S1E37: On to his 9th GE: Shanmugam on his 37 years in politics

Apr 20, 2025

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He says a serious-minded person can come into the Singapore political system and make a difference.

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.

In the lead-up to Singapore's next general election that will be held on May 3, 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves.

Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam is a seasoned politician about to head into his ninth election at the upcoming General Election.

The minister, who will be leading the Nee Soon GRC team at GE 2025, first became an MP in 1988 and later a Cabinet Minister in 2008.

In this episode, he speaks with Natasha and her co-host and editor of The Straits Times - Jaime Ho - about how he has seen Singapore and the PAP change in the almost four decades he has been in politics.

Also, what does he make of the public’s perception of him as a "hard politician"?

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:18 Changes in Singapore society in that time

7:25 “My focus is on governance.”

17:53 Mr Shanmugam on having more opposition politicians

40:35 On going into his ninth election: “I won’t be here if I didn’t think I could do it.”

50:42 His take on perceptions of him as a “hard politician”

Follow ST’s GE2025 coverage here:

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