The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) will definitely include members of the Indian community in the upcoming general election, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated on Sunday (April 13, 2025), recognizing the significant contributions of the ethnic group to the country in various sectors such as businesses, industries, and public services.
In the 2020 General Election, the PAP did not have any Indian candidates in its list of 27 new faces, leading to concerns about the representation of the ethnic group in Parliament.
During a dialogue with youths from the Indian community, PM Wong emphasized the importance of their contributions to Singapore, stating, “You may be a small community, but your impact on Singapore is significant.” He further added, “Your story is a story of Singapore – small yet influential.”
PM Wong highlighted the outsized contributions of Indians in Singapore across various sectors, including business, industry, and government.
According to a Singapore daily report, Indians made up 7.6% of the population, with Malays at 15.1% and Chinese at 75.6% in 2024.
The dialogue, titled Vaanga Ippo Pesalaam Chat (Come, Let’s Chat in Tamil) or VIP Chat, was organized by newspaper Tamil Murasu and featured Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Janil Puthucheary engaging with around 130 youths from the Indian community.
PM Wong mentioned that new Indian candidates from the PAP will be part of the upcoming election but did not disclose specific details or names.
Some potential candidates spotted with political leaders include Dinesh Vasu Dash, Kawal Pal Singh, Jagathishwaran Rajo, and Hamid Razak.
PM Wong announced that the 2025 election, with speculation of being called in a month or so, will see more than 30 new candidates from the PAP, marking the largest number in recent history.
He encouraged participants to embrace their roots and engage with fellow Singaporeans to strengthen the common space they share.
Dr. Janil highlighted the advantage of the Indian community’s small size in maintaining close connections and networks.
The dialogue addressed various concerns of the Indian community, including issues of race, religion, and language, urging vigilance against extremist views and addressing bread-and-butter issues.
The Chatham House rules were applied during the dialogue to foster candid discussions without revealing the identities of participants and panellists.
Published – April 14, 2025 09:06 am IST
