March 27, 2025
Singapore – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on March 26 that the upcoming election is not just a need for a strong mandate, but Singaporeans are aware that in this new environment, the country poses many threats to the country.
“To survive, to thrive, to make us live a very challenging global environment, we will need a strong and united Singapore,” he said. “So there are a lot of dangers in the election.”
He added: “When the election comes, I will present my case for me and my team and I hope Singaporeans will give me the opportunity to serve them and serve Singapore.”
Prime Minister Wong talked with Singaporean journalists in Hanoi and then made his first visit to Vietnam since taking over as prime minister in May 2024.
He said his introduction visits to various ASEAN countries – he has been to Brunei, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia and Thailand – allowed him to strengthen relations with his peers, confirm Singapore’s partnership with these major neighbours and identify new areas where cooperation can be strengthened.
“We all see changes in the world in ASEAN,” he said, adding: “The global order has changed dramatically – competition is intensifying and trade barriers are rising.”
“Strong competition is increasing, and more and more it feels like we are entering a world of every country in the world, and stronger countries will use aggression and even coercion to get what they want, at the expense of smaller countries,” he said.
“Even within ASEAN itself, the big powers themselves feel that this is a very difficult, desolate global environment. But if we can put together … as a collective, we will be stronger and we can have our own.”
In an interview with Singapore media, Prime Minister Wang was asked about his progress in recruiting new candidates as the Uterine Democratic Party team.
He noted that he said at the ruling party meeting in November 2024 that he was making great efforts to renew the leadership team and the People's Action Party, and that leadership renewal remains a key priority for him.
“I've spent a lot of time doing this over the past two years. I could have decided to do less in renewals and to compete with the team now, to a large extent,” he said.
He added: “One semester will be fine for the next five years, but without a renewal, I think we will feel the impact of it – not even immediately in the next five years, but certainly in the next 10 to 15 years.”
“If this happens, it’s not just PAP, but Singaporeans and Singaporeans will pay.”
Prime Minister Wang said he has been working hard to get involved and convince individuals to move forward with politics and is glad that some people answered the phone, including some civil servants.
At the same time, the party continued to recruit potential candidates from different departments, including academia, before choosing the final slate.
“In the process, we exposed them, we tested them, and it was a two-way street. Some people may feel that the round is not ready yet, and we may consider the next round (theirs). Individuals themselves may decide “this is not very satisfied with me”, and they may decide maybe they don't want to continue, which is why there will inevitably be some people who decide not to do it,” he said.
He added: “You'll see faces popping up on the ground. I'm sure the media is closely monitoring their identities.”
Prime Minister Wong said how successful he has in obtaining candidates from the private sector, saying some people are ready to move forward but acknowledge the challenges they face.
“For someone in the private sector, who is very successful in his 30s or 40s…there is the possibility of entering senior leadership positions in a company, a multinational or a large local company, with a much greater sacrifice,” he said.
He added: “It's not just a recent phenomenon. It's always been like this. It's always been difficult.”
“Still, they have to commit to service, the right values, and they go into politics for the right reasons (i.e. serving Singaporeans) to make everything they have made Singapore better for their fellow countrymen.”
