Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) has announced a significant shift in its lineup for the upcoming General Election (GE2025), with Minister Indranee Rajah set to lead the team in the newly formed Pasir Ris-Changi Group Representation Constituency (GRC). This change comes as Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, a long-time representative of the area, will not be contesting there.
The PAP team for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC will comprise:
- Indranee Rajah: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Age: 61)
- Desmond Tan: Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Deputy Secretary General of NTUC
- Sharael Taha: Current Pasir Ris-Punggol MP
- Valerie Lee: A new face in politics
Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, in addressing residents, stated: “As I step down as your MP in Pasir Ris, I do so with full confidence that we have a strong team to continue to serve you for many years, well into the future.” He also stated that he will “continue to support PM Lawrence Wong and his 4G team, and remain available to contribute to the team wherever and in whatever way PM Lawrence Wong feels I can best serve.”
Indranee Rajah, who is moving from Tanjong Pagar GRC, said: “Today’s introduction is both poignant and yet exciting at the same time. It is poignant because it means having to leave the residents of Tanjong Pagar GRC.” She also expressed her focus on addressing cost-of-living issues and strengthening community bonds. Regarding local infrastructure, she stated, “We will look at last-mile issues, how to plug the infrastructural gaps at the local level to make moving around easier for the residents.”
Desmond Tan highlighted the improvements in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC over the past five years, noting the benefits of “hardware upgrades” such as a new polyclinic, a new bus interchange, and the ongoing Cross Island MRT Line project. He also mentioned his team’s efforts to enhance social support, stating that they have improved “social support for seniors and those in job transitions through food distribution efforts, free tuition avenues, and career networking opportunities.”
Desmond Tan is also a Deputy Secretary General of NTUC, and his contributions includes the following, with a key focus on training for all workers, especially mid-career workers:
- Formation of the Company Training Committee / CTC Grant
- Called upon employers to offer skills allowance for workers who attend training (Skills Allowance via CTC Grant).
- Called upon Government to provide training allowance for acquisition of deep skillsets (SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme).
- Called upon Government to expand subsidies for workers to pursue a second degree or diploma (SkillsFuture Level-Up programme).
- Advocated for short-term unemployment support for involuntarily displaced workers (SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme).
Sharael Taha has spoken about support for caregivers, pushed for fairer housing and access for young families, advocated better protection for gig and lower-wage workers, and supported anti-discriminatory workplace practices. He also stated, “I believe an MP must go beyond Parliament,” and that “Pasir Ris-Changi is more than just a home. It is where we care, where we grow and where we build a future, full of hope and purpose.”
Valerie Lee, a newcomer to politics, expressed her commitment to representing families, stating that “People who want their children to grow up in a Singapore that is free, that is fair and full of opportunity. These are people that I want to represent”.
The PAP’s focus will be on addressing local concerns and maintaining strong connections with Pasir Ris-Changi GRC residents.
