Urgent: Sample count shows ruling People's Action Party leads in Singapore's general election

SINGAPORE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Sample count results indicate that the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has secured a simple majority in Singapore's general election, as the Elections Department releases results constituency by constituency on Saturday night.

The sample count provides only an early indication of the potential outcome. "As this is a sample count, the election result could be different. Counting is still in progress," the department said, urging the public to await the official announcement of the final results.

A total of 209 candidates from 11 political parties and coalitions, along with two independents, contested 97 elected seats in the parliament. Of these, five seats in a multi-member constituency were uncontested and were secured by the PAP on Nomination Day, April 23. Enditem