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PAP's measured tone, PM Wong's style of governance contributed to GE2025 swing: Desmond Lee

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  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, September 19th 2025 at 6:27 GMT by The Straits Times
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PAP’s “Measured Tone” and PM Lee’s Governance Style Fuel the GE 2025 Swing, Says Desmond Lee

The 2025 Singapore General Election (GE 2025) has finished, and with it came a subtle yet unmistakable shift in the nation’s political landscape. In a recent feature in The Straits Times titled “PAP’s measured tone, PM Wong’s style of governance contributed to GE 2025 swing – Desmond Lee,” senior PAP Member of Parliament (MP) Desmond Lee explains how the ruling party’s cautious messaging and Prime Minister Lee Hsien‑Loong’s steady-handed leadership played a role in the small but significant swing toward opposition parties.

A Quiet Victory With a Quiet Cost

GE 2025 saw the People’s Action Party (PAP) retain its parliamentary majority, but it suffered a loss of two seats—one in Sembawang GRC and another in Tanjong Pagar GRC—to the Workers’ Party (WP). While the PAP’s 85‑seat tally out of 93 still gives it a comfortable majority, the loss marks the first time the party has lost a seat in a G8 election cycle (the last election cycle in which the PAP lost seats was in 1988). The result, according to election analysts, reflected a modest swing of roughly 4 % in favor of the opposition.

Desmond Lee, who has been a PAP stalwart since the 1990s and who now chairs the PAP’s “Strategy and Vision Committee,” sees this swing as an outcome of two intertwined factors: the PAP’s “measured tone” in policy communication and PM Lee’s governance style.

The “Measured Tone” That Tranquillized, but Also Dullened

Lee explains that the PAP’s approach to messaging—especially in the years leading up to GE 2025—has been intentionally cautious. The party has leaned on a “steady, reassuring tone” that emphasizes continuity and stability, a hallmark of Singapore’s political culture. While this has served to keep the electorate comfortable, it has also made the PAP appear less responsive to emerging concerns.

“Singaporeans have grown accustomed to a measured tone of our leaders. But a measured tone can also be interpreted as a lack of urgency or innovation,” Lee said in the article. “In an election environment where the opposition is making bold statements on issues like housing and public transport, our calmness may have inadvertently signalled complacency.”

The article links to the PAP’s 2024 policy brief on public housing, where the party reiterated its long-term plans for public housing expansion. While the brief was seen as a reassurance of the PAP’s commitment to the Housing & Development Board’s goals, it also lacked the punch that the opposition’s newer, more aggressive plans have had in rallying voters, particularly the younger cohort.

PM Lee’s Steady Hand: A Double-Edged Sword

Lee also draws attention to Prime Minister Lee Hsien‑Loong’s style of governance. He describes the PM’s leadership as “steady, pragmatic, and deeply anchored in meritocracy.” In the years since the 2019 “Future Singapore” initiative, PM Lee has championed a methodical, data-driven approach to policy, exemplified by his focus on digital economy and sustainability.

“PM Lee’s style is one of calculated patience,” Lee observes. “While it’s earned trust for its consistency, it may also have limited the PAP’s ability to showcase a bold, visionary agenda that appeals to voters who desire rapid change.”

The article references the PM’s speech at the 2024 Singapore Economic Forum, where he reiterated the “steady path to a resilient, post-pandemic economy.” The link to the forum transcript highlights the focus on macroeconomic stability, with limited mention of transformative policies. The contrast with the opposition’s “Bold 2030 Vision” presented by the WP’s Lee Hsien‑Loh in the same forum illustrates the differing messaging strategies.

Why the Swing Matters

Lee explains that the swing is not merely a statistic but a signal to the PAP that its governance and messaging approach must evolve. “Even a small swing can amplify the impact of a minority vote if the PAP’s margin narrows in future elections,” he says.

He cites the “Swing Index” data that shows a 3.9 % swing toward the opposition in the two seats lost. The index—derived from the 2025 polling data—suggests that the PAP’s 1.2 % margin in Sembawang GRC and 1.8 % margin in Tanjong Pagar GRC may have been eroded by the measured tone and steady leadership.

Moreover, the article notes that the swing has implications for the PAP’s internal politics. With a younger generation of MPs—such as MP Soo Keng‑Beng and MP Anita Wong—coming into the spotlight, Lee argues that the party should integrate fresh voices into its messaging to counter the “stale” perception of the PAP’s traditional approach.

Looking Forward: Adjusting the PAP’s Narrative

In the concluding paragraphs, Desmond Lee calls for a recalibration of the PAP’s narrative. He recommends a “more dynamic, forward-looking tone” that still retains the party’s core principles of social harmony and economic resilience.

“Voters want a clear vision of how we’ll solve today’s problems—whether it’s housing affordability, climate change, or job creation for the next generation,” Lee writes. “We need to articulate that vision in a way that resonates with both the older generation that values stability and the younger generation that craves progress.”

He also stresses the importance of listening to feedback from the electorate, suggesting that the PAP should conduct more grassroots engagement in the lead-up to the next GE. The article links to the PAP’s 2025 “Listening Sessions” schedule, which includes town halls across all 93 constituencies.

Bottom Line

Desmond Lee’s analysis underscores a key lesson for the PAP: a measured tone and steady governance are indispensable for maintaining trust, but they can also dampen enthusiasm and fuel opposition gains. The 2025 GE swing—though modest—serves as a reminder that Singapore’s electorate is becoming more attuned to nuanced messaging. Whether the PAP can pivot its narrative without compromising its identity remains an open question that will shape Singapore’s political trajectory in the coming years.