Singapore’s PAP and PSP walkabout clash marks rising pre-election temperature

Volunteers from the ruling PAP and the opposition PSP have alleged harassment by the other party, prompting ministers and ex-MPs to weigh in

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Volunteers from the ruling People’s Action Party and opposition Progress Singapore Party were allegedly involved in a scuffle at a walkabout in Bukit Gombak earlier in January. Photo: Tan Cheng Bock/Facebook

Published: 7:20pm, 13 Jan 2025Updated: 2:37pm, 14 Jan 2025

A rare row between two political parties in Singapore has emerged as the city state enters an election year, with volunteers from the ruling People’s Action Party and opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP) allegedly involved in an scuffle.

Former members of parliament and political observers told This Week in Asia that such an altercation reflected a more hotly contested political landscape ahead of a general election that must be held by November.

The incident, which saw cabinet ministers weigh in, surfaced last week when PSP volunteers alleged they were harassed by their PAP counterparts during a walkabout in Bukit Gombak, a town in the west of Singapore.

In response, a PAP member of parliament said that it was the PSP volunteers who initiated the confrontation, alleging that one of her volunteers was slapped and another was pulled by his shirt.

Police have confirmed they are investigating the case after a report filed by a PSP volunteer.

Low Yen Ling, senior minister of state for culture, community and youth as well as trade and industry and the MP for the area, accused the PSP of distorting the facts. A volunteer from her team posted two videos from the incident last Thursday.