"I Have A Chao Lao Face" And Other GE2025 Quotes That Slayed

With the General Elections just around the corner, May 3 to be exact, the potential candidates have been taking the Internet by storm with their speeches, interviews and banter. 

Some shared their interesting life experiences, others imparted pearls of wisdom, but who are the ones who managed to, in the famous words of Jamus Lim, warm the cockles of our hearts... and tickle our fancy?

Here, in no particular order, are the most memorable GE2025 soundbites we’ve heard so far.

WP’s Jackson Au says he has an ‘old’ face

While PAP Tampines GRC candidate Charlene Chen, 43, prides herself on her "baby face", Jackson, a 35-year-old senior manager of corporate affairs and marketing with the London Stock Exchange Group, describes himself as quite the opposite. 

In his introductory speech at the party’s press conference at their headquarters in Geylang, The Workers' Party (WP) candidate quipped: "So unfortunately, I guess I have what some people call a "chao lao" (Hokkien for ‘old-looking') face". 

Who doesn’t love a good self-deprecating joke, right?

Photos: CNA/Instagram

PAP's Dinesh Vasu Dash only knows ‘slay'

If you want to reach out to young people, you should be learn to speak their lingo... right?

So is the 50-year-old ex-Chief Executive of the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) going to win over Gen Zs with this one word?

"I only know 'Slay’. Don’t stress, we’ve got you. Slay!" he said while gesturing a rock and roll hand sign in an interview with The Straits Times. 

Photos: The Straits Time/Instagram

NSP's Spencer Ng's interesting Can-We-Exchange-Wives analogy

The National Solidarity Party secretary-general was recently asked about NSP’s talks with the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) to avoid a three-cornered fight in Sembawang GRC, which will also be contested by PAP.

And he had an oddly specific response.

"It’s like I have a friend whom I treat like a brother. One day, suddenly, he told me: 'Hey, I decided I don’t want my wife anymore.' I was very curious, I wanted to know the reason why. I asked, but I was not given any answer," said the 45-year-old.

"The next day, I found out that he came to my house and told me: 'Hey brother, I think your wife is very beautiful. Do you mind, you want to exchange with me?’ So to me, I couldn’t accept this kind of proposal, which goes against our party's integrity and the value of the work that we have done in Sembawang," he added.

Photos: CNA/Instagram

PAP’s Jasmin Lau chooses bubble tea over prata

If you asked this writer to choose between a life-time supply of bubble tea or prata, she would straight up answer: "Both!" 

But if you’re Jasmin, 42, the former Deputy Secretary of Policy at the Ministry of Health, you're probably inclined to give a more health-conscious answer. 

"Unlimited bubble tea or unlimited prata for life? This one coming from MOH a bit sensitive," the potential Ang Mo Kio GRC candidate replied sheepishly.

"But, um, unlimited bubble tea," she said.

We mean, who can say no to bubble tea, right?

Photos: Jasmin Lau/TikTok

Independent candidate Jeremy Tan's family had a hilarious response to him joining politics

In a recent interview with Mothership, the independent candidate in Mountbatten SMC was asked about his family’s take on his foray in GE2025.

"I asked permission from my wife and from my mother-in-law. They were like, 'Oh, run in election need to do what ah? (sic)' And that's about it," chuckled the 34-year-old retiree and "bitcoin candidate". 

We assume Jeremy took that as a stamp of approval?

Photos: jeremytan.sg

RDU’s Sharon Lin comes from a "family of survival" 'cos she lives in Yishun

To run for politics, one needs to possess an immense amount of grit. And for many Singaporeans, you don't get grittier than Yishun. 

"I grew up in Yishun, and my parents are still living here. I know this place very well and I also know the quiet strength of the families living here," said the 40-year-old senior consultant in the IT sector. 

"Some candidates say they come from a family of service. But I come from a family of survival. Like many families in Yishun, my family members and I, we work very hard. We work long hours, sometimes even taking multiple jobs," said the Red Dot United Nee Soon GRC candidate.

Photos: CNA/Instagram

WP’s Jimmy Tan is a Golden Age Talentime singer

At a recent WP press conference, the 53-year-old Tampines GRC candidate, who is the co-founder of a family-run business that sells process and explosion safety equipment, shared his musical talents.

"Truth is I have been a singer since young, I am a bathroom singer," he said.

He's actually being humble. He won Chinese singing competition Golden Age Talentime in 2023.

Photos: CNA/Instagram

SDP’s Gigene Wong likened the ruling party to "plain water that never changes"

Speaking to the press, the 59-year-old, who will be representing the Singapore Democratic Party in Marsiling-Yew Tee, alluded that being under the ruling party for the past 60 years is like "drinking the same cup of plain water".

"This cup of water is very nice to us. It is good for our health. But we've been drinking it for sixty years and it's still plain water. If it remains still and doesn't move for a long time, it will breed a lot of bugs," said Gigene.

"It may even attract mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitoes will bite us and suck our blood," she added. 

Photos: CNA/Instagram

PAP’s David Neo says he would have aced these subjects in school

In his recent speech at the PAP press conference, David, who will contest in Tampines GRC, shared how his teachers influenced his choice to enter the public sector.

The 47-year-old former chief of army revealed that his aunt and uncle were the ones who brought him up after his mum passed away when he was five. 

"Growing up I didn’t have much, but I never felt like I was short of anything," he said.

"If you'd asked my teachers on the first day of school, they would probably have rated me a 'C' for English, Chinese and Math. But Hokkien and 'Catching' I'm quite sure I must be an 'A'," he said, adding that his teachers were the ones who eventually taught him everything. 

Photos: CNA/Instagram