PAP refreshing ideas, expanding networks to renew itself: PM Wong

Published Oct 25, 2026, 01:46 PM

Updated Oct 25, 2026, 01:46 PM

The PAP will renew itself by refreshing ideas, broadening membership and widening networks, including Friends of the PAP, to stay connected to changing Singaporeans, said PM Wong.

He said renewal is not only about new candidates. The party must listen to different views and pass the torch to younger leaders while keeping veterans involved.

The party's activists have helped shape policies on jobs, AI, housing, parenthood and education, and the PAP is updating its app to make joining and contributing easier.

SINGAPORE - The PAP will renew itself by refreshing its ideas, broadening its membership and expanding its networks, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Party renewal is not just about fielding new candidates at each general election, he told cadres during a speech on Oct 25 at the PAP conference held at the Singapore Expo.

PM Wong, who is the PAP’s secretary-general, said Singaporeans today have more diverse views, experiences and aspirations.

While not everyone who wants to contribute will become a PAP member and some may disagree with it on certain issues , the party should still listen, learn from their experiences and work with them wherever it can, he added.

That is why the ruling party is widening its networks and creating more ways for people to engage with it, including through Friends of the PAP - a network of people prepared to make “common cause” with the party that was launched in 2024.

PM Wong said the PAP wants to connect with Singaporeans from different backgrounds and professions and find new ways for them to contribute, including working together where there is common ground.

That is how PAP keeps itself a “broad-based party – connected to people from all walks of life, and in touch with the changing aspirations of Singaporeans”.

“We welcome Singaporeans with these diverse experiences and fresh perspectives, so long as they share our commitment to build a better Singapore together,” said PM Wong.

He noted that some may contribute as Friends of the PAP, and some may become activists and members. Over time, some may also step up and take on greater responsibilities.

The Prime Minister also made the point that party renewal does not mean its veterans should step aside, as they still have much to contribute.

Instead, it means making room for younger members to step forward and take on greater responsibilities, while encouraging the younger cohort to draw on the wisdom and experience of their seniors.

“This is how the Government does leadership renewal. The same goes for the PAP,” he said in his Mandarin speech. “We must pass the torch from one generation to the next.”

When both generations learn from and support one another, the PAP will stay strong and relevant and be able to keep building a better Singapore for all, he added.

On Oct 25, former PAP MPs Charles Chong and Sitoh Yih Pin received meritorious service medals for their long-term contributions to party and country.

Chong, the PAP’s longest-serving backbencher, entered Parliament in 1988 as an MP for Sembawang GRC and spent the next three decades serving residents in six constituencies, including Eunos, Pasir Ris, Punggol and Joo Chiat.

He became Deputy Speaker of Parliament in 2011, until his retirement in 2020. In 2018, he chaired the Parliamentary Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods, which laid the groundwork for the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act.

Sitoh became MP of Potong Pasir following the 2011 General Election, after two failed attempts at wresting the constituency from opposition stalwart Chiam See Tong,

He was MP for the single seat for 14 years, until his retirement in 2025. On the party front, he served on the PAP Central Executive Committee from 2017 to 2020.

The awards acknowledged both Chong and Sitoh for their ongoing contributions in mentoring newer politicians, including Sitoh’s guidance of the next generation of leaders serving in opposition-held wards.

In his speech, PM Wong said PAP activists have over the past year been discussing the issues that matter to Singaporeans, including jobs and AI, housing and parenthood, and education. These conversations matter, as activists get feedback on whether a policy that looks good on paper works as well on the ground.

“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.

Party activists’ suggestions have made a real difference in shaping the Government’s policies, he added, citing recent enhancements to paternity leave, shared parental leave and the Home Caregiving Grant.

As the PAP brings in new people, it must also make it easier for everyone to participate and contribute by modernising the way the organisation works, said PM Wong.

He announced updates to the PAP SG app, which was launched two years ago for people to connect with the party. Members can now access their digital membership cards, renew their membership and onboard new members through the app.

“These may seem like small changes. But they are part of a wider effort to keep the party active, connected and ready for the future,” he said.

发布于 2026 年 10 月 25 日下午 1:46

更新于2026年10月25日下午1:46

黄循财总理表示，人民行动党将通过更新理念、扩大党员队伍和拓展网络（包括人民行动党之友）来革新自身，以与不断变化的新加坡人保持联系。

他表示，革新不仅仅在于推出新候选人。党必须倾听不同的意见，将接力棒传递给年轻一代的领导人，同时也要让资深人士继续参与其中。

该党的积极分子帮助制定了就业、人工智能、住房、育儿和教育方面的政策，人民行动党正在更新其应用程序，使加入和捐款更加容易。

新加坡——总理黄循财表示，人民行动党将通过更新理念、扩大成员规模和拓展人脉网络来实现自身革新。

他在10月25日于新加坡博览中心举行的PAP大会上发表讲话时告诉干部们，政党更新不仅仅是在每次大选中推出新的候选人。

人民行动党秘书长黄循财表示，如今新加坡人的观点、经历和愿望更加多元化。

他补充说，虽然并非所有想做贡献的人都会成为人民行动党的成员，有些人可能在某些问题上与该党意见相左，但该党仍然应该倾听他们的意见，从他们的经验中学习，并在力所能及的范围内与他们合作。

正因如此，执政党正在扩大其网络，并创造更多方式让人们参与其中，包括通过“人民行动党之友”——一个由准备与该党“共同奋斗”的人士组成的网络，该网络于 2024 年成立。

黄循财总理表示，人民行动党希望与来自不同背景和行业的新加坡人建立联系，并找到让他们做出贡献的新途径，包括在有共同点的地方共同努力。

这就是人民行动党保持“基础广泛的政党——与各行各业的人们联系在一起，并与新加坡人不断变化的愿望保持同步”的方式。

黄循财总理表示：“我们欢迎拥有不同经历和新视角的新加坡人，只要他们和我们一样致力于共同建设一个更美好的新加坡。”

他指出，有些人可能会以人民行动党之友的身份做出贡献，有些人可能会成为积极分子和党员。随着时间的推移，有些人也可能会挺身而出，承担更大的责任。

首相还指出，政党更新换代并不意味着老党员应该退出政坛，因为他们仍然能够做出很多贡献。

相反，这意味着要给年轻成员腾出空间，让他们站出来承担更大的责任，同时鼓励年轻一代借鉴前辈的智慧和经验。

“这就是政府进行领导层更新换代的方式。人民行动党也是如此，”他用普通话说道。“我们必须将火炬从一代传递给下一代。”

他补充说，当两代人互相学习、互相支持时，人民行动党就能保持强大和与时俱进，并能够继续为所有人建设一个更美好的新加坡。

10月25日，前人民行动党议员张志贤和司徒义彬因其对党和国家的长期贡献而获得功勋勋章。

人民行动党任职时间最长的后座议员张建宗于 1988 年进入国会，成为三巴旺集选区的议员，并在接下来的三十年里为包括友诺士、巴西立、榜鹅和如切在内的六个选区的居民服务。

2011年，他成为议会副议长，直至2020年退休。2018年，他担任议会故意网络虚假信息特别委员会主席，为《防止网络虚假信息和操纵法》奠定了基础。

在2011年大选后，司徒当选为波东巴西国会议员。此前，他曾两次试图从反对派重量级人物詹时中夺取该选区，但均以失败告终。

他担任该选区单议席议员长达 14 年，直至 2025 年退休。在党内方面，他于 2017 年至 2020 年担任人民行动党中央执行委员会委员。

这些奖项表彰了 Chong 和 Sitoh 在指导新一代政治家方面所做出的持续贡献，包括 Sitoh 对在反对党控制的选区服务的下一代领导人的指导。

黄循财总理在讲话中表示，过去一年来，人民行动党积极分子一直在讨论对新加坡人至关重要的问题，包括就业和人工智能、住房和育儿以及教育。这些讨论意义重大，因为积极分子可以从中获得反馈，了解一项政策在纸面上看起来不错，但在实际操作中是否有效。

他说：“有时候它会告诉我们，我们需要更好地解释我们的做法。有时候它会告诉我们，事情并没有按我们预想的那样发展——我们必须改变政策。”

他还补充说，党内积极分子的建议对政府政策的制定产生了真正的影响，并列举了最近对陪产假、共享育儿假和居家护理补助金的改进措施。

黄循财总理表示，随着人民行动党吸纳新成员，也必须通过组织运作方式的现代化，让每个人都能更容易地参与和贡献力量。

他宣布对人民行动党新加坡应用程序进行更新。该应用程序于两年前推出，旨在方便民众与党联系。现在，党员可以通过该应用程序访问他们的电子党员卡、续订会员资格以及招募新党员。

他说：“这些变化看似微小，但却是让党保持活力、与时俱进并为未来做好准备的更广泛努力的一部分。”