GE2025: Chee Soon Juan rebuts Ong Ye Kung's remarks, urges policy-focused debate in Sembawang West

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan has rejected Health Minister Ong Ye Kung’s suggestion that he had “abandoned Bukit Batok” to contest in Sembawang West. Chee responded on 24 April 2025, criticising Ong’s remarks as a personal attack that distracts from serious policy issues affecting Singaporeans. Ong, speaking at a People’s Action Party (PAP) rally, had said that Chee needed to explain his move, implying it undermined his commitment to the residents of Bukit Batok, where Chee had campaigned for nine years. He further argued that if Chee were elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sembawang West, he would be unable to collaborate with the PAP team managing the neighbouring Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC). “If residents vote for Dr Chee Soon Juan and he becomes the MP, he becomes in charge. I cannot do that. I won't be able to do that because his job is not to work with me. His job is to challenge me, and his job is to challenge the government,” Ong said. In response to media queries, Chee criticised the comments, saying that the PAP tends to resort to personal attacks when it cannot debate policy. “When PAP politicians find that they cannot talk about the issues, when they cannot talk about the policies, they start attacking the person,” said Chee. He added, “Voters have had enough of these things already. They want to see a good debate, a good contest — but on policies, on what affects them.” Chee emphasised that key issues such as the rising cost of living and immigration policy are of greater concern to voters. He stated that he had addressed cost-of-living challenges and intended to speak on immigration at future rallies. “Singaporeans are not interested in silly things like saying I left Bukit Batok because of gerrymandering,” he said. Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency (SMC), where Chee had been active for nearly a decade, was removed in the latest electoral boundary changes announced by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) in March 2025. This forced Chee to contest in the newly formed Sembawang West SMC, adjacent to Ong’s GRC.

Chee questions whether Ong had ever opposed unpopular policies such as GST hikes

Responding to Ong’s remarks on being unable to support Sembawang West if Chee were elected, the SDP leader said PAP politicians should instead have confidence in their policies. “He has said all these years he’s doing the right thing. Then he should be confident to tell Sembawang West voters that his policies are right,” said Chee. He questioned whether Ong had ever opposed unpopular policies such as the recent increase in GST and Medishield Life premiums, especially during the post-pandemic period when cost pressures have intensified. “When you're right in the midst of cost of living going up after the pandemic, and then you put all these price hikes — and then on top of all these price hikes, you put a levy on GST, and the added GST of now 9% — people cannot cope,” Chee argued. He added that if Ong truly cared for the residents of Sembawang West, he should have advocated within the Cabinet to defer these increases. Chee also responded to questions about whether he would cooperate with the PAP team if elected. “If it’s going to be about municipal issues — and that’s what we’re fielding candidates and teams for in Sembawang GRC — then yes, we’ll run the constituency as it should be run,” he stated. He also expressed concern about space constraints in Sembawang West, noting the density of Housing Board blocks in the area. Commenting on the recent proposal to relocate 100 horses from Turf City to Sembawang, Chee questioned the prioritisation of such initiatives. “I’m on record saying that’s a good idea. But why can you not think of having more space for residents?” he asked. He invited Ong to “take a walk” through the constituency to witness firsthand the lack of open space and said he would address this issue in his upcoming rally in Sembawang West. Chee concluded by urging voters to pay close attention to the issues that affect their daily lives and not be distracted by political rhetoric.