SINGAPORE – The ruling People’s Action Party has begun searching for potential candidates ahead of the next general election, so they can start walking the ground earlier.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on July 4 that the party has learnt over the years that it cannot “just rely on a few tea sessions or interviews” to recruit and bring in candidates.

Bringing candidates in earlier will allow them to gain experience and exposure on the ground while being assessed by the party and the public if they are truly ready to serve as MPs, said PM Wong, who is secretary-general of the PAP.

In the recent election, the party had deployed several new faces early, but a number of them were introduced “quite late” in the process, he said.

“This is an area where we can and will do better.”

Among the slate of 32 new candidates – the largest in recent memory – some like Chua Chu Kang GRC’s Choo Pei Ling, Tampines GRC’s Charlene Chen and West Coast-Jurong West GRC’s Hamid Razak were on the ground more than a year before the polls as they filled the gaps of MPs who had resigned. Others like former public servants Jeffrey Siow, David Neo and Jasmin Lau were seen in the months before the hustings.

PM Wong said he had personally reached out to and persuaded many of the new candidates fielded at the May 3 elections. He called on fellow MPs to help scout and surface names, mentor promising individuals and support their growth.

“As leader of the party, (looking out for good people to join the party) is one of my most important responsibilities. But I cannot do this work alone – I need all of you to chip in,” he said.

He was speaking at an appreciation dinner for 20 retiring MPs held at Parliament House. Around 90 guests were present, including current MPs and the party’s branch chairpersons.

The PAP traditionally holds this dinner soon after a general election to thank outgoing MPs and set the broad directi...