SINGAPORE – After 11 months in office, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong completed visiting all of the island’s constituencies after he attended the Sembawang GRC Health Carnival 2025 on April 20.
“In the past year, I have been going around visiting different constituencies. Today, I am here in Sembawang. In fact, this is the last stop. I saved the best for last,” PM Wong said at the community event, to cheers from residents.
Shortly after he was sworn in, in May 2024, PM Wong had pledged to complete a round of visits to all constituencies, so he could meet as many residents as he can.
PM Wong, who is an MP in the adjacent Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, thanked Sembawang residents for welcoming him.
Pointing to how far the nation has come since independence, PM Wong said Singapore’s best days are still ahead despite “so many dark clouds, so many challenges in the world”. These include conflicts, wars, economic uncertainty, and trade and tariff wars.
“(It is) all the more important this little red dot, all of us, stay together, stay united. And if we do that, I am confident we can overcome whatever challenges lie ahead,” said PM Wong, whose visit to Sembawang GRC comes two weeks before Singapore goes to the polls on May 3.
PM Wong added that despite Singapore’s multicultural and multi-religious society, its citizens are all one family.
“It is one of those unique things in Singapore – we have our Muslim friends celebrating Raya; our Indian friends celebrating the start of the Tamil New Year,” he said.
“Today is Easter Sunday for our Christians. And in Singapore, it is so precious. Different communities, different faiths, different religions, we celebrate together as one Singapore family. So, let us continue – regardless of race, language or religion, we are all Singaporeans together.”
PM Wong’s arrival was a surprise to the more than 1,000 residents who attended the health carnival, where they could play games, get health advice and enjoy performances by kindergarten pupils and zumba dancers.
Sembawang GRC incumbent MP and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung also addressed residents, drawing applause and laughter when he said various advisers and ministers from other GRCs wanted to make their GRC “the health hub of Singapore, the health centre of Singapore, the wellness centre of Singapore”.
Mr Ong said: “Honestly, I am very happy when they say that... it means the Ministry of Health is doing its work. Because the Ministry of Health does our work, we support the whole country. Every area can be a health hub in Singapore.”
He noted that in the last few years, the ministry has made healthcare more affordable, such as by offering higher healthcare and dental subsidies to more Singaporeans and free health screenings, as well as lowering the cost of shingles vaccination for seniors.
Other incumbent MPs – Mr Vikram Nair, Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Ms Mariam Jaafar and Ms Poh Li San – were also at the event.
Two new PAP candidates tipped to run in Sembawang GRC, Mr Gabriel Lam and Mr Ng Shi Xuan, were also seen mingling with residents.
Sembawang resident Hazel Yau, 39, said she initially thought that a celebrity had arrived.
It was a pleasant surprise to see the Prime Minister, said Ms Yau.
Retiree Peggy Lim was one of the residents who braved the crowd to take a selfie with PM Wong.
Said Ms Lim, 71: “The health carnival is a yearly affair that is a reminder for us seniors to not take our health for granted. We have nothing to lose because most of the programmes are free or subsidised.”
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Sembawang GRCGE2025Ong Ye KungLawrence Wong
