incumbent MPs Baey Yam Keng and Koh Poh Koon.

PAP candidates:

  • Masagos Zulkifli
  • Charlene Chen 
  • David Neo
  • Koh Poh Koon
  • Baey Yam Keng

WP candidates:

  • Faisal Abdul Manap
  • Michael Thng
  • Jimmy Tan 
  • Ong Lue Ping
  • Eileen Chong

NSP candidates:

  • Reno Fong
  • Mohamad Ridzwan
  • Phay Wei Jie
  • Thamilselvan Karuppaya
  • Eugene Yeo

PPP candidates:

  • Goh Meng Seng
  • Derrick Sim
  • Vere Nathan
  • Peter Soh
  • Arbaah Haroun

Tanjong Pagar GRC

Tanjong Pagar GRC has taken in Dover and Telok Blangah estates in the latest electoral boundary review. 

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing will lead a PAP slate including fellow incumbent MPs Joan Pereira and Alvin Tan, against a team from PAR.

PAP candidates:

  • Chan Chun Sing
  • Alvin Tan
  • Joan Pereira
  • Rachel Ong
  • Foo Cexiang

PAR candidates:

  • Rickson Giauw
  • Han Hui Hui
  • Nadarajan Sekvamani
  • Prabu Ramachandran
  • Soh Lian Chye

West Coast-Jurong West GRC

If the results of the previous General Election in 2020 are anything to go by, West Coast-Jurong West GRC will be a key battleground between PAP and PSP.

National Development Minister Desmond Lee helms the PAP team, while former PAP MP Tan Cheng Bock leads the PSP team.

The GRC is one of five new ones, comprising polling districts drawn from Jurong and West Coast GRCs, among other changes in the latest electoral boundary review.

West Coast GRC saw the closest contest between the parties in 2020, with PAP winning 51.68 per cent of votes over PSP’s 48.32 per cent. This enabled PSP’s Leong Mun Wai and Hazel Poa to enter parliament as Non-Constituency MPs, under a system that allows the “best losers” among opposition candidates to enter parliament. 

PAP candidates:

  • Desmond Lee
  • Cassandra Lee
  • Hamid Razak
  • Shawn Huang
  • Ang Wei Neng

PSP candidates:

  • Tan Cheng Bock
  • Leong Mun Wai
  • Hazel Poa
  • Sumarleki Amjah
  • Sani Ismail

SMCs

Bukit Gombak SMC

Bukit Gombak SMC is one of six new SMCs, having been carved out of Chua Chu Kang GRC in the latest electoral boundaries review. One of the GRC’s incumbent MPs, Ms Low Yen Ling, will contest here.

PAP candidate: Low Yen Ling

PSP candidate: Harish Pillay

Bukit Panjang SMC

Bukit Panjang is one of four SMCs with its electoral boundary intact from the previous election.

It will see a rematch between PAP’s Liang Eng Hwa and SDP chairman Paul Tambyah. In 2020, Mr Liang won with 53.73 per cent of the votes.

PAP candidate: Liang Eng Hwa

SDP candidate: Paul Tambyah

Hougang SMC

Hougang is one of three wards held by WP and is also its only SMC. It is one of four SMCs not affected by the latest electoral boundary changes.

Incumbent MP Dennis Tan will be defending his seat.

WP candidate: Dennis Tan

PAP candidate: Marshall Lim

Jalan Kayu SMC

Jalan Kayu is one of six new SMCs, having been carved out of Ang Mo Kio GRC in the latest electoral boundaries review. 

PAP candidate: Ng Chee Meng

WP candidate: Andre Low

Jurong Central SMC

Jurong Central is one of six new SMCs, having been carved out of Jurong GRC and Yuhua SMC in the latest electoral boundaries review. PAP candidate and incumbent MP Xie Yao Quan, formerly from Jurong GRC, will contest the SMC.

PAP candidate: Xie Yao Quan

RDU candidate: Kala Manickam

Kebun Baru SMC

Kebun Baru absorbed one polling district from Yio Chu Kang SMC in the latest electoral boundary review. Its incumbent MP Henry Kwek will be defending his seat.

PAP candidate: Henry Kwek

PSP candidate: Tony Tan 

Marymount SMC

Marymount is one of four SMCs not affected by the latest electoral boundary changes. Its incumbent MP Gan Siow Huang will be defending her seat.

PAP candidate: Gan Siow Huang

PSP candidate: Jeffrey Khoo

Mountbatten SMC

Mountbatten SMC has one polling district absorbed by the newly created Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. PAP’s new face, Ms Gho Sze Kee, will replace four-term MP Lim Biow Chuan to run in the election.

PAP candidate: Gho Sze Kee

Independent candidate: Jeremy Tan

Pioneer SMC

Pioneer is one of four SMCs unaffected by the changes made to Singapore’s electoral boundaries for this election. Its incumbent MP Patrick Tay will be defending his seat.

PAP candidate: Patrick Tay

PSP candidate: Stephanie Tan

Potong Pasir SMC

Potong Pasir is set to see one of the hotly contested fights among the SMCs, with a multi-cornered fight among PAP, SPP and PAR.

Some of its polling districts were moved to the newly created Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC in the latest electoral boundary review.

PAP candidate: Alex Yeo

SPP candidate: Williiamson Lee

PAR candidate: Lim Tean

Queenstown SMC

Queenstown is one of six new GRCs, having been carved out from Tanjong Pagar GRC. An incumbent MP from Tanjong Pagar, Mr Eric Chua, will be contesting here.

PAP candidate: Eric Chua

PAR candidate: Mahaboob Baatsha

Radin Mas SMC

Radin Mas SMC absorbed the eastern-most polling district of the current West Coast GRC, comprising estates in Harbourfront and Sentosa, in the latest electoral boundaries review. Its incumbent MP Melvin Yong will be defending his seat in a three-cornered fight.

PAP candidate: Melvin Yong

PAR candidate: Kumar Appavoo

Independent candidate: Darryl Lo

Sembawang West SMC

Sembawang West is one of six new SMCs, having been carved out from Sembawang GRC in the latest electoral boundaries review.

PAP candidate: Poh Li San

SDP candidate: Chee Soon Juan

Tampines Changkat SMC

Tampines Changkat is one of six new SMCs, having been carved out from Tampines and East Coast GRCs in the latest electoral boundaries review.

PAP candidate: Desmond Choo

WP candidate: Kenneth Foo 

Yio Chu Kang SMC

Yio Chu Kang SMC has one of its polling districts moved to Kebun Baru SMC in the latest electoral boundary changes. Its incumbent MP Yip Hon Weng will be defending his seat.

PAP candidate: Yip Hon Weng

PAR candidate: Michael Fang

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GE2025: PAP takes on RDU in Nee Soon GRC

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In: South-East Asia

In the May 3 General Election, a revised People’s Action Party ( PAP ) slate will face Red Dot United’s ( RDU) top leadership in the Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency ( GRC ) election.

On Wednesday ( Apr 23 ), the candidates ‘ nominations were confirmed.

K Shanmugam, 66, the 66-year-old laws and household affairs minister, leads the PAP’s group, which includes four visitors.

They are Ms. Lee Hui Ying, 36, a communications director, Dr. Syed Harun Alhabsyi, 40, a physician and past Nominated Member of Parliament, Mr. Jackson Lam, 40, a producer of a cleanup and pest control company, and Ms. Goh Hanyan, 39, a former chairman at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.

Three first-timers are leading the RDU’s secretary-general, Ravi Philemon, 56, and president David Foo, 60, in their campaign for the district.

Dr. Syed Alwi Ahmad, 57, a philosophical mathematician, Mr. Pang Heng Chuan, 56, a chairman of an international organization with a Chinese base, and Ms. Sharon Lin, 40, a older consultant in the IT industry, are among them.

Nee Quickly GRC will elect five MPs out of 151 registered voters in 634. Its limitations are the same as before GE2020. It ranks third behind West Coast-Jurong West GRCs and Ang Mo Kio.

In Nee Quickly GRC, the PAP defeated the Progress Singapore Party in the GE2020 election, winning with 61.9 % of the voting.

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GE2025: Workers’ Party leaving ‘vacuum’ by not contesting Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, says Masagos

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In: South-East Asia

Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifi said on Wednesday ( Apr 23 ) that the Workers ‘ Party ( WP ) is leaving a “vacuum” by contesting in Tampines GRC rather than Marine Parade-Braddell Heights.

At the launch of the People’s Action Party ( PAP ) manifesto for the Tampines GRC, Mr. Masagos said to reporters,” Well, the fact that Workers ‘ Party is in Tampines is a question that Workers ‘ Party should address.”

” We don’t know what’s going on. I have no idea what occurred. They appear to want to engage here and have left a hole in Marine Parade, which their leadership should address.

The PAP may win the Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC in a walkover, the second walkover since the 2011 General Election, was Mr. Masagos, who is leading the five-member staff there.

In a four-way fight for the Tampines GRC, the PAP will oppose the WP, the National Solidarity Party ( NPP ), and the People’s Power Party ( PPP ).

The WP is contesting the hospital for the first time, with the group making a wonder shift to name past Aljunied MP Muhamad Faisal Manap as the party’s head it.

Residents should be “very glad” that there are so many opposition parties contesting the Tampines, according to Mr. Masagos, who claimed it was irrelevant that the number of opposition parties was important.

More crucially important for us is that whoever comes here be prepared, develop on the promises we made, and demonstrate what we can do as a team to ensure that people continue to gain from the work that they all put in together, he said.

According to Mr. Masagos, “what matters most” is his group’s plans for the Tampines, which they have promised in the manifesto to restore green spaces, glimpse streets, and promote equality for all generations.

People may actually inquire our opposition parties because they have plans to symbolize them in a number of ways in congress. I believe the real issue is: What do they have for the people? he inquired.

” This is also the topic of vote,” she said. It’s not just about philosophical politics. It’s even about how people ‘ needs can be met.

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