General Election 2025

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Marine Parade GRC to absorb MacPherson SMC, cede parts of Chai Chee, Siglap​

The renamed group representation constituency will have 131,493 electors, down from 139,738 registered voters in 2020.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Joyce Lim
Mar 11, 2025, 09:57 PM

SINGAPORE - The boundaries of Marine Parade GRC will change significantly at the next general election, with the five-member constituency absorbing all of MacPherson SMC.

It will also take in an adjacent polling district from Mountbatten SMC and cede polling districts from the Chai Chee Housing Board estates and Siglap private estates to East Coast GRC.

In its report released on March 11, the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee also recommended moving some polling districts from Potong Pasir SMC to Marine Parade GRC, given the new HDB developments in Bidadari that have increased the population in the single-seat constituency.

Marine Parade GRC will be renamed Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC to better reflect the identities of the geographical areas in the constituency, the committee said. The renamed group representation constituency will have 131,493 electors, down from 139,738 registered voters in 2020.

Marine Parade GRC was hotly contested in the 2020 General Election, with the People’s Action Party garnering 57.76 per cent of the vote against the Workers’ Party (WP). Political observers expect another keen fight this round, with the WP set to contest again and the PAP team losing former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, who resigned in 2023 after an extramarital affair.

The polling districts in Chai Chee and Siglap that will become part of East Coast GRC are currently overseen by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong. Siglap falls under the Joo Chiat ward where Mr Tong serves as the MP.

He stepped in as first adviser to the grassroots organisations in the Kembangan-Chai Chee ward after Mr Tan’s resignation in 2023.

PAP’s new face Choo Pei Ling, an assistant professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology’s health and social sciences cluster, is the second adviser.

The other MPs in the GRC – Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, Mr Seah Kian Peng and Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman – also helped to cover the former Speaker’s duties.

The boundaries of Marine Parade GRC have shifted over the years after its formation in 1988.

In 1997, it absorbed the Braddell Heights single seat, while MacPherson was carved out.

Today, the five-member GRC comprises five wards – Joo Chiat, Geylang Serai, Braddell Heights, Kembangan-Chai Chee and Marine Parade.

The latest boundary changes see MacPherson returning to the GRC’s fold. It is helmed by Ms Tin Pei Ling, who received 71.74 per cent of the vote during the 2020 election.

When asked for comment, Ms Tin told The Straits Times: “I have grown alongside MacPherson over the past 14 years. My heart is with my residents, and I will continue to do my best to serve MacPherson, regardless of the boundaries, if I’m given the chance to do so.”

The PAP’s vote share in Marine Parade dropped from 64.07 per cent in 2015 to 57.76 per cent in 2020, following the retirement of Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who helmed the GRC for decades.

Mr Goh, who was Singapore’s second prime minister from 1990 to 2004, had represented Marine Parade for 44 years, starting in 1976, when it was a single-member constituency.

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Hot wards of GE 2020 rejigged, parties ‘cannot fight old battles’ in potential May GE: Observers​

The EBRC report’s release on March 11 sets the stage for a potential May election, concurred a majority of the observers.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Goh Yan Han and Anjali Raguraman
Mar 11, 2025

SINGAPORE - The hottest constituencies of 2020 have been rejigged ahead of the 2025 general election, with some new battlegrounds to watch out for in Jurong and Punggol, noted observers.

These changes from the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s report released on March 11 may scupper the plans of the opposition parties who fought the closest contests in constituencies such as East Coast GRC, West Coast GRC and Bukit Batok SMC the last round, they said.

The adjustments could also affect the incumbent People’s Action Party, given that the sitting MPs will have to manage the changes, they pointed out.

While it seems clear that large population shifts in certain regions had sparked some boundary redrawings, the changes might feel politically-driven to some voters, said observers ST spoke to.

They noted that for the first time in decades, the committee took pains to explain the rationale behind the redrawing of the boundaries, adding that this was a positive step that could help Singaporeans better understand the changes.

The hot wards of GE 2020, contested then by the Workers’ Party, Progress Singapore Party and Singapore Democratic Party, had their boundaries significantly redrawn, following changes to adjacent constituencies that had rapid population growth.

Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) senior research fellow Gillian Koh said that the three parties “cannot fight the old battles of GE 2020” in these areas in the upcoming election.

“In the revision of the boundaries, the PAP will be able to incorporate some of its stronger wards,” she added.

The opposition parties will have to strategise within themselves and across the parties, given talk of competing claims to constituencies, she noted.

For example, the new Jalan Kayu SMC has already seen the People’s Alliance for Reform, People’s Power Party and Red Dot United staking their claims.

IPS Social Lab research fellow Teo Kay Key pointed out that the west region of Singapore had seen quite a number of changes in the boundaries.

These include a new West Coast-Jurong West GRC that takes in parts of the current Jurong GRC while ceding areas in Dover and Telok Blangah to Tanjong Pagar GRC.

The rest of Jurong GRC has also been redistributed into a new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, new Jurong Central SMC and into the existing Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

With parties like PSP and SDP contesting previously in constituencies that are no longer around or have been absorbed into other constituencies, there might be a lot of manoeuvring among these parties that have already been walking the ground there, she said.

On the other hand, former PAP MP Inderjit Singh, who retired from politics in 2015, said that even if the changes benefit the ruling party with its two weakest constituencies from the last election being redrawn, the opposition parties could have also anticipated the moves.

“There was information on the population changes that were announced sometime ago and at that time some of us predicted changes on the west and the east and it has happened,” he said.

“The opposition parties could have also anticipated this and focused on building their ground around the areas and not relied on (there being) no changes to the boundaries,” he added.

Another boundary change that may appear to have a harder impact on the opposition is the Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, that absorbs Bukit Batok SMC, where SDP chief Chee Soon Juan had won 45.2 per cent of the vote in 2020. Dr Chee had earlier publicly announced his intention to return to the ward.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said Dr Chee may view this move as one that severely disadvantages him.

“But the EBRC cannot take into account party-specific particularities on the ground; otherwise, it would effectively be dictated to on where changes can or cannot be made,” he said.

With the redistribution of Jurong GRC creating new battlegrounds in the west, other changes in the east could also see unpredictable results.

Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, highlighted the creation of Punggol GRC out of the existing Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC as a “political banana skin” for the ruling party, as a newly-formed GRC could have an unpredictability factor.

This was seen in the 2020 election, where the PAP lost Sengkang GRC - a newly-created constituency that round - to the WP, he added.

More details on boundary changes a good move​

Singaporeans - and opposition parties - have over the years called for more clarity and transparency on the redrawing of boundaries.

“The redrawing of boundaries of hotly-tested constituencies such as West Coast, East Coast and Marine Parade will certainly give rise to the political perception that these changes are likely to favour the incumbent more than the opposition,” said Dr Mustafa.

This is why more transparency is key, with the details given in the latest report demonstrating that boundaries were redrawn for demographic reasons, rather than political ones, said observers.

A case in point is the minor tweak to Aljunied GRC - an opposition-held constituency that typically does not have any changes to its boundaries - that will lose some of its polling districts to the neighbouring Tampines GRC.

This change aligns better with the name of the constituency, said Dr Teo, while independent political observer Felix Tan said that the shift could show that the EBRC does not want to be seen as favouring any particular constituencies and is making its decisions based on rational considerations like voter numbers.

IPS’ Dr Koh noted that the “major recasting” of boundaries for GE2025 is “ostensibly for good reasons of wanting to ensure adequate representation of voters, population shifts, and bringing the GRC system closer to its rationale of adequate ethnic representation”.

This was also a trust building exercise of sorts with the electorate.

“The members of the EBRC, arguably, are obliged to be politically neutral in their decisions, and respond objectively to the terms of reference they are given, and in the report, these are clearly set out,” she said.

“Ensuring their trust and support for this system is key and it was therefore extremely useful that the EBRC put in more effort to explain its recommendations, referring to the terms of reference that they were given.”

For instance, there will be 97 elected MPs, up from 93, which is in line with the EBRC’s terms of reference to keep the average ratio of electors to elected MPs similar to the last GE.

May election most likely on the cards​

The EBRC report’s release on March 11 sets the stage for a potential May election, concurred a majority of the observers.

Prof Tan noted that the current 14th Parliament is the longest-serving one in Singapore’s history, “so time is of the essence for all parties to get their election machinery roaring”.

He suggested that Parliament could have the final sitting of its term in the first week of April before it is dissolved, putting close to eight weeks between the release of the EBRC report in March and a potential Polling Day in early May.

Dr Terence Ho, adjunct associate professor in practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, pointed to recent GEs since 2006 that have been held around two months from the date of the EBRC report’s release - excluding GE 2020 - making May a reasonable guess.

Mr Singh suggested that while a May date is possible, June or July may also be a possibility.

However, given the usual time period between the report’s release and the election being called, the earliest GE would be called would be in May, said Dr Teo.

 

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Opposition parties stake early claims over GE2025 constituencies, hours after release of boundaries report​

Chin Soo Fang and Kok Yufeng
Mar 11, 2025, 10:36 PM

SINGAPORE - Five opposition parties have staked their claims on various constituencies ahead of Singapore’s next general election on the same day that the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report was released on March 11.

Already, there are four Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) and four Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) where more than one opposition party has said they are prepared to contest in the upcoming polls, due by November.

The five parties are the National Solidarity Party (NSP), People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), People’s Power Party (PPP), Red Dot United (RDU), and the Singapore People’s Party (SPP).

The newly created Jalan Kayu SMC has had the most interest, with three parties - PAR, PPP and RDU - saying they will contest there.

The other electoral districts with overlapping claims are the SMCs of Radin Mas, Potong Pasir and the new Tampines Changkat, and the GRCs of Jalan Besar, Nee Soon, Tampines and Tanjong Pagar.

Overall, at least 11 SMCs and 10 GRCs will be contested at the next election based on what has been said so far, though the parties also said these were preliminary announcements.

The Workers’ Party (WP), Progress Singapore Party and Singapore Democratic Party have not yet said where they intend to contest.

Analysts had earlier told The Straits Times that an unprecedented number of multi-cornered fight could feature in GE2025, though the staking of early claims by opposition parties should be seen as a strategy to secure bargaining chips for the inevitable horse-trading exercise that takes place once electoral boundaries are set.

PAR, an alliance formed by Peoples Voice (PV), the Reform Party (RP) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said it will contest the new Jalan Kayu SMC, as that was part of Ang Mo Kio GRC in which PAR’s component party, RP, had contested for the last three general elections.

The alliance will also be contesting the new Queenstown SMC, which was carved out of Tanjong Pagar GRC where PV has been active since 2018, said its secretary-general, Mr Lim Tean. This new SMC also borders Radin Mas SMC, which has been contested by RP for the past two polls, he added.

In all, Mr Lim said PAR will contest two GRCs and eight SMCs.

In a statement, RDU expressed “deep disappointment” with the EBRC report, which it said drastically altered the political landscape in the west of Singapore, particularly Jurong GRC where the party had built strong relationships with residents over the years.

Jurong GRC will be split into four constituencies for the upcoming polls.

For now, it intends to contest in Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, Jurong Central SMC, Nee Soon GRC, Jalan Kayu SMC, Tanjong Pagar GRC and Radin Mas SMC.

RDU said it will engage in discussions with other opposition parties to understand their election intentions. “Our best efforts will be made to avoid three-cornered fights, which would only benefit the ruling party,” it added.

Mr Goh Meng Seng, secretary-general of the PPP, said his party is prepared to contest Tampines GRC, Tampines Changkat SMC, Nee Soon GRC, Ang Mo Kio GRC and Jalan Kayu SMC.

On the EBRC report, he said it is “nothing short of massive gerrymandering in plain sight”.

NSP secretary-general Spencer Ng made a similar comment about the boundary changes, adding that his party intends to contest seven constituencies, including Tampines and Jalan Besar GRCs, as well as Tampines Changkat and Sembawang West SMCs.

Mr Desmond Lim, chairman of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), said the splitting up Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC is expected to have a “significant impact” on the party’s plans.

Noting that the new Punggol GRC is centred around the former Punggol West SMC, which the WP contested in 2020, he said SDA will speak “honestly and sincerely” with the WP about the boundary changes.

The Singapore People’s Party (SPP) said it is prepared to contest Potong Pasir SMC and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, where it stood in 2020. “We’ll need some time to review the report and its recommendations before providing a detailed response,” it added.

 

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GE2025: WP, PSP and SDP to reveal election plans later after studying boundary changes​

WP added that it will share more information with the public in due course on the likely constituencies it will contest and its potential candidates.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Chin Soo Fang
Mar 12, 2025

SINGAPORE - The confirmation of electoral boundaries is a critical part of election preparations and the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report contains some brief justifications for redrawing boundaries, the Workers’ Party (WP) said.

The WP, in a statement after the EBRC report was released on March 11, said these justifications include population growth of certain electoral districts.

“We note there are significant changes to areas where WP has been working consistently for the last few years,” it said, without naming the areas.

It added that it will share more information with the public in due course on the likely constituencies it will contest and its potential candidates.

The WP has been walking the ground in at least eight constituencies, including Tampines GRC and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

Three polling districts in Tampines West, comprising 3,834 voters, will be moved from the WP-held Aljunied GRC to the People’s Action Party-held Tampines GRC in the upcoming general election.

Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC – both held by the WP – were left largely intact after the latest redrawing of boundaries.

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) said the EBRC has “somewhat disclosed more of the reasoning behind its decisions”, compared to its previous report in 2020.

However, it added that much of the EBRC’s decision-making remains unexplained, and the committee could have accounted for population shifts without making drastic changes to existing major electoral boundaries.

For instance, population changes in Hong Kah North SMC – with the development of the new Tengah estate – could have been dealt with by merging it with Yuhua SMC and Bukit Batok SMC to form a new GRC, said PSP.

Instead, population shifts were used to justify changing the electoral boundaries of Jurong GRC, West Coast GRC, Chua Chu Kang GRC, Tanjong Pagar GRC and Radin Mas SMC, it added.

PSP said it will study the report and make further announcements on where it will be contesting in the general election in due course.

PSP founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock, who intends to contest the next election, had earlier said the party expects West Coast GRC’s boundaries to change before the polls. However, it will contest the seat regardless, he added.



The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) said it is “obviously disappointed” with the disappearance of Yuhua and Bukit Batok SMCs.

“It seems coincidental that this happened so soon after the highly successful fundraisers for the SDP campaign in Bukit Batok,” it said in a statement on March 11.

SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan had staked an early claim on Bukit Batok SMC in February, posting a video on his Facebook page about a fundraising dinner for the party’s Bukit Batok campaign.

SDP said: “The whole process of redrawing electoral boundaries lacks transparency, done without open discussion among stakeholders. We have had to contend with this for the last few decades.”

It added that it will press on and do its best to give Singaporeans the chance to vote for SDP candidates – men and women who will hold the Government accountable, it said.

SDP said it will have to study the details of all the changes carefully and consolidate its plans.

“While municipal issues are important, Singaporeans everywhere are hurting from the pressures associated with the rising cost of living and the Government’s inability to take meaningful action beyond simply handing out vouchers periodically,” it added.

 

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GE2025: Reading between the electoral battle lines as much an art as science​

Tham Yuen-C

The EBRC’s recommendations will see boundaries redrawn in 22 out of the current 31 constituencies.PHOTO: ST FILE
Mar 12, 2025

SINGAPORE – Before every general election, there seems to always be dissatisfaction over how the battle lines are drawn.

It was no different on March 11 after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) released its latest recommendations on boundary changes. Within hours of the report being made public, it had provoked reactions from various quarters.

The Workers’ Party noted the significant changes to areas where it had been walking the ground for the last few years, while the Progress Singapore Party asked if the committee could have accounted for population shifts without making drastic changes.

The angst is understandable. Judging from past elections, the committee’s work can have a significant impact on the upcoming polls.

Past committees have redrawn boundaries, chopped and changed entire constituencies, wiped them off the map, and also created new ones, resulting in more seats in Parliament.

This time around, the EBRC’s recommendations, which Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has already accepted, will see boundaries redrawn in 22 out of the current 31 constituencies.

Some constituencies will disappear – Bukit Batok, MacPherson, Yuhua, Hong Kah North and Punggol West SMCs – while others have been recast comprehensively, such as the current Jurong, West Coast, East Coast and Marine Parade GRCs.

New ones were also formed, like Punggol GRC, among others.

Just five group representation constituencies and four single-member constituencies remain unchanged from the last election.

While these changes may be of little significance to ordinary Singaporeans, for politicians, they can determine whether they will have a seat at the next opening of Parliament.

For one thing, the shifts, whether marginal or major, can change the voter profile and affect an MP’s electoral machinery. This means a candidate will have to cultivate the ground all over again, often with a different team and much less time to do so.

For another, improvements an MP has spent time pushing for can also end up in somebody else’s turf. Whether for the incumbent or the newcomer, the upshot is that it can be hard work down the drain.



Given the implications, one question that often comes up is how the lines are drawn.

The usual practice for some five decades has been for the committee to publish a report, in the form of a White Paper, which sets out the terms of reference that it was given as well as the range of electors per MP that it relied on to draw up boundaries.

But in a departure from this brevity, the committee this time around provided its rationale for some of the main recommendations, though it did not delve into the details for every change.

First, it explained that some of the revisions were necessary due to population changes.

With new housing developments and therefore an infusion of residents in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Sembawang GRC and Tampines GRC, and Hong Kah North SMC, the constituencies had seen a significant growth in the number of electors.

While the committee did not provide the lower and upper limits for the number of electors for each constituency, based on the current number of 93 parliamentary seats and 2,753,226 electors, and an allowable variation of 30 per cent, each SMC should range from about 20,700 to about 38,500.

By these limits, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Hong Kah North SMC would have busted their ideal size.

Sembawang GRC and Tampines GRC had also seen significant growth in the number of electors, the committee said.

Pasir Ris-Punggol was thus cut up, with the Punggol estates carved out to merge with Punggol West SMC to form a new four-member Punggol GRC.

Meanwhile, parts of Hong Kah North were subsumed into Chua Chu Kang GRC, while parts of Sembawang and Tampines GRCs were carved out to form two new SMCs.

With population changes an ongoing process, electoral maps rightfully need to be updated to reflect them.

In these areas, where it is the numbers that have necessitated the changes, the drawing of the boundaries comes down to more of a science, and even the most cynical politician is likely to agree that there is little room for gerrymandering.

Where there will likely be more contention, though, is in the second category of changes, which the committee described as consequential changes due to changes to adjacent boundaries.

For instance, the creation of the new Punggol GRC cascaded down to changes in East Coast GRC as well as Marine Parade GRC.

Based on the committee’s recommendations, parts of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC will be merged with adjacent polling districts from East Coast GRC to form a new four-member Pasir Ris-Changi GRC.

Meanwhile, East Coast GRC will take in adjacent polling districts from Marine Parade GRC, and Marine Parade GRC will absorb polling districts from Potong Pasir SMC, Mountbatten SMC as well as the entire MacPherson SMC to remain as a five-member GRC.

Likewise, the changes in Hong Kah North SMC also had knock-on effects on Jurong GRC and West Coast GRC.

With Jurong GRC having to absorb parts of Hong Kah North SMC, the GRC has been mostly carved up, with parts of it in a new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, and other parts merged with the adjacent West Coast GRC, renamed West Coast-Jurong West GRC.

As a consequence, parts of the existing West Coast GRC had to be carved out to merge with Radin Mas SMC so that the new West Coast-Jurong West GRC remains a five-member constituency.

That West Coast, East Coast and Marine Parade were among the most hotly contested constituencies in the last election has sparked some allegations that the changes were due to political considerations.

Based on the committee’s recommendations, these constituencies will see changes in at least 25 per cent of its voters, granted West Coast GRC has been reincarnated as the new West Coast-Jurong West GRC, and Marine Parade GRC has had its name changed to Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

With the winning margins in the last election between 1.7 per cent and 7.7 per cent of all votes in these three constituencies, these changes can therefore have a significant impact.

But to the accusations of gerrymandering, Jurong GRC perhaps provides the counterfactual, since it has been the best-performing constituency for several elections.

For these consequential revisions that flow from the changes in neighbouring constituencies, the committee will no doubt have more leeway to exercise its discretion while taking into consideration the terms of reference and various factors, and the redrawing can be said to be more an art than a science.

After all, there are probably other ways to accommodate the adjacent shifts.

Therefore, in this first electoral boundaries report under PM Wong, it is notable that there is greater elaboration on the committee’s thinking, which will go some way towards building a more well-informed electorate – and squelch some of the more extreme conspiracy theories.

Ultimately, the effect of boundary changes has an element of unpredictability. What is clear, however, is that from today, the battle lines are drawn, and the race is on to win the hearts of voters.

 

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Boundary changes to Yuhua SMC expected due to declining number of voters: Grace Fu​

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu speaking at the official opening of Rainforest Wild Asia on March 12.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Chin Hui Shan
Mar 12, 2025

SINGAPORE - Boundary changes to the Yuhua single-member constituency in Jurong were expected, as it is a mature estate with a declining number of voters, said Ms Grace Fu, who is the MP for the area, on March 12.

“I expected boundary changes to happen in Yuhua because Yuhua, as you know, is actually the smallest SMC, and because it’s quite a mature estate, the number of voters actually has been on a decline,” said Ms Fu, who is Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations.

“On the other hand... across the expressway, the town in Bukit Batok West is actually growing very quickly,” she added.

Ms Fu was responding to questions from the media on the recently announced changes to electoral boundaries. Under the changes announced on March 11, parts of Yuhua SMC will merge with the Jurong group representation constituency, Bukit Batok SMC, Hong Kah North SMC to form a new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

Yuhua SMC has the lowest voter count of 20,525 among the SMCs.

Asked if she will be the anchor minister for the GRC, which currently does not have an anchor minister, Ms Fu said: “That’s a decision for the Prime Minister to make.”

The anchor minister of Jurong GRC had been President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who represented the area for over two decades while he was an MP, until he stepped down in 2023 to contest the presidential election.

“I hope to be able to stand if he thinks that I have something to offer in the coming election, and if I’m being fielded, I hope to stay in where I’m familiar with and that’s in Yuhua,” Ms Fu added.

She was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the official opening of Rainforest Wild Asia – Singapore’s fifth wildlife park – where she was guest of honour.

Ms Grace Fu (centra) officiating at the launch of Singapore’s fifth wildlife park on March 12.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Ms Fu entered politics in 2006 and has been representing Yuhua since then. At that time, Yuhua had been a ward under the Jurong GRC.

It became an SMC in 2011 and remained a single-member seat in the 2015 and 2020 general elections.

“It’s really a full circle for me because I came from Jurong GRC the first term and it’s great to be returning back to the family,” Ms Fu said.

The new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC will have 142,510 voters, incorporating 62,424 from the current Jurong GRC, according to the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report released on March 11.

In addition to absorbing parts of the existing Jurong GRC, the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC will take in adjacent polling districts – Bukit Batok SMC, Yuhua SMC and Hong Kah North SMC.

Yuhua SMC will be split under the new changes. Parts of it will be absorbed into Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, while its remainder will become part of the new Jurong Central SMC.

The new Jurong Central SMC will be carved out from Jurong GRC, encompassing 29,620 voters, with 25,668 from the group representation constituency and the rest from Yuhua SMC.

Ms Fu said she is saddened that part of her SMC is moved into the Jurong Central SMC but assured her residents that she will continue to look after their interests.

With her constituency splitting into two parts, she said: “I have to really assure the residents that, you know, they don’t have to worry, and I’m sure my colleagues later on will look after their interests and have that interest at heart.”


Since the electoral boundaries were announced, opposition party Red Dot United has indicated that it will be contesting in Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

Asked her response to this, Ms Fu drew parallels between the General Election and a “major exam” which one has to work hard for and prepare over the years.

Ms Fu said: “I’m sure we will have to contest very hard. I have a lot of respect for my opposition. I’m sure they’ll put up a good fight.”

“... Also, I have a lot of respect for my residents, my voters, because I’m sure they want the best for their interest, and it is for us to work very hard to get their endorsement, get their trust and confidence again.”

 

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New Sembawang West SMC to be part of Sembawang family: Ong Ye Kung​

Health Minister and Sembawang GRC MP Ong Ye Kung said the new Sembawang West SMC’s upgrading and development plans will continue to be part of the GRC's town development plan.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
Mar 12, 2025

SINGAPORE – Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the new Sembawang West SMC will remain an integral part of the Sembawang family.

The Sembawang GRC MP said in a Facebook post on March 12 that the single-member constituency’s upgrading and development plans will continue to be part of the group representation constituency’s town development plan.

Mr Ong said: “As an SMC, it will be able to have more autonomy and flexibility to implement initiatives to address the specific needs of its residents.”

The Elections Department said on March 11 that the Government accepted the report and recommendations submitted by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC).

The EBRC report said voter numbers have grown significantly in Pasir Ris-Punggol, Sembawang and Tampines GRCs, as well as in the single seats of Hong Kah North and Potong Pasir, due to population shifts and new housing developments in these areas.

Voter numbers in each of these constituencies have increased by more than 10,000 since the 2020 General Election, it added.

In his Facebook post, Mr Ong said: “The change is not surprising, as over the past few years, more residents have moved into Sembawang GRC, and the population has expanded considerably.

“Increasing the number of MPs from five to six in the area will help to better serve the needs of our residents.”

The EBRC recommended 33 electoral divisions: 15 SMCs, up from 14 previously, and 18 four-and five-member GRCs.

There will be eight four-member GRCs, up from six; and 10 five-member GRCs, down from 11.

Mr Ong said: “The key change for Sembawang GRC is that from a five-person GRC, it will become a five-person GRC plus an SMC, which is Sembawang West, with the 700 series blocks comprising six Resident Networks.”

It is not yet known if incumbent Sembawang West MP Poh Li San will take the lead for the new Sembawang West SMC.

Sembawang GRC comprises five MPs: Mr Ong, Ms Poh, Mr Vikram Nair, Mr Lim Wee Kiak and Ms Mariam Jaafar.

In February, Mr Ong said in a news report that he “expects at least one new member to be added to the People’s Action Party team at Sembawang GRC in the upcoming general election”.

He said it was part of the ruling party’s renewal process in every election cycle.

He also said he intends to assign Woodlands Galaxy Community Club (CC) – located in Woodlands Avenue 6 – to the SMC, even though the CC falls just outside the SMC’s boundaries.

 

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Redrawn boundaries set the stage for fierce electoral contest in western Singapore: Experts​

The area which is under the new new West Coast- Jurong West GRC, which includes West Coast Market Square, West Coast Plaza and the Clementi West Street 1 estate, pictured on March 12, 2025.The Straits Times
Ng Wei Kai and Hariz Baharudin
Mar 12, 2025

SINGAPORE – The rapid population growth in Hong Kah North SMC triggered major electoral boundary changes in western Singapore, with PAP stronghold Jurong GRC carved up into neighbouring constituencies.

The distribution of these voters could shore up support for the ruling party in the new GRCs, which take in previously hotly contested wards in the region, said political observers.

They noted that the boundary changes would impact two constituencies where two opposition parties made significant inroads into at the last election - the current West Coast GRC and Bukit Batok SMC.

However, they also caveated that the PAP’s strong performance in Jurong - it was the PAP’s best-performing GRC in the past two general elections - also depended on the opposition they had faced and the candidates fielded.

“So it’s not a given that a particular area or estate will always pull very strongly for the PAP,” said Mr Terence Ho, adjunct associate professor in practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

The PAP narrowly won West Coast GRC with 51.69 per cent of the vote against the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) team led by former PAP stalwart Dr Tan Cheng Bock.

In Bukit Batok, the PAP’s Murali Pillai secured 54.08 per cent of the vote to beat Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan.

The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has recommended redistributing the 132,272 voters from Jurong GRC across four constituencies.

Mr Ho said this could strengthen the People’s Action Party’s performance in constituencies that have absorbed parts of Jurong GRC.

The new five-member Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC will have 142,510 voters, absorbing 62,424 from Jurong GRC, along with parts of Bukit Batok SMC, Yuhua SMC, and Hong Kah North SMC.

Another 41,404 voters from Jurong GRC will move to the newly formed West Coast-Jurong West GRC, which will have 158,581 voters, including residents from Jurong West and Taman Jurong.

The newly carved-out Jurong Central SMC will have 29,620 voters, drawing 25,668 from Jurong GRC and the rest from Yuhua SMC. Meanwhile, 2,776 voters from Jurong GRC will shift to Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, which will now have 122,891 voters.

Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) senior research fellow Gillian Koh noted the EBRC does its work in a politically neutral fashion.

But the new boundaries could improve the PAP’s prospects in the new constituencies, given the “strong political capital” that the party has in the former GRC and Yuhua, she said.

While the opposition has made significant headway, observers noted that the region has historically been dominated by the PAP.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said: “On the whole, it can be argued that the changes appear to benefit the ruling party but it should be borne in mind that the PAP has turned in strong performances in the western half of the island – which is notable for the absence of Workers’ Party interest there.”

A key figure in Jurong GRC’s success was President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who served as an MP there for over two decades starting in Taman Jurong in 2001 before stepping down in 2023 to run for president.

Under the new boundaries, this ward along with parts of Jurong Spring will merge with West Coast GRC and be renamed West Coast-Jurong West GRC. It will remain a five-member constituency.

Taman Jurong’s move bolsters PAP in West Coast

Prof Tan said that it is a fair assumption that Taman Jurong could provide very strong support to the PAP in the new West Coast-Jurong West GRC.

He said: “The PSP will see their prospects affected negatively. They would rather not have Taman Jurong in the GRC, put simply.”

He added that the inclusion of Jurong Spring strengthens National Development Minister Desmond Lee’s position as the likely anchor of the new constituency.

Mr Lee previously represented the ward as an MP for Jurong GRC for nearly a decade before moving over to West Coast in 2020.

Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, contended that the PSP’s prospects of winning in West Coast-Jurong West GRC have been “arguably reduced”.

Still, the opposition party’s continued efforts in the area since the last election have set the new constituency up for a close fight, observers said.

IPS Social Lab adjunct principal research fellow and academic adviser Tan Ern Ser said the PSP has “stepped up their game” since 2020.

Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC: new PAP stronghold?

The folding of Bukit Batok SMC into the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC means the SDP will now have to send in a team instead of a single candidate if it wants to continue contesting the Bukit Batok area, said independent political observer Dr Felix Tan.

He noted that the newly formed constituency will also likely field leaders such as Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, whose Yuhua SMC will also be folded in.

The individual parts of Jurong GRC have done well in past elections, noted research fellow at IPS Social Lab Dr Teo Kay Key.

She added that she believes that the new GRC will be “quite the stronghold” because of this.

However, this is contingent on which opposition party contests the GRC, and who is fielded, she said.

Given the shifts in the boundaries, the PAP will have to rearrange the current line up of MPs in its constituencies, said Dr Teo.

The PAP team has, since the last election, lost its West Coast GRC anchor S. Iswaran, who resigned in January 2024 following a corruption probe. The former transport minister was later jailed.

IPS’ Dr Koh said the PAP will have to field good candidates to plug the gaps left by Mr Tharman and Iswaran.

“The choice of anchor ministers will be yet another important part of the strategy and in this case, there are Ministers Desmond Lee and Grace Fu and Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam to play that role.”

Dr Teo added the results at the ballot box will also depend on what the contests eventually look like, and who and how many opposition parties contest in the new constituencies.

She said: “Traditionally the opposition contesting would have a higher chance of getting higher vote share if it was just a two-way contest.

“There is a chance of votes for the opposition (vote) being diluted if we see three- or four-way contests, especially if they are the better known parties like PSP and SDP.”

 

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Jalan Kayu SMC residents will be looked after as part of AMK extended family: SM Lee​

Senior Minister and Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Lee Hsien Loong greeting guests and performers during the first stop of Chingay 2025, held at Teck Ghee Square on Feb 15.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Chin Soo Fang
Mar 12, 2025

SINGAPORE – The emergence of Jalan Kayu SMC, which is newly carved out from Ang Mo Kio GRC is a “natural process” as the population in the area has grown over the years, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a social media post on March 12.

The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has proposed carving out a piece of Ang Mo Kio GRC to form the new Jalan Kayu SMC, which includes the private estates along Jalan Kayu Road, the Seletar Aerospace Park, as well as a portion of the HDB homes in Fernvale.

This was to reduce the size of Ang Mo Kio GRC, which had more voters than any other constituency. According to the report released on March 11, it has a total of 190,800 electors.

“It is a natural process,” SM Lee wrote. “As Ang Mo Kio’s population has grown over the years, the GRC has hived off successive pieces to form separate SMCs, and the GRC’s own area has shrunk.”

He noted that today, Yio Chu Kang SMC and Kebun Baru SMC are part of the Ang Mo Kio extended family, and that he was looking forward to taking care of the residents of Jalan Kayu SMC as well.

“We all work together in the Ang Mo Kio Town Council to deliver a wider range of activities and more efficient services for residents,” he said. “I look forward to looking after the residents of Jalan Kayu SMC in the same way too, after the forthcoming general elections.”

Meanwhile, fellow Ang Mo Kio MP Ng Ling Ling thanked her residents, grassroots volunteers, branch activists, patrons and partners, who have written to her to express continued support since the changes to her ward were announced by the EBRC.

In a social media post on March 11, she said the EBRC would have factored in new housing developments and population growth between different electoral divisions in Singapore in making their decisions.

“Jalan Kayu has been a big division, so the changes seem to be a positive one to enable good MP-resident ratio so more attention can be given to residents,” she said.

She assured her current residents that she will continue her best to care for and attend to their needs as much as she can. For new residents who are included in the new SMC, she will also continue to get to know and engage them towards GE2025.

“We will wait for the party to finalise the best formation that will best serve residents so we will wait for more updates as we go,” she wrote. “PAP team will always continue to look out for all our people.”

 

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Aljunied MPs sad to lose part of constituency to Tampines GRC at GE2025​

The three districts in Tampines West that are being carved out of the Workers’ Party-held ward have 3,834 voters in all. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Isabelle Liew and Kok Yufeng
Mar 12, 2025, 10:22 PM

SINGAPORE - Aljunied GRC MPs Sylvia Lim and Gerald Giam said they were sad to see three polling districts in their ward move to neighbouring Tampines GRC, part of a slew of changes to the electoral map ahead of Singapore’s next general election.

Ms Lim told reporters that the Aljunied MPs, especially Mr Giam, had been actively engaging residents there over the past years. The three districts being carved out are under Mr Giam’s care as they are currently part of Bedok Reservoir-Punggol division.

Ms Lim, who is Workers’ Party chairwoman, said the town council has also been working hard to solve some of the teething issues in the new GreenGem estate, which include a rat infestation and issues with food waste and debris disposal. “It’s a pity that now they will no longer be under our charge and whatever work we have done, we’ll have to pass it on,” she added.

Mr Giam said residents in the affected areas have messaged him to express their sadness at being moved to another constituency.

He said he would continue to serve residents there until the end of his term as MP. “After that, hopefully, whoever takes over will have a good slate to take over a good, well-maintained estate,” he added.

Mr Giam also noted that this is one of the few times that the boundaries of an opposition ward have been redrawn. He said the WP aims to do their best, “whatever is thrown at us”.

“In politics, especially in Singapore, we always have to expect that the areas that we’re working on will be carved out,” he added.

Asked whether he will continue to stand in Aljunied at the 2025 polls, Mr Giam said his party will make that decision.

The Aljunied MPs’ comments on March 12 came a day after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) released its report, which has been accepted by the Government.

The revisions mean electoral boundaries will change for 22 of the current 31 constituencies, including for several wards in the east and west that were hotly contested at the 2020 election.

The changes to Aljunied GRC are comparatively minor. It is one of three electoral divisions where the EBRC recommended adjustments to align electoral boundaries with key geographical features. The other constituencies with similar minor adjustments are Chua Chu Kang and Holland-Bukit Timah GRCs.

The three districts in Tampines West that are being carved out of the Workers’ Party-held ward have 3,834 voters in all.

Located east of Bedok Reservoir, they cover the Waterview and Tropica condominiums, as well as the new Tampines GreenGem Build-To-Order housing estate, which was fully completed in March 2024.

Mr Derrick Cheng, 48, who works in the motor trade industry, moved to Tampines GreenGem about a year ago with his wife and daughter. He said he voted for WP at the last election, as his previous registered address was in Marine Parade.

Mr Cheng was not aware of the new boundary changes and was surprised to learn about them. “Singapore needs an opposition voice in Parliament. If WP doesn’t contest in Tampines, then I won’t be voting. But if they do, I’ll vote for them,” he said.

Ms Kacey Phua, 28, who moved into Tampines GreenGem in October 2024, was happy she will be voting in Tampines GRC at the coming polls. The tutor, who used to live in another part of Aljunied GRC, said she previously voted for the People’s Action Party because her family was dissatisfied with the cleanliness of the estate.

“After I moved into Tampines GreenGem, there was a very bad rat infestation and I feel it wasn’t resolved promptly. I still see rats around these days, although not as much,” she added.

With the boundary changes, Aljunied GRC will have 144,032 voters, compared with 147,866 if the boundaries had not been redrawn. It remains a five-member constituency.

 

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Focus of the Jalan Besar team has always been and will be on residents: Josephine Teo​

Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo was taken on a tour of the 205 year old Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka.ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Judith Tan
Mar 12, 2025, 10:36 PM

SINGAPORE - The focus of the Jalan Besar GRC team has always been and will be, on its residents, said Minister for Digital Development and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity Josephine Teo.

“We will do our best to serve their needs, regardless of who wishes to contest (in the GRC) when the elections come. The residents’ needs have always been part of everything that we do, especially in terms of estate improvements as well as the programmes that we put in place to strengthen the community and to make positive engagements,” said Mrs Teo, who helms the PAP team in Jalan Besar GRC, told reporters on March 12.

The Jalan Besar GRC MPs include veterans Heng Chee How and Denise Phua, and polytechnic lecturer Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah.

When asked if the team will remain intact and if she will be continuing to lead the team there, Mrs Teo said: “It is premature and probably not helpful to speculate.”

“We all serve at the Prime Minister’s pleasure, and whoever the PM decides to lead the constituencies, you can be sure that he has put his heart and soul into his decisions,” she said.

“We can be sure that whichever team the PAP fields, it will have the same level of commitment and passion towards our constituents.”

Already, two opposition parties, namely the National Solidarity Party (NSP) and the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), have staked claim on Jalan Besar GRC, which could result in a three-corner fight.

Responding to this, Mrs Teo said: “Whoever chooses to contest here, we will do our best to present our plans to our residents, and they can decide for themselves which will be the stronger team that can help fulfil the aspirations for themselves and their families as well as for the environment in which they live.”

Mrs Teo was speaking to reporters on the sideline of the launch of the Aljunied family burial ground information board at the Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka in Keng Cheow Street, off Havelock Road, on March 12.

Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, established in 1820, is one of Singapore’s oldest mosques at 205 years old. It was built by Arab merchant Syed Omar bin Ali Aljunied in then Kampong Melaka, an area populated by Malaccan traders and fishermen.

The board helps bridge the past and present of the mosque and burial ground, through a display of pictures and text. It is also aimed at strengthening intergenerational bonds, enabling younger members of the community to discover and value their cultural roots and shared history.

The installation of the board at the mausoleum also serves to foster educational opportunities, strengthening community engagement, preserving cultural significance, supporting economic development, and enhancing social cohesion.

 

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East side shake-up: Boundary changes make East Coast, Marine Parade election battles harder to call​

In the next general election, a quarter of its voters will have come from a neighbouring constituency.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Goh Yan Han and Anjali Raguraman
Mar 12, 2025

SINGAPORE – East Coast GRC is still a constituency to watch.

In the next general election, a quarter of its voters - some 40,000 in Joo Chiat’s private estates and Chai Chee’s Housing Board flats - will have come from a neighbouring constituency.

This influx, a disproportionate number of whom live in private housing, will create unpredictability for East Coast ahead of the polls, said political observers.

For one thing, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) post-election surveys show that upper middle-class, better-educated voters are more likely to believe that political pluralism and having checks and balances in Parliament are important, said IPS senior research fellow Gillian Koh.

“Those broader political and governance principles will matter far more (in East Coast GRC) than anywhere else, where the day-to-day pocketbook and economic issues will weigh more heavily,” said Dr Koh.

There is also Joo Chiat’s electoral history. Joo Chiat gave the Workers’ Party a near-win in 2011, when it was a single-seat ward.

But since being absorbed into Marine Parade GRC in 2015, a growing number of voters there have thrown their weight behind the PAP’s Edwin Tong.

Another point of uncertainty is who will be fielded in the GRC.

In 2020, East Coast’s PAP slate - comprising Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, then-Senior Minister of State Maliki Osman, then-newcomer Tan Kiat How and backbenchers Jessica Tan and Cheryl Chan - won 53.39 per cent of the vote.

Their opponents, the Workers’ Party, were led by star candidate Nicole Seah and long-time member Terence Tan, along with Abdul Shariff Aboo Kassim, Kenneth Foo and Dylan Ng. The party improved on its 2015 showing.

It is unclear how much of either slate will contest again this year.

With the absorption of Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong’s Joo Chiat ward, political observers said it is unlikely that both he and DPM Heng would remain in the same constituency. Ms Tan is also in her fourth term as an MP, longer than the typical three-term tenure for PAP backbenchers.

On the WP front, Ms Seah and Mr Tan are no longer with the party. Mr Abdul Shariff and Mr Foo are now walking the ground with a new face - lawyer Ang Boon Yaw.

Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, said it was unlikely that DPM Heng would move to a different constituency after just one term, since he moved to East Coast GRC from Tampines GRC in 2020.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan agreed. Should he leave East Coast GRC, it would likely be to retire from politics altogether, he said.

“If he is fielded, I’d be surprised if he is moved once again to another GRC. He probably averted a PAP defeat in East Coast GRC in GE 2020 with his late switch there; moving him out of the GRC would be an imprudent move,” said Prof Tan.

Other political observers were mixed about the PAP’s chances at the polls, noting that WP’s choice of candidates could swing the battle in their favour.

The WP could make a play for the constituency, added Prof Tan.

“Will the WP move Pritam Singh from Aljunied GRC to East Coast or Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRCs?” he suggested.

This could be a strategic move to prove himself to the party and voters after his recently concluded court case, setting the stage for a “famous victory for the WP”, he added.

Former PAP MP Inderjit Singh concurred on the WP’s chances in East Coast.

“If WP fields their A-team there, they will give the PAP team a run for the money,” he said.

Marine Parade​

In the newly-renamed Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC next door, the PAP stands a good chance of retaining the constituency, most observers said.

Their confidence stems from two things: the single-seat stronghold of MacPherson has been added to the fold, and with a heavyweight minister in Dr Tan See Leng.

But the personalities fronting the slate - on both PAP and WP sides - will also factor heavily, they added.

Besides subsuming MacPherson, the five-member GRC will also take in an adjacent polling district from Mountbatten SMC, and parts of Potong Pasir SMC. It will cede the Chai Chee and Joo Chiat areas.

Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC will have 131,493 voters, down from 139,738 in 2020.

In GE 2020, the PAP’s Tin Pei Ling secured 71.74 per cent in MacPherson SMC. It was the best performing SMC, and had one of the highest vote shares of any constituency.

But IPS Social Lab research fellow Teo Kay Key pointed out that MacPherson’s 27,000 voters form only a fraction of the over 131,000 voters in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. As such, the single-seat ward “cannot be the only vote bank that the PAP depends on” there, she said.

IPS’ Dr Koh and independent political observer Dr Felix Tan both agreed that Dr Tan, who is Manpower Minister, will likely be the constituency’s anchor minister, now that Mr Tong’s Joo Chiat ward has been carved out.

Added Mr Inderjit Singh: “Dr Tan has done a great job as a minister. He is an outsider from the private sector - an entrepreneur and a CEO of a large corporation. As a minister, he has brought fresh perspectives and I think he is gaining good respect from his ground.”

Dr Mustafa said Dr Tan will want to kick off his run as anchor minister on a high note, by increasing the margin of victory in GE 2025.

But this is easier said than done.

In GE 2020, the PAP team won 57.74 per cent of the vote against a WP slate helmed by former NMP Yee Jenn Jong.

This was lower than the ruling party’s national vote share of 61.24 per cent.

More recently, the WP’s star catch - senior counsel Harpreet Singh Nehal - has been spotted on walkabouts in the GRC.

Prof Tan said the constituency “is not the strong PAP bastion that it used to be”, adding that the addition of MacPherson is not insurmountable for the WP.

The GRC was a one-time stronghold for the PAP, especially under Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong when he was Prime Minister. ESM Goh retired from politics in 2020, and did not run in that year’s election.

Given that this is Dr Tan’s second GE, how he leads the slate, and deals with issues that the WP will raise, will be something to look out for, said Prof Tan.

 

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Redrawn boundaries set to have an impact on electoral contests in western Singapore: Experts​

Boundary changes in Singapore's west would impact two constituencies where two opposition parties made significant inroads at the last election, say experts.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Ng Wei Kai and Hariz Baharudin
Mar 13, 2025

SINGAPORE – The rapid population growth in Hong Kah North SMC has triggered major electoral boundary changes in western Singapore, with PAP stronghold Jurong GRC carved up into neighbouring constituencies.

The distribution of these voters could shore up support for the ruling party in the new group representation constituencies, which take in previously hotly contested wards in the region, said political observers.

They noted that the boundary changes would impact two constituencies where two opposition parties made significant inroads at the last election – the current West Coast GRC and Bukit Batok SMC.

However, they also caveated that the PAP’s strong performance in Jurong – it was the PAP’s best-performing GRC in the past two general elections – also depended on the opposition they had faced and the candidates fielded.

“So it’s not a given that a particular area or estate will always pull very strongly for the PAP,” said Mr Terence Ho, adjunct associate professor in practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

The PAP narrowly won West Coast GRC with 51.68 per cent of the vote against a Progress Singapore Party (PSP) team led by former PAP stalwart Tan Cheng Bock.

In Bukit Batok, the PAP’s Mr Murali Pillai secured 54.8 per cent of the vote to beat Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan.

The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has recommended redistributing the 132,272 voters from Jurong GRC across four constituencies.

Mr Ho said this could strengthen the People’s Action Party’s performance in constituencies that have absorbed parts of Jurong GRC.

The new five-member Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC will have 142,510 voters, absorbing 62,424 from Jurong GRC, along with parts of Bukit Batok SMC, Yuhua SMC and Hong Kah North SMC.

Another 41,404 voters from Jurong GRC will move to the newly formed West Coast-Jurong West GRC, which will have 158,581 voters, including residents from Jurong West and Taman Jurong.

The newly carved-out Jurong Central SMC will have 29,620 voters, drawing 25,668 from Jurong GRC and the rest from Yuhua SMC. Meanwhile, 2,776 voters from Jurong GRC will shift to Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, which will now have 122,891 voters.

Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) senior research fellow Gillian Koh noted the EBRC does its work in a politically neutral fashion.

But the new boundaries could improve the PAP’s prospects in the new constituencies, given the “strong political capital” that the party has in the former GRC and Yuhua, she said.

While the opposition has made significant headway, observers noted that the region has historically been dominated by the PAP.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said: “On the whole, it can be argued that the changes appear to benefit the ruling party, but it should be borne in mind that the PAP has turned in strong performances in the western half of the island – which is notable for the absence of Workers’ Party interest there.”

A key figure in Jurong GRC’s success was President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who served as an MP there for over two decades, starting in Taman Jurong in 2001 before stepping down in 2023 to run for president.

Under the new boundaries, this ward along with parts of Jurong Spring will merge with West Coast GRC and be renamed West Coast-Jurong West GRC. It will remain a five-member constituency.

Taman Jurong’s move bolsters PAP in West Coast​

Associate Professor Tan said it is a fair assumption that Taman Jurong could provide very strong support to the PAP in the new West Coast-Jurong West GRC.

He said: “The PSP will see their prospects affected negatively. They would rather not have Taman Jurong in the GRC, put simply.”

He added that the inclusion of Jurong Spring strengthens National Development Minister Desmond Lee’s position as the likely anchor of the new constituency.

Mr Lee previously represented the ward as an MP for Jurong GRC for nearly a decade before moving over to West Coast in 2020.

Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, contended that the PSP’s prospects of winning in West Coast-Jurong West GRC have been “arguably reduced”.

Still, the opposition party’s continued efforts in the area since the last election have set the new constituency up for a close fight, observers said.

IPS Social Lab adjunct principal research fellow and academic adviser Tan Ern Ser said the PSP has “stepped up their game” since 2020.

Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC: New PAP stronghold?​

The folding of Bukit Batok SMC into the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC means the SDP will now have to send in a team instead of a single candidate if it wants to continue contesting the Bukit Batok area, said independent political observer Felix Tan.

Dr Tan noted that the newly formed constituency will also likely field leaders such as Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, whose Yuhua SMC will be folded in.

The individual parts of the new GRC have done well for the PAP in past elections, noted research fellow at IPS Social Lab Teo Kay Key.

Dr Teo added that she believes it will be “quite the stronghold” because of this.

However, this is contingent on which opposition party contests the group representation constituency, and who is fielded, she said.

Given the shifts in the boundaries, the PAP will have to rearrange the current line-up of MPs in its constituencies, said Dr Teo.

The PAP team has, since the last election, lost its West Coast GRC anchor S. Iswaran, who resigned in January 2024 following a corruption probe. The former transport minister was later jailed.

IPS’ Dr Koh said the PAP will have to field good candidates to plug the gaps left by Mr Tharman and Iswaran.

“The choice of anchor ministers will be yet another important part of the strategy and, in this case, there are Ministers Desmond Lee and Grace Fu and Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam to play that role.”

Dr Teo said the results at the ballot box will also depend on what the contests eventually look like, and who and how many opposition parties contest in the new constituencies.

She said: “Traditionally, the opposition contesting would have a higher chance of getting higher vote share if it was just a two-way contest. There is a chance of votes for the opposition being diluted if we see three- or four-way contests, especially if they are the better-known parties like PSP and SDP.”

 

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Extra MP from Tampines Changkat will better serve Tampines residents’ needs: Masagos​

Minister for Social and Family Development and Tampines GRC MP Masagos Zulkifli said the new SMC is still within the Tampines family.PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN

David Sun
Mar 13, 2025

SINGAPORE - An additional MP in Tampines for the new Tampines Changkat SMC would help the People’s Action Party better serve residents, said Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli.

In a Facebook post on March 13, he said the addition of one member would also help address the specific concerns of Tampines Changkat.

The electoral boundary changes in Tampines were announced on March 11 with the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report.

While Tampines GRC will take in some districts from Aljunied GRC, it will also have Tampines Changkat carved out as a separate single-member constituency, taking in an additional polling district from East Coast GRC.

Mr Masagos, who is PAP’s anchor minister in Tampines GRC, said the new SMC is still within the Tampines family, and this means that Tampines would now comprise a five-member group representation constituency and the SMC.

He said: “The addition of one member will allow us to better serve the needs of Tampines residents, as well as address the specific concerns of Tampines Changkat.

“We remain committed to enhancing the liveability of Tampines, delivering on our five-year masterplan to create a greener, more connected and vibrant town for our residents.”

Mr Masagos added that Tampines Changkat continues to be part of this plan, and welcomed residents from the various housing developments to join the launch of the Tampines SG60 Care Vouchers at Our Tampines Hub on March 15.

The event will see Tampines households with blue Community Health Assist Scheme cards receive $60 in Shopee vouchers to help them buy daily essentials.

Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo, who is the representative for Tampines Changkat, said in a Facebook post on March 12 that the release of the EBRC report marks a significant milestone for Tampines Changkat.

He said that while boundaries may shift, his team’s commitment to residents remains the same.

“For many years, the PAP Tampines Changkat team has walked alongside residents – listening, understanding and working together to build a stronger, more inclusive community,” he said.

“Regardless of the boundary changes, we are and will be focused on serving Changkat residents as we have over the last many years.”

Mr Choo added that the Meet-the-People Sessions will continue for now.

“Tampines Changkat remains an integral part of the Tampines family, and residents will continue to benefit from ongoing upgrading and development plans across Tampines,” he said.

“We stay committed to building a community you are proud to call home.”

 

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Edwin Tong pledges to continue plans for Joo Chiat after it becomes part of East Coast GRC​

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Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong said he has mixed feelings about his ward being moved out of Marine Parade GRC.PHOTO: JOO CHIAT CONSTITUENCY OFFICE

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East Coast GRC will absorb the entire Joo Chiat ward, and part of Kembangan-Chai Chee ward, from Marine Parade GRC.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
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Joyce Lim
Mar 13, 2025

SINGAPORE - Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong said he will continue with the work he has done in Joo Chiat ward even after it is moved into East Coast GRC.

He told The Straits Times in an exclusive interview on March 12: “As far as Joo Chiat is concerned, given that it is largely intact, it doesn’t change my plans at all.

“Everything that I promised to do, I agreed to do, and we have embarked on, we will continue doing so. There’s no change to the expectation of the Joo Chiat residents,” added the minister, who has been an MP for Marine Parade GRC since 2015.

The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report released on March 11 stated that East Coast GRC will absorb the entire Joo Chiat ward, and part of Kembangan-Chai Chee ward, from Marine Parade GRC.

As for the rest of East Coast GRC, the team will come together to prepare for the general election once Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has decided on the slate of candidates, said Mr Tong.

Mr Tong said that while he was “somewhat disappointed” and has mixed feelings about the Joo Chiat ward being moved out of Marine Parade GRC, he is relieved that Joo Chiat remains intact.

“I’ve served here (Joo Chiat) for 10 years… I felt a little disappointed that we are going to be leaving the GRC,” said Mr Tong.

For the past decade, he has been working not just with the other MPs in Marine Parade GRC, but volunteers, grassroots leaders and colleagues at the People’s Association (PA), said Mr Tong, who is Second Law Minister and deputy chairman of PA.

He highlighted several initiatives launched under the Marine Parade GRC banner, including the WeCare programmes to help residents in need, the Caregiver support network that looks after the needs of caregivers in the constituency, and a free shuttle bus service to connect residents with amenities such as MRT stations, polyclinics and hawker centres.

“My disappointment comes from having to leave these programmes and start afresh somewhere,” said Mr Tong.

“We’ll try and find a way to replicate these (programmes), but of course, we also need to find a way to synergise with the rest of the divisions that are there (in East Coast GRC), and that’s something that we have to think about as we go down this journey.”

Mr Tong was first elected in 2011 and served one term as an MP for Jalan Besar. In 2015, he was moved to contest in Marine Parade GRC.

“We have to be prepared because we serve as a team, and we serve wherever the Prime Minister puts us,” he said.

“We have to be prepared that after doing our very best for a particular estate for a term or two, or more, we will be moved.”

Mr Tong said his modus operandi as an MP is to consult, ensuring that initiatives align with community needs.

Over his decade representing Joo Chiat, he has focused on improving public spaces, fostering engagement and improving connectivity using a ground-up approach guided by feedback from residents, he said.

One of the key initiatives he oversaw during his tenure was the rebuilding of PCF Sparkletots Preschool in Joo Chiat, which saw him rallying sponsors and grassroots leaders to raise more than $2 million to rebuild the kindergarten.

Community park facilities were also improved and playgrounds upgraded to reflect the preferences of children in the area, with themes such as pirate ships and treehouses, said Mr Tong. In addition, dog runs have been introduced at Telok Kurau and Opera Estate, giving pet owners dedicated spaces for their animals to play.

Healthcare services have also been bolstered, with Parkway East Hospital opening a paediatric urgent care centre and Eunos Polyclinic opening during the Covid-19 pandemic to improve accessibility for residents.

A new integrated community hub in Siglap, set to be completed in 2029, was also conceived after dialogues with residents, said Mr Tong.

Unlike other infrastructural development projects, the initial plans for this new hub did not start with construction drawings. Rather, they began with dialogues and town halls, said Mr Tong.

The new hub in Upper East Coast Road will contain amenities such as a 300m running track, jamming studio and a rooftop gym.

Between 2020 and 2024, Mr Tong and his team consulted hundreds of residents through estate dialogue sessions, town halls and other smaller engagement sessions at condominiums and community events while planning for the project.

Mr Tong said he does not want to speculate about the EBRC’s considerations in moving Joo Chiat ward to East Coast GRC.

“All I know is that we will continue with the programmes at Joo Chiat. We will work hard. Everything that we promised we will do, we will get done.

“And I’m just glad that it (Joo Chiat) is not cut up in a way where it makes it hard to deliver on the programmes.”

Mr Tong was also asked whether East Coast GRC can take on another full minister, since Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Maliki Osman are already on the team.

He said PM Wong will make the decision.

“Who he’s going to field, what he’s going to do with Marine Parade, with East Coast, as well as with the others, we don’t know… We are just digesting the boundaries change and making adjustments, of course, in preparation.”

Mr Tong emphasised that MPs have a responsibility to look after their divisions.

“Of course, we have a greater responsibility as the ministers and senior MPs for the whole of the GRC, but our primary focus is to make sure that our own ward is well looked after,” he said.

 

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Senior civil servant from MOH steps down ahead of GE2025, last day on April 1​

Ms Jasmin Lau could be one of the first of several resignations expected from the public service ahead of the general election.PHOTO: MOH
Goh Yan Han and Ng Wei Kai
Mar 14, 2025

SINGAPORE – Ms Jasmin Lau, deputy secretary (policy) at the Ministry of Health (MOH), has retired from the civil service, fuelling speculation that she may enter politics at the upcoming general election.

An e-mail circular sent earlier this week seen by The Straits Times said Ms Lau will leave the administrative service on April 1. The administrative service is the highest tier of Singapore’s civil service, comprising its leaders.

Ms Lau, 42, has spent much of her career in healthcare.

She served in MOH from 2013 to 2019, looking at healthcare finance and overseeing the development and regulation of medical and long-term care insurance in Singapore.

It was during this period that the ministry launched MediShield Life, a basic national health insurance scheme for large medical bills.

She returned to the ministry in November 2021 after a stint at the Economic Development Board (EDB).

Ms Lau oversees manpower, financing and regulatory measures in the healthcare system. As a deputy secretary, she is among the highest-ranked civil servants in her ministry.

Other projects she has overseen at MOH include the Healthier SG White Paper in 2022, which places the focus on preventive care, rather than the traditional hospital-based approach to illness.

She is on the board of the Building and Construction Authority and a member of the board of trustees for the Singapore Institute of Technology.

Her other stints were at the Public Service Division, the Manpower Ministry, Finance Ministry and EDB.

At EDB, she was the executive director of the Singapore Global Network, which coordinates efforts to reach out to overseas Singaporeans and others with links to Singapore.

This division was previously known as the Overseas Singaporean Unit and came under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

ST has contacted Ms Lau for comment.

Ms Lau could be one of the first of several resignations expected from the public service ahead of the election, which is widely expected by mid-year after the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s report on March 11.

The PAP has traditionally tapped public service leaders when sourcing for candidates. Those who are chosen to stand often resign in the lead-up to the election, as they are not allowed to participate in political activities while in office.

Other high-profile resignations in 2025 are those of former Nominated MPs Raj Joshua Thomas and Syed Harun Alhabsyi.

Both men resigned on Feb 14, the first time any NMP had done so before the end of his term – fuelling speculation that both men intend to contest in the coming election.

Announcing his resignation on social media, Dr Syed Harun said it would be most appropriate that he resign as he intends to “explore opportunities for political service”.

In Mr Thomas’ resignation letter, he said he remains “dedicated to serving Singapore and Singaporeans to the best of (his) abilities”.

“I am contemplating doing so in a different way, in which it would be appropriate for me to resign as an NMP at this time,” he added.

In the past, public servants have quit their roles close to the start of the hustings.

In the 2020 General Election, East Coast GRC MP Tan Kiat How, who was then chief executive of the Infocomm Media Development Authority, stepped down from his post on June 20. His resignation was publicly announced five days earlier.

The writ of election was issued on June 23, with July 10 set as Polling Day.

Mr Tan, who is now Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information as well as National Development, was one of the last resignations from the public service that year.

Mr Desmond Tan, who used to be chief executive of the People’s Association, left the public service slightly less than a month before Polling Day.

Others then were Mr Yip Hon Weng, former group chief of the Silver Generation Office under MOH, and Ms Ng Ling Ling, who was chief of future primary care and director of community engagement at the MOH Office of Healthcare Transformation.

 

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Opposition parties review strategies, rally support despite gripes over boundary changes​

The opposition parties said they will continue to walk the ground as they firm up their plans for the general election.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Kok Yufeng and Ang Qing
Mar 15, 2025, 05:30 AM

SINGAPORE – Several opposition parties are reviewing their strategies after changes to the electoral map, with some labelling themselves underdogs to drum up support and raise funds for the hustings.

The parties also said they will continue to walk the ground as they firm up their plans for the general election, which is widely expected by mid-year.

Workers’ Party member Harpreet Singh Nehal – who has been spotted on walkabouts in Marine Parade GRC and is likely to contest the upcoming polls – said the WP is not daunted by the redrawing of MacPherson SMC into the newly christened Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

“If anything, this only strengthens our resolve,” Mr Singh wrote in a Facebook post on March 14.

PAP MP Tin Pei Ling retained MacPherson with 71.74 per cent of the vote in the 2020 General Election.

Mr Singh, a senior counsel, added that the WP has never been one to shy away from a challenge.

“We will continue to walk the ground, engage Singaporeans, and fight for a fairer, more balanced political landscape – wherever the lines are drawn,” he said.

Workers’ Party member Harpreet Singh Nehal, who is likely to contest the upcoming general election,and fellow party member Gerald Giam, an MP for Aljunied GRC, in Bedok in 2023.PHOTO: THE WORKERS’ PARTY/FACEBOOK
As for its electoral plans, the WP has kept its cards close to its chest. After the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report was released on March 11, the party noted the significant changes to areas where it has been working consistently for the past few years. It said it will provide more information soon on the likely seats it will contest and its potential candidates.

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP), which narrowly lost West Coast GRC in 2020 with 48.32 per cent of the vote, on March 12 said the major electoral boundary shifts in western Singapore have made it harder for the party to enter Parliament. The party will study the EBRC report before making further announcements on where it will contest.

It has since issued a rallying call for donations and volunteers for its campaign. The donations to PSP will be used for fliers, posters and other campaign materials to “level the playing field”, the party added.

PSP secretary-general Hazel Poa, in a Facebook post on March 12, said: “We have an uphill battle to fight this GE.”

Progress Singapore Party secretary-general Hazel Poa with fellow party member Leong Mun Wai. The party says the major electoral boundary shifts in western Singapore have made it harder for it to enter Parliament.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
She told The Straits Times that more than 40,000 new voters from over 100 HDB blocks have become part of the new West Coast-Jurong West GRC, and said the party will walk the ground over the next few weeks to engage them.

The new GRC will take in Taman Jurong ward and parts of Jurong Spring from the existing Jurong GRC.

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan, who made inroads in Bukit Batok SMC in 2020 with a 45.2 per cent vote share, said on March 12 he would have to rethink his election strategy, and promised to provide an update on his plans in the next few days.

Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan made inroads in Bukit Batok in 2020 with a 45.2 per cent vote share. The single-member constituency will be absorbed by the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.PHOTO: ST FILE
Bukit Batok will be absorbed by the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC after the latest changes to the electoral boundaries.

In a pre-recorded video posted on social media, Dr Chee called for people to sign up as volunteers or buy seats for a series of fund-raising dinners in early April.

SDP said it has held meetings, involving both its central executive committee and various working groups, over the past few days to evaluate the next steps. It added that it will keep up with the groundwork “where it makes sense to” in the meantime.

Red Dot United (RDU) said the party’s election committee held internal discussions immediately after the release of the EBRC report on March 11.

The party has since declared its interest in contesting six constituencies where it said it has built a presence, but said its claims are still preliminary at this stage.

Red Dot United leader Ravi Philemon. The party says it has been disadvantaged by the dissolution of Jurong GRC, which it contested in 2020, but is confident that it can adapt to the changes.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
An RDU spokesman said the party will need more time to analyse the changes. He added that RDU has been disadvantaged by the dissolution of Jurong GRC, which it contested in 2020.

But he also expressed confidence that the party can adapt to the changes, noting that almost 70 per cent of the voters from Jurong GRC are now in the new constituencies of Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC and Jurong Central SMC. “We remain committed to serving these residents,” he said.

Political observers have said the boundary changes in the east are expected to make it more difficult to predict the election results there.

In the north-east, WP has had an interest in the Punggol area for some time, and contested Punggol West in 2020. The single-seat constituency will now be part of a newly created four-member Punggol GRC.

Staking a claim for Punggol could put the WP in a multi-cornered fight with the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), which has contested in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC at every election since 2006.

SDA chairman Desmond Lim has said his party will hold talks with the WP. “It’s still early days... So, we will continue our usual engagement activities to understand the concerns of residents first,” he said.

Political observers had mixed views about the impact of the boundary changes on opposition parties, and the potential for more multi-cornered fights.

In all, five opposition parties have staked claims on 21 out of the 33 constituencies for the 2025 polls, with overlapping interests in four SMCs and four GRCs.

Singapore Democratic Alliance chairman Desmond Lim could see overlapping interest in the Punggol area with the Workers’ Party, and has said his party would hold talks with WP.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Ms Nydia Ngiow, managing director at policy advisory firm BowerGroupAsia’s Singapore office, said the newly drawn battle lines are unlikely to have a significant impact on the larger parties but could pose more difficulty for the SDP, given the headway that Dr Chee has made in Bukit Batok.

She said: “SDP would now need to pivot to a GRC strategy there.” She added that she also did not rule out the possibility of SDP turning to Bukit Gombak, where the party won in 1991.

Dr Mustafa Izzuddin said it is understandable that the opposition parties would have grievances with the boundary changes given the effort they have put into specific areas, but they would have to adapt and evolve their political strategies.

“Boundary changes do not necessarily mean the votes in carved-out constituencies will go to the ruling party, although the prospect for the PAP is greater, as the ruling party may currently have elected MPs in those carved-out constituencies who oversee the needs of the electorate,” said the senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore.


Political analyst Loke Hoe Yeong said the EBRC changes have set the stage for multi-way fights.

For instance, the carving out of three polling districts from the WP-held Aljunied GRC to Tampines GRC would give the WP the impetus to contest there. The National Solidarity Party has been contesting the GRC over the past elections, he added.

“That would be far more ruinous to the small opposition parties,” Mr Loke said. He added that the usual horse-trading talks have become less relevant for an opposition party like WP but will be vital to the smaller ones.

Ms Ngiow said any multi-cornered contests could end up splitting the votes and benefiting the incumbent. She added that any negotiations will need to be done quickly as the release of the EBRC report means time is not on the opposition’s side.

On the other hand, Nanyang Technological University Associate Professor Walid Jumblatt Abdullah said multi-cornered fights are not an issue in his view as there should be no limitations on who can contest a seat in a democracy.

But he agreed that in these situations, the smaller parties are unlikely to get sufficient votes to recover their election deposits.

RDU said it is not in its interest to be in three-cornered fights, and it will engage the other opposition parties “when the time is right”. It added: “There is enough familiarity and friendship among us to work these matters out amicably.”

In the 2020 polls, the opposition parties were able to hammer out pacts with one another without the usual big meeting among party leaders, though there were still two three-cornered contests in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Pioneer SMC.

Mr Goh Meng Seng, secretary-general of the People’s Power Party (PPP), said he intends to meet other parties and hold discussions, but he will leave it to the bigger parties like PSP and SDP to call for a meeting.

People’s Power Party secretary-general Goh Meng Seng says he intends to meet other parties for discussions but will not shy away from a three-cornered fight if differences cannot be resolved.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Mr Goh, whose party has expressed interest in contesting five wards at the 2025 polls, also said he does not intend to shy away from a three-cornered fight if differences cannot be resolved.

In the meantime, he said the PPP is focusing its efforts on training its candidates for the hustings. “I believe that voters now are more discerning and will realise that big brands don’t always guarantee quality,” he added.

​

 

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GE2025: More can be done in Ang Mo Kio with residents’ continued support, says SM Lee​

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong with residents after the launch of the Ang Mo Kio town council master plan on March 15.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Chin Soo Fang
UPDATED Mar 15, 2025, 07:33 PM

SINGAPORE – From upgraded markets and food centres to Silver Zones and Friendly Streets that make the town safer for the elderly, Ang Mo Kio has seen many improvements in the past five years.

There will be more improvements to look forward to in the next five years, with residents’ continued support and the leadership of the town councillors, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on March 15.

Speaking at the launch of the Ang Mo Kio town council master plan, he added that the plan will continue to focus on caring for both the young and seniors, fostering inclusivity and enhancing sustainability across the town’s seven divisions – Ang Mo Kio-Hougang, Cheng San-Seletar, Fernvale, Jalan Kayu, Teck Ghee, Kebun Baru and Yio Chu Kang.

This includes better shared spaces like upgraded community clubs in Cheng San-Seletar and Yio Chu Kang, both of which are under renovation, and new playgrounds and community spaces that will benefit residents of Lentor Estate and Cactus Sunrise.

Apart from more sheltered linkways to make daily commutes more comfortable, there will be additional senior-friendly facilities and initiatives.

He cited the Silver Upgrading Programme which will soon start in four precincts in Chong Boon and enhance the estate with active ageing facilities like therapeutic gardens, fitness trails and barrier-free access.

Parks will be revitalised and cycling paths expanded, such as a new “Garden Loop” walking and cycling trail that will link the town’s two gardens with Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.


The completion of the North-South Corridor and Cross Island Line in a few years’ time will shorten commutes further, while new trains and an expanded LRT depot will reduce waiting times for the Sengkang-Punggol LRT, he noted.

“So Ang Mo Kio should be a good place, a happy place, a healthy place to live. We have laid out good plans on how we can continue to achieve this,” said SM Lee, who is also MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, at the launch event at Ang Mo Kio Central Stage.

He added: “Help us to take care of Ang Mo Kio, help us to improve this place and work hand in hand with us to make Ang Mo Kio a town that we are all proud to call home.”

At the event, he also launched supplementary bus service 138M, which makes it easier for residents, especially the elderly and less mobile, to reach Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic from the bus interchange.

SM Lee also recapped the improvements to Ang Mo Kio in the past five years, such as Fernvale Community Centre and the Fernvale Hawker Centre and Market, which he opened in 2022.

Markets and food centres had been upgraded in Cheng San, Chong Boon, Teck Ghee, Kebun Bahru and Mayflower, while families have more community spaces to enjoy, such as a new water playground in Buangkok Square Park.

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Projects, like the distinctively-painted housing blocks in Yio Chu Kang, have made it easier for people with mild dementia to find their way around, as have the Friendly Streets with barrier-free crossings, such as at Ang Mo Kio Street 31.

The town has become greener with new parks and park connectors, while community programmes, like those run by active ageing centres and senior care centres, have kept older residents active, added SM Lee.

He recounted how when he first became an MP for Teck Ghee, Ang Mo Kio was a young town with not many amenities.

“But year by year, we have built up Ang Mo Kio into the bustling town that it is today,” he said.

MPs at the launch of the Ang Mo Kio town council master plan on March 15.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Also present at the master plan launch were other MPs for Ang Mo Kio GRC – Mr Darryl David, Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin.

Mr Henry Kwek and Mr Yip Hon Weng, MPs for Kebun Baru and Yio Chu Kang respectively, were also there.

Ms Ng Ling Ling, who looks after the Jalan Kayu ward in Ang Mo Kio GRC, was not at the event.

Ms Wendy Wong, a Jalan Kayu resident of three years, said she was not aware that her area has been carved out to be a new single member constituency, as recommended in the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report released on March 11.

The 44-year-old semiconductor industry professional added that she has always considered herself part of the Ang Mo Kio family.

“I like that there are efforts to improve transport connectivity and to make our neighbourhood greener,” she said. “And Ang Mo Kio already has a wide variety of food and is accessible to many places.”

Another resident, Ms Yogeswari Nagaraja, 45, is happy that the Mayflower MRT station is just in front of her home, and that the town has playgrounds for the children and elderly friendly streets for the aged.

“Ang Mo Kio is a greying area. There is hardware for the elderly in terms of the amenities. I hope to see more heartware – activities to encourage the seniors to get together,” she said.


Speaking to the media, Mr David, who is also chairman of Ang Mo Kio town council, said he does not know who the fifth member of the five-member Ang Mo Kio GRC will be, given that the Jalan Kayu ward will be moving out of the GRC.

Several opposition parties have expressed interest in contesting the new SMC, including the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), People’s Power Party (PPP) and Red Dot United (RDU).

Mr David added that the new SMC comprises largely some private estates in the current Jalan Kayu division, as well as a majority of households from the Fernvale division.

“I would like to think that we, as Ang Mo Kio team, have done well to take care of these areas, and now that they’re going to be a new SMC, hopefully the voters there will appreciate the care that we put in for them while they were part of our Ang Mo Kio family,” he said. “Then, we hope for the best.”

​

 

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GE2025: PAP’s East Coast GRC team welcomes Edwin Tong into the fold, says DPM Heng​

DPM Heng Swee Keat at a morning walkabout in Simei Plaza on March 15.ST PHOTO: GOH YAN HAN

Goh Yan Han
Mar 15, 2025, 07:49 PM

SINGAPORE – The PAP’s East Coast GRC team welcomes Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong to the team and will work with him until detailed changes to the GRC’s slate are announced, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on March 15.

“Our commitment to serve our residents has not changed. We remain as committed as ever, because we’ve been elected by our residents, and we want to make sure that we fulfil our promise,” he added.

Mr Tong’s Joo Chiat ward was subsumed into East Coast GRC in the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report released on March 11.

DPM Heng spoke to the media at the end of a morning walkabout in Simei Plaza – which is in Ms Jessica Tan’s Changi-Simei ward – where all five MPs from the East Coast GRC team were present.

Mr Tong was not, as the Second Minister for Law was on a work trip to Hong Kong.

“(Mr Tong) would have liked to join us for the walkabout. Unfortunately, he’s on a work trip that was planned some time ago,” said Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How, who looks after the Kampong Chai Chee ward. He is also Senior Minister of State for National Development.

It is uncommon for the PAP to field so many political office-holders in one GRC’s slate, which has given rise to speculation that one or more of the ministers – DPM Heng, Mr Tong or Dr Maliki Osman – might not be on the eventual line-up at the coming polls.

Dr Maliki is a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and also Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs.

When asked about the EBRC’s changes and how the GRC’s slate would be tweaked, DPM Heng said the changes are necessary to reflect the changing profiles of the population, given the new housing developments in the area.

“As to how we will divide the work, (that) is something which the Prime Minister and (PAP) secretary-general will decide,” he added.

“But for now, we are all elected MPs. We have been elected by the people and our focus is on making sure that we carry out whatever we have announced earlier.”

At another event in the afternoon, DPM Heng said it was clear there would be changes to the PAP’s East Coast slate, given the inclusion of Joo Chiat in the redrawn boundaries.

Another change made by the report is to transfer the easternmost part of East Coast GRC to the new Pasir Ris-Changi GRC. This is Dr Maliki’s Siglap ward, which contains the area around Changi Airport and Changi Prison Complex.

“It’s a five person GRC, there are six of us now, so there must be changes,” he said. However, the finalised team for the constituency will only be made known on Nomination Day, he added.


Mr Tan said the team has begun reaching out to the residents who come under the new East Coast GRC boundaries – including the Housing Board flats in Chai Chee with about 20,000 residents.

“We started reaching out to the grassroots leaders there, the volunteers there, to understand what they’re doing,” he added.

“More importantly for us is to understand what the residents need, and what are some things that we can do to extend the support to our residents in those areas, and also involve them in creating a more inclusive and caring East Coast together,” he said.

DPM Heng also spoke of the team’s targeted efforts within each ward, given that East Coast is a “very diverse constituency” with residents of different ages and occupations.

Dr Maliki said with the higher proportion of private property owners in his Siglap ward, the challenge has been to get them involved when carrying out upgrading work in the estate.

In Fengshan and Bedok where there are more senior citizens, Ms Cheryl Chan said the community care ambassador programme aims to look out for isolated seniors.

With the next five years looking to be a “very unpredictable” period, given global events and conflicts, DPM Heng underscored the importance of having political stability and a sense of togetherness as a people.

Asked about his hopes for the upcoming General Election, he said it was for the PAP to secure a strong mandate. If it does so, then the Government would be in a strong position to implement important policies and to continue to govern the country for the good of all Singaporeans, DPM Heng added.

“I hope that we treasure what we have in Singapore, and that the PAP government, if re-elected again, can set a course for Singapore, to take Singapore forward.”

 

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GE2025: Three PAP new faces redeployed to other constituencies ahead of election​

(From left) Ms Chua Wei-Shan, Ms Valerie Lee Nai Yi and Mr David Hoe are now likely to contest in Chua Chu Kang, East Coast and Tampines GRCs respectively, if fielded.ST PHOTOS: NG SOR LUAN, JASON QUAH
Goh Yan Han and Ng Wei Kai
Mar 15, 2025, 06:15 PM

SINGAPORE – Three People’s Action Party new faces spotted on the ground in recent months appear to have been redeployed to different constituencies.

They are Ms Chua Wei-Shan, an entrepreneur; Ms Valerie Lee Nai Yi, Sembcorp’s head of corporate affairs for Singapore and South-east Asia; and Mr David Hoe, director of philanthropy at The Majurity Trust, a registered charity.

They are now likely to contest in Chua Chu Kang, East Coast and Tampines GRCs, respectively, if fielded.

Ms Chua is organising secretary of the Young PAP. In January 2024, she was appointed acting branch chairman in former transport minister S. Iswaran’s West Coast ward after he resigned.

But she has recently been seen at events in Chua Chu Kang GRC.

On March 9, she was at the launch of a free food initiative for low-income residents, which was also attended by the constituency’s MPs – Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and Mayor of South West District Low Yen Ling, who is also Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Trade and Industry.

Ms Chua told the media then that she was there as a member of the grassroots, which she said she has been a part of for more than 20 years.

Ms Lee appears to have shifted from West Coast GRC to the east of Singapore. She was previously active in Ms Foo Mee Har’s Ayer Rajah-Gek Poh ward.

But on March 14, she posted several pictures of herself with Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong at a break fast event at Masjid Kassim. The mosque is near Kembangan, in an area where he is the MP.

A week earlier, she posted pictures of herself at a dialogue organised by Mr Tong’s PAP Joo Chiat branch for International Women’s Day.

Mr Tong may contest the next general election as part of the PAP’s East Coast GRC slate, after his Joo Chiat ward was carved out of Marine Parade GRC in the March 11 revision to electoral boundaries.

While it is unclear whether he will join the East Coast GRC slate in the upcoming election, he has said: “Everything that I promised to do, I agreed to do, and we have embarked on, we will continue doing so.”

As for Mr Hoe, he has been seen in Tampines.

He was first seen on walkabouts in Jalan Besar GRC with Ms Denise Phua in June 2024.

In February, he was photographed with Tampines GRC MP and Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli at the opening of the Tampines GreenVerge Residents’ Network centre.

On March 15, Mr Hoe attended a Tampines GRC event that launched a series of support measures aimed at easing the cost-of-living pressures for residents.

These included a subsidised e-voucher scheme for Tampines residents with blue or orange Chas cards, and a $60 Shopee credit for blue Chas card households.

The current Tampines GRC MPs were in attendance, along with second grassroots adviser Charlene Chen and potential new face Gabriel Lam.

Further changes to the line-up are expected, as there are now more potential candidates active in the constituency than spots on the five-member slate.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said that with the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s report on March 11, parties are beginning to – and have to – pin down where their prospective candidates are going to contest.

“The need for the new faces to walk and work the ground intensively is now, and imperative as we are probably mere weeks from the GE,” he added.

The general election is due by November 2025, but widely expected to be held by mid-year.

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