PAP outlines renewal plan and expands outreach networks
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Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the ruling People's Action Party will refresh its ideas, broaden membership and modernise its digital tools to stay connected with Singaporeans.
Prime Minister and PAP secretary-general Lawrence Wong told party cadres at the PAP conference on Oct. 25 that the party will renew itself by refreshing ideas, widening its membership base and expanding its networks. He said Singaporeans now hold more diverse views, experiences and aspirations, and the party aims to listen and work with them where possible.
Wong highlighted the Friends of the PAP network, launched in 2024, as a new channel for people who wish to cooperate with the party. He added that the party will continue to welcome individuals with varied backgrounds and professions, provided they share the commitment to build a better Singapore.
"We welcome Singaporeans with these diverse experiences and fresh perspectives, so long as they share our commitment to build a better Singapore together," Wong said.
The prime minister stressed that renewal does not require veteran members to step aside; instead, it involves creating space for younger members while drawing on senior members’ experience. He described this as passing the torch from one generation to the next.
Former MPs Charles Chong and Sitoh Yih Pin received meritorious service medals on the same day for long-term contributions to the party and the country. Chong served in Parliament for three decades and chaired the committee that laid the groundwork for the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act. Sitoh represented Potong Pasir for 14 years and mentored newer politicians.
Wong said party activists have been discussing issues such as jobs, artificial intelligence, housing, parenthood and education, and that their feedback has led to policy adjustments, including enhancements to paternity leave, shared parental leave and the Home Caregiving Grant.
"Sometimes it will tell us we need to explain ourselves better. And sometimes it will show us that things are not working as we intended – and we must change the policies," he said.
After the conference, Hazlina Abdul Halim, chair of the PAP Fengshan division, said a broad-based party benefits from a variety of perspectives and noted that younger Singaporeans are increasingly willing to voice their views in public forums.
"I do hope for a lot more Singaporeans to continue to find the value of their perspectives and to be able to share it respectfully, in the spirit of building up," she said.
Wong also announced updates to the PAP SG app, allowing members to access digital membership cards, renew membership and onboard new members, describing the changes as part of a wider effort to keep the party active and ready for the future.