GE2025: Marine Parade-Braddell Heights walkover disappointing and surprising, opposition parties say

SINGAPORE: Opposition parties have voiced disappointment following the walkover in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC on Wednesday (Apr 23) – the first in a General Election since 2011.

“PSP believes that we should give Singaporeans a chance to experience the democratic process. We should not have a walkover,” said Progress Singapore Party (PSP) chief Leong Mun Wai.

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chairman Paul Tambyah said he was “very surprised” by the walkover.

“Personally, you know, it would have made a lot more sense if NSP had gone back there. But then again, everybody was holding their cards very close to the chest, so it’s hard to tell,” said Dr Tambyah, who is SDP’s candidate for Bukit Panjang SMC. The National Solidarity Party (NSP) had previously contested in Marine Parade GRC, most recently in the 2011 General Election.

The five-member People’s Action Party (PAP) team for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC was declared elected after no other candidates submitted nomination papers for the constituency. 

The slate comprises Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, former MacPherson SMC MP Tin Pei Ling and Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Faishal Ibrahim, as well as newcomers Goh Pei Ming and Diana Pang.

The Workers’ Party (WP), widely expected to contest in the GRC as it had in 2015 and 2020, ultimately did not field a team. 

While he was disappointed at the walkover, Mr Leong said that the WP may have “valid reasons” for not standing there. He confirmed there were no prior discussions among other opposition parties to contest in the constituency.

On the reshuffling of the PAP slate – which saw PAP heavyweights like Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean stepping down – he said it was “hard to say” if it provided any advantage for the opposition.

“Indeed, PAP’s side has gone through quite a big change in their slate, but they are worthy opponents,” said Mr Leong, who is contesting in West Coast-Jurong West GRC.

The PAP initially announced its Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC slate on Apr 20. 

The party originally included Manpower Minister Tan See Leng in its Marine Parade-Braddell Heights line-up. However, on Nomination Day, Dr Tan shifted to helm the PAP team in Chua Chu Kang GRC.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, meanwhile, moved from Chua Chu Kang to lead the PAP team in Punggol GRC, where he will face a WP slate led by lawyer Harpreet Singh.

On Dr Tan’s last-minute switch, Dr Tambyah said: “There’s going to be a credibility question there about See Leng.”