More than 1,500 supporters and members of public cheered on Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam as he filed the Nomination Papers for the upcoming General Elections earlier today.
An eclectic mix of youth as well as the young at heart braved the searing morning heat to escort Minister Shanmugam, as well as the rest of the PAP team of Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, A/P Faishal Ibrahim, Louis Ng and Henry Kwek from the Chong Pang PAP branch at Block 107 Yishun Ring Road to the school.
The line of supporters, which stretched across three blocks, joined up with the PAP teams in Marsiling-Yew Tee and Sembawang at Yishun Primary School, where they formed a 2,500 strong sea of crisp white-on-white.
At the school, the supporters also took the initiative to shake the hands of the members of the Workers’ Party, who were there as well.
During the two-and-a-half hour wait while the candidates were filing their papers, PAP supporters showed immense camaraderie and team spirit by sharing drinks and cardboard fans with each other, and WP members as well.
The elderly among the crowd were also sheltered by supporters wielding umbrellas.
Finally, when the Returning Officer announced the names of the five PAP candidates, a tremendous roar erupted when the names of the PAP Nee Soon team was announced.
When the five PAP Nee Soon candidates emerged on the balcony, more than 300 flags bearing the red lightning symbol were unfurled, with the party insignias fluttering majestically amid thunderous applause and boisterous cheering.
Minister, Dr Lee, Prof Faishal, Louis and Henry thanked supporters in the four official languages for following them not just on their path to the school, but for their support throughout the years.
They then came down to personally thank the supporters, and gave a doorstop interview to 30 reporters who mobbed them.
In response to a question on the PAP Nee Soon team’s campaign strategy for this election, Minister Shanmugam said, “We have been on the ground regularly week in week out, some of us day in day out.”
He also laid out the three questions residents should think about before they vote: “One, at the national level, who do you want in the government to represent Singapore, to carry through our aspirations, our future. Two, in Parliament, who you believe can express the aspirations, can fight for you, can get things done for you and work for you. Three, on the ground, running a town council, taking care of you, who do you trust, who will be honest, who will act with integrity and who will work for you.”
After the nomination, a few PAP supporters stayed back to clean up.
Watch the video here: