The Workers' Party (WP) launched its party manifesto today (17 April) with a number of policy proposals they believe will improve the lives of Singaporeans if implemented. The policies are divided into five sections which are Affordability and Cost of Living, Economic Growth and Opportunities, Inclusion and Equality, Accountability and Democracy, and Security and Geopolitics.
Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.
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Marcus Chhan
‘Working for Singapore’: WP unveils manifesto highlighting 5 key areas
The Workers' Party (WP) launched its party manifesto today (17 April) ahead of Singapore's General Election set for 3 May.
The document covers an impressive number of policy proposals over the five key areas outlined below:
Affordability and Cost of Living: This includes proposals for several "less regressive revenue options" to the GST which WP feels "adds to Singaporeans’ cost of living burdens."
Economic Growth and Opportunities: Here, WP wants to refocus policies to prioritise local hiring and reduce Singapore's "over-reliance" on foreign labour.
Inclusion and Equality: One of the proposals put forward in this section is the call for an official poverty line "to accurately identify and support those in need."
Accountability and Democracy: In this section, WP calls for greater levels of accountability and democracy, and also suggested lowering the voting age to 18, among other proposals.
Security and Geopolitics: In the final section, WP proposes strengthening external and internal resilience, highlighting the need for higher pay for full-time national servicemen. WP also states "Singapore should formally recognise the State of Palestine, even before negotiations on a two-state solution are concluded."
You can read the Workers' Party Manifesto 2025 in full here.
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Marcus Chhan
PM Wong: PAP will never gamble with future of Singapore
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong believes how well Singapore is able to navigate through the current turbulent climate "will determine our future and our children's future."
Wong, who is Secretary-General for the People’s Action Party (PAP), was speaking on Thursday (17 April) at the unveiling of his party's manifesto. He also addressed opposition claims the PAP were "overreacting" the threat caused by US tariffs.
"Some want to make light of the situation, they claim there is no need to overreact," he said. "But that's not how we do things in the PAP. We will always be upfront and transparent in highlighting the challenges ahead. We will never gamble with the future of Singapore and Singaporeans."
Singapore heads to the polls on 3 May with the ruling PAP set to field 32 new candidates for GE2025.
You can watch PM Wong's full speech here.
Marcus Chhan
Coming up with policy ideas is easier than implementing them, says PAP’s Rahayu Mahzam
Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information, said that coming up with policy ideas is "very easy" compared with the challenge of implementing them, reports Channel News Asia.
The People’s Action Party (PAP) politician was responding to a question about claims from the Workers’ Party’s (WP) that "many" of their proposals ended up "being adopted in some form" by the ruling PAP government.
"Oftentimes, it's very hard to say it comes from any one source. The reality is that everyone contributes to this," Rahayu was quoted as saying by CNA. "That is the way we want to move forward. We cannot run on just the government alone."
Marcus Chhan
Musk asked influencer Tiffany Fong to have his baby. She rejected him.
Elon Musk asked cryptocurrency influencer Tiffany Fong if she would have a child with him, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Fong has more than 335,000 followers on X – the social media platform that Musk owns – and is well-known for her coverage of cryptocurrency.
Fong rejected Musk's advances, which happened around November, but was worried this would hurt her earnings on X. Her fears were realised when Musk unfollowed her and reprimanded her for revealing his request.
Fong said she "did not feed this story" to WSJ adding she "would have rather kept it private."
Marcus Chhan
Leon Perera not running in GE2025 with PSP: Tan Cheng Bock
Progress Singapore Party (PSP) founder Tan Cheng Bock has dismissed reports former Workers' Party politician Leon Perera might run in 2025 General Election under the PSP banner.
Local media had speculated about Perera after he was spotted at PSP headquarters on the day when Parliament was dissolved and Polling Day was announced.
However, on Thursday (17 April), Tan spoke on the sidelines of a PSP event and confirmed Perera would not be joining his party for GE2025. "I could let you guess, but I won't be so bad. He is not standing with us. He is not in the campaign. I'll be very honest and frank with you," Tan was quoted by Mothership as saying.
The PSP has announced it will contest in both Marymount SMC (Jeffrey Khoo) and Kebun Baru SMC (Tony Tan).
Marcus Chhan
OCBC Cycle 2025 switches to 'virtual format' due to election weekend clash
Organisers for the OCBC Cycle 2025 have said the event "will now be held entirely in a virtual format".
The mass cycling event was scheduled for the weekend of 3-4 May, but these plans were impacted this week when the government announced Polling Day for the General Election would take place on 3 May. This left OCBC Cycle 2025 without "the significant security resources required to ensure the safety of participants" during their event at the Singapore Sports Hub.
"We explored rescheduling the event or relocating it. Unfortunately, there is no suitable venue in the city that can accommodate long-distance routes for up to 7,000 cyclists," organisers said in a statement.
Participants can join the virtual ride for free. More information on the virtual ride can be found here.
Marcus Chhan
MOE confirms 5 May will be school holiday following Polling Day
Students and teachers will get a break on the Monday (5 May) after the General Election. As Polling Day is a public holiday on a Saturday (3 May), MOE says the following Monday "will be a school holiday and a designated day off-in-lieu for all staff in MOE Kindergartens, Primary and Secondary schools, as well as Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute."
Classes will resume on Tuesday (6 May).
Marcus Chhan
History makers: Lion City Sailors to fly flag for Singapore in final of Asian Champions League Two
The Lion City Sailors (LCS) made history on Wednesday (16 April) as they defied the odds to reach the final of the Asian Champions League Two. LCS are the first Singaporean club to reach the final of a major Asian club competition.
Despite a 1-0 defeat at Sydney FC in the second leg, the Singapore side's spectacular 2-0 first leg victory at home allowed them to progress to the showpiece event with a 2-1 aggregate semi-final victory.
"What we’ve done is an unbelievable achievement for a Singaporean club,” said Sailors head coach Aleksandar Ranković. "I’m still waiting for someone to wake me up – but honestly, I don’t want to be awake. I want to keep dreaming… and let’s hope we can go all the way."
ESPN Asia described the Singapore club's march to the final as "a groundbreaking campaign."
Lion City Sailors will face the UAE's Sharjah FC in the final next month.
Marcus Chhan
DPM Gan discussed impact of tariffs on Singapore with USTR Ambassador
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong revealed he had a "frank exchange" with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the recent US tariffs.
DPM Gan said, in a LinkedIn post, that the introductory call happened on 15 April and he was able to share Singapore’s "concerns" on how the tariffs would impact trade.
"I took the opportunity to explain our monetary policy approach, and to clarify our consumption to GDP rate, given Singapore’s unique status as a small and open economy," said Gan. "I also stressed the importance for the US to continue to engage the ASEAN region."
DPM Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, chairs the new Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce. It was formed to help businesses and workers adapt to the new economic environment brought on by US tariffs.
The task force includes five ministers and three leaders from the labour movement:
Desmond Lee (Minister for National Development and Minister-in charge of Social Services Integration)
Josephine Teo (Minister for Digital Development and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs)
Tan See Leng (Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry)
Chee Hong Tat (Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance)
Lim Ming Yan (Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation)
Ng Chee Meng (Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress)
Tan Hee Teck (President of the Singapore National Employers Federation)
