SINGAPORE \u2013 From an eventful general election that saw the PAP returned to power with a higher vote share, to the <\/p>\n conclusion of a high-profile court case involving Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh<\/p>\n <\/a>, 2025 was a standout year for Singapore politics.<\/p>\n With tectonic shifts in the world of work and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, all eyes are on the Government\u2019s plans to refresh Singapore\u2019s longer-term economic strategy, while meeting Singaporeans\u2019 bread-and-butter concerns over jobs, housing and cost of living.<\/p>\n Here is what to expect in the political space in 2026, and a round-up of the biggest news in 2025.<\/p>\n The five committees reviewing the country\u2019s economic strategy are expected to begin making policy recommendations soon, with the Government\u2019s annual Budget season around the corner in February.<\/p>\n Chaired by the newer political office-holders, <\/p>\n the Economic Strategy Review (ESR) committees were formed in August<\/p>\n <\/a> to ensure that the city-state stays globally competitive in the long run, and to secure good opportunities for its businesses and workers.<\/p>\n The ESR reports to the <\/p>\n Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce<\/p>\n <\/a> chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.<\/p>\n The committees\u2019 review covers five areas: global competitiveness; technology and innovation; entrepreneurship; human capital; and managing the impact of restructuring.<\/p>\n In November, Acting Transport Minister and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow said the five committees will release a mid-term update in tandem with Budget 2026, so that early proposals can be discussed and funding secured for them.<\/p>\n For instance, the Republic must find ways to capture investment flows in artificial intelligence to power its economic growth over the next decade, said Mr Siow, who co-chairs the committee on global competitiveness.<\/p>\n The ESR will issue a final report with its recommendations by mid-2026. <\/p>\n Expect Prime Minister Lawrence Wong\u2019s Budget statement, which will be delivered on Feb 12, to further flesh out Singapore\u2019s economic repositioning plans, including ways to help Singaporeans cope with rapid technological disruption.<\/p>\n WP chief Pritam Singh was convicted of lying to a parliamentary committee.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Parliament\u2019s first sitting on Jan 12 will see the House <\/p>\n discuss the actions of Workers\u2019 Party chief Pritam Singh<\/p>\n <\/a>, who was convicted of lying to a parliamentary committee.<\/p>\n The case arose after then WP MP Raeesah Khan was investigated for lying in Parliament in August 2021. Following a 13-day trial in 2024, Mr Singh was found guilty of two charges and fined $14,000 in February. <\/p>\n The conviction was upheld in the High Court on appeal, with Justice Steven Chong saying in December that Mr Singh\u2019s actions showed he would have \u201clet sleeping dogs lie\u201d if the matter was already buried.<\/p>\n Leader of the House Indranee Rajah said on Dec 17 that the courts\u2019 findings meant it was necessary for Parliament to deliberate on an appropriate response to Mr Singh\u2019s actions and convictions.<\/p>\n Noting that lying under oath is a serious matter, Ms Indranee said Singapore cannot accept a standard whereby leaders who have broken the law escape legal or political consequences. <\/p>\n While it is unclear what the consequences will be, they could range from a formal censure to removal of Mr Singh from his position as Leader of the Opposition.<\/p>\n In a subsequent statement, Ms Indranee said the court judgments in Mr Singh\u2019s case also have implications for WP chair Sylvia Lim and vice-chair Faisal Manap, and that this will also be discussed when Parliament reconvenes.<\/p>\n On Dec 28, the WP said some of its cadres <\/p>\n had requested a special meeting to be held by its top decision-making body<\/p>\n <\/a> on Mr Singh\u2019s conviction. The party had earlier said that it had initiated \u201cinternal processes\u201d following the High Court judgment.<\/p>\n With the general election in the rear view, Singaporeans will be looking at how the Government intends to deliver on its election promises, using the Budget and other levers in its fiscal and policy toolbox.<\/p>\n For instance, while inflation has come down and support schemes such as CDC and utilities vouchers have alleviated cost pressures, the cost of living remains a perennial source of anxiety for many people.<\/p>\n The PAP has pledged to continue supporting households here through such schemes for as long as necessary, while parents will enjoy expanded parental leave and lower pre-school fees.<\/p>\n It has committed to reinforcing social safety nets such as ComCare and Silver Support to help the most vulnerable Singaporeans, enhance Workfare for lower-wage workers, and to extend the Progressive Wage Model to more sectors.<\/p>\n The situation with home ownership, a cornerstone of Singapore\u2019s social compact, has also stabilised, with more new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats coming on stream and shorter waiting times for some projects.<\/p>\n In its election manifesto, the ruling party said it will explore more public housing options for higher-income couples and singles, while acting decisively when needed to keep the property market stable and sustainable.<\/p>\n In August, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said the Government will be \u201cbuilding more and building faster\u201d to meet demand and keep flat prices affordable.<\/p>\n HDB <\/p>\n will launch around 55,000 BTO flats from 2025 to 2027<\/p>\n <\/a>, which is 10 per cent more than its original target of 50,000 flats for the period.<\/p>\n The authorities are also looking at whether the minimum age of 35 for singles to buy BTO flats can be lowered and, separately, HDB will review the income ceiling for BTO flats at an appropriate time, Mr Chee added.<\/p>\n The state\u2019s <\/p>\n decision on Dec 12 to gazette 38 Oxley Road<\/p>\n <\/a> \u2013 founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew\u2019s home \u2013 as a national monument has resolved a decade-long dispute over the site, but opened new questions about its future.<\/p>\n Notices of the gazette announcement on the gates of 38 Oxley Road on Nov 4.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Describing the site as a \u201cunique and foundational part of the story of Singapore\u2019s independence\u201d, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the National Heritage Board said preserving it will allow current and future generations of Singaporeans to reflect upon significant events in the nation\u2019s history that took place there, and the ideals and values that have shaped Singapore.<\/p>\n It was in the Oxley Road bungalow\u2019s basement dining room that the founding members of the People\u2019s Action Party began meeting in the 1950s to consider the feasibility of forming a political party.<\/p>\n The state has said it intends to acquire the site from its current owner, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, who had sought demolition and objected to the preservation.<\/p>\n The Government intends to convert the site into a public space, with one possible outcome being a heritage park.<\/p>\n However, it has also committed to respecting Mr Lee Kuan Yew\u2019s wish for his private living space to be demolished or removed. This means that the authorities have to find a way to preserve the site\u2019s historic significance, even as personal spaces such as bedrooms will be reconfigured or removed.<\/p>\n The Government said it will consider all options and come to a decision \u201cwell within\u201d this current term.<\/p>\n The 2025 General Election on May 3 marked the first electoral test for PM Wong\u2019s leadership, amid global uncertainty and trade wars.<\/p>\n The ruling PAP <\/p>\n secured 65.57 per cent of the national vote<\/p>\n <\/a>, a commanding swing from its 61.24 per cent share in the 2020 General Election. <\/p>\n It also won 87 of 97 seats, including the hotly contested Punggol GRC, Tampines GRC, East Coast GRC, West Coast-Jurong West GRC and Jalan Kayu SMC.\u00a0Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC was uncontested \u2013 the first walkover at a general election since 2011.<\/p>\n PM Wong called the results \u201ca clear signal of trust, stability and confidence\u201d from Singaporeans in their government.<\/p>\n The PAP fielded its largest batch in decades of 32 fresh faces, while key ministers including deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat, senior minister Teo Chee Hean and defence minister Ng Eng Hen retired.\u00a0<\/p>\n The WP <\/p>\n defended its strongholds in Hougang SMC and Aljunied and Sengkang GRCs<\/p>\n <\/a>, and increased its Parliament presence from 10 to 12 members, including two Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) seats.<\/p>\n The other opposition parties failed to win any constituencies or send any candidates to Parliament as NCMPs.\u00a0These include the Progress Singapore Party, which did not manage to retain or convert its two NCMP seats.<\/p>\n Identity politics emerged as a contentious issue during the May general election, sparked by comments from a Singaporean self-styled preacher and several foreign politicians.<\/p>\n The issue was first spotlighted when, during the hustings, the authorities <\/p>\n blocked a number of Facebook posts<\/p>\n <\/a> for attempting to influence Singapore\u2019s election.<\/p>\n The authorities also flagged online messages by Singaporeans that they said contained racial and religious undertones. <\/p>\n Among them was Mr Noor Deros, <\/p>\n a Malaysia-based Singaporean who said in several Facebook posts<\/p>\n <\/a> that the WP was the only political party to take seriously the concerns of the Malay\/Muslim community.<\/p>\n He also criticised then Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli for not doing enough, and called on Tampines voters to \u201cdo the right thing\u201d.<\/p>\n Midway through the hustings, PM Wong asked political parties to clarify their stance on two fundamental principles: that identity politics has no place in Singapore, and that religion and politics should not mix.<\/p>\n The issue was aired more fully in October when Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam delivered a ministerial statement in Parliament, where he took issue with the WP for not immediately and unequivocally calling out Mr Noor.<\/p>\n In response, WP chief Singh accepted that his party\u2019s statement on Mr Noor could have been clearer, but said he had been loath to draw attention to a \u201cnobody\u201d who had \u201cgatecrashed\u201d a meeting between WP\u2019s Malay candidates and Muslim religious leaders.<\/p>\n As it turned out, Mr Noor had been invited to the meetings by a religious teacher, a point Mr Singh later clarified in the November Parliament sitting.<\/p>\n<\/picture><\/div>
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