Debate on President’s speech: Ong Ye Kung on key lessons from GE2025

General Election 2025 (GE2025) showed that Singaporeans value a stable and effective government that will safeguard their well-being. It also showed that Singapore’s political system is still evolving, with Singaporeans wanting the People’s Action Party to remain in government to act decisively, while having an opposition in parliament as an alternative voice and to check on the government. Another lesson from GE2025 is that Singaporeans continue to be moderate and pragmatic in their political philosophy. The final lesson is that Singaporeans are holding political parties to higher standards, including demanding more substantive information and arguments during an election. Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Ong Ye Kung highlighted these four key takeaways from GE2025 in parliament on Tuesday (Sep 23), stressing that opposition parties can play an important role by setting out their long-term ideas, and “go beyond tweaking at the margins of government proposals or simply jumping on the bandwagon every time an issue goes viral”. A vote for the opposition is not just a vote for checks and balances, but also the policies and directions that will follow from that vote, he said. Mr Ong urged the Workers’ Party, as the sole opposition party in parliament, to justify its standing and develop its own alternative vision, policies and pathways for Singapore.