Speaking at the People's Action Party's (PAP) lunchtime rally on Monday (April 28) afternoon, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also PAP's secretary-general, explains why candidates of the PAP and the Workers' Party (WP) cannot be compared backbencher to backbencher.
He was referring to WP chief Pritam Singh's comment that its candidates should be compared against backbenchers because "the WP are not going to be in government." Singh was then speaking to the media after a visit to Fengshan market and food centre at Bedok North on Friday (April 25).
He was referring to WP chief Pritam Singh's comment that its candidates should be compared against backbenchers because "the WP are not going to be in government." Singh was then speaking to the media after a visit to Fengshan market and food centre at Bedok North on Friday (April 25).
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NewsTranscript
00:00This election, we've fielded the largest number of candidates in recent history.
00:10You heard from some of them just now.
00:13Give them another big round of applause, all our new candidates.
00:17Some amongst them will have the potential to take on larger responsibilities.
00:22And if elected, they will immediately strengthen my team.
00:26And over time, they will develop and grow, just as I did when I first entered politics in 2011.
00:34They will be your future leaders who can take Singapore forward.
00:40The Workers' Party says to compare its candidates with PAP candidates backbencher to backbencher.
00:49But that's not how elections work.
00:52I have experienced ministers contesting in the GRCs, including in hotly contested GRCs.
01:02Their loss, if it happens, will be immediately felt and they cannot be replaced.
01:08I have new candidates who will add to my team and will eventually grow to take on new leadership roles.
01:16Like David Niu in Tampanis, Dinesh Basu in East Coast, Jeffrey Siao in Chua Chukang, just to name a few.
01:24So, friends and fellow Singaporeans, a vote for the Opposition is not a free vote for more alternative voices in Parliament.
01:37It is a vote to weaken the PAP team, the team that is truly working for you.
01:49It will weaken me and my team.
01:53And it will do so at the time when I've just taken over, I'm trying to build up the team to serve you better.
02:01It will weaken us at the time when our country is facing real and serious challenges.
02:09So, I say to all Singaporeans, please consider carefully.
02:18This is not a gamble.
02:20This is your family, your future, our Singapore.
02:25Good bill.
02:26We are doÄŸru.