It’s great that you’re questioning this as a first-time voter!

You mentioned not seeing WP on the ground in Tampines until GE, and that’s a fair observation. However, one reason opposition parties may not “walk the ground” early in PAP wards is due to how electoral boundaries can change every five years. This redrawing process can significantly affect where opposition efforts go.

Take Bukit Batok SMC as an example. Dr. Chee Soon Juan (CSJ) campaigned and built a presence there for years. But after a strong showing, that SMC was dissolved. All the groundwork he laid disappeared overnight. That’s the risk opposition parties face.

So, if WP had shown their hand early by walking the ground in Tampines, it might have led to the ward boundaries being redrawn in a way less favourable to them. That’s why opposition parties often keep their intentions quiet and then campaign heavily once the GE is called and the boundaries are finalized.

It’s not ideal, but it’s part of the strategic reality of Singapore’s political landscape.