The ruler Popular Action Party (PAP) will certainly include members of the Indian community in the next general elections, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday, recognizing the outstanding contributions of the ethnic group at the service of the country, including and areas.
In the 2020 general elections, the PAP did not present any Indian candidate among its board of 27 new faces, which then caused questions about the representation of the ethnic group in Parliament.
Speaking in a dialogue with young people from the Indian community, Wong said: “It can be a small community, but, certainly, its contributions to Singapore and the impact it has on Singapore are not small at all.”
“In fact, I would say that you already reflected that spirit of Singapore. Your story is a story of Singapore, small and yet hitting over your weight,” said the Straits Times cited Wong.
The Indians in Singapore have made excessive contributions to the country in many areas, even in business, industry and government, Wong stressed.
The Indians represented 7.6 percent of the citizens of Singapore, while the Malays and the Chinese represented 15.1 percent and 75.6 percent of the population, respectively, in 2024, according to the daily report of Singapore.
The 90 -minute Vananga ippoam chat (Come, Charle in Tamil), or Chat VIP, was organized by the Tamil Murasu newspaper. The senior minister of digital development and information, Janil Puthucoyary, or Indian ancestry, also committed to some 130 young people in the dialogue.
In his opening comments, Prime Minister Wong Singapore has benefited from many Indian officials, such as Dr. Janil, who is also Minister of Health.
The prime minister said that there will be new PAP Indian candidates for the next elections, but that he did not give more details or names.
The new faces that have been seen with political leaders recently include the former executive president of the Integrated Agency Dineh Vasu Dash, managing partner in the law firm Tito Isaac & Co, Kawal Pal Singh, Jagathishwararan Rajoed Rajoed Razak, according to media reports.
The 59 -year lawyer Harpreet Singh Nehal or the Indian ethnic person has also seen among possible Indian candidates of the opposition workers party, which won 10 seats in the 2020 elections.
In 2020, Pap won 83 seats in Parliament.
The 2025 elections will be heroes this year, with a speculation that it is probably called in a month or so, given to the political parties that appoint possible candidates and perform the base level mix with Singapurenses.
These possible candidates have been making “walk” with members of Parliament in several community centers, the Centers of Constitutions.
A day before, Wong said that the party, which has ruled since Independence, will present more than 30 new candidates, the greatest in recent history in its 2025 line.
In his comments, Wong also encouraged participants to continue building a distinctive Indian identity of Singapore.
He said that the Indian community is very different and has preserved its traditions while evolving towards a different culture.
“For the Singapurese Indian, his values, his norms, his way of thinking, are different from the Indians in India. And it is precious that we have created here. It is an attitude, mentality, way of life of Singapuring,” he said, continuing, “may be proud of their ethnic roots and, at the same time, proud to be a Singapsia. Fulow Singapurenses outside their community to “expand the common space we share.”
Wong continued: “This is how we can try, just like a small red point (as Singapore becomes popular), how we can ensure that we stay strong and united. We can continually have harmony between us, today.”
Dr. Janil pointed out that the small size of the Indian community could be a bean. “We can remain in close contact with everyone, take advantage of connections, networks, friendships, the confidence we have. It is an advantage of being a smallly and potentially more woven community,” said Dr. Janil.
Hey, he also said that, although most young people in Singapore share the same concerns, the Indian community rebukes the problems of race, religion and language differently.
The young people in the dialogue were between 18 and 35 years old, and represented four universities and 14 community organizations. They asked a variety of questions that range from the protection of the Indian community in the midst of the growing ethnorelligious violence, to concerns that include the cost of living, housing and employment.
In response, the panelists requested that the Singapurases be attentive to extremist opinions and assured the participants that the government is addressing the bread and butter problems.
The dialogue was carried out under the rules of the Chatham House, which allow to inform what was said, but not who said it, including participants and panelists, to foster frankness, according to the report of the broad blade.
Posted on April 14, 2025