PM Wong says his party to field Indian origin candidates in upcoming Singapore general election

PAP acknowledges Indian community's contributions, promises representation in upcoming election; PM Wong encourages embracing roots and unity.

The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) will certainly include members of the Indian community in the upcoming general election, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday (April 13, 2025), acknowledging the ethnic group’s outsized contributions to the country in many areas, including in businesses, industries and public services.

In the 2020 General Election, the PAP did not field any Indian candidates among its slate of 27 new faces, which had then sparked questions about the ethnic group’s representation in Parliament.

Speaking at a dialogue with youths from the Indian community, PM Wong said: “You may be a small community, but, certainly, your contributions to Singapore and the impact that you have on Singapore are not small at all.”

“In fact, I would say you already reflect that Singapore spirit. Your story is a story of Singapore – small and yet punching above your weight,” The Straits Times quoted PM Wong as saying.

“Indians in Singapore have made outsized contributions to the country in many areas, including in business, industry and the Government,” PM Wong underscored.

Indians represented 7.6% of Singapore’s citizens, while Malays and Chinese made up 15.1% and 75.6% of the population, respectively, in 2024, according to the Singapore daily report.

The 90-minute Vaanga Ippo Pesalaam Chat (Come, Let’s Chat in Tamil), or VIP Chat, was organised by newspaper Tamil Murasu. Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Janil Puthucheary, of Indian descent, also engaged with about 130 youths at the dialogue.