Sembawang GE2025 candidates to include at least 1 new face

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung expects at least one new member to be added to the People's Action Party (PAP) team at Sembawang GRC in the upcoming general election, saying it is part of the ruling party's renewal process every election cycle.

"As of now, I expect at least one new member on the team," he told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of Bazar Raya Utara@Woodlands, an annual Ramadan bazaar, on Feb 23.

"I do not know who he or she is yet, (and) I am as eager as you to find out who, and when I know, I will quickly introduce him or her," he said in response to a question about possible changes to the Sembawang GRC slate.

Besides Mr Ong, who is anchor minister for the constituency, the other MPs for Sembawang GRC are Mr Vikram Nair, Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Ms Poh Li San and Ms Mariam Jaafar.

All of them were present at the event on Feb 23, save Ms Poh, who was overseas on a work engagement.

When asked if he expects a new member because the GRC is expanding, or if a person is leaving, he put it down to the PAP's bid to regularly refresh its line-up with each election.

"This is a tradition of the PAP, (where) every election, we try to refresh a quarter to a third of all our candidates... so this being a five-person (constituency), I must expect one or even two persons will change up," he said.

"This is something that always happens every election. Very few GRCs can go through an election without changing any of their members, so I very much expect one... So I'm eagerly awaiting whoever the person is."

He added that the new person will be supported, and will be "integrated quickly" and shown the ropes, to make sure that "from day one, they can start running and start serving the residents".

Also spotted at the event on Feb 23 was former SingPost Singapore chief executive Shahrin Abdol Salam, who resigned from the role earlier in 2025, less than a year after he moved to the national postal service company from rail operator SMRT.

Mr Shahrin had resigned "to pursue opportunities outside the company", SingPost had said. Since his resignation, he has not announced his next move.

When asked if Mr Shahrin's presence at the event was an indication that he was a potential election candidate, Mr Ong quipped: "The fact that I did not introduce him on stage means I don't know."

When pressed further about Mr Shahrin, Mr Ong said not to speculate.

But he noted that Mr Shahrin has been appearing in the constituency "quite a lot", and considered him a "very old friend" whom he has worked with from his days in the union.

Mr Ong was deputy secretary-general at the National Trades Union Congress from 2011 to 2012.

When approached, Mr Shahrin declined comment.

Mr Ong also addressed questions about his role and preparedness for the next election due by November.

Saying that he is "always ready... since last year", the minister added that his role is to lead the Sembawang GRC team, and to convince residents to "continue to work together" with them, he said.

Mr Ong also hopes that he gets to stay in the constituency.

"We always have cold sweat thinking of those, but I really hope I get to stay here because of the support (from) the volunteers, the residents... but the party decides such things and I'm keeping my fingers crossed," he said.

Earlier in the night, Mr Ong and his fellow MPs officially launched the bazaar with a gong and fanfare, after a slew of performances by residents and students. This included a lively dikir barat, a style of Malay choral singing, performed by pupils from Qihua Primary School.

The MPs also launched a sparkling green and yellow street light-up at the 2025 bazaar, which spans Woodlands Avenue 6 and Woodlands Avenue 7, with a total of 92 stalls.

Ramadan is from March 1 to 30.