Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong emphasized on Sunday, November 6, that there is no certainty that the People’s Action Party (PAP) will win the next general election or that he will become the next Prime Minister. Speaking at the PAP Conference and Awards 2022, Mr. Wong stressed that the ruling party will work “doubly hard, triply hard” to regain lost seats and earn the trust of Singaporeans to secure a strong mandate for governance.

Acknowledging the political landscape’s growing complexity, Mr. Wong noted the rising influence of the Workers’ Party (WP), which now holds two group representation constituencies and one single-member constituency. He pointed out that in the last election, the combined votes in the six WP-contested constituencies slightly exceeded those of the PAP, posing significant questions about future election outcomes.

Mr. Wong underscored that the PAP can no longer take its governance for granted, as Singaporeans’ demand for diversity and checks and balances in Parliament is here to stay. He urged party activists to be resolute in representing the PAP’s values, correcting misperceptions, and addressing residents’ concerns.

He also cautioned against political opponents who use simplistic, fear-based proposals to win support, labeling such strategies as “snake oil” that fail to solve real problems. With elections due by 2025, Mr. Wong concluded that the party’s focus should be on building trust and preparing for a strong fight in what he expects to be a challenging political contest.